FATHER DIVINE

FATHER DIVINE (George Baker Jr.) emerged in the 1910s as a charismatic preacher who gradually developed claims to divine status, eventually declaring himself to be God incarnate on Earth. Born into poverty in Maryland, he began his ministry as an itinerant preacher before establishing a headquarters in Sayville, Long Island, during the 1920s where he attracted both Black and white followers to racially integrated religious services unprecedented for the era.

The International Peace Mission Movement, founded in the early 1930s, operated numerous "heavens" - communal establishments providing free meals, lodging, and employment to thousands of followers during the Great Depression. These businesses included restaurants, hotels, farms, and retail establishments that functioned as both religious communities and economic cooperatives, with profits supporting the movement's charitable activities.

Father Divine's theology centered on his claim to be God physically present on Earth, rejecting traditional Christian concepts of death, sin, and racial separation. His followers, known as "angels," were required to practice celibacy, surrender private property, and acknowledge Divine's godhood. The movement's strict moral code prohibited tobacco, alcohol, profanity, and sexual relations even between married couples.

The Peace Mission achieved significant social impact through its radical integration policies and economic programs that provided practical assistance to Depression-era Americans regardless of race. At its peak in the 1940s, the movement operated properties in multiple states and attracted international attention for its integrated communities and economic success.

Following Father Divine's death in 1965, leadership passed to his widow Mother Divine (Edna Rose Ritchings), though the movement declined significantly. Critics have characterized the organization as a personality cult that exploited followers' labor while providing Father Divine with luxury and absolute authority.