The Help I Needed, and It Came From Father Divine
When self-proclaimed "God" Father Divine heard that Justice Lewis J. Smith, who had sent him to jail for a year, died from a sudden heart attack a few days after sentencing him, Father Divine said, "I hated to do it."
Father Divine, who was born in 1876, was an African American spiritual leader from about 1907 until his death in 1965. He founded the International Peace Mission movement, formulated its doctrine, and oversaw its growth from a small and predominantly black congregation into a multiracial and international church.
Father Divine was arrested in Suffolk County on November 15, 1931, for disturbing the peace with an unruly mob. In May of 1932 he was tried before Justice Lewis J. Smith at a trial moved to Nassau County, and on June 5, 1932, he was found guilty. Justice Smith sentenced him to the maximum of one year in jail and a fine of $500. On June 25, 1932, Father Divine was released on appeal, and later that month Justice Smith, who had said many nasty things about Father Divine, died of a heart attack. Father Divine made international news for his exploits and on occasion claimed to be God. As I told you, when Justice Smith died, Father Divine said, "I hated to do it."
Annie and I were at a restaurant in Hudson in upstate New York with our daughter, Pat, her husband, Sal, and our friends Shelly and Lenny Barham. I told the story of Father Divine's comment to Lenny, and he said, "What a great title for a book." It was just what I was looking for. A great title for a book. And when Arthur Klebanoff gave me the support I was looking for and improved it with a subtitle, the search for a title to this book was over. I do believe in giving credit where due, so thank you, Father Divine. Since I just thanked God, do I really have to thank Lenny and Arthur too?
The autographed poster hanging on the wall in my office reads:
For Don,
Without whom this life would not be possible.
—Kurt Vonnegut
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