(Editor’s note: This tape was transcribed by Vicki Perry. The editors gratefully acknowledge her invaluable assistance.)
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Listen to MP3 (Pt. 1, Pt. 2).
Several moments of silence
Part 1:
Jones: (begins in mid-sentence) –for children that never met, because if it was your mother– you’re the mother. And you’re a member of this church – excuse me – if a child never been here, but if you’re the mother, we– we have a love for you.
Congregation: Scattered applause
Jones: We feel to shelter you. That’s the kind of father that I am. Won’t find a father like that anymore. They just don’t make them in these churches. That’s why today on the radio, a minister announced, said all the ministers got to get together, we gotta do somethin’ about Jim Jones. Sure. On KGR or something, he got on there, whatever his name was. Aldridge [phonetic]. Who– Who? Who is Aldridge?
Voices in congregation: (Unintelligible about Aldridge)
Jones: What? What is it?
Voice in congregation: (Unintelligible about Aldridge)
Jones: What is it?
Voices in congregation: (Unintelligible about Aldridge)
Jones: J.B.– What is it? (Stumbles over words) Well, one of you stand up that know it, and then the rest of you– Who is it– who is it that knows what they’re talking about?
Voices in congregation: (Unintelligible)
Jones: S-h-h-h. What?
Voices in congregation: (Unintelligible)
Jones: And what is his church?
Woman in congregation: (Unintelligible)
Jones: Hmm?
Voices in congregation: (Unintelligible)
Jones: And so he’s going to have a meeting to– Now, now, no– That should tell you all you need to know. When a minister has to have a meeting about me and wants others to meet to do something against me, then you know who it is.
Congregation: Applause and cheers
Jones: I never called any meeting to do anything about anybody, because when I know that they’re not of God, I know the Spirit can take care of it.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: So when they’re calling all– calling this meeting, when they’re calling this kind of a meeting, they don’t– it shows they’re not children of God, because they wouldn’t do that kind of thing to try to hurt anybody. You don’t do that.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: Gamaliel said in the Acts of the apostles, he said, don’t you fight these people. Said, don’t touch them, the great man of the San Hedron [phonetic], he said lest happily you find yourself fighting God. He said if it is not of God, it won’t stand, and if it is of God, then you’ll be in trouble, because you’ll find yourself fight– fighting God [ref. to Acts 5:34-39].
Congregation: Applause and cheers
Jones: When a man gets on a radio station and calls people to meet to do something about James Jones– Jim Jones over the radio, it shows – nobody has to tell you what’s going on here – it shows you that God Almighty is in this place.
Congregation: Applause and cheers
Jones: (Calms, then voice rises) The idea. What kind of a man that he is. What kind of a man? The audacity, you see. The enemies of God, beliler, a mast on every hand, that– that’s why you have to stand together. I welcome, I welcome (unintelligible) office. I will take them. Living is harder than dying. I welcome Gethsemanes [ref. to Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew (26:36-46), and Mark (14:32-50).]. I can take a cross any time [para. of Matthew 16:24, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” See also, Mark 8:34, Mark 10:21, Luke 9:23]. But you best not let anything happen to this church or any of its leadership. You best stand together. United we stand, divided we fall.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: Who heard this on the radio? Who heard this on the radio, him talking about that?
Woman in congregation: (Unintelligible)
Jones: What is it?
Woman in congregation: (Unintelligible)
Jones: Shhh!
Woman in congregation: (Unintelligible, emotional)
Jones: Thank you, thank you.
Congregation: Sustained applause
Jones: Bless– Bless you. She says she got four thousand dollars. What did you– what’d he say, exactly, on the radio? Sister, what’d he say? I didn’t discern– I didn’t discern this other than something about the name, and I couldn’t get it clear. Yes, go ahead. Shh!
Woman 1: (Unintelligible, then mic comes on) He said tomorrow. (Aside) Was it tomorrow? (back to mic) Tomorrow at eleven that they were having a meeting with the ministers’ union.
Jones: Yes.
Woman 1: And the (unintelligible word, sounds like “public”) was invited.
Jones: For what?
Woman 2: I don’t know for what.
Woman 1: That’s all I heard him say.
Jones: Well, there’s someone said– he said it was going to be a meeting about Jim Jones.
Woman 1: No, I didn’t hear him say that. I didn’t hear him say that. He heard that this morning. He didn’t (unintelligible) Jim Jones (unintelligible).
Jones: He didn’t mention it this morning?
Woman 1: No, he didn’t.
Jones: Hmm?
Woman 1: I– What I heard him– from my house to here, in my car–
Jones: (Stumbles over words) –what this sister’s saying.
Woman 2: He did say he had to do something about Jim Jones, (unintelligible word) all the members of the meeting, because they had to have a conference and do something about this Jim Jones.
Jones: He said what?
Woman 1: He did say that. He did say that he had to do something about this Jim Jones. At least I heard that on the radio this morning.
Jones: (short laugh)
Congregation: Applause
Jones: Yes, dear. It’s wonderful.
(Woman talking in background, unintelligible)
Woman 2: We wants a lot of our people to be there. We want a lot of our people to be there, so we can get protested (unintelligible under Jones)–
Jones: Yes, if you– I’m not worried, I don’t need to raise my finger against this man.
Congregation: Sustained applause
Jones: (Cries out) Hey God. (Pause) (Calms) Somehow we got to– It’s all right, indeed, if some of you want to go. How very likely they won’t discuss anything, if you’re sitting there. Very likely they won’t say a word. But I– I want to tell you that my duty and your duty is not to go– you, uh– you’ve got– you must pray for those that despitefully use you [para. of Luke 6:28, “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” See also Matthew 5:44].
Congregation: Applause
Jones: It’s rough. It’s rough when people just trying to cause trouble all the time. Some sister, some brother sending here a note, by a sister Thursday night, who it was– one of– another minister, said I’m going to do anything in my power to get that Jim Jones – in other words threatening – says I’ve lost too many members.
Woman in congregation: Oh!
Jones: Yes, I’ve lost too many members.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: They’re all stirred up. I’ll tell you what they’re all stirred up about. Because I’ve told about their anniversaries and their pastors’ teas.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: They don’t care– they wouldn’t– they wouldn’t care at all. If I was God Almighty. They wouldn’t care. The thing that bothers them is that I come along, and I wear old clothes and I don’t own a car and I don’t have a ring, I don’t have a watch. And I never take an anniversary and I never had a pastor’s birthday. That’s what’s bothering them. That’s what’s getting them stirred up!
Congregation: Sustained applause
Jones: (Calls out) Because all– most the good ministers are here today or out in some little old mission somewhere. These big jacklegs that g– rob the people blind. driving Cadillacs and Lincolns and Rolls Royces, and that’s why they don’t want Jim Jones on the scene, ‘cause Jim Jones has come with a plan in his hand!
Congregation: Sustained applause and cheers
Jones: And he’s shaking creation!
Congregation: Sustained cheers
Jones: You don’t have to name it. You don’t have to name it. Its works will speak for itself.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: (Calls out) You go tell no man anything. You just tell them that there’s somebody– there’s a black-headed preacher. I don’t know whether he’s black or Indian. He’s mixed up like every alley dog. Well, I’ll tell you, there’s an old alley dog over on Alvarado that’s causing cancers to come out, that’s causing the people to walk, that’s causing the blind to see, causing the dead to rise! [para. of Luke 7:22, “Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.”]
Congregation: Sustained applause and cheers
Jones: I don’t care what you say, you just say any old alley dog. Say he’s just an old black-haired fella mixed up with all kinds of races, but it’s amazing what he can do. He walked on the water [ref. to Matthew 14:24-27], he’s turned the water into wine [ref. to John 2:1-11]. He’s stopped the rain, and he caused the rain to come when they needed rain [ref. to James 5:17-18].
Congregation: Applause
Jones: They said it’s amazing, when he comes to town, most every day comes to town, the smog clears up.
Congregation: Sustained applause
Jones: Not one time yet have I been in this city when the eyes burned, not one time that I have been in this city, they didn’t say there was smog is light or no b– eye-burning today. Or the smog is gone, a strange breeze has blown in.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: (Voice drops slightly, then builds) Certainly it’s all right to go at eleven o’clock and sit there lovingly and prayerfully if you choose. I’ll leave up that to your own intuition. Each of your have to put legs on your prayers, you can’t sit back and just think, well, I’ll just think it and let Father do the work. You have to be willing to do something. But I want to tell you for– as for me as a person, whatever comes, I’m just expendable. I’m a sacrificial lamb. I’m ready to be sacrificed. Either alive or dead, or imprisoned. In tumults, in riotings, whatever. Whatever man wants to do with me, I’m here to glorify the name of Jesus! [ref. to (2 Corinthians 6:3-10)]
Congregation: Applause
Jones: And if you’re sluggish, if you’re weary and well doing, the gaps of the hedge will drop, the wall of fire will drop [ref. to Ezekiel 22:29-31], and they’ll take me and do with me what they will, but whatever they do, I will say thank God, for I have come to suffer. I have come to give my life freely, that people might be healed, that they might be free.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: (Voice drops slightly, then builds) If you stand up with courage and dignity, if you stand on your own back legs and faced all the adverse winds, and say I will not be moved, then nothing will come nigh us. But if you are weak and weary and well doing, they will come and take me and do with me what they will as they have done before. You must decide. For I’ve come for many generations down through forty generations. I have come treading the winepresses alone and of the people, there were none to help [para of Isaiah 63:3, “I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me.”). I have come dying. I have died a thousand deaths, and I am ready to die again. I will do what I will.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: But whether you believe what I am or not, whether you accept what I am or not, I am what I am, nonetheless.
Congregation: Loud applause and cheers
Jones: Call me what you will, call me alley dog or call me alley cat. Call me Jim Jones or call me by my right name, it makes no difference. I will still do my work, because they that are against me cannot be as great as that which is within me. Oh, no!
Congregation: Cheering and applause
(Unintelligible voice aside)
Jones: (Laughs softly) (Voice calms, then builds) Well, they– let’s say it is true. It’s true that remarks have been made. It’s true. But I say to you that there isn’t no action to the remarks. If you want to be there, and in case somebody wants to make remarks and look at them and with a prayerful attitude to let them know that you know in whom you have believed and you are persuaded that who you think the truth happens (unintelligible, overwhelms mic) that day. (Calms) You want to go in and shake hands and smile with people and love them, but don’t go in to proselytize or to stir up or to cause strife or envy. Just be a silent vigil of that which you say I am. (Clears throat)
Congregation: Scattered applause
Jones: Don’t talk. Don’t gossip. Don’t bear the tale out. Don’t give any satisfaction to your enemies. But I want to tell you, the key rests with you. I said the key, my child, rests with you.
Man’s voice in crowd: Yeah!
Jones: I have come with none other purpose than to do the will of him that sent me [para. of John 6:38, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”].
Congregation: Cheering, Applause
Jones: I have come, dying daily, I have come crucified in the flesh, nevertheless I live, yes that I, Jim Jones, but Christ sent me to be me.
Congregation: Applause and cheers
Jones: The life I live, I live not by the flesh of Jim Jones, but by the will of the son of God [para. of Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”], (calms) so I can be here and we can build temples and build homes and build great, great ministries and extend our ministry, even to Houston as we did when we healed a man here that was brought in a wheelchair, and now he’s holding two meetings a day, that great Baptist official [Bishop Crane] over five thousand churches. And I healed him instantly when I said go tell this minister, go tell that minister, that this day you have seen someone face-to-face (Pause) and you know what the someone was. And he went and told of this day. I have met him face-to-face, and he came out of the wheelchair and he’s been healing the sick with my pictures and my name and my oil ever since (Pause) in the biggest and the oldest historical Baptist church down there in Texas. And I’m going to go there next week, and you better make your reservations to come to leave with us Sunday evening, as we go down there. Then we go back in Easter. So, if it is the– if it is indeed that you’re brave, if the comforter has come into your life, that spirit that I represent, the Holy Comforter, which means the spirit of bravery [ref. to John 14:26 and 15:26]. If I have put that spirit in you, if indeed my statutes are written on your inward parts and my law is in your heart [para. of Jeremiah 31:33, “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” See also, Hebrews 8:10, 10:16). If you have bravery, then we shall expand and we shall move and we shall build but if you are weak, if you are a vacillating Peter, if you are afraid to be identified with me, if you say I never knew the man, if you’re afraid to stand up and be counted, then they’ll take me and do with me what they will [ref. to Mark 14:29-31, 68-72; Luke 22:33-34, 60-62; John 13:37-38, 18:26-27]. But anyway, my glory and my truth will go marching on. Nothing can stop God!
Congregation: Applause and cheers
Jones: I said nothing can stop God!
Man’s voice in crowd: No! No!
Congregation: Applause and cheers
Jones: If you put me in a jail cell, I will cause creation to be shaken. If you put me in a cross or put me in an electric chair, I will cause creation to be shaken [ref. to Mark 13:24-26]. Whatever you give me, if you mean it for evil, I will take it and I’ll turn it around and ram it up you for good.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: You’ve never met a man like this man before. A man who doth not have any future. A man who doth not have any past. A man who has nothing but the actual presence, the ever present, the actual personal present tense of God in a body.
Congregation: Cheering and applause
Jones: (Voice calms, then builds) I have no desire but to do the will of God. I have no future plan to retire on some lovely hill. I have no desire to be out under some palm tree. I have only the desire to be God in the flesh, manifest to bring forth salvation in the name of Jesus. I have no other desire. So what can you do with me? There’s nothing that you can kill, there’s nothing you can destroy. I have no dreams, I have no ambitions but to do the will of God Almighty!
Congregation: Applause and cheers
Jones: (Glossolalia) Some of you are not standing because you yet not know [ref. to John 8:54-55, “Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.”]. You never met, and you still don’t know that you’ve not met a man like this man before.
Congregation: Applause and cheers
Jones: They stir up the pot. They advertise they will. Let them do it. Let them do it. Every knock is a boost and every criticism is a praise.
Congregation: Applause and cheers
Jones: Take what they will. Let’s take what they will give us and turn it around and use it for good. I thought this day when they’ve advertised us across the nation, call me the black Jesus. I’m proud to be called black at least.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: Two hundred and forty newspapers this– this past week across this nation referred to me as the black one. Well, whatever, as I said, I know I am black at heart, and that’s a good thing to be, to be black at heart. It’s beautiful.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: The man has lied, you know. He’s lied. He’s taken King James and twisted words to be dark when there was no such word in the Hebrew, and so dark has become evil and black has become bad. And they’ve brainwashed us into thinking black was something bad, but along came you know who, and he says, “Black is beautiful! Black is wonderful! Black is good! Black is all that is real and all that’s genuine.”
Congregation: Applause and cheers
Jones: Black is the night. Black is the night when you don’t have to look on the filthiness of smog. Black is the night when you don’t have to see the dirty, dirty streets. Black is the night when you don’t have to see the look of racist prejudice. Black is the night when you could hide from your enemies. All black is beautiful! Hey God! Black is beautiful!
Congregation: Applause and cheers
Jones: (More conversational) The good reverend only succeeded in giving me a good sermon this morning. That’s all he’s accomplished thus far.
Congregation: Applause and cheers
Jones: Hallelujah! I said hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Congregation: Applause and cheers
Jones: So it– Then know in your heart what you wish. If you wish to see your father, your pastor – which means a shepherd – if you wish to see your friend, the best friend you ever had, the best dad you ever had. If you wish to see him go through fiery trials, then let down in your faith, let down in your giving, let down in your stewardship, be ashamed of him out on the street when someone says do you know the man? Say, I– I–oh, I go over there occasionally. Just do that way, and be sure, I can guarantee you, you’ll see me in the courts, you’ll see me in the jails. But if you go out and say, if they take my father, they have to take me, they’ll bother nobody!
Congregation: Applause and cheers. Piano plays
Jones: If in your heart you covenant, united we stand, divided we fall. (Calms slightly, then builds) But please, though it matters not to me, if you’re not ready to make that commitment, I will still love you whether it’s in a jail falsely accused, or whether it’s on a gallows, I will still love you because no one will keep you from my love. I have loved you from the beginning, and I shall love you in the end.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: Please know that I am not concerned about what these people do. It makes no difference to me what they do. There is nothing they can do to stop the purpose of that which I am. You can’t block it, you can’t hinder it, it’s too wide to go around it. It’s too high to go over it. It’s too low to go under it. You’re going to end up going through the door.
Congregation: Applause; piano plays
Jones: (Calms, then builds) So you just know that your father has entered into that rest that is provided. [You] Say, there’s a rest that is provided for the children of God, and some must needs be enter therein (ref. to Mark 10:15, “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.” See also, Luke 18:17). Where they rest from their works as the creator did on the sixth day. I have rested. There’s no more ego, so when you don’t have any ego, you’re at home in jail, you’re at home in the ghetto, you’re at home on the back of the bus, you’re at home without sleep when you don’t have any ego, and you’ve entered into the rest that Hebrews 4 talks about. The fourth chapter of Hebrews talks about that rest. (Calms) I’ve entered into it [Ref. to Hebrews 4]. So don’t you worry about whatever they’re going to do to me. ‘Cause I have entered into the rest. And they think they’re gonna hurt me but they can’t hurt me anymore. Can’t hurt me anymore because I died. I have died, but Christ has resurrected [ref. to Galatians 2:20]. Oh, yes, he has!
Congregation: Applause; piano plays
Jones: The only talk you must consider is what you will feel if you feel like Pilate when you have to wash your hands. The only thing if you take concern if they come and do something with your (Claps hands once, quietens) pastor.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: (Voice climbs) It’s a miserable thing to be like Pilate and have to wash your hands and the blood won’t come off. It’s a miserable thing to look at your hands and said, “Oh, Jim, what have I done to you? What have I done to you? What have I done to you?” [ref. to Matthews 27:24, “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.”] That’s all I want you to not have to worry with. I don’t want you to have that agony. Some of you say, I can’t pay the price of giving up my house or my home or my job. I can’t take the chance of losing what I have. What you can’t take the chance on is waking up, realizing, were you there when they crucified?
Congregation: Applause
Jones: That’s what you’re gonna make your mind to know. There nothing all the world you can’t afford to pay, like the blood of Jesus on your hands. And that’s what I’ve come, to glorify the name of Jesus. I have shown you the blood of Jesus that has healed that Baptist minister, the blood flowed from these hands and opened up his eyes, so that he could read scripture and hold meetings again two times a day ever since he left here. It’s the blood of Jesus that you’re trampling asunder. It’s the work and life of Jesus that you’re taking with wicked hands and crucifying. (Calms) So you that are silent, and you that’re indifferent here and you that’ve come to spy on our liberty, what will you do with Jesus? [ref. to Galatians 2:4, “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:”] What will you do with Jesus? That’s the problem. Don’t worry about Jim, don’t worry about Jesus. Don’t worry about him, he’ll take care of himself. But what you’ve got to know, what will I feel as a saint, as a child of his, what will I feel if I have not held up his hands? It was lonely for Peter. It was so lonely for Judas. Judas took the thirty pieces of silver, and he run with them and threw them back. Threw them at the p– the feet of the scribes. And they wouldn’t have them. Said no, take your pieces of silver, we don’t want your blood money. Judas says, oh, I didn’t know what I did. Please, I didn’t know what I did. I did not know what I was doing. I did not realize when I kissed him and gave him the kiss of death. I didn’t know what my conscience was going to feel like. [Ref. to Matthew 26:14-16, 47-50, 27:3-5] (Pause) I have not preached this ever in my life so it must be someone here needs to listen to this.
Congregation: Applause, music
Jones: And so they wouldn’t take his money, and he wouldn’t pick it up, he left it laying there and he run down, and he run down to the hill and he threw himself headlong. King James has got it mixed up. He didn’t even bother to hang himself. He threw himself, ‘cause you can’t hang yourself as King James has it, and then throw– fall headlong and have your gash– your bowels gashed out. You don’t hang yourself and then turn upside down and go headward. What he did – ‘cause I know – Judas just went to the edge of a big cliff and dived off. He wanted to put his mind out of commission, ‘cause he couldn’t stand the thought, I have crucified the one that was to come. I have crucified my pastor. I have crucified my savior. I have given the kiss of death. You say you can’t afford to support this ministry? (Claps hands once) You can’t afford not to support this ministry. (Voice climbs) Because one day, one day you’ll wake up and you’ll know who was in your midst. One day you’ll shake yourself, and you’ll realize it was he that walked with you. (Calms, pleading tone) Please, don’t let it happen to you, with empty hands and empty hearts. When you do wake up, at least say, I served him all the way. I walked with him every day.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: I bore his cross by taking up my own cross [ref. to Mark 16:24]. Please don’t have that conscience upon you. Because Peter, to say I never knew him, three times [ref. to Mark 14:29-31, 68-72; Luke 22:33-34, 60-62; John 13:37-38, 18:26-27]. Bless you, bless you. Give your neighbor a hug. (hums, then begins to sing) Were you there when they crucified your God?/ Were you there when they crucified your God? /Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble./ Were you there when they crucified your God? (speaks) Some of you weren’t. Don’t let it happen that you make a mistake again. (sings) Were you there when they nailed him to a tree?/ Were you there when they nailed him to a tree?/ Oh, sometimes it causes me to (Jones stops singing to let crowd sing) tremble, tremble, tremble./ (Sings) Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?/ Don’t be there when they lay him in some tomb./ Don’t be there when they lay him in some tomb./ Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble./ Were you there when they laid him in a tomb?/ (Speaks) Hallelujah.
Congregation: Applause, cheers
Archie Ijames: Oh, God, oh, God have mercy! Have mercy! Oh, God have mercy. (Pause) Oh, God have mercy. Have mercy! Hah! Yeah. Have mercy!
Jones: (sings) Oh, sometimes (tape edit) tree?/ Were you there when they nailed me to the tree?/ Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble./ Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?/ Don’t be there when they crucify him again./ Don’t be there if they crucify him again./ Oh, (unintelligible word) sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble./ Were you there when they crucified your God?/ Were you there when they crucified your God?
End of Part 1:
Part 2:
Congregation: Cheering, applause
Jones: (unintelligible) –actually (unintelligible sentence) What you talking– nobody asked you to come up and buy something on the telephone. Don’t you give me any of that. They want us to pay a little sales tax or something. We– we’re sending (unintelligible word) religious auditors back there. We (unintelligible). Don’t let them trip you up with the– they keep anything say anymore. So watch your fool mouth on the telephone!
Congregation: Applause
Jones: Sister Nelson did a wonderful job, and I hope all of you will be as capable. Don’t talk to anyone till they’ve given you your telephone number, and if they’re calling and wanting a whole lot of information, being in this church, say okay, your telephone number, can I call you back collect? If they say well, it’s long distance, say, I’ll call you back collect. I’m very busy, so you call back and know who we’re talking to. Don’t you let anybody get you on the line when you’ve got all the disadvantages, talking to somebody you don’t know who you’re talking to. I mean everybody, San Francisco and Los Angeles, you don’t have to give anybody any information. You’ll still free, and if they want to take our freedom away, they’re going to have to kill us to take it away. (Clears throat)
Congregation: Cheers
Jones: So I hope you’ll– you’ll weigh that heavily on your mind. Don’t– don’t be taken in. A lot of treacherous bastards. They even have the nerve to slip in here, trying to rob– After yesterday I told the old boy he had a wig on his bald head. He went away and now a woman’s back in his place.
Congregation: Oh! (in unison)
Jones: He knew I was getting’ too close when I said two weeks before, I said, “You have a b– You have a wig,” and I guess he must not have got it straight, then I catch him with this wig, so he knew I had him so they sent him, on another mission. (Clears throat) (Pause) Yeah? Kind of how this boil your eyeballs. They sent him on a mission to El Paso. And my spirit’s waiting on him.
Congregation: (clapping, cheering and laughing)
Jones: [You] Say, how do you know that? I don’t care how you think I know it. The fact is you know I know it.
Congregation: (Laughs)
Jones: Now comes the important figure of the day. 1677. Continue with this rate of inflation. If it gets to eleven point, it’s ten point nine and a half. If it gets to eleven point, it cannot be sustained, only a few weeks, and you won’t be able to get a dime out of your bank. You make a run on a bank? They said billions – it said in every one of the newspapers – billions of dollars would been lost. So keep that holding in there. Then I hope you feel awfully sad when you’ve deprived us of land. The only thing that’s worth anything is land. Say, I buy land here. Worth nothing because you are black. They’ll take it away from you just like they took it away from the Japanese in 1941. Well, 1942, to be accurate. Took it all away, four hundred million dollars of it. Never gave hardly any of it back. Robbed them of everything in their home. They couldn’t even take the pictures of their lung– their young people, like the brother we know whose mother died in a concentration camp. Six months, she was in pain with cancer, without an aspirin. They wouldn’t even give her an aspirin. In the first place, you couldn’t keep it if they didn’t put you in concentration camp, ‘cause you won’t have any money coming in. You’re going to be the first, you know, fired. We’re the last hired and we’re the first fired. How you going to pay your taxes when it comes? We’ve got the president [Forbes Burnham, prime minister of Guyana] over there loves us so much, we’re the only group that’s been given tax free status. No taxes – even personal taxes – for ten years. (Pause) That’s something to think about. (Clears throat)
Congregation: Applause
Jones: Now if you in the light of that truth, rob this church, great is your judgment. 1677 [$16.77]. (Pause) Thank you, Sister Stayton. Thank you, Professor [Edith] Roller. Thank you, thank you. Remember, 1677 is the most important gift that you can (unintelligible) (Tape edit) 100 are turned away from that door, because they don’t answer the right question. So you can know that you are worthy, because you said the right answers on some questions. When they ask you about brotherhood or– I look at you and I say, they’re all right, their spirit’s all right. Or I let a Judas come in to do their work until the time comes, ‘cause I got some Judas’s are confused, they don’t know whether they’re coming or going.
Congregation: (Laughs)
Jones: All our sister’s doing now is worrying about how fast she can get out of here and get to the nearest telephone. It’s down here on Alvarado. Pay telephone– couple of them– we get down there and she’s worried– worrying about how to get out of here without me noticing, and you know I’m going to notice if you move during the service. So I’m holding the service a little bit longer because you’re worrying about getting the– uh, get that poor brother in El Paso before my spirit gets him. (Clears throat)
Congregation: Laughs
Jones: [You] Say, do you have my telephone line bugged? Yeah, I’ve got everybody’s telephone line bugged. My Spirit is here, there and everywhere.
Congregation: Applause and laughter
Jones: I’ve got no bugs on anybody’s telephone. That’ll make you n– even more nervous. Yes, sister? Bless beloved. Why don’t you new folk look at her. Operated. They took away – radium, surgery – they took away most of her stomach and her bowels. Year ago January. She kept coming in here though, patiently. Never got called out, wasting away. Then I called her. She passed– spit up this cancer, passed the cancer. In January 1973. In May 1973, the doctor said you’re a well woman. This was when her way past her 70– her three score and ten. But– But the Sky God said you could live way past. But it’s beautiful. She looks like a woman much younger than that. Her age is nobody’s business. Now that’s been a year ago, a year and a half. Not a trace of cancer with all of her stomach (unintelligible) eaten up and her bowels eaten up with cancer, and it’s all gone. What the surgeons– the surgeons sent her home. Said I’ve got– You must go home and prepare to die. Sent her home to die. And I sent her back to the doctor to live.
Congregation: Scattered applause
Jones: How many will give 10 and then– (Tape edit) and some will hold back till the sixteenth, and really wished they hadn’t. Thank you. Ten. How many (Unintelligible with tape edit) people give more around certain numbers? It’s a law of life, it’s not foolishness. Seven seventy seven– (Tape edit) (Unintelligible word). I even know your cat.
Congregation: Laughs
Jones: I– that’s something. When I was going down Alvarado Street, I knew your cat and I pulled my car in such a way, it stopped somebody else from hitting your cat. So you see, that’s some God that can know your cat. (Cries out) Oh! (Pause) That’s a mighty God! (Calms) Seven. (Tape edit) should take you through a year of Depression. If we only had a Depression. Hopefully that would be all. If we have concentration camps, we’ve got to have food across to the promised land, we’ve got to get there or there’ll be no safety. How many have seen our children’s home? Our acreage, our pears, our grapes, our wonderful uh, farm lands, our animals. How many have seen the convalescent sanitariums? Few of you have seen the new convalescent hospital or sanitarium in Ukiah, I’m– I’m sure. And very few of you have seen the college dormitories. Well, hopefully next Sunday – you want to be planning to come up next Sunday – we may have some news about an Oakland church. It’s a miracle of miracles.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: Church worth a million dollars. But the preacher [Harold Dowler] said, there’s only man on one church that’s worth anything in America. It’s called First Church, the oldest church there in the denomination, in– in Oakland. Beautiful church, sets up on a marvelous hill with a parking lot larger than ours. Fifty-two rooms. Pipe organ worth a hundred thousand dollars, worth a million dollars, and he said, if you know what you’ll do– ought to do, you’ll let me resign and you will integrate with that church and turn your property over, and let me tell you, their board passed on it this week, to turn the church over and today– and by Wednesday, the final vote– the absentee ballots will come in, and usually the congregation always goes the way the board has gone. The board voted unanimously to turn the church over to Jim Jones.
Congregation: Applause and cheers
Jones: It’ll make those in the Bay Area proud, because it’s a marvelous church. The windows are even more valued than these. The windows cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and were transported from Italy. So that’ll be good for us to convert that to cash, with the– if we get it, when we need to travel, won’t it?
Congregation: Yeah!
Jones: Marvelous! You better get in with us. You’ve never heard of any church ever turning anything over to another man. We may have more per– persecutions, prosecutions, troubles than anybody, because they that live godly will, but we also have more miracles than you ever heard tell of in your life [para. of 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”].
Congregation: Applause
Jones: Now, I say from the depths of my heart, again, 51 percent of (unintelligible, tape edit) at any time, not one time will I fail to recognize you. You may think I don’t know you, but I know exactly where you belong, ‘cause I’m that hollow of the hand that has to protect you. You have to rest in this hand, because when you’re praying to God out there, I’m answering if you get an answer [ref. to Proverbs 30:4 and Isaiah 40:12].
Congregation: Applause
Jones: Three. (unintelligible, tape edit) (Pause) But don’t twiddle when you have to twaddle.
Congregation: Reacts
Jones: Two. Christian socialism will make everyone in this room – even you business people – in better state than you’re in today. You’re worrying yourself to death, having to beat yourself around the clock. I see some of our good business people here, have to beat themselves to death to keep their business. You’ll be free of it. Get rid of those businesses. Set down and work in a cooperative, where everybody’ll have to take care of the business. Well, that would be a whole lot better for you, wouldn’t it now? Now just think, wouldn’t it?
Congregation: Applause
Jones: Some of you know how bad it is, how heavy it is to carry a business load. You know how awful that load is. I wish more have had to be in business, then maybe some people’d take care of Father’s business better. ‘Cause then you know a little bit about what I carry up here on the shoulders. Quickly, how many will give one more? They said tomatoes would not grow in the jungle, and they’re growing lusciously and big. Isn’t that wonderful?
Congregation: Applause
Jones: People are coming around to see the tomatoes. They ought to know that Father can do anything. Make tomatoes grow just as well as he can do anything else.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: Although I don’t think once you’ve tasted that luscious coffee, tea and berry juice and all those b– bananas, oranges and all the kinds of fruits, I don’t think you’d miss a tomato. But I know some of you like tomatoes, so you’ve got your tomatoes. They’re growing, just as big and pretty as (Unintelligible word). (Pause) Say, I don’t want to go anywhere. I bet you, if the concentration camps [open], you’ll want to be doing something.
Congregation: Responds
Jones: And if you don’t believe me, you owe it to yourself to go out there tonight and order Glass House Tapes. If that don’t cause the hair to stand on the back of your head, ‘cause there is police proof in black and white to prove what I’m saying. How many have read Glass House Tapes? Shakes one up, doesn’t it? (Pause) Read The Choice, get some of those books when you’re getting the Holy Aura. You’d save the pictures– uh, my pictures alone have saved over sixty thousand lives. Miracles of every kind, just by touching the picture. How many have gotten a miracle by just touching my picture on you, or touching it on someone? (Pause) Look at that. (Clears throat) You oughta have them. You see, it’s a matter of energy field. I charge those, I don’t– Everything that goes out there, I touch it personally. And if I don’t feel that (Unintelligible word), I don’t let it go out on the shelf. You’ll see me stop here with oil, and it’ll go, I don’t feel quite that energy reverberation, I bring it right back and touch it again. I’m not loose and fast with this. It’s from the depths of my heart, and that’s the way it has to be. The candles, they are synchronized. Six o’clock, six o’clock, that’s the way you get into unity of mind. How many use a candle at sixth hour? You ought to. Think positively, think healthily, breathe deeply. (Pause) Peace. (Pause) All the candles, the pictures and the books. Get them so you’ll know the truth. I’d hate for you to find out this truth the hard way. ‘Cause what I’m saying to you is all true.
It blows your mind, but it was on the front pages of your newspaper this week. They have perfected a biological chemical that can kill all black people sitting in this room and every white person will be sitting up. They can do it to white too, but they’re not studying how to do it to white. Said they’d only studied how to do it to black, Indians and Mexicans. (Pause) Something to think about. (Clears throat) It’s in the newspaper. (Pause) They call them biologicals. (Pause) Now you know that’s true. You can use DDT– there’s someone there very ill going by so– you’re going by my aura and I sense it. Just– just tell them how the procedure works. (Pause) It’s in the spinal region. (Pause) Lumbar. (Pause) My friend, (Pause) study to show yourself approved. How many are going to study more to get this truth, before you learn it the hard way? The man is not making these things uh, if he doesn’t intend to use them. Why would any group of government scientists make a biological that can destroy all black people. (Breathless) Why? (Pause) ‘Cause he intends to use them somehow. People don’t make things they don’t intend to use. What kind of depraved mind would even think of making such a thing as that? Unless it was a sinister– sinister murderer that had some evil plan up their sleeve. (Clear throat) (unintelligible) kissing on the left cheek to synchronize, ‘cause it’s been a long day of teaching today, longer than it will be usually. (hums) When I was giving this sermon, though, transmission on tape, your name was put down by me– I ne– great need. So put your hand up if your name is Annie Harris. Better pause, better rate. (Pause) Close your eyes for just a moment. Meditate lovingly, like it was your neighbor (Clear throat) or your friend or your mother or your father. (Pause) I know nothing about your life. You’ve never told me anything, is that correct?
Annie Harris: No.
Jones: You’re new to me though, there– you’re in there in the choir. (Pause) I’ve not called you out, but I am now calling you. Keep your hands clasped.
(organ begins playing)
Jones: Are you uh, from El Dorado, Arkansas?
Harris: Yes.
Jones: Keep your hands clasped. I never called you out.
Harris: No.
Jones: Or see that in your mind. But I passed by, you’re saying, and you were eating something. And I put you on a diet.
Harris: Yes.
Jones: Is that correct?
Harris: Yes.
Jones: Hands clasped, ‘cause I don’t remember that. You had three brothers and three sisters.
Harris: Yes.
Jones: Keep your hands clasped. You’ve got a very enlarged heart. (Pause) I said your heart is enlarged.
Harris: Yes.
Jones: Hands clasped. Keep your hands clasped, please. Your mother’s name was Elizabeth.
Harris: Yes.
Jones: (tape distortion) I know I’m listening to something beyond this world now. (Pause) And I hear her say, she’ll think– she’s not giving me– you’ve only told us your name’s Annie Harris, you’ve not said any more than that. But I hear her saying Annie Mae.
Harris: Yes.
Jones: Hands clasped. (Pause) Spirit. (Pause) She said remember? It was so cold that day. You were very small.
Harris: Yes.
Jones: It was so cold, and it rained so hard against the windows that evening when she passed away.
Harris: Yes– Yes, it– Yes, yes.
Jones: She said, Annie, never forget, only God could tell you that.
Harris: Yes.
Congregation: Reacts
Jones: Keep your hands clasped, (Unintelligible word). (Pause) (Glossolalia) Do you have “There Is No Greater Love”– an album that “There’s No Greater Love” any place in your possession? A musical album that “There Is No Greater Love”?
Harris: I don’t understand.
Jones: Do you have an uh– an album, a record album with “There Is No– There Is No Greater Love”?/span>
Harris: Yes. Yes, I have.
Jones: I’ve never been in your home and you’ve not told me anything.
Harris: No.
Jones: Keep your hands clasped. Do you have an insurance number that is 437268368365A? Yes, that’s marvelous that the spirit of truth could know those kind of things. Keep your hands clasped. You have a plaque some place put away, “The Lord’s Prayer.”
Harris: Yes.
Jones: Someone’s put witchcraft on that. It must be brought to me Thursday. See that it’s done so. A woman looked at it and admired it and touched it. Do you remember?
Harris: Yes.
Jones: See, I am there. I’m there years back. I can go way back. And I can go way in the future! Spirit!
Congregation: Calls out
(organ playing)
Jones: Mighty God. Mighty God. Keep your hands clasped. You had five miscarriages, and there’s difficulty in your back–
Harris: Yes.
Jones: – and in the lower female region.
Harris: Yes.
Jones: Doctors could not reach the trouble that’s in your body, bad (Unintelligible word), the puffiness, the soreness, in the lymph system, around the neck region. Spirit. Only I can do what I’m going to do now. Tuesday morning, there’ll be a strain of some news that would take you into a heart attack. That wouldn’t have taken you. But in taking you to the hospital, they would’ve found that you were spread full through, metastasized with cancer, but I’m going to take you now down to the bath. You go to any bathroom and pass cancer and your body will be healed and you’ll be saved! God!
Singer: (Unintelligible beginning) He’s so wonderful! Yes, he’s wonderful, wonderful. Oh, he’s so wonderful. Oh, wonderful. Oh, bless (Unintelligible word) holiness, he’s so wonderful. Oh, well, (unintelligible). (Jones joins the singing) cures your soul– (unintelligible) it’s wonderfulness.
(tape edit)
Jones: –(Unintelligible word) (Pause) [Your] Mother’s name is Alice. Alice Finney. (unintelligible). Yes, I’m right. You’ve been having so much difficulty in your head region, pressure.
Woman 3: Yes.
Jones: Particularly on one side, around an eye.
Woman 3: Yes.
Jones: It’s a good God that’s in this house.
Congregation: Reacts
Jones: When you were a child, you had spinal meningitis.
Woman 3: Yes.
Jones: Rheumatic heart disease.
Woman 3: Yes.
Jones: You had four operations.
Woman 3: Yes.
Jones: Hmm. Hmm.
Congregation: Reacts
Jones: You had your gall stones removed.
Woman 3: Yes.
Jones: You had a rectal operation.
Woman 3: Yes.
Jones: Good God!
Congregation: Reacts, organ begins playing
Jones: You had a doctor, someone for some loved one, Doctor Jacobs.
Woman 3: Yes.
Jones: Diane. My God. Keep your hands clasped. I’m moving in here. Moving in here. Moving in here, keep your hands clasped. Keep your hands clasped, while I make a note here, ‘cause some things I don’t tell to anyone. I’ll never tell anything that embarrasses or if anyone– in any way that would cause anyone to think negative about your health, ‘cause I only want people to think positive. Keep your hands clasped. That means moving them. (Glossolalia) (Pause) Keep your hands clasped, folk. That means moving them. We lost a loved one, I see on my left, kidney trouble.
Woman 3: Yes.
Jones: Mighty God. Roy? Who’s Roy, your companion?
Woman 3: No. It was a half-brother.
Jones: I see. Mighty. Let’s keep our hands clasped. You were born in Oklahoma?
Woman 3: Yes.
Jones: Your father came in 1943 and–
Woman 3: Yes.
Jones: –three months later, sent for you.
Woman 3: Yes.
Jones: Keep our hands clasped, I’m building your faith, ‘cause I’m saving you from a cancer in the brain. When I wipe it away, it’ll save you from having to waste away for two and a half long years but I– (calls out) Oh, spirit!
Congregation: Cheers
Jones: Keep our hands clasped. I’m saving the life of Diane. Did you hear me? Who’s Kay? (Pause)
Woman 3: Who?
Jones: Who’s Kay?
Woman 3: Oh, I got a little niece named that.
Jones: That’s beautiful, ‘cause you were standing there in her stead. We’ve already saved three lives. Spirit, you’re our transmission. You believe in me, don’t you?
Woman 3: Yes, I do.
Jones: And that belief, that persuasion, you see the (unintelligible), that belief, but you know it, I– I am God. Spirit. (Glossolalia)
Congregation: Reacts
Jones: Did you ever lose anything– use anything. Glovers kind of hair– to remove dandruff?
Woman 3: Yes, I did. Yes, I did.
Jones: See? How God can know. Did you ever tell a soul that?
Woman 3: No.
Jones: And it caused cancer, but right now when I clap my hands, there’ll be no pressure in your head. (Jones claps hands together) Spirit!
(music playing, clapping, cheering, man in background begins singing)
Jones: It’s gone now, isn’t it? It’s gone now. Look at her, shaking her head. It’s gone! Spirit!
(a man and woman in background begin singing in unison, unintelligible)
(tape edit)
Jones: –That saved their lives, as well as saving our sister. No matter how they’ve (unintelligible) two and a half years to cripple her. I think you better rejoice over someone else’s healing.
(singing by choir and woman)
(tape edit)
Jones: (unintelligible) Here comes our precious sister who passed that horrible cancer. All of the stress is gone now, hasn’t it? Yes.
Congregation: Cheering and applause
Jones: All gone now. See the cancer that sister that’s carrying the growth? She was crippled on the side with a stroke, but I told her the same day I came, she was healed. Now she’s way up too, past her three score and ten, but she’s looking good. She said I never feel tired. She was up all night, working, every night, doing things for this cause, traveled all over the world with me, and she never feels tired. She had cancer. She loved good. (unintelligible).
Congregation: Applause
Jones: (Aside) Yeah. (Back to mic) It ought to make you feel good to come in such an atmosphere where so many blessings happen every day!
Congregation: Cheering and applause
Jones: (Calls out) Surely, God is able.
(Organ plays)
(tape edit)
Jones: Grisby. Somebody who lived on 25th street. Eleven hundred block, 25th Street. Grisby. Grisby. A shout here and there won’t bother me. Take the spirit high. Who is Grisby? Hands clasped. Go back to the sister. Mighty, go on, shout, rejoice, it won’t bother me. (Glossolalia) Hands clasped. Those of you that are shouting, you don’t have to clasp your hands, just keep on shouting, it don’t bother me. There’s nothing like the rejoicing over socialism, God, whatever.
(shouting in background, woman’s voice, unintelligible)
Jones: Are you from Georgia, originally?
(woman’s voice in crowd, unintelligible. Another woman in background screaming, unintelligible words)
Grisby: Georgia.
Jones: You’re from Georgia, originally?
Grisby: Atlanta, Georgia.
Jones: That’s wonderful. Hands clasped. Blessed, blessed. (Pause) You’ve got a son, David.
Grisby: That’s right.
Jones: Lives in Seaside.
Grisby: That’s right.
Jones: Another son, Sam.
Grisby: That’s right.
Jones: Lives in (Unintelligible name)?
Grisby: Correct.
Jones: You’ve not told me or anyone here anything today, is that correct?
Grisby: You’re right on (Unintelligible under Jones)
Jones: Mighty God. There’s a (Unintelligible word, sounds like “crowd” or “cloud”) in your family.
Grisby: That’s right.
Jones: And you were the eleventh child. And all are gone but you.
Grisby: That’s right.
Jones: Your mother passed in 1937. Abby. She died of heart.
Grisby: That’s right.
Jones: Your father passed in 1923, Sam. He died from a stroke. Hey, Spirit God! Mighty God. I’m on the– I’m on the mainline.
Congregation: Cheering and applause
Jones: I hear in your mind, I read your mind. That’s what the word of God is, you see. The word of God’s in this room today. Hebrews, the fourth chapter in the 12th verse, said the word discerns the thoughts, and I did it on that sister a moment ago, but knows the intents of your hearts. It may separate bones and marrow, [ref. to Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”] like sisters, I see three sitting up here that have broken bones, and I took the cast off their body and healed them the same hour, just hours after they were broken. (Passionate) Oh, the God, the God of socialism. I hear you say in your mind, when I mentioned your mother’s name, it flashed before me that you were combing her hair.
Grisby: Yes.
Jones: And your mother was looking out towards the East, and you– she asked– you asked your mother – isn’t that what you said? – you asked your mother something.
Grisby: Yes, I did.
Jones: You were looking at her, and your mother said, I’m looking at God’s angels. Oh, Spirit!
Grisby: Yes, she did.
Jones: Is that what she said, I’m looking at the angels. She was looking at my (Cries out) angel spirit.
Grisby: Yes, she was.
Congregation: Cheers
Jones: Good God. (Pause) She had that spirit. She’d loved to’ve seen this day. The prophets and the kings would’ve loved to see this day.
Grisby: Yes.
Jones: And she said to you, take care. Uh, uh– I hear her words exactly. Tell Sam to stay with you and help you. (Cries out) Spirit! Mighty God.
Grisby: Yes, she did.
Jones: I want to– I want you to keep your faith now. You have sensed in your mind that there’s witchcraft been practiced upon you.
Grisby: Yes.
Jones: That correct?
Grisby: Yes.
Jones: It’s caused you to be crippled. You had a tumor. You had a growth. You’ve been operated.
Grisby: Yes.
Jones: Keep our hands clasped. Mighty God. You’re crippled up in your bones.
Grisby: Yes.
Jones: Spirit, lift them up now. You lost your companion, I think back in ‘49.
Grisby: Yes.
Jones: With the cancer.
Grisby: Yes.
Jones: Now, lift up your bones, stretch them. Stretch your arms. Stretch your arms. All the way. Come out in the aisle. Move! Move in the aisle! I know you’re up in your seventies, but move! Move! Bend over! Bend over! Look, they’re getting better (unintelligible word). Look at her! Bend! Bend! There’s no pain in your body now, is there? No pain. It’s all gone, isn’t it?
Grisby: Yes, it’s all gone.
Jones: I have taken cancer from you. I’ve stopped you from a heart attack. Spirit of God! (unintelligible word)!
(woman singing in background)
Jones: Do you hear what I’m saying?
(tape edit)
Jones: There’s a man you’ve (unintelligible word) I’ve healed of cancer of the lung, one lung is gone. She’s been operated. But I have done the operation. You’ll never die of cancer! You’ll never die of tumors! I’ve healed you! Spirit! God!
(singing)
(tape edit)
Jones: –call anyone else I lay hands. Now I must lay a hand on that sister that started to leave. I’m– I used to say– You know that there’re three black men – it’s the beginning of terror – three black men, but Julian Bond got a hold of me with the newspaper clippings and a letter. Congressman Bond saying that no churches have helped. Three black men are in Raleigh, South Carolina [North Carolina] facing a death sentence. Now I want a check to go out here today. You understand what I’m saying. I want a check to leave this room today, so that we can help these people. Three of them. The newspaper, even the white newspaper said they weren’t guilty. For two hours. Nobody that’s convicted of rape unless they’re black. There’re sixteen people waiting execution, fifteen of them black. One Indian. That’s always the way it is, honey. These three fine young black men picked up a white woman on the road. She was hitchhiking. They gave her a ride. And she wanted to do things. They did it like any foolish young man will do. We don’t believe in rape, we don’t believe in all kinds of foolishness, but people are going to be people out there in the world. And when they finished, there wasn’t a scratch on her, they took her home. He asked, did you take it home? After they done their thing and they let her out a half block away from her home, but the white neighbor saw her. So she told them – not– didn’t scream, didn’t holler – she told ‘em later it was rape. These young men are facing the gas chamber. But if they get by with this, it’ll be worse then in California tomorrow. They’ve got the same thing there, rapists can be executed. All over the states, they’ve said they’ve done away with uh, the capital punishment, done away with electric chairs and gas chambers and hangman’s nooses, but they can still hang people on rape, killing a police officer and a whole lot of other things. I think I’m doing something about this, even if our promised land, even if I work with heavy– Are we going to do something about this, so that we can make a sizeable contribution today? They called on us, because not one church, not one civil rights group, not one would help. Now that’s too bad. Said, I understand the many reports here in Atlanta, in Montgomery area, that you and you alone helped political prisoners, as a church. And you know it’s true, these are political prisoners, being held there by the color of their skin. Only those cases are prosecuted for rape or any other crime, whether ignorant, or black, or poor. There were three thousand some rapes charges this year in the Bay region of California, there was three thousand six hundred charges, arrests made for rape. But only 600 of them were prosecuted by the district attorney, but only 200 of them were convicted, and a hundred and ninety of those, hundred eighty seven of those 200 were black. (Pause) See what I’m saying?
Congregation: Yeah.
Jones: They let everybody go through all the time, but a black person, just one woman’s charge, and they’re facing the gas chamber. We just got a stay of execution, I’ve been working on it. You’ll be reading about it in the newspaper. We got a– a stay of execution, so that they– (Unintelligible word)– they would’ve already been dead, they would’ve died on the tenth. My friends, we’ve got to move. So in this room I’m going to say quickly, this is the last there’ll be mention of any money today, is there anyone here that would give us (Tape edit) to be put in that gas chamber? There’s sixteen more, waiting. One of them Indian. Fifteen blacks. That’s who gets to go to gas chambers. No one’s ever had fifty thousand dollars has ever been convicted or executed–
Voice in congregation: That’s right!
Jones: –for a crime. Now is that fair?
Scattered voices in congregation: No!
Jones: America had better change this system through our nonviolent technology, our nonviolent administration, or people are going to rise up in the streets.
Scattered voices in congregation: That’s right!
Jones: (Pause) Now that was a fine response. (Calls out) America had better change the system and listen to us who want to share the wealth through nonviolent means, or there’ll be a rising up in the streets!
Scattered voices in congregation: Oh, yeah!
Congregation: Cheers and applause
Jones: You bet they will. They want to stop all the kidnapping and so forth and the violence, and there’ll be more of it, more of it, more of it, more of it. Every (Unintelligible word) will be safe in their homes. Then share the wealth. Make the laws just. Give the same kind of legal counsel provided by the government so that the poor man will (Unintelligible word) be able to afford as much of a good lawyer as the Mafia can or some rich hoodlum or some cheap politician downtown. We’re tired of our sons and daughters being robbed of justice!
Congregation: Response
Jones: All right, I’ve said enough. Who will give? Five hun– (Tape edit) –have children, waiting to die. Three men to die in the gas chambers, and even the newspaper said they’re not guilty. The city’s got over fifty percent black, but yet, all the white jury except one Uncle Tom. You’re supposed to be given a trial by your equals. You’re supposed to be given equal representation, a jury trial of your peers. If he was black, he should have at least seven. At least seven or six black people. But whites sentenced him in two hours, three men to die. Are you going to do something about this? If you don’t, I’ll leave tonight and raise money and do it myself.
Congregation: Stirs
Jones: Now Redwood Valley, San Francisco, we haven’t only got about four hundred dollars, that’s cheap. I said that’s cheap. That man’s got a good chury– jury trial. When they had Brother (Unintelligible name, sounds like “Chris Spring”), it took us thirty seven thousand. And we can’t do that for everyone, but my God, three black brothers are a part of you, because what happens to them, it’ll be you next, if they get by with this dastardly deed, if they get by with this terrible act, they’ll come for you next time.
Congregation: Responds
Jones: Even though we’re shaking the dust, we’re still in America and we’re sit– I– (Calms) assume responsible to see that justice, while we’re here, to the best of our ability. Everyone that’;; raise four hundred– (Tape edit) Los Angeles. You’ve got over half of Los Angeles up in Redwood Valley now, Redwood Valley is almost Los Angeles, in many ways. There’s San Francisco. And hardly anything come out of Redwood Valley, we just took over Redwood Valley. (laughs)
Congregation: Stirs
Jones: And it’s a beautiful b– beautiful family that took it over. Yes, dear? (Tape edit) –(unintelligible) to see a family. They will all feel the burdens of one another. Those three can be your sons. They just– Julian Bond said “Pastor Jones, I am confident that they are innocent. Please, we need your desperate support if we are to save the lives of these three innocent men.” Congressman Julian Bond, in [Georgia] House of Representatives. He’s a Congressman US, and he got into it, ‘cause he couldn’t get any preacher. Their preachers are taking anniversaries. We don’t have that nonsense. Or birthdays. Or pastors’ wives teas. They’re too busy doing something like that instead of helping the poor. Aren’t you glad you’re in a church that gives the money for right things?
Congregation: Cheers and applause
Jones: Yes. (Pause) Men are going to die, and the congressman didn’t know who else to get a hold of but us. (Pause) There’s no time. Any moment they can make another appointed date. All I really tried to do is get five– five days, but they set the execution for Friday. (Pause) They’re not going to set it for Friday, because I’ve only begun to fight.
Congregation: Scattered applause
Jones: Come on. Thank you dear, but if you don’t implement it, their blood will be on your hands. Fifty. (tape edit) You hold their lives in your hand. You hold their lives. They got nothing but a de– public defender, up till now. You know what public defenders are, they’re the kiss of death. They’ll get you to plea bargain just to get– so they won’t have to work. They say plead guilty to a less charge and you’ll get off, or you’ll get so and so a reduction of sentence. They told George Jackson that, and he’s now dead. He got life, when they promised him one year. How many’ve known someone where DA– public defenders told to plead for something, and it’ll be easy on you. How many know someone? And it didn’t turn out that way. The average public defender gives five minutes to a case. And you say we’ve got a free society? You say that every man’s equal before the law? (Intense) It’s a damn, dirty, rotten, filthy lie!
Congregation: Applause
Jones: Getting so tired of these rotten politicians. But we better not get too more– much tired. They better let us go on, build the promised land, ‘cause we’re dangerous.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: We’re dangerous. Very dangerous.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: Beautiful, thank you. Who will mail 25 (tape edit) If you can get a rally, it’ll take ‘em some way of getting a rally in some of these deadbeat churches, maybe have a musical. I– I can’t hardly stand the dumb singing, but we even might do that with a bunch of ‘em to take the proceeds to help these brothers out of jail. And out of this terrible death sentence. See if these churches will put their money where their mouth is. Hmm? See if they can build up something in the newspapers. They’re both a black– Sun-Reporter. I know Dr. [Carlton] Goodlett’s a good friend of ours who owns The Sun Reporter and I know his sister here who called me the Messiah that owns the Herald, the– the black paper here, she will do something, so let’s see if we can get it written up. Something that’ll appeal and show what we’ve already done and make ‘em feel guilty. There ain’t nothing like these different churches stirred up more than for Jones to do something, and we don’t care if they give more than us, ‘cause everything they give, we’ll match it and we’ll outdo ‘em all, won’t we?
Congregation: Cheering, applause
Jones: But I wouldn’t mind at all if they did more than we. You’ll be thrilled if they would. And we just might cause it by that ugly spirit of competition that’s in them to do something, if we got a little bit– we normally don’t publicize anything, but I want this publicized. Let’s think about doing it in the best way, ‘cause those three black brothers are not going to die for this. If we set our minds to this, they will not!
Congregation: Applause and cheers
Jones: It’s gonna have to be nationalized, ‘cause our– we got so many Uncle Toms and Aunt Janes, listening to the white man’s religion, talking about going to heaven. I imagine some old foolish people setting right here saying, “They’re gonna die and be with Jesus.” You ain’t seen Jesus until you’re here and I’m on earth, and I’ve got flesh and I got bones. And if you want ‘em to be with Jesus, get ‘em out of jail!
Congregation: Applause
Jones: Bless your heart. Who else will give twenty? Like that. (Tape edit) And give me twenty dollars. Ninety-four years young. Yes, Sister Slayton. It’s a awful thing to hang over their head. Get them that new trial that they need and appeal. Say, they can’t get it, but yes, they can get it. By God, we can get it. It’s moved the mountains before, and we can move ‘em again!
Congregation: Cheers
Jones: Twenty. (Tape edit) –and get a picture that you can wear for security reasons, with your name. You ought to always have your name tag, right?
Voices in congregation: Right!
Jones: And how many have turned a picture into me? When I meditate for you, I can do you a lot more good if I can look at your picture. I asked it some many weeks ago and some of you still haven’t gotten around to doing it. (Pause) ‘Cause it helps me– Thank you, Sister Sneed. Sixteen (Tape edit) an officer in the– in the army. One of them has a– a business. One of them is a college student. Ridiculous, ‘cause some white whore, just ‘cause she wants to save her dirty name.
Voices in congregation: That’s right.
Jones: I said it’s ridiculous!
Congregation: Applause and cheers
Jones: Now you don’t have to ask whether they’re guilty or not. You don’t rape somebody, then drive them home, and they get out without even the neighbor’s, the testimony was, they get out without a scratch on them or their hair mussed. You don’t do that, honey, and rape anybody.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: Through a– Through a terrible accident no human could have gone through. (unintelligible sentence). It’s remarkable, what we’ve been brought through. (unintelligible). How many will give– (Tape edit) I would not insult him for something less than a thousand dollars. Say, he’s getting votes. He’s got no votes in South Carolina. He’s a– he’s in Georgia. He’s a congressman from Georgia. He got no votes in Carolina. And he’s sure not going to be running for president yet, you know. So he’s not trying to get to be president. So there’re a few of us that do have some good feelings, like that Mayor [Richard] Hatcher in Gary [Indiana], and he said that the black nation’s about to be destroyed. Julian Bond has said the same thing, and I’m glad somebody told him about us. It’s time good folk got together.
Congregation: Applause and cheers
Jones: Who else will give ten? (Tape edit) Brandy and extra food that’s killing you. Getting so fat you can’t hardly get it in their corset anymore or the man’s girdle. Ten. (Tape edit) –has extra weight but she– she has to work herself hard. Giving you free service, but she wants to do that to be prepared to serve you. We all ought to think of that. Shouldn’t we? I’d love to eat. But I know if I eat too much, I won’t be serving you like I ought to. I once weighed two hundred and twenty some pounds. And I weigh a hundred and eighty now – a hundred and eighty three – and I’m not satisfied. I want to get down to a hundred and sixty five. I don’t want to live. I want to live because you live here. Because here you stand upon my shoulders that is the foundation of a new creation!
Congregation: Applause and cheers
Jones: Ten. (unintelligible aside, back to mic). Ernestine Blair donating a bronze that is valued at a large amount of money. We’ll seek uh, two hundred dollars and she going to donate that to raise for these sons. Beautiful.
Congregation: Applause
Jones: Yes. (Clears throat) Thank you. Thank you. Who else will give– (tape edit) –in death row, waiting on the gas pedal. Choking gas, coming out. The young life of youth. Some of you wouldn’t mind so much, who would know the cause of freedom, but how would you mind it for your son? You wouldn’t like it very well. How many’ll give five extra (tape edit) –for the children’s homes and the senior residences? And the college kids that we’re educating. Hundred of them in school. I think that would touch you. But if three men in a gas chamber don’t touch you, you won’t going to be touched. Isn’t that true? Three. I’ve asked (tape edit) –certainly going to be gotten if I have to do it one thing or another. Let me see. (Pause) Jessie Watson, Vernon Brown and Bobby Hines. Terrible, terrible. Make the check out (Pause) to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Southern Poverty Law Center. Someone taking that down? Get it started. It’s more than a thousand, we’ll be blessed, but it isn’t, I can tell that. It’s going to be a thousand. I know the money, just as I know your thoughts. I’ve told three people their thoughts today. Why don’t you think that I know your money? I know what you’re holding back, I know what you’re blessed with. (Pause) Two dollars– (tape edit) –to nice young men. They don’t look like rapists. They’re just young men wanting to try to take advantage of somebody’s offering somethin’ free. Because they’ve been held down, naturally when a white woman will offer something free, they’re going to fall prey to it. Your son would too. And Julian Bond’s not one to champion causes, but he said, I can assure you, Pastor Jones, that we desperately need your support, and we will be saving the lives of three innocent men. That’s his exact words. He won’t say a thing like that, unless he knows what he’s talking about. ‘Cause he’s conservative, politicians can do– try to stay in office. How many will give one– (tape edit) We’ve seen blindness cured, we’ve seen crippling, a number of nurses were sent out for people that– one of the sisters came up and hugged me, that’s not even called out. She was an indirect revelation. But it happens all through the service. Peoples (Calls out) (unintelligible word) or say God, when I think of the goodness of Father?
Voices in congregation: No!
Jones: Particularly what he does for the oppressed. These healings are marvelous and they’re real. But what he does to set people free from jails and oppression, terrible ghettos, horrible housing, no food. He saved people here that were hungry. Some of the older people we have in our senior homes were hungry when they came to us. That’s sad to see some older black sister, or a brother that’s worked uh, all the days of their life, going to bed hungry every night. You say there’s no hunger in America? Walter Cronkite says there’s eight million to ten million youngsters in America that’re going to bed hungry, that are starving, slowly, in America. How many will give one dollar? (tape edit) Sixteen, these (unintelligible word) youngsters here were caught and apprehended and found and murdered in a few hours. The law also said to me if sixteen don’t give generously, sixteen of you will have your own loved ones standing before an assistant public defender. Not the defender, the assistant. You heard what I said. How many will give me one– (tape edit) –so bad, the cars won’t run, I won’t buy anything. Never bought a pair of new shoes, won’t own a car and got busses, ‘cause we need busses to get people to freedom.
End of tape
Tape originally posted June 2010