A charismatic preacher since the early 1900s, Father Divine – or the Rev. Through hard-to-trace cash arrangements, Father Divine controlled dozens of businesses, including hotels, barbershops, dry-cleaning establishments, apartment buildings and restaurants. Father Divine died in 1965, although his adherents disavow the concept of earthly death. “He has just gone away for a spell and he will come back to earth in bodily form,” Mother Divine said soon afterward. His bedroom was left unchanged after his death, and during interviews, Mother Divine sat next to his chair, occasionally seeking his guidance.

Source: National Post March 10, 2017 18:22 UTC