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Peoples Temple Collection; Box 26, Virtual Item 09, Q965- San Francisco sermon

 Digital Record
Identifier: ms-0183_26.09

Dates

  • Digitized: 1976

Creator

Summary Note

In this address before the Temple congregation in San Francisco, Jim Jones is in a combative mood. There is little context for the source of his displeasure – in fact, with the exception of one or two brief news items that he reports (and provides editorial comment on), there is little context for the sermon itself – but it is clear that he is upset with several specific people over several specific incidents. He refers to the game of chess a couple of times, perhaps having caught people playing chess instead of attending to Temple duties. He refers to people working only three-hour days and yet too busy to attend Temple services, and since the allusion recurs more than once, it is obvious he has someone in mind. Without naming names, he makes it clear who he’s talking about – “I’m looking at one” who has criticized the Temple, he says at one point; “you know who I’m talking about,” he tells the congregation at large at another point – and he is in no mood for dissension or argument. Full summary of the recording available at Alternative Considerations of Jonestown website, along with the tape transcript.

Rights Statement Note

The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine.  Requests for permission to publish must be submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.

Physical Description Note

Original audiocassette tape recording digitized and made available as .mp3 audio file.

Publisher Note

Publisher: The Jonestown Institute

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections & University Archives Repository

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