8/44 A.R.E. BULLETIN using HLC's letter from England, dated
May 24, 1944:
VOL. XII. II
B U L L E T I N
ASSOCIATION FOR RESEARCH AND ENLIGHTENMENT, INC.,
Virginia Beach, Virginia.
"Man's search for truth is his search for God."
We are favored this month with an article from Hugh Lynn
Cayce, Manager of the Association. This article is very
timely, as there are now so many new members, who need
such information on the ideals and purposes of the
Association and on his father's relationship to the
Association and to the members.
"WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THIS MAN?"
England, May 24, 1944
May I add my welcome and greetings to you who are attending
the meetings of the Thirteenth Annual Congress of the
Association for Research and Enlightenment, Incorporated!
For several days, I have been trying to select a subject for
this paper; something more than hello and good-bye, but
obviously not a treatise on anything demanding technical
study and research. The army routine hardly permits time
for that; certainly not just now. The result has been
considerable thinking about a subject which has as many
sides as there are individuals involved: namely, WHAT IS
THE PURPOSE OF THE ASSOCIATION?
Frequently, my father receives letters containing a tirade
over the necessity of joining a society in order to secure
a reading. For many individuals the blank is only a form,
something to be filled out in order to secure the reading
in question. The signing of membership forms constitutes
the first and last act for too many as members.
Part of the indifference has been due to confusion on the
part of those who constitute the Association's policy forming
group and the members of the office staff. Much of the
confusion is due to a wide variety of concepts held by
important members. All of the indifference and confusion
are not without basis and can be traced to some consistent,
but hard-to-interpret, statements in readings given over a
period of many years.
There are two horns to the dilemma. On one hand there is the
constant warning that the Association must not become a cult
or ism with any formal system of beliefs, and on the other
there is need for concerted study and unity in presenting
"the work." This is neatly phrased by the readings "in
decency and order." Since I do not have the readings in
front of me, I cannot go into this in any exhaustive manner.
Everything from details of membership fees to broad
principles are contained in readings on the Association.
A careful study of all these past readings would be in order
in preparing any expansion of the membership activities.
In the development of the Association program the privileges
and work of members form the backbone of the organization.
Stated simply, the purpose of the Association is to serve its
members.
For example, an individual seeking a reading becomes a member
of the Association, for only members of the Association can
receive readings. This reading is a privilege, a service
rendered to the member. For it he pays a membership fee,
either as an Active or Associate member. Any function of the
organization can be interpreted in terms of service to the
members, and reversely, only through members can the work of
the organization be carried on. There is no need to follow
this further. I wanted to establish a simple premise from
which we can examine certain general principles.
Each person will come seeking something different. You know
what these are, for you were motivated by these desires:
some come seeking help for a suffering physical body; some
want help for a loved one; others have a problem in human
relationships or a decision which must be made regarding
their work; a few are interested in the possibilities of
scientific research, in studying the laws which govern the
unusual manifestations of the readings; many are attracted by
the strangeness of the whole matter and come out of
curiosity, fluttering about for a time and then either they
settle down or drift off; a growing number find new
spiritual stimuli. These are common interests, easily
recognized by all of you.
The Association program must be broad and free if it is to
serve all of these needs and interests.
Yet, we must pause and consider still more basic aspects of
the principles of service involved. All of the above
attractions of the work are only means to an end. In
serving its members the Association is committed to
stimulation of the spiritual nature of man.
This does not mean that the organization has any set formula
or any system of beliefs. It is freedom from all these which
gives the Association its greatest opportunity.
Let us state this a bit differently. The readings point out
that each individual is part of a great system of spiritual
evolution. Every physical reading, every life reading, every
mental and spiritual reading, is concerned with giving man a
better understanding of his relationship with God and with
his fellow man. Every department of the Association, every
phase of its program, must recognize this principle and lead
to this end.
There are expressions describing methods which are essential:
freedom of thought and expression; simplicity and clarity;
cooperation; honesty.
The time has come when we must cease being vague about
membership in the Association. It is time for those
interested in the work to stop saying that the Association is
an organization which permits Edgar Cayce to give psychic
readings without the law attacking him. Edgar Cayce does not
need the Association. This is a strange statement, you say.
Isn't it for Edgar Cayce that we are working as members of
the Association? Certainly not! A great many of our
members, some of them prominent in its affairs, have for a
long time been assuming that they are rendering a personal
service. There is no doubt that some are drawn to this point
of view because of past relationships which bind them
karmicly (if I may be permitted to build a word).
In becoming connected with the Association Edgar Cayce has
limited himself and his work to the intelligence and ability
of those who make up the membership of the organization.
In thinking through this matter let us examine some general
statements which will help us think clearly about membership
in the Association. Without the readings in front of me, I
may not be able to quote exact passages but the ideas will
not be far from the information given through the years in
the readings.
1. There will be two classes of members; Associate and
Active.
2. Associate members hold a membership for one year and
during that time may apply for readings. They receive the
monthly Bulletin. Through the Bulletin and such letters or
circulars as may be prepared for the purpose, the Associate
members should be informed of the various activities of the
organization and given the opportunity to take a more active
part as an Active member.
3. Active members SHOULD BE the real Association. The most
important of their functions is one which is ignored (as it
is in civic life;) namely, the selection by vote of the Board
of Trustees of the Association. This Board should consist
of Active members who have taken a prominent part in the
Association activities in their respective communities. This
answers the problem of Active members voting on people whom
they do not know. The work of the Active member is limited
only by his initiative, for every effort has been made not to
limit the direction or extent of an individual's study or
participation in any phase of work.
4. This brings us to the Board of Trustees, Active members
who have shown a real interest in the work in the eyes of
other Active members in their community. After this vote is
taken each name is presented to a reading and thus checked as
a future Board member. The existing Board of Trustees is
bound by the Association charter to accept this final list
and so elects them yearly to serve for three years; thus
one-third of the Board is retired each year.
It is this Board that selects the officers of the Association
including President, Vice-President, Secretary, Manager,
Treasurer and delegates the power of the selection of the
office staff. It is this Board that controls the policies of
the organization, plans its major operations and works out
the program.
Briefly, what are some of the services now being rendered the
Active members:
A. The opportunity to secure readings through Edgar Cayce.
The assurance that these readings will be recorded accurately
and the records preserved carefully. Members have a right to
expect prompt handling of all their affairs pertaining to
these readings, and our organization should endeavor to
maintain a schedule which will make this possible.
B. Active members receive free all publications of the
Association, including mimeographed and printed booklets.
They have a right to expect a publication program which will
cover all phases of the work.
C. The Active members have free access to the Association
library and extracted records of the organization. (No one
but the Secretary and one working on the extracting have
access to the personal records, which are filed under a
classification number.)
D. Active members are supplied with leaflets for
distribution, are encouraged to organize study groups and,
if they have time, act as Regional Representatives who
assist in the interpretation of readings, prepare questions
and follow up important case studies.
Look ahead and visualize some of the services which can be
rendered Active members: I will only list them now, perhaps
you will help us plan and fulfill them.
1. A monthly printed magazine giving a far more comprehensive
picture of the work than can be achieved through our
Bulletin.
2. A radio program which will reach many more thousands of
people with the information and inspirational material.
3. A lecture program that will bring outstanding members of
the Association to their communities - frequently.
4. A well organized study group program.
5. An expansion of the printed booklets to include every
phase of the work, prepared by authorities on the various
subjects.
6. Use of one of the finest libraries on psychical research
in the world. (A mail exchange should be worked out.) We
have only scratched the surface on this library program.
7. A research program which will provide helpful and valuable
information direct to the members based on the finest
possible experimentation handled by the best men who can be
secured.
8. A series of books which will amplify THERE IS A RIVER.
9. Adequate provision for lecture, study and library space
near the records, and near Edgar Cayce.
10. A complete index system on the thousands of readings in
the files which will make all the information available by
subject. This will be supplemented by an extracting system
which will provide hundreds of looseleaf books in the library
containing data under a variety of subject headings. This
extracting system should be extended so as to make it
possible for extracts from readings to be furnished by mail
to members interested in special subjects.
Let me return now to the first premise. The purpose of the
Association is to serve its members. All activities must be
pointed toward an ultimate stimulation of the spiritual
consciousness, leading to a better understanding of the
relationship between man and his God and man and his fellow
men.
There are those of you who will say that I have not stressed
enough the importance of Edgar Cayce, the importance of
working with him, for him.
To those of you who think this: The life of Edgar Cayce has
been dedicated to the service of his fellow men. There are
few of us who will ever (in this life) be permitted to serve
as he serves. In building a structure which will give all
men the full benefits of his work we are serving in a way
which cannot be measured in time or space. It is not his
work, it is our work! People like you and I, and thousands
of others who have come to know him, have an opportunity, a
chance, which will not come again, perhaps, for hundreds of
years. He has no problem, no question. In every reading his
life is fulfilled and God is glorified. Ours is the
question, "WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THIS MAN?"
294-202. "God seeks all to be one with Him. And as all
things were made by Him, that which is the creative influence
in every herb, mineral, vegetable, or individual activity, is
that same force ye call God, seeking expression! Even as
when God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light.
For, this is law; this is love.
"Hence those who seek in sincerity, in hope, in purpose, to
know, receive only to the measure that they manifest their
hope, their belief, their desire in a God-purpose through a
promise made to a man!
"Thus ye have the source. Thus ye have the manner. The
seeker answers. For, know ye all: Ye give an account unto
God for every deed, for every idle word, for every purposeful
hope you have made manifest. Then, to all: Let not thy
heart be troubled. Let it not be afraid. For ye believe in
God. Then, as His children, for thy sake, for thy Lord's
sake, act like it!"
THE BUILDING FUND
Those who have attended the last two meetings of the Congress
have observed how crowded has been the library, which we have
had to use for a lecture room. Many have not been able to
hear either lectures or readings because they found neither
seats nor standing room for themselves.
The Board, recognizing this existing condition and realizing
that as the years pass the attendance at the Congress will be
larger and larger, began to plan for an auditorium, a larger
library, more offices and, if funds are adequate, bedroom and
other facilities that will meet the needs of the members of
the Association, who will attend the Congress in the future.
The following are extracts from a recent reading to the
members of the Association, calling attention to this
important step in the progress of the work.
254-115. "Prepare for a meeting place, yes - when consistent
with the needs of those who are through this channel seeking
to know themselves and their Maker the better. Let each
contribute according to the dictates of his own conscience.
"There should be the presentation of the needs of the
Association for the building. Let the secretary of the
Building Fund prepare such. She can do a good job! Let this
ever be presented, understood, that all contributions to the
Association for Research and Enlightenment, Inc., are
deductible in making out individual income tax returns."
Contributions should be sent to:
Mrs. Richmond Seay
Secretary of Building Fund
425 South Main Street
Blackstone, Virginia
8/12/44 EC's ltr. to HLC overseas:
Sgt. Hugh Lynn Cayce
30th Special Service Co.
APO 350, c/o PM, New York
Dear Hugh Lynn:
While I have been back from Florida about a week, I haven't
really gotten down to work as yet. I am still not feeling as
good as I should, and from the X-rays and the information, am
not in very good shape yet. I am trying to take it easy, and
hope I will be feeling all right soon.
I don't recall having received the applications for the two
people whom you mentioned in one of your letters to Mother
[GC] a day or two ago. Maybe we will have them in the next
day or two, or maybe they are in the big stack on my desk. I
haven't been able to get through it yet. Being slowed up as
much as we have been, and not feeling any better, is inclined
to make me worry a little bit. I hope this will be all
right, though, soon.
Now, I want to tell you about my visit with Tom [Thomas
Sugrue]. First, while the progress is slow, Tom is getting
along very nicely and, personally, I feel that his attitude
is marvelous. However, of course his friend, Mr. Keller
[Herman J. Keller, Clearwater, Fla.], and Mary [Sugrue],
seemed to think he was on his good behavior because I was
there. Maybe you know Tom well enough to know whether that
is the case, or whether I might see through the whole thing.
But he swims about an hour each day, then takes his exercises
and gets his treatments regularly. His lower limbs have not
straightened out to any great extent, and he still has a
great deal of trouble in his back and neck. However, all of
this, as both his doctors say, is really slowly improving.
He can get movement in his ankle, and can wiggle his toes
which, as you know, he hadn't been able to do. The doctor is
gradually getting his knees farther apart. You know how
clamped together they were. What they have to do first, is
to move in the pelvic bones so circulation can go through to
his limbs before they will ever be able to get his knees
straight. With his shoes built up, as was suggested, when he
gets on crutches he doesn't just hop and swing his legs, but
makes his feet move, taking about one-half or three-quarters
of an inch steps at a time, but he forces himself to do it
that way. They say he keeps that up all the while. So, he
is really on the improve.
He completed the book for Bill Starling, though it was too
bad that before it was published, Bill has passed away. He
took pneumonia while in New York with Dave, figuring with the
publisher, and he passed away about a week ago. Just what
effect this will have on getting his book published, I don't
know. I think it will be published anyway [STARLING OF THE
WHITE HOUSE by Thomas Sugrue, published by Simon & Shuster -
reviews appeared 3/46 - by 6/56 100,000 copies had been
sold.], though doubtless the publishers will want some little
bit of it changed, under the present circumstances.
Now, about our discussion about the program here. I talked
with Tom at some length about the publications program.
These are the things that he has agreed to go to work on
right away, and have ready, possibly, by the latter part of
October or the first of November. First, he is going to
rewrite the Life Reading Booklet, and write a new one on
Mental and Spiritual Readings; rewrite the Cayce booklet for
publication possibly a year from now, for we have about a
thousand on hand. Rewrite the Essenes, still leaving it in
the name of Dr. Smith [Dr. Enid Severy Smith]. Also, he
will rewrite Ra-Ta, leaving this as being done by Millincent
Horton. We have just typed these in manuscript form, giving
him the data, and he will write it as part of the Spiritual
Evolution, as was suggested through the Life Reading. He is
also going to try to write a booklet on Auras. I don't just
know about this, for there has been so little published on
this subject, but he has gotten everything that he can find
on the subject, but the interest in this has grown. Whether
it is because it is something not understood, and whether we
can set a precedent in this part of the phenomena or not, I
don't know, but he is really of the opinion that this would
be one of the best sellers that we could write; and I believe
that all the rest of the data will be put in shape if he
carries through with his program. Of course, if he does
this, I will want to put him on the payroll. I am wondering
if the payroll will stand all that we have piled on it, but
we will do the best we can, and hope we don't have it in too
big a mess for you when you are able to be home again.
Now, about the general office, and your suggestions. Miss
Esther Wynne, as you know, is here, taking care of the Weekly
Letter and the Bulletin, and has plenty of time to write on
any of the material that she deems wise regarding Study
Groups, and these - the Groups - we are having requests from
various individuals in different parts of the country
regarding organizing Study groups, and eventually this
should require the entire time of someone - possibly, no one
better than Miss Wynne might be found for this special part
of the work.
Now, the regular office work. I don't know how it could be
put under the supervision of any one individual. Miss Gladys
is supervising it, and doing a good job. Mrs. Fitch
[Jeanette Reeder (Mrs. Leonard) Fitch, called "Jeanne".] is
writing the readings at the present time. I think you met
her - I don't know. Grace Premo [Grace L. (Mrs. Bernard)
Premo.] is personal secretary at present, and helps with the
readings and with any other part of the work that comes up.
Miss Patterson [Miss Catherine M. Patterson of Youngstown,
Ohio] has just recently come, and she is quite a good
balance, I think, for everyone in the office. She takes care
of addressing of envelopes. We had an offer for a machine to
do this, but we haven't any place for the machine, as yet,
and I asked him [Mr. Wm. Frank Mitchell of N.Y. & Larchmont,
N.Y.] to hold it up until further notice. There are so many
changes in our addresses, and it costs a lot of money to have
each of these plates made, and would require a lot more work
than the way we are, at the present time, changing them on
the card or rewriting them. Cayce Jones [Wm. Cayce Jones,
son of friend Wm. Lamar Jones of Selma, Ala.] has been here
since the Congress, on the payroll as a sort of "roustabout".
Of course, he is just trying it out. I think I wrote you
this, before, but I don't know whether you got that letter,
or not. He will, of course, be going back to school in just
a week or so, now. Mrs. Millaway [Gussie W. (Mrs. Jack L.)
Millaway, from Okla., husband in service] is secretary for
Miss Wynne, and does the mimeographing. Of course, everyone,
in some way or another, turns to for getting out the
Bulletin, for there are about two thousand now, each month.
[Counting all those new members waiting for appointments up
to two years ahead!]
As for the Active Membership program. As you know, we had
already used some form in this direction, and there is now
almost as many Weekly Letters as formerly were Bulletins to
the whole membership - close to three hundred, and some being
added to this almost every day, not only people changing from
the Associate, but many writing in the first time asking, as
they have read the suggestions in the Cayce booklet for the
Active Membership. This, as you know, was changed when the
book was reprinted. $25.00 for an Active Membership, or
$35.00 for Active Membership and the first reading. $20.00
for other readings, save the check physicals. Mary Wirsing
[Miss Mary McClain Wirsing of Roanoke, Va.] is, of course,
still taking care of the books, and they are getting to be
quite a problem, keeping up with Memberships, sending out
literature. The two weeks I was away, the literature
amounted to better than $200, so you know if this was
stressed a little bit more, and we added more literature and
advertised in other publications, it would be a full time
job for someone to look after this - with the work that we
hope Tom will do before the first of the year. It should be
in much better shape, and we will possibly be proud of what
we are putting out, rather than feel questioning about it.
I wasn't pleased with it, but it was the best I could do.
Harmon Bro is not doing any writing, so far as I know. He
has written Tom, as well as myself, and I suggested that he
write a booklet something like this - "What should be one's
approach to this work?" - but I haven't heard from him about
it. Apparently he didn't just agree with me on my
suggestion, and after talking with Tom, whether Tom will be
more lenient, I don't know. I don't mean there is any rift,
but he might have done a lot more while he had the
opportunity, as his mother said, but he got more than he
could digest at that time. I got a couple of letters from
Mrs. Bro that I haven't been able to answer, yet. My desk
is piled up with correspondence.
Now, as for Mae [Mae Gimbert Verhoeven - later St. Clair].
She has been helping Miss Gladys with the appointments,
writing the material as each of them do when they are writing
off readings. They write that that they think will be used
by any of the researchers. Mae hasn't been able, then, to do
any extracting, and there isn't really any room for it, at
the present time. I think this has to be worked out in a
little different way. Of course, there are some of our
members who are very enthusiastic about each phase of the
work. I had a letter from Mr. Shaw [W. Sutherland Shaw,
Truth Research Foundation, Portland, Oregon] the other day,
and he is still anxious to see and to help in getting the
extracting done, and he feels this should be done before any
consideration is given to expansion of the building, under
the present circumstances. But there is no room in this part
of the building, as you will see from what I have told you of
what all are doing. In fact, we have had to have many more
individuals than space for them to do good work.
But when we can get settled down, I think the type of work
from those we now have can do as much work as if two or three
others not interested in what they are doing might
accomplish. But I am of the opinion that as long as we can
keep Mrs. Millaway, and have Grace [Grace Premo] and Jean
[Jeanne Fitch], the work can go on. Of course, we have to
have the bookkeeper, and have one who sort of looks after
everything, takes care of filing, changes of address, and I
think Miss Patterson is as well able to do that as anyone we
have had yet. Each of these enter into the spirit of the
work. We don't want anyone who is just working for the
salary, or even working AT the Association - either working
WITH, or we don't need them.
It takes time to get all this together, I am, possibly, not a
good manager. I know you have been howling for someone to
manage the office, but if we do get organized, you will
possibly change it all - but don't spend any more money than
we are doing, now, or we'll never get ahead!
There should be something on the Building Fund in the next
Bulletin. Everybody, everywhere, seems anxious to help. The
trouble is, I can't help as much as I should. We are more
than a year behind now with appointments, but I have to take
it slow. The last reading said, and the cardiograph verified
it, that my heart is too big, but I hope I can get it down to
its right size.
Now, about yourself. We, of course, can't help but be
anxious. I just trust that you have a lot of work to do, for
I don't know as what has been presented here can be, or will
be, given as good opportunity without some of your plans and
ideas - yet I hope they don't come too big, or that we will
ever get involved any more financially, as we have been.
As for your boy, and Edgar Evan's boy. Well, they are
growing up like weeds. Your boy is saying everything and
anything he hears anybody else say. As cute as he can be.
Lots of things are happening, but let's hope most of them are
for the best. Do take care of yourself, and if you have any
suggestions or questions, when you have studied this over -
and there will be a great many! - write them; but I feel
like maybe I am doing the best I can.
Lots of love, Dad EC:gp [Grace Premo]
10/19/44 EC's ltr. to Members of the Board: [Used also
under
294-212 and
254-116 Reports.]
HOTEL PATRICK HENRY
Roanoke, VA
TO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE ASS'N FOR RESEARCH
AND ENLIGHTENMENT, INC., TO BE READ AT THE MEETING of
Oct. 21, 1944.
Friends and loved ones:
It seems that exceptional circumstances have made it
necessary for this special meeting. God in His wisdom has
seen fit that I not be present. Yet you know I am with you
in spirit and purpose, when that purpose is to serve our
fellow man - in love, patience, longsuffering, bearing one
another's burdens.
We all have fallen short of the glory which we may indeed
manifest in the Christ.
I'm glad to say I am feeling better. Through His love and
mercy I may be able to return to the work very soon. Even in
the last reading, when everything seemed so awfully dark, He
promised to be with me. We have much work to do. Let us be
sure that it is for the glory of God and not to the glory of
any man.
At this time I am asking, and have asked, Miss Gladys to be
my personal representative. She knows my personal wishes, as
well as the faults and failures of each of us - as we have
tried to be of a service through this channel.
I do not feel that there are a great many drastic changes to
be made just now, until Hugh Lynn can return to act as
Manager of the Association, which we trust by His grace will
be in not too distant future.
I would like to have the Executive Committee, whoever is
elected, to appoint Miss Gladys as Treasurer - or Assistant
Treasurer - for each of the funds or accounts to be set up.
She should have been given this authority long ago. It was
through my own negligence that this was not done.
If it seems best to make other drastic changes, please do so.
And above everything, may peace, harmony, love, with the
purpose of the Association at heart, be the rule in this
meeting.
God bless you all.
Sincerely, [signed] Edgar Cayce EC:GD
TO EXPEDITE MAIL DELIVERY PLEASE ADDRESS US ROANOKE 9,
VIRGINIA
Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation