3/30/36 EC's letter:
I had yours of the 13th, and at the first opportunity we got
your Life Reading - which has been forwarded to you. I hope
that a very close study of this will prove very helpful to
you.
Naturally, I appreciate the disturbing factors that are in
your experience at the present time; but I hope you will not
consider self so much as your duty and obligation to others.
Not as to what people will say, but as to what is really the
just and right thing.
When we have disturbances in our daily experience, we are
only meeting our own selves, or something we have done
towards our fellow man. Maybe it was not yesterday or the
day before, but it has been in our experience. We have
builded it and we must meet it. If we will meet it in the
way and manner as given that IS the proper way, in the Christ
Consciousness, then the yoke becomes easy. But if we attempt
to justify ourselves by accusing others of being in the
wrong, we only add to our own burdens and make it much harder
for others. This, I think, is the primary lesson that we
should learn from the life of the Christ; knowing that He met
these things - "without fault" as we see it, but it was His
own experience in the earth that He was meeting; not only for
Himself but the good it might bring to others. Hence the
good we do should be not alone for ourselves but for our
fellow man. That's how He became the Savior of the world.
And until we can become a helpful experience in the life of
some individual, we will not know what real living is.
Of course, I don't need to tell you these things. This is
merely to remind you of something that I know you are already
fully aware of. If we will only ask ourselves this question
before every thought, word or act is given power through
expression, "Is it helpful to another, or to our fellow man?"
we will have a CLEAN conscience in all our decisions. For
there is nothing that makes a greater hell for us than our
own conscience; for it besets us day by day, and it burns and
burns until we attempt to justify ourselves in adding to
disturbances oft in our own weakness. And it has been well
said by some of old, "That which I hated that I become." Or,
as Moses' admonition, there is set before us each day life
and death, good and evil. We as free agents, as gods in the
making, choose for ourselves. The LAW is perfect, it
converts the soul if we will apply it. If we attempt to get
around it some other way, or as He said "climb up some other
way," we become thieves and robbers. We are robbing our own
selves of our birthright; we are selling it for the
satisfying of our own self-purposes. We can only live the
true life by making ourselves a channel for HIS love to be
shown to our fellow man. And not for the satisfying of
ourselves but for the glorifying of God through the Christ in
the earth.
I know you don't want a sermon. But think on these things,
for in them really is hope and life.
I trust you are feeling a great deal better in every way, and
that material things are straightening themselves out.
Hoping you will let us hear from you from time to time, and
with all good wishes, I am
Sincerely,
Edgar Cayce
[EC:GD]
4/06/36 Mr. [
370]'s letter: "It is no trouble at all to tell
you that I was shaken and stunned as I read each sentence of
my Life Rdg. and saw myself drawn plainly before me in each
position. I knew that truth would be portrayed to me in a
rdg. but if I have any reaction, regardless of the confusion
that has beset me for some time, I DID want the truth. So
the rdg., the first time, as well as the second and third
time, left me feeling so much better.
"Now comes your letter that throws me up in bold relief
before the truth that is so true in my case, that I can see
what is meant for me to know, and these things are not just
truisms but real facts. So I can only thank my Creator and
Lord that it is shown me, in this letter as well as the Life
Rdg. Indeed HE cares and His Spirit abides in one who can
help me along the way, in the simplicity of wisdom - without
fear or favor, condemnation or flattery.
"Christ has never been shown to me so plainly as this letter
does in one or two sentences... [He quoted last part of EC's
3rd paragraph.]
"I have persuaded myself often that I was unselfish, but I
can see the selfishness that has been there. Did you ever
see a life that fell down as often on that score as portrayed
in my past experiences? What a bad picture it makes! I have
thought at times that I was acquiring knowledge and some
wisdom. It appears now of no avail if it is turned to self.
My prayer is that I may overcome this influence in so much of
my life. Have patience with me as I fight my way.
"I am writing this in appreciation and hope I can in some way
add to or help in this great work you are doing...
"I will remit again this week-end [my monthly contribution]
and prove in some way to be worthy of such a friend."
7/19/36 He requested Life Rdg.
1243-1 for his 20 yr. old
daughter. [See subsequent Physical Readings.]
11/26/36 GD's note: He sent his monthly contribution with a
short note on a WPA Daily Cost Report form; I think he was
working with WPA in some sort of supervisory capacity.
12/26/36 "I must tell you about another Saul made happy.
This makes two. I have seen the spirit of God working as a
result of your rdgs. and some of the truths that come through
your work. This is the spiritual and mental part I am
speaking of. Mr. [
1308] came over to my home Sun. a.m. and
we two had a quiet 2 hrs. going over his Physical Rdg. and
general conversation about you and 'the work'."
1/01/37 He submitted questions for a Ck. Physical
370-5,
saying: "I feel that I've grown some in spiritual
understanding as guided in part by the Group #1 in Norfolk
[See [
262] series, basis for books A SEARCH FOR GOD]. There
is so much to know and to do. I hope I may be spared to see
more and more of His work done."
3/14/37 "I rec'd another increase in income the past
weekend, which has a refreshing effect.
"I am thinking of 'the work' and looking for opportunities
where I can serve. Pray that I may find my way in more and
more usefulness. Your love and care has been a great stay
for me. May His love keep you and yours," [
370]
5/20/37 "I hope it is so I can get away for the Congress
this year. I feel like I am closer to such a trip than ever
before... I would like to go along with others from here if
there is anybody going. Have you heard from B'ham in this
respect? What has become of Mrs. [
272]?
"I may get into company much over my head if I come, but I do
want to come and see you and meet Mrs. Cayce and Hugh Lynn.
I hope the way clears."
5/24/37 EC's letter: "There is a Mr. [
1196] coming from ...,
[Ala.]; he is quite a spiritualist. We have no fault to find
with that, it is true, even though we may not believe it is
the whole truth."
6/10/37 Mr. [
370] wrote he couldn't come but hoped to send
daughter [
1243].
8/31/38 Letter reported on his physical condition (see under
370-5), then: "These are not pleasant words to write to
the best friend I ever had... This week I reread my Life
Rdg. and I realized more than ever how merciful my Maker has
been to me to let me live. I have made enough mistakes to
stop an army. Just think what I might have accomplished if
I had done what I should.
"I Have stood and wondered at times why people are weak and
faithless, but I can understand better now, for I know how
weak and faithless I have been...
"I love you and the cause."
3/15/39 "I am remembering your birthday in concert with many
of your friends. The honor is mine to be counted as one of
the many thousands who draw an easier mental and spiritual
breath, who can live with more understanding and
enlightenment, BECAUSE they know YOU in precept and example.
Your birthday is a perpetual blessing to all the earth,
reaching the multitude not yet born."
11/02/39 "I am occupied as Gen. Supt. on Road Work W.P.A.
This may all change soon. We don't know the policy the State
or Government will pursue. I have acquired a knowledge of
this work and it seems to agree with me physically. If it is
abandoned I will have time enough to seek some other
livelihood... I thought in '31 & '32 I was about to arrive
financially but the vision passed, as it did many others.
Now I am glad it did. I don't believe I was prepared to take
it at that time, and, too, I may not have been here now to
tell it. I am thinking of my physical condition revealed in
rdg. in '36 [
370-4] when I was about finished."
12/18/39 [
370]'s ltr. to EC:
Dear Mr. Cayce; -
God is in his heaven and all is well with the world.
I am just home (noon) and find the association Bulletin on
Life readings, a Christmas card from you and the letter
[
8/28/39] of Thomas Sugrue "The Man on the Cross." A
panorama has gone before me of you, Mr. Sugrue, Father
Brennon, Hugh Lynn Cayce, the lady Sunday school teacher and
the hosts of kindred souls - are while I read, and I feel
like saying like Paul - "Thank God and take courage." He has
let me see the work in His Kingdom - the permanency - the
consistency the universal power of His world of love. Here
I was almost worried SICK past going because my job as
construction, Supt. W.P.A was gone - my home in jeopardy by
the Home Owners Loan Corp., my car to go because of a small
unpaid balance - my back (kidneys) are about to stop me but
it all seems so trivial since I read my mail.
So this is how His light shines in a dark world. Let Him
take the fire from the altar and purge my life, my body, that
I may serve also with the hosts I have seen. You have served
for years - sometimes in pain - Hugh Lynn comes and adds his
mind and body to the service with you and Mrs. Cayce. Mr.
Sugrue adds himself since college days. The group of Norfolk
work and prayer - the ever increasing waves of endless oceans
of love continue to travel across the world like the still,
small voice - since and and for the MAN on the Cross.
You remember in Christ's high priestly prayer he asked the
father not to take his followers out of the world. He had
kept them all but the son of perdition. Also before this he
had told them that they would suffer - be persecuted. And as
he had loved them so should they love one another. "And
greater works than these shall ye do for I go to the Father."
Mr. Sugrue has done a great service and it is the power of
the love of Christ that enables him to paint the picture of
the work of the Kingdom of God in this troubled world.
You have done me a great service today, in allowing me to
look in on the picture. God will bless you - Hugh Lynn, and
Mr. Sugrue with the added host of his followers, with whom I
add my prayers and thanksgiving.
Sincerely yours, [
370]
See subsequent Ck. Physical Rdgs.
10/21/41 He obtained Life Rdg.
2613-1 for the little girl of
a friend.
5/30/42 He reported on his physical condition in following
treatment given in
370-8, then:
"I find myself guilty of things that I have heretofore been
startled to see other folks do. Like forgetting to remember
the goodness of our Maker, unappreciative, operating only
with self-interest and preservation. And, too, I have
marveled at times at the same things in the Disciples in that
last week with the Savior. How one writer tells about their
contention for places in His kingdom, and how the Lord
rebuked them, then in a few verses more tells them they will
occupy 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. The more
I think of it the more becomes my wonder at the patience and
love He showed these followers - the humanness of this event
as well as the power of divinity displayed. Also I remember
that these men, his disciples, were not the same kind of men,
nor showed these weaknesses after Pentecost when power was
given them.
"Please forgive me my weakness and above all things remain MY
FRIEND."
6/22/42 "I want to write you a letter but am in such a
confused state that I cannot write as I wish to. But first
of all I want to thank you for the receipt today of the book,
A SEARCH FOR GOD. It contains the truths that lead one to
know God. In looking over it I read the instructions 'How to
Meditate.' I realize I have done myself harm in efforts to
meditate when I was physically and mentally not well. What
development I have had rises up now to further confuse my
acts and thinking. I did things while I was as work with the
laborers under me that I am paying dearly for now. It brings
me upright in the middle of the night and banishes all sleep.
I have prayed the best I could for God's mercy. If I live
and work in the future it will be by His mercy. I am writing
you perhaps because I have found more truth and Godliness
where you are. There is more love there than I know of
anywhere on earth and you understand better than anyone else.
I have failed so much that I want to put a halter on myself
that I may not waste any more of the love and blessings that
have been showered around me. I will have to watch every
word I say and deed I do to walk before my fellows. I know
that some have had light coming through me that helped them
on the way. Help me to pray that I fail not; though He slay
me that I will still trust Him. What has been our home so
long and what I have is threatened."
6/25/42 EC's letter: "Don't condemn yourself too much. God
doesn't and hasn't. He still gives you the opportunity to
tell the good tidings, so why should you condemn yourself or
anyone else? What has been has been, but tomorrow in a new
day. He has said, 'Whosoever will may come and drink of the
water of life [Rev. 22:17].' He is glad and anxious to have
you come. It is you and I who hold back and make this or
that excuse. 'But there is more joy in heaven over one that
repents and comes than over the 99 that are just in their own
righteousness [Luke 15:7]!
"I do appreciate the nice things you say about me and the
study groups hereabout. Just spread the good work and word,
get others to read the book if you feel it is worth reading.
Maybe you can get someone to review it in one of the papers
there in B'ham.
"Let me hear from you again real soon. Hope you are feeling
much better and all is well with you."
7/15/42 "I appreciate so much you answers to my letters. It
is encouraging to know I have a friend who tells me the truth
and who has such deep understanding. May your happiness
increase and that of those about you."
12/17/42 "After much effort and many rejections, an old Welch
doctor passed me for work on conditions that I would not
strain, or do any lifting. I was happy that I could do any
work. I was put in the time office balancing payroll sheets
of the pipe foundry and the shell mill, and 2 nights each wk.
I wore a pistol and guarded or watched. At times my strength
was taxed but I didn't grumble. Everyone was good to me...
I manage to keep up my Sunday School attendance...
"Thank the Lord and you and the worthy author, Thomas Sugrue,
for the book THERE IS A RIVER. The author has a great gift,
transmitting human life in story form in words that are
attractive, easy to read, and, most of all, with
understanding. And what a life story he has to tell! He is
another one out of 10,000.
"Forgive me, pray for me as you have done. The day of
miracles is not over. I still have a chance... I would
shout for joy tonight if I knew how, in the knowledge that
spiritual conquests have been made, and that I - even I -
know it - and His mercy endureth forever. It is a permanent
thing. Even I, a problem child of God, may know it."
3/22/44 "The work you do is the pioneering work that compares
or parallels with that of Moses. Moses was doing something
entirely new to this world. He was dealing with a bunch of
ignorant slaves, ignorant of his plans and purposes for them.
He really had a tough job to plant in them the teachings, the
discipline and inspiration that was to make a great nation,
and a people that were, through trial and error, to inherit
the earth. You and your followers, too, have gone through
the 40 yrs. in the desert of trial and training and are now
pioneering before the world in a different and peculiar way
the reality of God, the power of God, the fatherhood of God,
the will of God, the love of God. And they shall know Him,
the fellowship of His suffering, the power of His
resurrection. For He shall come and reign with power, and we
shall know Him as He is. Save yourself, my friend, for the
great task ahead. Delegate the burden of details as fast as
you can find those who can do the tasks. The leaven has been
placed in ten measures of meal, 'til the whole is become
leavened.' We need you to help us see the light, to guide us
into the light. Save your strength of mind and body. We
need you more than ever."
8/21/44 "I appreciate the oft repeated truths from the Bible
used in rdgs. I have long wanted this understanding and have
gained same. But I have to fight continually in sorting the
truth out and also in controlling [
370]. This tendency to
want to be dogmatic - to argue - was well portrayed to me in
my Life Rdg. some yrs. ago, and I profited by the
realization. As I look back I can see that at times I took
too bold a stand for my ability, or stepped out of accord
unnecessarily."
9/16/44 After receiving a form ltr. about his membership (the
membership sec'ty not realizing he had been contributing a
few dollars a month for years), he wrote EC (not knowing EC
had gone to Roanoke for a rest):
"Please, my friend, correct me when I am wrong, but don't let
them turn me out to graze. You have always been a great
blessing to me and I cannot imagine myself getting on without
you. Affectionately yours, [
370]."
12/12/44 Letter to GD: "I want a pocket size, onion skin,
Bible for my son [
640] in the service... I have tried every
book store... One time Mr. Cayce showed us one that
Mr. Dwight L. Moody autographed and gave him. He had just
told us the story of meeting Mr. Moody at sunrise on the
river, when he was a boy in his 'teens'... He had wired
me from Montgomery that he would stop over for a day at the
Tutweiler Hotel on his return from out in Arizona ['34].
It was a great day and I spent the entire time with him,
even into the night."
1/16/45 "Please find enclosed $5 for the good of the Ass'n."
1/27/45 "The Bulletin came yesterday, just before I was to
go to my evening work, containing the shock of the
announcement of Mr. Cayce's passing. It was so easy for us
to think that we would always have Mr. Cayce... Those who
learned to love him feel like the disciples Peter, James and
John in Gethsemane [Mat. 26:36] when he came back to find
them asleep - but he went on to tread the wine press alone.
And they were so lost until after Pentecost, after which He
appeared to them many times and they were empowered to carry
out His work. Those of you who were privileged to such close
association with him have a great future, a great
opportunity..."
6/10/45 He sent money for a copy of the Edgar Cayce
Bible Minutes on the Book of Genesis (in mimeographed form)
saying: "I've been waiting a long time for this!"
8/12/45 "Please send me a copy of A SEARCH FOR GOD and one
copy of STUDY OF BOOK OF REVELATION... Tell Mrs. Frances Y.
Morrow (of the Prayer Group), when you see her, that I have
attained hours that have some regularity and am observing the
5:45 to 6:00 P.M. prayer period. I have been delayed
2-3
times and when this did happen I felt the effect. I will
write her soon, and God bless her and you."
10/15/45 Letter to GD: "Your Diary-Letter has been a tonic
to me. New hope is awakened in the work that I have been so
much interested in and out of which as now I have gotten so
much good. Though now my body is weak and I have been at
such a loss to know what to do. Income was cut off when
peace was declared, except for Social Security. I can't
think of anything that does not take more physical strength
than I have now at 62 that I would attempt to do. I have
travelled on nervous energy for some time but it will have
take more than this to compete in this world of men.
However, with all my errors I have some consolation - our
daughter, her husband, and 2 fine children are very kind to
me at home here with me. We are living in the anticipated
joy of seeing our boy [
640] any day now, coming back from
flying the 'Hump,' and the joy of having him, his fine young
wife and 2 small children with us again. I find some joy,
too, in teaching my Sunday School class each Sunday. Added
to all this I have been able to keep the prayer hours morning
and evening with the A.R.E. Prayer Group. Mrs. Morrow keeps
me supplied with the new affirmations each month - they are
so good and appropriate - God bless her. If I go by my
rights on the membership dues I will try to pick it up again
as soon as possible. In any event, God bless you. In His
name, [
370]."
11/13/45 GD wrote a ltr. of appreciation for all his
encouragement thru yrs.
4/12/46 Routine mailing was ret'd marked - MOVED - LEFT NO
ADDRESS. Apparently he died and the family moved away.
2/20/54 His daughter, Mrs. [
1243], wrote for a copy of her
Life Rdg.
11/02/44 Letter from Mr. [
370] to GD:
Miss Gladys Davis,
Just a line in answer to your general letter in last bulletin
[Oct. 44] about Mr. Cayce and his correspondence. I am one
of those that write Mr. Cayce direct, and have done so for
past 12 years or more. I am one that has also received
innumerable letters from him - and such letters that I have
received - sometimes to commend - sometimes to correct me -
every one whether a short acknowledgement - or a page or so,
- or one he typed himself (and these were so dear) - they all
were so full of meaning - so true - so impregnated with the
background or rich experience - wisdoms, knowledge,
understanding, love and sympathy - Truly this is a light
shining in a world of darkness & confusion, but a light that
shines on & on. This is the strength and narrow way that
leadeth unto light, and they that live in darkness shall see
a GREAT light. Now behold here is the re-enactment of the
purposes and ways of the Essenes.
And you have chosen the BETTER PART and many in that day
shall call you blessed. It is on account of your care,
devotion and perseverance that many have gained blessings.
For they that have been faithful over a few things shall
rule over many.
I am accepting the verdict that we are not to bother Mr.
Cayce with too much letter writing and this is as if should
be. All his life he has had to deal with so many petty ideas
of people. And because he was so patient, so untiring in his
efforts to do for others, many of us kept piling on the lead
- were too greedy - and kept dipping our hands into the BAG
that contained endless blessings, - instead of okaying the
the injunction "take that thou hast and go do likewise." So
many of us that want to stay upon the mountain like Peter
instead of going down into the world full of pain and sin &
& sorrow - just as they found when they came down.
This was intended only to convey the enclosure $2.00. Credit
Miss Warsing of the Membership Committee - who recently
reminded me.
And God bless you every one - [
370]
Drene, Ala.



Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation