This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at the home of Mr. and Mrs. O. J. Benthall, 906 Harrington Ave., Norfolk, Va., this 19th day of December, 1933, in accordance with request made by those present.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Annie Umphlet, A. K. Swartz, O. J. Benthall, Rosario DeMaio, Alice Harris, A. T. Ellington, Mary Swartz, Minnie Williams, Levenia Benthall, Margaret Wilkins, Emma Mast, Josephine White, Nellye Twitty, Elizabeth Perry, Helen Ellington, Frances Y. Morrow, Helen Storey, Esther Wynne, Abbie Kemp, Mildred Mary Davis, and Hugh Lynn Cayce.

TEXT

1. GC: You will have before you the Norfolk Study Group #3, members of which are present in this room. You will please at this time give the counsel that it most needs as a group, some things it may hope to accomplish and the purpose for which it was called. You will answer the questions.
2. EC: Yes, we have the Group #3 and those members of same as gathered here. We have them as a group and as individuals.
3. In seeking as individuals in a cooperative manner to show themselves approved unto God, workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly divining the words of truth, should be the purpose, the aim, the desire of each and every individual that associates or affiliates itself with such a group. In presenting in their experience that which may be gained from the study of that prepared as the thought to lead or guide, is the purpose; that each soul would find development for itself to become a better channel, a better servant of the Lord that each seeks to manifest in its individual life. And as a group, present same in such a cooperative way and manner as to make for an influence that may induce or lead others to make THEIR lives as channels for a greater service in His name. Not that any individual would be, should be, compelled or sought - other than they that are called in His name, that they as individuals, as a group, may show forth the Lord's death till he come again.
4. This should be the purpose, the aim, the desire.
5. As to how each may better accomplish this in the experience, it is the development and the unfoldment of a practical, a manifested, an exemplified life in the service of the Master. And, as He has given, "A new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another," that ye keep that which is committed unto thee against that day when each must in its own way present that it has builded in the its experience as a service unto Him that gave, "If ye love me, keep my commandments, and I will come and abide with thee. I will not leave thee comfortless, but will give that ye ask in my name, believing, for I go to the Father and ye that abide in me abide in the Father also."
6. Ready for questions.
7. (Q) You will please give a message to each in the group, as I call the names, that will help each to better understand its relationship to the work. First, [983]:
   (A) He that is called into service does show forth in the life day by day that he has walked close with Him. For, while shadows, doubts and fears arise, the promises are sure that if the fruits of the spirit are shown in thy life the harvest will be the Lord's increase in thine experience.
8. (Q) [478]:
   (A) Let thy going in, thine coming out, be in meekness of purpose serving the Lord. For unto him that is given much, much is required at his hand. "If ye love me," as He has given, "feed my lambs. Feed my sheep." For the service is unto thine brethren, and, "Inasmuch as ye do it unto the least of these, my little ones, ye do it unto me."
9. (Q) [537]:
   (A) Study to show thyself approved unto God, and let thy choice be that, "Others may do as they may, but for me I will serve a living God."
10. (Q) [1236]:
    (A) In thine seeking, in thine understanding, make that thou savorest of self to do no more than that required of thine neighbor. Be tolerant, even as thine Master was tolerant - even in HIS walks in life; but keep thine own body, thine own mind, thine own soul, in readiness to serve where the Master leads.
11. (Q) [555]:
    (A) The way of the Cross leads those in paths of righteousness. As ye seek to comfort those that are distressed in body or in mind, ye do show forth that love He has asked that His followers NAME in their experience. Be JOYOUS in the service, even as He was joyous in the life that He led as the man.
12. (Q) [603]:
    (A) Come, join thyself in meekness of purpose that ye may show forth in thy going in and coming out a service worthy of the Master thou would serve. DARE to do those things that the heart and soul PROMPT thee in His service. For, as this IS done day by day, the next step is GIVEN thee in thy walks before Him.
13. (Q) [289]:
    (A) Keep the way thou has set before thyself in the service to thy fellow man. For, the love that is shown in the walks of life is a pattern of that held in the spiritual life of Him ye would serve. Keep, then, the Way. Keep thine SELF holy, being true to thine own inner self; for He will guide those who put their trust in Him. Be not weary in well-doing, for in patience ye come to possess your OWN soul.
14. (Q) [913]:
    (A) Come, sing a joyous song unto thy Lord for the good that has been brought into THINE experience through the service that thou renderest in His name. Make a joyous noise unto the Lord, for His ways are the joyous life, making life then more abundant in the experience of those that ye tell and live the wondrous story for. For, ye will go far in bringing life, light and understanding to many in the JOYOUS life.
15. (Q) [845]:
    (A) Keep the heart singing. Look not upon the service to Him as being DUTY; rather as the privilege to show forth in thine life, thine experience, the blessings that have been and that may be thine in an OPPORTUNITY of service to thy fellow man. In this manner, in this way, may the greater joys, the greater blessings, come into thine own experience. And know ye that unless the experience is thine own to thine own soul, it is only theory. Yet, as ye live day by day in the opportunities of the service of being a channel of blessing, so may thine own life, thine own experience in the present, be enriched in the Lord.
16. (Q) [513]:
    (A) In keeping the ways open for a greater service, the joys of the service lighten the burdens of life. See in those thou meetest day by day the image that is as the spiritual light in EVERY life. For, as the light of His love shines through thine own life, it may guide many a weary soul to a knowledge, an understanding of His love that is shed abroad in a weak and sin-weary world!
17. (Q) [578]:
    (A) Keep the ways open that there may come in thine experience more of the joys of a service in His name. For, as ye use that thou understandest today, there is given thee the next step. And as the life and the experiences unfold in the ways that are opened, more joy and less sorrow, more understanding and less contention, wilt thou find in thine own experience. Contend not, but vie with those feelings thou knowest that are a service to thy fellow man.
18. (Q) [636]:
    (A) As there comes into thine experience the desire to seek for knowledge, for understanding, and to comprehend more and more how that self may be used in a service to Him, doubt not those promises that have been made. For, He looketh on the heart and not on the outward appearances as man. Then, CLEANSE thine own mind of doubt, of fear, and let the joyous promises that have been given in Him direct thy paths, direct thy ways, in the experiences that come to thee day by day. Thus may the life, thus may the heart, be opened more and more to the beauties of BEING a channel of blessing to someone.
19. (Q) VIRGINIA TWIFORD:
    (A) As there comes in thine experience the varied experiences of the approaches that will be made to thee in the mental, in the material, in the spiritual things, TRY ye these influences. For, those that name not the Master are not of the Lord's biddings. For, as He has given, be not led astray by every wind that doth stir, but rather in thine own life show forth in the deeds of the body, in the thoughts of the mind, that love He seeks that ye serve thy fellow man, and THUS bring to self a JOY in thine experience, and more knowledge of the Lord.
20. (Q) [1016]:
    (A) In the getting of understanding, temper all with patience and with love, and the joy of the service becomes less irksome in thine daily life. For, while petty conditions arise in thine experience, patience and perseverance will make the understanding and the ways of the Lord plain in thine daily life.
21. (Q) [1834]:
    (A) Keep the faith thou has named. Wander not far afield. For, the GLORY of the lord is in DOING the biddings that thou knowest. Not in seeking fanciful ways, nor yet in rote nor in form, but rather in meekness of heart and in trueness of purpose as to serving the living God.
22. (Q) [573]:
    (A) Unto him that calls in the name of the Lord and keepeth the heart open will come the answers even as He has promised, and as He has manifested in the experience of those that LIVED the life that made for the experiencing in THEIR lives that the Lord had called them for a purpose. Be WILLING to be that the Lord would HAVE thee do. Thou knowest His ways. Keep them.
23. (Q) ESSIE EDWARDS:
    (A) As there is given thee day by day the ways that will make known to thee, in thee and through thee, the knowledge OF the Lord's activity in the earth, then so live that others SEEING THY life may know that thou has walked with the Lord. For HIS ways are not past finding out, if ye are willing to serve.
24. (Q) [290]:
    (A) Keep the faith, for only as ye show forth the Lord may His love be crowned in thine experience. FULFILL the vows thou hast made unto thy God. For, He doth not always wink at the loss of self's OWN doing, but rather know - as has been given - "Heavens and earth may pass away, but my word passeth NOT away." And He will demand EVERY WHIT in thine own experience.
25. (Q) [5773]:
    (A) As ye draw nigh seeking to know thy Father's face, cleanse thou thine heart from all doubt, all fear, and live the life as He has set, "If ye love me, keep my commandments - for they are not grievous." Rather that, "As ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them."
26. (Q) [413]:
    (A) Show forth in thine life, as ye go about, that thou has taken thought of His ways. Fear not to speak oft with thy God. BE on speaking terms with thy Father.
27. (Q) Any message to the teacher? [307]?
    (A) As there arises in the experience of each those things that would needs be carried to the Throne of Grace, know that the door is not shut; for He will have mercy upon those who seek and call in His name.
28. (Q) Is there a message to the group as a whole?
    (A) As ye come in His name, make known thine wants, thy desires, and as they - thy desires - are righteous and right, it will be shown thee that these may be carried on in thine daily experience. For, the laws of the Lord are perfect - and the way is opened to those that seek. Come! Make a joyous noise in His name, for the Lord is in His holy temple!
29. We are through.

BACKGROUND

1. Subject of 473-1, "Study Group #3".
2. 10/19/33 Esther Wynne's letter: "We organized Group 3 last night.
   "There are at present 9 or more in this group.
   "I am hearing on all sides people saying such complimentary things about your lecture last Thursday evening [10/12/33 at the Ragged Robin on AURAS]. I heard this a.m. Mrs. Berard expressing her regrets that she missed it."
3. 10/25/33 EC's reply: "I appreciate your letting me know about organizing Group 3. This is certainly a fine piece of work on your part, and I appreciate personally what you are doing for the organization [A.R.E.]. I'm sure it will redown [redound?] to a real blessing for everyone that joins in the work."
4. 11/15/33 Esther Wynne's letter: "I am looking forward to Monday evening with great hopes for a real group reunion [joint meeting of Groups 1-2-3?]. I think all those invited are highly pleased. Mr. C. A. Barrett visited Group 3 last night and gave the best talk that I have ever heard him give. I feel that he was well received and appreciated."
5. 11/23/33 Esther Wynne's letter: "Group 3 is a wonder! We have 15 of the most ardent students. They are dreamers of the first order. To one, Mrs. [537], the Master came in a dream and taught the lesson on Cooperation. One thing she told us He said was, that we would often have to put up fences and defenses but to be careful that we gave no offenses! She said He used a wheel to teach the lesson and called the group by name. Her discourse was certainly inspiring and impressed the entire group. The group wants a reading as soon as they can get one."
6. 12/19/33 See Group 3's first rdg., 473-1.

REPORTS

1. 4/13/34 Group 3 sponsored a Physical Rdg., and later other readings for Mr. [533].
2. 5/05/34 See 262-61, Par. 22-A--25A re Group #3.
3. 5/14/34 Group 3 sponsored a Physical Rdg., for Mrs. [548].
4. 5/30/34 Group 3 sponsored a Physical Rdg., for Mrs. [565].
5. 6/06/34 Group 3 sponsored a Physical Rdg., for Mrs. [573].
6. 5/29/34 Group 3 sponsored a Physical Rdg., for Mrs. [562].
7. 6/06/34 Group 3 sponsored a Physical Rdg., for Mrs. [574].
8. 6/14/34 Group 3 sponsored a Physical Rdg., for Mrs. [582].
9. 7/27/34 Group 3 sponsored a Physical Rdg., for Mrs. [616].
10. 8/01/34 Group 3 sponsored a Physical Rdg., for Mrs. [622].
11. 8/06/34 Group 3 sponsored a Physical Rdg., for Mrs. [626].
12. 8/17/34 Group 3 sponsored a Physical Rdg., for Mrs. [634].
13. 8/20/34 Group 3 sponsored a Physical Rdg., for Mrs. [636].
14. 9/10/34 Group 3 sponsored a Physical Rdg., for Mrs. [656].
15. 11/18/34 Group 3 sponsored a Physical rdg., for Mrs. [737].
16. 3/05/35 See individual message reading to Group 3, 473-2.
17. ASSOCIATION FOR RESEARCH AND ENLIGHTENMENT, INCORPORATED, Virginia Beach, Virginia
    C H A R T E R
    granted to
    STUDY GROUP NO. 3 - Norfolk
    The ASSOCIATION FOR RESEARCH AND ENLIGHTENMENT, INCORPORATED, in accordance with its aims and purposes as set forth in its Charter granted by the STATE OF VIRGINIA in July, 1931:
    "To conduct and carry on psychic and scientific research ...to conduct study groups and classes," grants to Study Group No. 3 - Norfolk, all rights and privileges as a regular study group, functioning in accord with the Ideal of the Association to be of service to mankind.
    Study Group No. 3 - Norfolk, is herewith recognized as an Active Unit of the Association, holding a group Active Membership carrying with it all the privileges of such a membership.
    In a spirit of true fellowship, Study Group No. 3 - Norfolk, is welcomed as a unit of this Organization.
    ASSOCIATION FOR RESEARCH AND ENLIGHTENMENT, INC.
    November 24, 1933
    ATTEST:
    Mildred Mary Davis, Secretary

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