3/26/26 EC's letter:
My dear Mr. [
551]:
I have yours of the 24th. I certainly wish that it was
possible for me to talk with you in person concerning the
reading and conditions at the present time, for I am sure
we all, or many of us at least, often find it very hard to
express in writing that thought we wish to convey to the
reader, or the person addressed; for it is so hard to know,
consciously, without being in company with an individual, as
to how they are responding to what is being said. However, I
will do my best to give you my version (as I see it from the
conscious) of what has been said, what has been implied, and
HOW one may ALWAYS judge what is said by what is given in one
of these readings. I'm sure you realize, or have realized
long before this, that there are many various conditions to
be considered when one is attempting to study one of these
readings, and they are not always to be taken literally, from
a physical standpoint, no more than the words that are given
in the Scripture, by the inspired writer; yet, the basic
truth must eternally be the same thing, and may never be
misunderstood, if the individual will only make the
application of what is said, from the viewpoint the
information is given. Then, this necessarily means, how
shall we judge this viewpoint? Now, to answer your questions
you have asked concerning your reading, the physical, which
must apply to the physical conditions in your body, that as
is given concerning the headaches, the nausea, the
debilitation, loss of flesh, and the like; as is given, much
of this is produced by the MENTAL ATTITUDE of yourself TOWARD
your own individual actions, producing THROUGH SAME this
physical condition in your body. Now, how are you to change
this? Simply by changing your attitude toward yourself! As
you know, you HAVE gained much spiritually, meaning your
conception of the manifestation of God's Spirit in the
material world, and your attitude towards the manifesting of
that Spirit in your fellowman, then your relation to your
fellowman, and your attitude towards him, has been changed.
Now, don't condemn yourself, because physical conditions have
changed with you! It is not God that has changed, nor His
Spirit manifestation - but your attitude towards same! You
are broadminded, NOW, where you were narrow-minded in a
spiritual sense, but your losses in a material way makes you
condemn yourself for not having had a broader material view
at this time. Hence, the reaction is a physical condition.
Now, is that reasonable to you? Do you understand what I'm
trying to say? for, if you do not, I want to try to explain
it to you farther, that you may gain the full concept of THAT
WHICH IS BEING SHOWN YOU from time to time through these
readings, for, as you have correctly gathered, you must be
able to gain this conception of the truths being shown you,
of the information being given you, whether it refers to
literal transactions in your daily routine, or whether it
refers to physical actions towards your individual self, or
your your attitude in a mental manner towards self, towards
others, or towards the spiritual manifestations in the
material world, or as to whether great spiritual truths are
being presented; for, IT MUST BE YOUR conception and NOT
SOMEONE ELSE'S EXPLANATION of same. It is true we all gain a
broader view by the explanations, or the views that others
have concerning individual circumstances, conditions and
relations as may be given in the lessons that are found in
the readings, for it gives us; that is, their viewpoint,
something to compare conditions with, but the CONCLUSIONS we
arrive at, Mr. [
551], MUST BE OUR OWN! NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S.
Now, in the light of what I have just said, I believe now, if
you will turn and read that as quoted from your reading, you
will find this as the explanation: "The will of entity is
weak," and the physical must force, THROUGH THIS inner
determination, that the entity will set self's own house in
order." Do you not see immediately how this applies to just
what I have said to you? Yet, as you can readily see, it is
your OWN CONCLUSIONS you must arrive at, as to what must be
changed in your life, or your attitude, and not what I would
tell you to go and change, for no two people can EVER view
the same thing in absolutely the same light. Neither can
anyone else do it! We must make personal application! The
inner determination, you know, means THAT CONCEPT you have
gained of the infinite, or your conception of the Spirit
Force operating in the physical world. The will is weak in
the material sense, for it is the material that broke down,
when material reverses came, and not the spiritual, for your
INNER self knows that SERVICE, and a greater recognition of
the divine, is necessary in every life.
Now, as to individual names as were given you, I do not
think, Mr. [
551], that this necessarily (and I don't think
I'm stretching the blanket) means ANY individual man in this
case, but AS YOU HAVE LABORED WITH OTHERS, in the MANNER that
you have with Smith, or might be forced to do under a
Bergemaster, or with an Humphrey, these names representing,
then, CONDITIONS and not INDIVIDUALS, and representing your
attitude toward the expenditure NOW of self, in rebuilding
WITHIN yourself, your concept of conditions as are being
presented, mentally, materially, and guard it over all by
your spiritual concept of how the whole thing's operated!
Now, I hope that I have given you a small insight, at least,
into how the readings are to be studied, and how you may
apply same in what you have to do at the present time. Don't
ever forget the lesson as God gave Moses, when He called him
to service. He said: "Take that thou hast in HAND and use
THAT, and I will raise thee up to be a mighty man among thy
brethren."
Seemingly, to me, Mr. [
551], for some reason, if I'm any
judge at all, the readings have always indicated that there
was some special service or work for you in this world, that
you were peculiarly endowed or gifted from within of a mighty
spirit, were it turned in the right channels, and I'm looking
for great things from you; not for myself, no, never! but
for the GOOD, the help, the aid, the assistance, that you are
going to be able to give your fellowman. I'm SURE that when
you arrive at that place where you feel that I may have been
of some service, you will not forget. Then I'm going to
suggest, in the light of what I have tried to tell you, begin
now with your first reading, and study each and every one of
them, YOURSELF, all the way through!
With kindest personal regards,
Sincerely, Edgar Cayce
EC:GD
6/24/26 See
551-12, a dream interpretation rdg.
10/09/26 See
900-272, Par. 19-A in re newspaper article [
551]
gave to [
900] about Egyptian sphinx or pyramid prediction of
war, coming of Messiah.
11/04/26 Mr. [
551]'s letter:
Mr. Edgar Cayce
Virginia Beach, Va.
My dear Mr. Cayce,
I have received your appeal [see under
4905-64, Par. R5]
asking for my membership in your Hospital-Institution last
week, but I waited for developments (money) that might turn
up so that I would have the necessary amount in making my
application with a contribution as a member. Unfortunately,
I write with deep regret that I cannot do so at present, as
much as I would love to in order to show my appreciation of
your wonderful work and my great indebtedness to you
personally.
My economic conditions for the past eleven months have been
on the reverse (since the time I was cleaned out in that
Foundation, Canners & Break-Shoe Stocks in the market while
working with the pool-manager of the named stocks). I would
be happy if I were able just to pay for the support of my
home - but even that has been futile.
Since last December I have not earned any money to speak of -
what little was made was used to pay off debts to friends who
were kind to me to see me come thru.
If you recall I have had some readings from you since New
Years and I have promised to compensate you for same, but was
never really able to do so. However all what has been done
for me has not been in vain; and I faithfully promise
herewith that as soon as the corner turns I shall pay my
bills in full and also pledge myself as a member of your
Hospital with a handsome contribution. Many times I have
longed for a trip to Virginia Beach to see you personally,
and have a heart to heart talk with you but it was always the
price that stood in the way.
The Fate of my life is rather a strange, erratic and extreme
swinging pendulum. There are times when I have in my
possession thousands of dollars acquired marketwise, then I
can get whatever desire, material and otherwise, fulfilled;
but other times as at present its just the opposite.
I am really in debt; my nine years of life-insurance savings
has been passed up for non-payment - I cannot afford
hospital-treatments for my sick mother - I cannot marry the
girl I love - all these burdens are due to my economic
conditions - but "Faith" is still "whole". I shall keep up
my fight for success. I know and feel that I will succeed -
and clear up all of my indebtedness to my creditors and make
those whom I love happy and put them in better circumstances,
and also do my share in helping you with your work.
With such conditions I find myself now in, I went back to the
man I once operated for in the market (He owes me money for
past services but has not paid me yet as he promised to do so
- so that's why I am back to him again) perhaps to try to
catch up with the world - so far it has been futile. I now
operate in the stock market for the account of Mr. Maxwell
Cevic in Room 3362. @ 120 B'way N.Y.C.
Perhaps you can offer some suggestion or a Reading or tell me
what is in store for me or perhaps if there is a way out. I
shall anxiously await your reply, depending upon your
kindness in my behalf.
With my best wishes for your success in your Greater work and
may God give more power and strength to you as His instrument
in the help and guidance of Humanity.
I am
Yours sincerely, [
551]
P.S. If you do write please address me at home. ... Ave.
P.S. I see [
900] most every day - he is very kind to me and
I'm hoping now that when I make my comeback in the market I'm
going to trade with his office, because he deserves it - for
I believe that God's Laws of Compensations always works out -
Love begets Love, Kindness begets Kindness, etc. -
11/09/26 EC's letter:
I have yours of the 4th. I appreciate your writing me and
more and more your letters make me desire to know you
personally and to talk with you personally. I am in hopes
that things will yet break right for you. I am sure they
will, if you only keep in that straight way as has been
pointed out for you, and as I am sure you have already
determined in your mind is the only right way to do. It has
ever been that the greater trials come to those who have
consecrated their lives, their bodies, the increase of same,
to the good - for it was the same with the Master, yet
through it all He overcame and has made the way such that we
may do it also.
I have been and am passing through one of the saddest and
hardest experiences of my whole life. A few weeks ago I was
called to the bedside of my mother. Though she was
seventy-one years old, and had lived a consecrated life, and
though she had been a great sufferer in body, yet we were not
ready nor willing to give her up - yet this we had to do, and
I know that she is in Heaven, for if her life was not such as
to gain such an abode, there is no such place. So I have
been bowed in sorrow, and everything seems to tumble about me
- my head, and I know not which way to turn - yet I am sure
if we are His, He will not suffer us to bear more than we are
able to bear. I wish it were possible for me to offer some
suggestion that would be of help to you at the present time.
That I cannot do, only this: Be thou faithful unto the trust
as has been put in thine hand, and you will yet see the Light
in a way and manner that will bring joy, peace, happiness to
yourself and to those loved ones about you.
I shall appreciate anything that you can do at any time
towards assisting me to give better service to others. This
I believe I will be able to do through the institution I am
asking others to help me establish.
Let me hear from you whenever you have the opportunity. With
kindest personal regards, I am
Sincerely,
EC:GD
11/17/26 Mr. [
551] wrote EC a note of sympathy.
12/24/26 He wired a small gift of money.
7/29/27,
8/06/27 He submitted a long list of questions for
another reading, saying he was still "down and out," etc.
8/16/27 EC's letter:
I have contemplated writing you a good many times since I met
you in New York, but things have been happening so thick and
fast since then, it looks like I can never get to it. In the
last two or three weeks we have been so busy that I haven't
had an opportunity to keep up with my correspondence even.
Hence the delay in answering yours of the 29th, also of the
6th.
Since the meeting in June the work - as you possibly know -
has been enlarged to include the work of the Association, and
while it is not meant to hinder people from getting readings,
it is intended to better classify and correlate the nature of
the work we are trying to do. Mr. [
900] can tell you more
about this, possibly, than I can in a letter.
I would like very much to be of help - but, as you know, it's
my desire - and it's the desire of the Association - to
develop the work along physical and spiritual lines, rather
than the material. While it's true enough we must of
necessity have material to transact the business, and
possibly many will say we are putting it on a material basis,
but this is not the intent and purpose - it's rather to put
it on a sound basis as regarding carrying on the research
work; for, to expend ourselves in other directions is taking
from our ability to assist others in the direction that is
most worth while.
I have appreciated, Mr. [
551], your kind thoughts of me at
various seasons of the year. These I have taken as personal
feelings, rather than as contributions. I am in hopes I have
not been in error in my idea of what you tried - or did -
express in those.
Talk this matter over with Mr. [
900] when you have the
opportunity - see what he thinks of it - arrange it so you
will be a member of the Association, if it's possible; for I
feel sure you will want to be numbered with those that are
members of the Association.
And let us hear from you whenever you have the opportunity.
As I have said before, you should arrange to come and see
us.
With kindest personal regards, I am
Sincerely, Edgar Cayce
EC:GD
9/01/28 See
900-404 advising to discount Mr. [
551]'s
information about panicky conditions imminent in stock
market.
4/29/29,
7/02/29 He submitted a long list of questions, saying
a Mrs. [...] had died in Jan. '29 and willed him one million
dollars - "Will I be able to get my allotted share, and
when?"
6/01/33
Mr. [
551]
...
Brooklyn, N.Y.
My dear Mr. [
551]:
We haven't heard from you for some time, but you once evinced
a great deal of interest in our work and undertaking here. I
haven't met you, in fact, since our re-organization under the
Association for Research and Enlightenment, Incorporated.
We are revising our membership list. I felt very sure that
you would like to be counted among the members. There is a
ruling that each member must make a personal application for
membership. Therefore, we are enclosing an application
(Active) and ask that you return this to us by the 15th, if
possible, in order that we may report it at our Annual
Congress, which convenes at that time. We should like very
much to have you present at this meeting, which extends
through the 18th. Announcements will be made shortly of the
program, which we feel is going to prove very interesting and
worth while, as we have several prominent out-of-town
speakers.
The data and information that we are sending out to our
membership from time to time we feel you will find
interesting also.
This membership doesn't require, now, any great amount of
contribution, but something that indicates your interest in
our work. Know we shall all be very glad to hear from you,
and are in hopes even through these trying financial times
you have been progressing with your work.
With all good wishes and kindest regards from all, I am
Sincerely, Edgar Cayce
ASS'N. FOR RESEARCH AND ENLIGHTENMENT, INC.
EC:GD
[GD's note: Above ltr. was ret'd marked REMOVED - NO
ADDRESS.]
5/15/34 He obtained another Mental-Spiritual Rdg. See
551-13.
Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation