12/23/40 Ltr. to EC:
Dear Mr. Cayce:
"I must state in opening; my conscience troubles me, in that
I have not written you recently and I have not sent you any
money to help further the cause to which you have devoted
your life.
"I conscientiously intend to do better, but month by month
my resolves seem to be weakening in many respects rather than
strengthening.
"I still hope some day to be a real benefit to my fellow men,
and a worthy son of God.
"I am no longer ingaged in museum work and the thing I should
be doing though I do not find my present work disagreeable
I am still employed by W.P.A., supervisor of a file
renovation project engaged by the Supreme Court. The
compensation can best be described as slight (I have not as
yet been paid under my new rating as supervisor). It would
greatly strength my resolves and relieve my troubled
conscience, if I were ingaged once again in archaeological
work.
"I find it imperative to seek your aid once again on being
presented with a most distressing and eminent problem with
which I do not feel equipped to cope.
"In the Selective Service draft, my call number at the local
board is one hundred and twelve, I have already taken my
physical examination and will probably be called in the next
group (on or about the first of the year).
"I have submitted a request to be classified as a
Conscientious Objector, one who because of his religious
beliefs can not submit to training for military combat.
In my original questionnaire I stated that because of my
conscientious attitude, in objecting to being trained to
take the lives of my fellow men it would make it impractical
to train me for combat service, while any training that
might be necessary to prepare me to serve or relieve the
the suffering of those ingaged in action would be acceptable
This is my attitude, I do not wish to be placed in a position
where it will be compulsory to accept training; that will
enable me to more efficiently destroy the lives of other
men; nor do I wish to [be] placed in a position that would
necessitate my taking such lives.
"I think you will find it in you to sympathize with my
feelings on the subject, and perhaps extend once again a
helping hand.
"I have a great need for a reading that would enable me to
fill out the special form they have sent me and to give me
assurance of what I consider a righteous attitude.
"Perhaps a reading would also clarify other situations of
mind in this troubled world.
"I can think of no questions I would like to ask in such a
reading, other than any helpful suggestions in filling out
Selective Service Questionnaire Form.
"Mr. Cayce you must get terribly weary of hearing all the
troubles of so many people, I am sorry I find it necessary
to bother you with mine.
"I do wish you and yours all the best in this Holiday season,
I hope your own sons managed better in the draft than I have.
"Hoping this Christmas day and the New Year will be the
happiest and most peaceful ever, I remain,"
Sincerely yours, [
670]
12/26/40 Ltr. to [
670]:
Dear [
670];-
"Am just in receipt of yours of the 23rd - and would like
to be of help if possible. Am facing the same problem
ourselves, as Hugh Lynn is called for the 10th. - Miss Gladys
is away at present and will not be back until Monday the
30th [went to Ala. for Xmas] - could try for you on Tuesday
morning the 31st if that will give you time. Don't know just
how soon you have to have your papers back - but wouldn't
be possible until that time. If you wish me to try it then
let me know - giving where you will be, and will be better
to put it in the form of some question, so would suggest
that you try and do that if at all possible, and will see
what can get for you.
"Know just exactly how you feel - and wish could offer some
advise with out having to wait - but am most speechless
myself on the question.
"So let me know if the 31st will be too late for you.
"Hoping for the best and that all will work out for feel sure
do you have to go go you can get in a department other than
the fighting corps., for they need men of every caliber -
that is what H. L. is trying for office work and not field,
tho guess will have some of every class.
"May HIS Blessings keep you"
Sincerely, Edgar Cayce
1/29/41 Father's (Mr. [
333]'s) letter:
Dear Mr. Cayce:
"We have been quite busy lately with our regular daily
work. [
670] leaving for camp, The Inauguration, visiting
Mrs. [
689], and both Mrs. [
602] and myself being sick with
the Grippe.
"[
670] was sent to Baltimore and from there to Camp Mead in
Maryland about twenty-five miles from here. We have been out
to see him and he has been home twice on short leave the last
time no later than yesterday. He has taken to the whole
thing in a very fine spirit and passed his physical tests
in A-1 shape.
"They have made all the boys very comfortable at Camp Mead
and they have good food and plenty of it also good sleeping
quarters in one of the new 60 man barracks that are being
built by the hundreds as fast as possible.
"We have made a great, a terrible and a beautiful world out
of this planet we live on according to what picture of it
we look at and to me it is all a horrible nightmare engulfing
all humanity who are still seeking by various means to battle
against that which we have created down through the ages;
fighting to save what we possess and fighting to have more.
From the present outlook it would appear that whether we
are conscious of it or not, everything upon which
civilization is built is slipping beyond out grasp, but I
think too that our necks are being bowed and our knees
gradually bent into an attitude of the kind of humbleness
that can bring us to a realization that His will must be done
if the human race is to go on. In the mean time we have no
choice but to become a part of life as it is from day to day
hoping that that we may turn before it is too late to the way
of Life which we know so little about.
"We would like to hear what Hugh Lynn and Edgar Evans are
doing and how you are all planning to carry on.
"Love to you all from us here,"
Sincerely, [
333]
2/01/41 EC's letter to [
670]'s father:
Dear Mr. [
333];-
"Have been quite anxious to know how [
670] was making out,
so was glad to have yours of the 29th, and to know every
thing is moving along nicely with him. Trust he has an
experience that will be all to good advantage for him,
tho this business of destruction as is going on in the
world today is appalling, can't for the life of me see what
people are think about - but suppose each and every man is
constantly meeting himself and naturally that brings the
old struggle of self mastery, the lauding of self, or to
the Glory of God.
"Mrs. Cayce hasn't been well since Christmas, while in N.Y.
she wrenched her back, gave her a lot of trouble, soon after
we came back she got a bad fall in the kitchen one day,
struck side of her head that she had injured some years ago
then took cold and all seemed to settle in that side of face
and especially the right eye, she is trying to be up again
now, but is still suffering a great deal.
"Think I wrote you H. L. was called for the 10th of Jan.
then the local board took his case under consideration - and
did take into consideration his plans here for the work, and
gave him until the June call to try to get them in shape so
we are making special effort to get offices fixed up for
permanent use, and the indexing under way that it might
present something for any investigator that might like to
look into the work here.
"Edgar Evans is doing nicely - has nice job with V.E.P.
Hates to give up his job but guess he will be called in Mar.
Understand the Feb. quota has been called.
"We keep busy, and trust am doing some good - would judge
from the reports that we are helping some any way. Trust
you and Mrs. [
602] are well - miss hearing from you so
regularly, trust every thing is well with you - am feeling
very fine myself physically, believe am learning more and
more to trust in GOD.
"With love to all,"
Sincerely, Edgar Cayce
2/25/41 Father [Mr. [
333]'s] letter: "Since I wrote you
[
670] has been sent to Fort Sill, Okla. as part of the
addition to the Quartermasters Corps. He is supposed to
have something to do with the buying and training of horses
and the necessary equipment that goes along with such work.
We hope he finds it interesting and helpful. He has written
one letter to us since he went out to Ft. Sill which was
very interesting, as his letters usually are, but he had up
to the time of writing us done little else but lay up in the
hospital with the 'flu'. Upon arrival at the fort he was
given a physical examination and it was found he had a sore
throat and temperature so they played safe and put him where
he could get the attention required. We feel sure that he
has recovered by now and we are impatient for the next news
which we hope will be that he is carrying on in what he
wanted to do."
3/30/41 "We hear from [
670] at least once a week and he, too,
wishes us to pass on to you all a word of greeting. He seems
content and is apparently still busy with preliminary
training, though his letter this week indicated that definite
arrangements are in the offing."
1/08/42 See mother's rdg.
602-7 in re "anxiety keenly felt
over the safety and welfare of her son, Pvt. [
670]." Since
war had been declared, Mrs. [
602] was afraid that [
670] would
have to actually get into battle and perhaps be injured or
killed.
1/16/42 Pvt. [
670]'s letter to EC: "As one who has received
help, aid and courage of inestimable value through the
A.R.E., your great gift and the will of God, I will be only
too glad to cooperate with any program of the organization.
I will be especially willing to cooperate in prayer, as I
fear I've become very lax in such matters since my induction
into the Army, though I realize that is a poor excuse. Then,
too, if anyone needs divine guidance it is probably me.
"So count me in, and thanks a lot for the reminder [see EC's
letter
1/08/42 under
2678-1 Background].
"I have received a letter from Mother enclosing the recent
rdg. you gave [602-7], in advising her as to attitude in
regard to my situation. The rdg. is clear to me and
expresses my latent attitude, I think, though I am afraid
it's a hard pill for a mother to take.
"I heard news of your and your families' problems and
unfortunate sacrifices, while I was at home on furlough.
[EEC being overseas, etc., etc.?]
"May I extend my sympathies and best wishes for all.
"May we all experience the will of God, the ensuing peace
and development of the world, together."
Sincerely yours, [
670]
1/25/42 Mother [Mrs. [
602]'s] letter, part of which see
under
602-7 Reports: "After sending the reading to [
670]
and receiving his interpretation of it paragraph by
paragraph, which resulted in twenty-four letter-size sheets
of paper (counting both sides), and the understanding and
comfort he apparently received from it, something inside
of me is gone - if you know what I mean. Then, too, he
referred to his Life Reading [
670-1] wherein he was a miller
on a tributary of Lake Champlain and rdg. intimated that in
that experience he had expended self in providing food for
those who were imprisoned and in so doing caused the
displeasure of others but that he gained spiritually. He
said it was probably bread that he provided or at least flour
or meal. Once again he says 'I am providing bread in spite
of my many attempts to do otherwise.' What a coincidence, or
should I say the will of God."
6/16/42 Mrs. [
264]'s letter: "I called Mrs. [
602]...
Mr. [
333] has a good job. [
670] is in a camp in Texas."
1/21/43 Father's (Mr. [
333]'s) letter to GD:
"Just ret'd this a.m. from a rush trip to N.Y. sponsored
by Mr. [
257], part business and part to hear and see once
again the best friend I have," Edgar Cayce...
"Our son [
670] graduated from Quartermaster Officers training
last week at Camp Lee, Va. and we are very proud of our new
lieutenant. He is home for a few days and goes to Fort
Meade, Md. for further training on Jan. 28th. We are hoping
that you can have a check reading on Monday, the 25th, for
him, as the infection in the mouth is growing serious and
something must be done. I talked with Mr. Cayce about it
last night and I am sending you with this letter a copy of
the list of questions which I think are more complete than
those which I gave Mr. Cayce. When you get information I
would appreciate it if you will kindly telephone to us and
reverse the charges."
1/25/43 See Ck. Physical Rdg.
670-12.
2/26/43 Lt. [
670]'s father, Mr. [
333], had a heart attack
that night and died the next morning.
4/43 Mother (Mrs. [
602]'s) letter says she has moved with
Lt. [
670] to Calif. where he is stationed at a War Dog's
Reception and Training Center.
5/16/43 She writes: "The Post is very interesting - they
have something like nine hundred dogs and quite a few horses.
Never saw so many dogs at one time in my life. This is a
re-mount receiving and training center for dogs. Sailors
are sent here and trained with a dog and then sent out to
duty. Two classes have been graduated since we have been
here."
2/27/44 Lt. [
670] writes EC to see if he can help Mrs. [
602],
since he left her out in Calif. when he was transferred to a
temporary assignment at Ft. Custer, Mich. - now he is at Camp
Reynolds, Pa., temporarily, and his mother is left stranded
out there - very lonely, etc.
3/15/44 EC via GD referred A.R.E. members in Calif. to visit
Mrs. [
602].
9/11/44 Mrs. [
602] wrote that she had ret'd to D.C. in 5/44
and was still very lonely: "[
670] injured his shoulder last
June and has been in a hospital in England since. I hear
from him every few days and he says he is slowly recovering
and feels fine."
9/13/44 GD referred her to A.R.E. members in D.C.
2/10/45 Ltr. from [
670], Paris, France:
Dear Mr. Cayce:
"How are things with you? How are the boys getting along?
I sincerely hope you and yours are enjoying the best of
everything. My correspondence with my Mother has been so
badly delayed lately that I do not know whether she has heard
from you folks lately or not.
"Mr. Cayce, to get to my current problem, yes I am coming to
you for help once again; I received a rather serious injury
in a motor cycle accident about eight months ago. Of course
at the time contacting you was out of the question as
immediate treatment was necessary. I suffered a badly broken
shoulder in which the head of the humorous, the clavicle and
the scapula were all fractured. I was taken to a Army
Hospital where they operated on my shoulder. Full range of
motion has never returned and the shoulder pains me a lot.
It is very weak and it looks as though one muscle has never
redeveloped in spite of exercise.
"I have faith enough in the readings to know that you could
help me alot, though I rather doubt full recovery can be
accomplished without performing another operation. The thing
that I had in mind, was that if it is going to be necessary
to have another operation that perhaps I could arrange to
have it taken care of while I am still in the Army. Is it
possible that the readings might recommend operating?
"At the present I am comfortable located in a hotel here in
Paris. I am assigned to Military Police duty here and expect
to continue here for awhile. I am fortunate enough to be so
situated that I could follow most any treatment that might
be recommended in a reading.
"Now that I've related my latest woes to you let me again
wish you all the best of everything and the prompt return
of your boys to you.
"Please don't mention this letter to my Mother as I don't
want to cause her undue worry. Mother does not know that
my shoulder still bothers me nor that it was necessary to
operate on it.
"Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain"
Sincerely yours, [
670]
