4/15/39 [
1861]'s letter to EC:
My dear Mr. Cayce
I possibly owe you an apology for not having written to you
before this time, but I assure you that the fact that I have
delayed in writing is no indication that I am ungrateful or
unappreciative of your reading.
Permit me to say, at the outset, that I believe your
diagnosis of my case is entirely correct and when I have
given you a brief history you will see that it is, too. I
did not send in a history with my reading - rather, request
for a reading - because I wanted to prove to my family that
you could give a diagnosis without a history. Therefore,
I was particularly glad when you mentioned this fact at the
bottom of your reading. [See
4/08/39 GD's notes at the end of
1861-1.]
To begin with, my mother had a fall that caused me to be a
premature baby of less than seven months. After birth, there
were convulsions at about a minute apart for some 48 hours,
resulting in the eruption of the eyes. It was noted at six
months of age that there were white spots in my eyes and that
I could not see light. I was taken to Dr. John Dunn, who
said operations were necessary, but he kept postponing these
from time to time until I was four years old. I did not walk
until the age of two.
When I was four, my mother realized that Dr. Dunn would
continue putting the operations off and took me to Dr.
Davidson, who operated immediately on one eye. He died
before time for the next operation and I was taken to Dr.
Wilmer in Washington, who said that Dr. R. H. Wright, who had
been practicing with the late Dr. Davidson, should continue
the operations. Dr. Wright performed seven of these
operations at intervals of three months and he said that he
could do me no further good. These operations consisted of
needling away the dead lens or cataract. At this time, I
could see to walk with strong glasses, but could not read.
I was then seven years old. Drs. Davidson and Wright were
Richmond men.
At the age of eight, I was put in the Virginia School for
Deaf and Blind, at Staunton. After being there for a year
and a half, we heard of a certain Dr. Richards of New York
and he gave me the first glasses that enabled me to read at
the age of nine. These consisted of strong magnifying lenses
that were hooked over my street glasses and I could read by
holding the reading matter very close to my eyes.
In 1921, Dr. E. L. Morrison of Washington performed another
needling operation, but I still continued reading thru two
pairs of lenses.
In 1933, Dr. William Feinbloom of New York fit me with my
present telescopic reading glasses, which permit me to read
at about two or three inches from my face.
In addition to the above mentioned doctors, I have seen other
doctors of New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, who told me
that nothing more could be done for my eyes. Incidentally,
the men who fitted me with glasses had to go against the
advice of my doctor brother-in-law and other medical men,
who called Dr.s Richards and Feinbloom quacks, but I have
discovered through my own experiences that the medical
profession is biased and they think no doctor is competent
who does not adhere to their established ethics and customs.
However, I resolved to keep on grasping every possible
opportunity to improve my sight and it makes no difference
to me whether methods are in line with what the medical
profession practices or not.
I trust that I have given you the facts that you wished
to know, but will be glad to answer any questions that
you might care to ask.
I am communicating with Drs. Dobbins and Erlanger, but will
be unable to go up for treatments until after my return
from California in late July. I am obligated to fulfill
my teaching engagement at our Rose-Croix University and
I don't feel that I should place the Rosicrucian Order in
an embarrassing position by not carrying out my promise.
However, I must admit that I am most anxious to begin the
treatments, but I feel that some good will come from my work
for the Rosicrucians this summer. Incidentally, I don't know
where the money is coming from to finance these treatments
and I don't know just how long I will have to stay in New
York, but I am leaving all of these matters to the higher
power, as I have done so many times in the past, and I am
sure everything will work out all right in due time.
It must be a great source of satisfaction to you to know that
you are able to help so many people and I can find no words
to convey to you my deep feeling of appreciation. I have
always felt that the Father would help me when I was ready to
receive His help and I hope that I may be a living example of
what trusting things to Him will do for those who will take
or accept Cosmic guidance without question, as I have always
tried to do. I am convinced that as soon as one can get
to the place that he can feel that there are no limits to
God's power and if he will follow God's plan and leadership
things will really turn out as they should. I trust that
it interests you to know that the prayer that you gave in my
reading was substantially the same as that I mentally uttered
at the time of your reading. It is also the substance of
the philosophy of my life for the past seven years. This
has saved me from countless hours and days of worry and has
enabled me to maintain and improve my general health.
The chief point that I want to make in this explanation is
that so many people profess to believe in God and Christ and
they go to church on Sundays and the world thinks them good,
but, they die in ignorance of God and Christ because they
refuse to recognize and accept the channels through which
they might receive Cosmic assistance. They are content to
remain bigots and rely on their denominational beliefs to
save them. In short, they can't realize that God works
in ways that are far beyond any man-made denominational
conceptions.
I could go on writing, but I have written enough to give
you some idea of what my inner beliefs are and I wish to
assure you that I will be all too glad to give you and the
Association the benefit of any information that I can give as
my case progresses and will keep you informed whenever steps
are taken to carry out your suggestions.
Again thanking you for your invaluable assistance to me,
Very sincerely yours, Mr. [
1861]
4/18/39 EC's letter to [
1861]:
I, of course, expected to write you immediately after your
reading, but was kept from doing so by circumstances that
seem beyond my control. But feel better and now have yours
of the 15th. Thank you for same, also a review and report
of your condition and feelings in the matter of the analysis
given. These are good and sincerely hope there comes to you
as much good as have experienced for my own son, the one you
heard on the "Mysteries of the Mind". He is about your age
and at the age of 5 1/2 had a very bad mishap that he was
blind for a season. There seemed no hope at all, yet the
child's simple faith in the help that might come, am sure
brought the healing, for he said to the doctor who told him
he must take out his eyes or one of them at first if he were
to live at all, and the child told him: "But Daddy, when he
is asleep is the best doctor in the world." And it proved so
for the child, for he has good eyesight now.
Have seen others also, Mr. [
1861] - have one now [See
1844-1]
that is being treated by the same ones to whom you were sent
and he writes me he has gained at least 50% and he has only
been taking one Month.
Feel sure you will have no trouble making arrangements for
the treatments - will see possibly both of these men next
week as expect to be in N.Y. for a talk before our Assn
members.
Let me hear from you when ever you have chance. Know we wish
to be of help in any way we can, so call on us.
With all good wishes
Sincerely [signed] Edgar Cayce
11/12/39 [
1861]'s letter to EC:
Dear Mr. Cayce
I know I have not written to you for quite some time, but
that fact does not mean that I have lost faith or am any less
interested in the work you are doing. I have been reading
the Association Bulletins with much interest and sent for the
Convention Booklet. I would have attended that convention
had I not been on my way to the West Coast at the time. I
spent the entire summer in California to much profit.
I hope that it interests you to know that I have had an X-ray
taken of my spine and this tallied exactly with what you
said about it in your reading. And while I have been unable
to take the time to go to New York as yet; you have done
me an incalculable service in diagnosing my eye trouble
and it means so much to know that I will eventually have
this corrected. Again I want to express to you my deep
appreciation.
I am enclosing a check to the amount of $20.00, for which,
I am requesting a full Life Reading. I should like you to
answer the following questions in this reading:
1. Should I marry the girl to whom I am engaged?
2. What can I do to ensure my economic future and what line
of work should I follow and how shall I proceed if I am to
change from what I am now doing?
I am asking that you kindly give me an appointment on some
afternoon other than Tuesdays or Fridays, as I teach on
these afternoons and also every morning.
With kindest regards and sincere good wishes,
11/15/39 [
1861]'s letter to EC:
Dear Mr. Cayce
I will try to get you a print of the X-ray, but am not sure
that I can, as it was taken in California. If I can't, I
might possibly let you have mine.
I will be in my own bedroom in my residence, ..., Va., on the
afternoon of November 23rd for the reading.
I might add that if you can tell me in this reading what
I could do to bring about an opportunity to get the eye
treatments, I should appreciate it. This not being concerned
with the physical body, I thought it might be possible to
have this answered within a life reading, but I am leaving it
all up to the Cosmic to reveal these things thru you and this
was only suggestive on my part.
Thanking you for your continued willingness to help me with
my problems.
Very sincerely yours,
11/23/39 See
1861-2, a Life Reading.
The following is a letter of testimony from him [
1861] four
years after the reading was given:
"From the time of my birth until four years of age, I was
almost totally blind. During my boyhood, I went through a
series of operations by noted specialists, who needled small
portions of cataracts from my eyes with each operation.
Having cut away as much as they could, without injuring the
sight, the doctors said that they had done all they could for
me and that I would have to rely on glasses for any further
improvement. However, I never lost hope and always felt
that some means would be found in the future that would
answer my prayers for improved vision.
"Some years ago a series of radio programs dealing with
various psychic experiences in a dramatized form, 'Mysteries
of the Mind', were broadcasted. Upon writing in for further
information, I received a copy of a little pamphlet, telling
something of the work of Edgar Cayce and the Association. I
immediately obtained a Physical Reading.
"The reading gave a brief history of my eye trouble and
diagnosed its cause, then gave suggestions for its
correction. It stated that certain pressures in the spine
were causing an impingement upon the nerves of the eyes,
hindering the normal activity of the optic nerve, shortening
the vision and emaciating some of the matter of the eye
itself. It was suggested that I go to two doctors [Dr. Frank
P. Dobbins, 196 Richmond Ave., Port Richmond, Staten Island,
N.Y. and Dr. Gustave Erlanger, 20 West 77th St., New York
City.] in New York for osteopathic and electrical treatments.
Immediately following these treatments I found that I had
gained the use of my left eye for reading purposes. Until
then I had been entirely dependent upon my right eye for
reading. Treatments from a Norfolk osteopath, use of violet
ray, massage, and vitamins, as suggested in later readings
are assisting the improvement. Control of the eye muscles
has become almost normal; the general physical health has
improved one-hundred percent; susceptibility to colds is
lower than it has ever been throughout my lifetime. It might
be interesting to note that X-Ray photographs, taken after
the first reading has been received, verified, exactly, the
trouble in the spinal column."
Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation