2/26/43 [
2067]'s ltr. to EC:
... College
..., Vermont
Dear Mr. Cayce:
I want to thank you very much for the part of the Reading I
received today - the first 23 questions on the Christ
Ministry Reading. It will help in many respects. And I will
use gladly the information gained.
Some of the names that I asked you to try to get for me, will
be used in the first part of the book - the list of questions
I last sent you - I am wondering if you would get me those
simple answers consisting mostly of a name, or a word or two
- first, before you get the rest of the long list of
questions? From time to time I have sent in a few questions
that are important to the story I have to tell. It would be
well, of course, to use the correct names that you will be
able to give me, rather than making up names. I want all the
names to be according to the Readings and all the major facts
at least. This book I am writing represents the Cayce
Readings, the information you have gained which is invaluable
to the world, and you can readily see that I could not begin
to use my imagination in regard to names or principal events.
I am using what material comes through the Readings and am
building a story with that material, filling in the gaps with
historic and Biblical material with the descriptions of the
times and the places. It is true all the way through and
that is what will make it valuable.
The Reading suggested that I use my imagination - that will
be in the arrangement of the material and the bringing
together of certain characters - but nothing in the book will
be fiction, or should be, I am sure you will agree. I am
particularly anxious to get the names of the characters and
the part my own mother played in those early days - she was
of the household of the Master. Will you try to get the
names for me on the list I sent you last as soon as you have
an opening?
May I ask one question here that you may want to clear up?
In the Reading you just sent, the question 6 was: "In Jewish
history was anybody but Mary and Jesus immaculately
conceived?" The answer was: "Mary was not immaculately
conceived. Jesus was. There have been others, but not in
Jewish history."
In the Reading, Extracts on Jesus' Life, Reading no.
5749-7,
yellow page number 206 that was sent me with the other 200
pages, we have Q-6 "Was Mary immaculately conceived?" A-6
"Mary was immaculately conceived."
Again on page 207, yellow sheet, copy of excerpts of Readings
5749-8 and these words: "Ann proclaimed that the child was
without father...this particular period with Ann and then the
Master as the son, but the only begotten of the Father in the
flesh as a son of an immaculately conceived daughter!"
Referring to Mary. Then question 3: "Neither Mary nor
Jesus, then, had a human father? Answer 3. Neither Mary nor
Jesus had a human father. They were one soul, so far as the
earth is concerned; because she would not be incarnated in
flesh, you see."
Can you get clarification of these seemingly contradictory
statements, that Mary was immaculately conceived, and that
Mary was not immaculately conceived. Which is correct?
There are several places in the Readings where it says Mary
was without human father and her early life was influenced by
the fact and by the talk of the neighbors regarding Ann her
mother and herself. This fact I use in the book. This could
be cleared up by a question, could it not?
The facts that the Readings have given, the light they have
thrown on the Scriptures as we have them is marvelous, and
you can see how necessary it is that I write well and
accurately when dealing with this sacred material. There
will be Bible critics, we hope, who will read the book, and
in fact historians and the best and most interested people in
religious light and enlightenment, so we must build well. I
reverence your material and am giving my best to make it the
best book ever written on the life of the Master - it will be
the most unique one anyway, and I think the truest picture of
the life of the Master that there is to date, because it is
based entirely on the Readings. It will be the most complete
work also on Christ because it starts back of where the
others start, the beginnings, the plannings for His coming
and then takes through the Ascension. The largest part of
the book, however, is His childhood and education - that part
which is omitted in most lives of Christ.
I want to ask you another question. I know that when your
biography, THERE IS A RIVER gets a-going, you are going to be
busier than ever. I want to know if sometime this summer you
will save me a date, for which I will pay you $20 for a
Reading on my last incarnation, the time I was killed in New
England as a witch. That material will serve for another
book - but I must finish the one I am doing for the
Association first and then read up what I can find on the
Salem Witchcraft days of my last life. I will have to get
the important questions for the book together. Will you save
me a time this summer?
I am glad you like my review of THERE IS A RIVER. I will try
to write another review for The ... Magazine or paper. I
know the editor well and he has been printing a continual
stream of my articles for the past seven years - he is either
short of material or likes my work. I am thinking that
perhaps I can help further by getting a review in the Quaker
papers, two or three of them. What do you say, if I can do
so? I write for three of the FRIENDS' papers.
I am getting friends in my locality interested in the book
and they will pass on the good news. Of course I have to be
a bit careful around the College, though I have talked about
the book to three or four of the spiritually alert
professors, who are really interested in knowing more, and
who do not feel they know it all yet. I have also mentioned
the book in half a dozen letters I have written all over the
country recently.
Will you please give the enclosed note to Hugh Lynn when you
see him next, and will you please let him read this letter so
that I will not have to write the same things to him? I just
received a letter from Hugh Lynn and need to answer it.
Thank you very much.
I hope you are well. I am still having trouble with my
stomach - constant pain for two weeks - better now at times.
I work on through it all, trusting God to keep me going at
least until the book is in print. I pray to live to finish
it and see it in print, for the material is the best in all
the world to date, and I love it, and the work that you are
doing. I pray also for you daily.
Very sincerely, [
2067]
3/02/43 EC wrote: "I have not had chance to read the
information gotten for you and your work - Am already far
ahead with appointments and am setting
3/27/43 to clarify
statement made regarding birth of Mary. Will ask H. L. to
get the questions together as you suggest and will do the
best we can." [Dr. [
2067] also requested
2/27/43 a Ck. Life
on her Salem incarnation. EC gave her an appointment for
8/25/43, which rdg. was given in 2067-12.]
3/04/43 [
2067]'s ltr. to EC:
... College
..., Vermont
Dear Mr. Cayce:
Thank you for your letter of March 2nd. I want to thank you
again for the part of the Reading you have gotten so far for
the Christ Ministry book. I am working hard on it all my
spare time. It is the only thing in which I am vitally
concerned and interested and I hope the material can help
many millions of people when it is published.
You have a list of questions I sent in, mostly asking names
of special people, which won't take very long I hope. You
have in that list a question as to my own mother's name and
work as a member of the Master's household. Perhaps she knew
Judy and was associated with her and her work. That list of
questions if very important and I need the names for some of
the first chapters. For example, Cleoapas, neighbor to Mary
and Joseph - her husband worked in Joseph's carpenter shop or
helped him, and I would like to know the husband's name. It
is hard to talk about a person unless you know his name. It
is that list of questions in which I have asked for mostly
names that I need most, and then the rest of the list of
questions of which you answered the 23 in the Reading; there
are also a few odds and ends for clarification which I have
sent on either to you or Hugh Lynn during these last months
as they came up and I was working on the manuscript.
Now, here is something important. I have been given another
possibility of a title for the book which I think will be
satisfactory to the book and the Reading. Please add this
question, Will the title "He That Overcometh" be acceptable
for the title of the Christ Ministry book? They did not like
"Jesus, the Essene" because it wasn't true entirely and
because people would object. This suggested title is from
Revelation 21:7 "He that overcometh shall inherit all things,
and I will be his God and he will be my son." This title
would satisfy the book and be interesting and a good
advertisement - don't you think? It is more like the title
of your book THERE IS A RIVER, and more like THE ROBE, and
more like How Green is My Valley - these are fine sellers.
Henry Holt will not try to sell or even take a religious
book, they wrote me, when they asked me to review your book -
I mentioned to them another book using the Readings as
foundation. With a general title it would be easier to place
the book, don't you think? In this Reading that you are
going to get, according to your letter, March 27, please ask
about this new title and also ABOUT THE PUBLISHER TO WHOM WE
SHOULD SUBMIT OR SEND THE BOOK. That is very important,
isn't it?
Thank you for getting together all the questions, lists sent
you and Hugh Lynn, and I'll do my best with time and what
ability has been given me in writing to get your material in
most convincing and readable form possible and before the
public where it belongs to the glory of God. I am fascinated
with the truths which have come through you. I have been
over the Readings many times, so know all the Bible
characters that have come through you almost as intimate
friends.
I am glad you are busy and that you can help the world so
much. [
1472] was delighted with the copy of the Reading that
was sent to her, and will be glad to see the copy of the new
material that is gotten on the continued Reading, if you will
send it. She has given me some good suggestions regarding
the book and I will want her criticism also when the work is
done. The time to make corrections is now, because after a
book is written it is hard to tear it all up and change it -
it will be as long as THE ROBE by Lloyd Douglass, that best
seller now that tells about the robe Christ wore at the time
of His crucifixion. Stories with a religious emphasis can be
best sellers. I am anxious to know where to send my book,
our book, after you have inspected it and [
1472] has
inspected, and changes are made. The hard part is to get it
published.
Please know that I have nothing to prove or write about but
the Readings, and whatever is in disagreement with what has
been written should be made clear so that I can now make the
changes as I am putting the first draft into its final form.
Omit any of the Judy questions that do not seem to apply to
the Life of Christ as the Readings present it. The point of
the book is that it is authentic, the truth, at least in all
major details and at least in all the characters mentioned.
I am not making up any of them. My imagination is used only
in the arrangements of scenes where the Readings have not
given material and in cases where only part of the details
are given. Anybody can write a religious story founded on
your material - but to me it is sacred and I want to be able
to say in the preface that all the characters are true
characters that came through the Readings, that all the
events are mentioned in the Readings, and that in many
instances even the conversation is verbatim. That makes a
document not only interesting if well presented, but adds
everything else to it. You are giving the world historic
material it has never had before - that is the great point -
if I use my imagination in constructing material, then it
loses its point and people can say that all of it is made up.
I will not trouble you for further details than I have asked
in the questions to date - I can arrange the details, as the
Readings suggest through my own intuition, and they can check
that later, if I have the answers to the questions you have
at present.
Have you suggestions? I hope the Reading will have further
suggestions for me, even though they do not accord with what
is written - I can change it, they must know. Is the book as
planned, what they advise?
I hope you are keeping well. These are terrible days here
with conditions very indefinite. Our college seems to be
folding up on account of students leaving for the war. I
don't know where to go or what to do - education is getting
hit hard. We are terribly in debt with nothing back of us
here.
Enclosed are the two or three additional questions in regard
to title and publisher of the Christ Ministry Book.
Very sincerely and always appreciatively yours, [
2067]
P.S. It is very important for me to decide, if possible, on
a title for the book before it is completed, since the title
is the theme, the motif of the book and causes the book to be
written from a certain angle. Different titles would change
the subject matter, the selection of subject matter, the
point of view. That is why I am anxious about the title.
4/19/43 EC wrote that the rdg. to clarify statements on Mary
had to be cancelled; H. L. had gone into army, he was
completely swamped.
4/21/43 [
2067]'s ltr. to EC:
... College
..., Vermont
Dear Mr. Cayce,
I just got your letter, and am so sorry Hugh Lynn has had to
leave for war. These are terrible times and we are all
suffering from them. When will people ever learn the Christ
way of life?
You will certainly miss Hugh Lynn. Are you finding other
helpers at the Beach who can carry on the work in his stead?
I am so glad your book is going so well. I have done all I
could to push it, and have another review to write for
publication just as soon as I can get back to New Hampshire
where may material is stored. The ... want an article on
rebirth or invisible playmates in which I am to use your book
as an illustration, since they will not take a review in any
other form. The ... was glad to accept the review I wrote.
I sent on the letter to Hugh Lynn. Many are reading the book
here and finding much help in it.
I am not to return here next year, so am out of a job at
present. Please pray that God sends me where He needs and
wants me most.
Perhaps you will have time for the rest of the questions on
the Christ Ministry book in the near future. It is going to
be so good that I want it much better, and do need the names
and answers to many of the questions I have submitted. You
have them all I suppose - those I sent to you and also those
I sent to Hugh Lynn? I am enclosing another very important
question on a separate piece of paper to put with the others.
It is the question about Mary Magdalene who was the same
person as Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus.
If she was Mary of Bethany living down in Jerusalem and
having her house of ill fame near Jerusalem where she had
several girls learning her trade and getting information, why
was she called Mary of Magdala, a city way up on the Sea of
Galilee?
When you get to the questions, take those brief ones first,
will you - those asking for names of people - then this
question about Mary, and the others according to importance
as far as you can. I am working daily on the book and have
been all the year. I need the information before I can put
the book into final shape. I think it will be a good thing
to have the book done as soon as possible, so it could follow
your other book, before interest dies down - don't you think
so? I will get the book to you as soon as I can get it
written this early summer. If we can get the information,
the book could come out this fall if we can find a publisher.
I hope you will have a good Congress, but transportation and
food are so difficult this year! I have to return to New
Hampshire and get in gardens for the people who are planning
to be with me this summer. Besides I do not have money with
which to travel at present, as much as I would like to be
present at the Congress. I will be anxious to see the
reports. You remember that some time this summer, in August
some time if possible, I would like to have a paid Reading on
my Salem witchcraft period. I have to read many books first
to ask sensible questions about that period, and I want to
finish my present book for the Association first.
Kindest regards to all - have a Happy Easter. God bless you.
Ever sincerely, [
2067]
5/04/43 [
2067]'s ltr. to EC:
... College
..., Vermont
Dear Mr. Cayce;
I am returning the copy of the excerpts from Readings which
you so kindly loaned me all these years. I have the material
extracted that I am using on the Christ Ministry Book. I
think it is time to return these yellow sheets - the copy, to
you in case some other person wishes to work on them or refer
to them. Some are almost worn out from use.
Thank you very much. All the material is in the book.
Kindest regards to all.
Very sincerely, [
2067]
5/07/43 [
2067]'s ltr. to EC:
... College
..., Vermont
Dear Mr. Cayce:
In beginning to pack up I have found a few sheets of the
manuscript, or excerpts you lent me, that I am herewith
returning. They belong with the package of yellow sheets I
returned to you last week. I hope you received them all
right.
I am working constantly on the book, and, as you know, hope
you can find a little time to get me some of the names and
shorter answers to the questions asked, if not the fuller
answers. As I go home May 17 I will start as soon as
possible to put the book in its final form so [
1472] can read
it and criticize it when she comes to stay with me this
summer. She needs the rest and quiet and plans to be with me
during July and August.
There is something I am wondering about in regard to the
Christ Ministry book, and I would like your advice. A story
has to be told from the point of view of one person, although
there are many characters. I, personally, as Thesea started
out to tell the story, as I was recorder of the events from
the time of the prophets to the time of Christ (according to
the Readings). Unfortunately, I was murdered by a decree
left after Herod's death, about 6 A.D., so I could not finish
my story, since it was only during the preparation and the
early childhood of Jesus that I lived. Is it possible that I
still had an interest in the events of Christ's life after I
left the earth, and is it possible that I overshadowed people
who were interested and still carried on my work with the
Essenes though absent in body? Were there not many people
who had passed on out of the body who helped in a spiritual
way? Moses and Elijah talked with and strengthened the
Master. They had survived death. Angels often appeared to
Him and to others and helped them. The Bible says, "Are not
all ministering spirits?" Could it be possible that I as
Thesea who was very much interested in the Essenes and in
Judy's work, would be permitted of God to still observe the
Life of Christ from realms above or elsewhere and even make
my influence in a helpful way felt? I would like to have a
question asked to that effect, for, if that is true then I
still can tell the story as I began it, and portray these
historical events, seeing them during my sojourn out of the
body. I would love to have lived at that time and had a part
with the Master. Perhaps I helped from another realm,
influencing people to follow Him, even as Judy did on the
earth as she gathered crowds together for Him to preach to.
Would you give me your ideas about this? I will write out a
question and insert it to go with the other questions - and
you might ask it first if you will. By the way, do you ever
find out what people do in between incarnations? Do they
observe what is going on in the earth and do they have a part
in it?
Well, I know you are busy and I must not trouble you too
much. I am also anxious for that question to be answered
about the people who came out of their graves in Jerusalem at
the time of Christ's resurrection. Did they continue to live
on the earth, or did they ascend with him? I am also anxious
to know what Lazarus did the four days he was in the tomb.
Was his soul away in its etheric body serving God elsewhere,
and doing what?
Kindest regards to all. Don't work too hard, for who will
fill your shoes when you are gone? Ever sincerely, [
2067]
Were you able to give me a late date in August for my reading
on Dorothy Manley incarnation?
5/11/43 EC's ltr. to [
2067]:
Dear Dr. [
2067]:-
Thank you - the papers came today, would seem to me the
conclusion should be alright, if there is no death the
consciousness must go on and if as the Master said - "as a
tree falls so shall it lie" one would continue on in the same
interest and as that was about as unfolding as one could
imagine don't see why it shouldn't be told like that.
How and when we may get these in Dr. [
2067] don't know, but
will do the best we can. Am only one person - and to please
1700 isn't easy you know when each one wishes to be first
because theirs is the most important.
Will be real nice to have [
1472] there with you am sure she
will have some very definite ideas also hope will all work
out well.
Thanks a lot and will do best can.
With best from all
[signed] Edgar Cayce
8/15/43 (Sunday) [
1472]'s ltr. to EC:
..., New Hampshire,
C% Mrs. [...]
Dear Edgar:
I have waited to answer your nice letter until Dr. [
2067]'s
book was finished, and I had had a chance to read it. A week
ago to-day she turned over nearly SIX HUNDRED PAGES of
typing, - the completed book. It took me all last week to
read it analytically, and make notes for changes etc. From a
research and statistical standpoint it is a fine piece of
work. From the standpoint of originality and creative
ability it is not so good, and I feel quite doubtful of THE
SALABILITY of the book. However, I hope I am mistaken for
Dr. [
2067] has worked so hard over the book, and is so
wrapped up in it, that I would greatly like to see it
published successfully. I gave her all the help I could, and
suggested that she dedicate it thus to you:
With gratitude to Edgar Cayce,
whose readings of the akashic
records made this book possible.
Dr. [
2067] has gladly accepted this suggestion and will write
this dedication on the fly-leaf of her book. I have TOLD you
about it WITH A DEFINITE PURPOSE, because I am doubtful if
SHE would ever mention the fact that she had not even thought
of dedicating the book to you until I suggested it. Neither
do I think she would tell you I wrote the dedication. I
shall be interested to hear from you to the contrary if ever
she does. During the month I have been here she has made
people think I am her unpaid guest, and that she takes me
places in her car at her expense (as far as the gasoline
goes), when, as a matter of fact, I PAY FOR ALL THE GAS SHE
USES, AND AM PAYING HER NOT ONLY ENOUGH FOR MY OWN FOOD, BUT
TO COVER ALL HER OWN AS LONG AS I AM HERE. I find that she
is not at all honest in her thought and proceedings. Hence
my comment about the dedication for the book.
My association with Dr. [
2067] during the past month has been
one of the most difficult I have ever had. I can quite
understand why her husband deserted her; why no school keeps
her more than a year; why her sons and her daughter so
dislike her, for she has a perfect genius for making people
around her uncomfortable, and consequently unhappy. I say
all this without any feeling of either judging or
criticizing, altho it may sound as though I am doing both.
I am just GIVING YOU A VALUATION of a most curious person.
On the one hand she is pious; and smugly sanctimonious. On
the other there is a streak of cruelty which seems to make
her joy in just hurting people for no reason at all. It may
be her way of getting back at the world, but that makes it
none the less pleasant for those who contact her. She can
get no one to stay here with her, as I understand it, and
those who do come never return. I know I SHALL NEVER
RETURN, altho I still am not sorry I came, for the lakes and
mountains are divinely beautiful, and I do not have to be
much with Dr. [
2067] as she is always working, either at her
writing or in her garden. Furthermore it has been a good
piece of discipline for me, for it has demanded patience;
kindness and tolerance, and I believe I have succeeded
FAIRLY WELL in manifesting all three to her. She tells me
she is having a "reading" on the 25th for another book she
wants to write on early American witchcraft. She never
seems discouraged that her writings do not sell, and just
goes on and on planning new books etc. - whether or no.
Well, I have given you a pretty full report of my situation
here, and will now just say that I shall be going home on
August 26th, somewhat rested in nerves, altho with no seeming
improvement in the sinus condition; the arthritis, or the
kidney. It has rained almost every day I have been here, and
the whole country in this district is simply saturated with
water. The fields are covered with water, and the mountain
streams are raging. This sort of cold, rainy weather has
been most disappointing and most depressing. I only hope the
next ten days of my stay will give me some sunshine.
I have been asked by a magazine editor to do some writing for
his magazine when I get home, and I am hoping to feel fit for
it. I know just how YOU feel with work piling up and being
only one person to do it, but this is the inevitable result
of Tom's book, and I do wish you would take it more in your
stride and not worry over having to keep people waiting for a
reading. They will appreciate it all the more when they do
get it for having had to wait for it!
I am glad Hugh Lynn had a week at home. I have not heard
from him directly SINCE MAY, so judge he is kept very busy.
I had a letter from Jane Revere Burke, of Boston, telling me
she has read "There Is A River" at my recommendation, and is
delighted with it, and wants to talk with me about it. I
shall straighten her out regarding the work yet, and I'll bet
my last dollar she ends up by having a "Life Reading" for
herself!
My love to Gertrude and to dear Gladys Davis. I think of ALL
OF YOU so much, and have written a long letter to Sally since
coming here. How I wish I were in my house down there right
at this very minute, and forever henceforth. I want a place
to "stay put", and write and study and meditate, - a place of
my own where I can put real roots into the ground. I am sick
of New York apartments, however nice they may be. Well,
we'll see.
Loads of love for you Edgar from
Your always devoted friend, [
1472]
8/18/43 [
2067]'s ltr. to EC:
Dear Edgar Cayce:
I am herewith sending on the set of questions for my Reading
scheduled for August 25. I will be at my summer home at ...,
New Hampshire, ... Cottage, where I always live in the
summers and where I have had Readings before. My post office
address is the above.
I am very anxious to get as many of the questions answered as
possible, including the two or three general questions at the
beginning, because they have definitely to do with my
God-guided work, and particularly the books for the
Association of Research and Enlightenment. In the Reading
on the Dorothy Manley incarnation which you will do August
25, it is possible many of the questions I have asked will
be answered before you come to these - in the Reading - in
such case, Mrs. Cayce omits those questions - so, many will
be cut out. I want to write my next book on the Dorothy
Manley incarnation of Salem Witchcraft days when I was
murdered for a just cause, as the other Readings claim.
This is a paid Reading, as you know, and I will send the
money around the end of the month as soon as I can get a way
to go to the bank.
Now about the book I have just finished. [
1472], who is
still with me for six weeks in all, has been kind enough to
read the book and is much pleased with it. I am making the
few corrections she suggests. She has named the book,
entitling it SON OF MARY - that avoids much controversy and
will work well with the publishers. I am sending it to
Harper's this week, as they wrote that I might do so. I have
asked for a possible publisher as a question in the next
Reading. Henry Holt is NOT interested - I wrote and told
them about the book - they do not publish any religious
books, they told me. Mine is a life of Christ making a
special contribution concerning the preparation for His
coming, His early training and education in Palestine and
abroad, and then the ministry with the supplementary and
additional material which the world has never yet had. This
I have been able to do because of your Readings which I have
followed exactly, so far as the material went - in the rest I
used ancient documents from the original papyri, copies from
the Vatican and other historical archives. I have read every
available document on that period that I have been able to
contact through various sources. The book has taken me three
years of hard work - but the most inspiring and thrilling
thing I have ever done in this incarnation. Your Readings
have been a great Benediction to me and have set me aglow
every time I contact them. They are marvelous beyond
expression - invaluable! I believe God will use them through
the book to enrich the world spiritually. Pray for the book,
Edgar, won't you?
Of course, the book is dedicated to you. At first I had an
introductory chapter telling of my contact with you and
describing how the material came from the Hall of Records,
but [
1472] advised against this chapter as prejudicing the
publishers, so I took it out. The story stands by itself now
without anything to cause controversy on the face of it -
some may wonder where the authority came that permits us to
go contrary to popular opinion concerning Mary Magdalene.
She is the same as Mary of Bethany, according to the Readings
- there is no other authority, is there for this? This is
not contrary to the Bible, but many people think Mary
Magdalene and Mary of Bethany to be two separate characters.
I have stuck to the Readings, and have book of over 500 pages
of what I call wonderful material, making the Christ story
live as never before with its actual characters! The thing
now is to find a publisher for it.
I await with great anticipation my coming Reading. God bless
you. Write when you have a minute. Sincerely, [
2067]
8/25/43 See
2067-12.
Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation