This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his office, 115 West 35th Street, Virginia Beach, Va., this 7th day of March, 1931, in accordance with request made by Mr. Frank H. Scattergood.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Frank H. Scattergood, Linden Shroyer and L. B. Cayce.

TEXT

1. GC: You will have before you all the affairs of Atlantic University of Virginia Beach, Va., also the following individuals and their enquiring minds: William Moseley Brown, H. E. Cunningham, and Frank H. Scattergood, all of Virginia Beach. Rudolph C. Ady and Jefferson Seligman of N.Y. City. You will analyze the present status of affairs of the Atlantic University and further direct the necessary steps to be taken immediately in the rehabilitation of that institution. You will answer all the questions which will be asked relative to the same.
2. EC: Yes, we have those circumstances and conditions, and individuals and their associations and relations with the Atlantic University. These, and portions of the conditions, we have had before.
3. In considering the circumstances and conditions, there are many VARIED conditions TO be considered, and individual and group reaction to same. There are many individuals who are interested sufficiently in seeing the rehabilitation of the efforts of the university. Many are approaching same from as many different angles. There should be a correlation of ideas towards the ideal, for the greater question is the continuing of the institution in the future, as well as the present circumstances and conditions. There are individuals who, under the existent conditions, feel and find little interest unless there may be DEFINITE decisions as to who is to minister the affairs OF the institution; also as to the policies and the GENERAL conditions that are to surround same; as well as those who are thrown partially, and some wholly, into a state of expectancy and uncertainty in and under the EXISTENT circumstances.
4. All of the conditions, all of the affairs, may be shifted to ONE responsible source. As has been given, should this be done without taking into consideration all circumstances that SURROUND such an undertaking would make for GREATER DETRIMENTAL conditions than were the affairs or responsibilities rather ASSUMED in various or varied directions and the outcome of the future left to a different group or surrounding - see?
5. Then, these would be the activities for some definite steps to be taken as regarding the future of the institution, and this being once assured by those making themselves responsible for same, THEN the EXISTENT conditions may be taken care of through the varied interests that are IN accord WITH the efforts being put forth. Ready for questions.
6. Naturally, one question that arises first and foremost, HOW may the future be in ANY manner stabilized under the EXISTENT conditions? This, necessarily then, reverts to the status of the corporation as related to the charter, as well as the administering of the affairs under THAT charter, and there are then groups, foundations, individuals - both near and far - that may be INTERESTED, when this is once set; and through the efforts of Ady AND Seligman - these may be made as the basis of future operations UNDER this new change or arrangements in and with the Corporation Commission. Then the local interests will feel more stable in THEIR efforts to make the NECESSARY efforts for the undertaking to proceed.
7. (Q) In view of the refusal of the Blumenthal Bros. to retire or resign immediately from the Board of Trustees, and to make proper settlement suggested in previous reading, what should be done to obtain such resignations and settlement?
   (A) Through the Corporation Commission, or those channels that handle institutions or corporations organized under State charter for the operations of such institutions. These are separate and distinct from ORDINARY corporations, and the affairs in the present have been and are being handled as of an INDIVIDUAL and not of a HELPFUL corporation to a community, a peoples, or as a State! for there are particular laws, there are distinct manners - especially in the Commonwealth - for the HANDLING of affairs of the corporation. There are those conditions which allow such a corporation to, under such circumstances that have arisen, be termed either a closed and an individual operation or there are those ALSO that make it for the privileges and benefits for a community, and for a State, and for a peoples at large. THIS is the phase that should be pressed for the clarifying of the conditions.
8. (Q) Who would you suggest as best to handle this through?
   (A) One acquainted with such corporation law!
9. (Q) Would Venable-Parsons of Norfolk be proper ones to handle this?
   (A) Venable, be well. Parsons, be well. They are corporate lawyers.
10. (Q) Is the procedure of Ady in his dealings with Jefferson Seligman correct?
    (A) These are very good. Ady understands the situations, yet these may be - of course - carried too far. There SHOULD be the show-down, and it will necessarily be WITHIN the law, and with Seligman as assisting in - through Ady, or interest IN Ady and associates, to see that they obtain that which is theirs by LEGAL right, as well as by moral right?
11. (Q) Will Seligman be successful in his efforts to obtain the resignations of the Blumenthal Bros. and effect a settlement with them?
    (A) It will be a forced issue before it will be successful, and must come through the STATE! See, this calls from the State. When there are DEMANDS made by the State, WITH that showing that THERE ARE individuals who are - either as individuals or groups - able, capable - financially able - to ASSUME obligations, or to carry on for the benefit of a peoples as a whole (for the EFFECT that is being produced is a hindrance in the PURPOSES OF the corporations) - then when the STATE makes demands, and when the STATE acts, SOMETHING has to move!
12. (Q) Have Dr. Brown and Dr. Cunningham been working along the correct lines?
    (A) Well, these are rather varied - that is, there are many channels and many leads from their efforts as related to future operations. These may be crystallized a great deal better when there are definite OUTLOOKS, or definite conditions and circumstances to be dealt with, and they will be able to crystallize their efforts. They are rather scattering in the present situation, yet these may be crystallized when there are definite conditions to be settled upon, or are settled upon.
13. (Q) What steps should Dr. Brown and Dr. Cunningham take immediately with regard to the use of the agreements entered into with them by the faculty and staff of the university toward effecting a settlement with Blumenthal Bros.?
    (A) This will come more through the efforts, or through the activities that would be taken by the State, THAN through the conditions in this particular interest shown; for they would BECOME a part OF the WHOLE, in the setting up of claims, or in the activities for the carrying on of the intent and purpose; for ALL the faculty becomes a part OF THAT claim, and because an effort to minister and to give out to individuals had been MORALLY entered into makes an obligation, and the State would so consider same; for they cannot be cast aside as a day laborer; neither can they be cast aside as a store or as a corporation for the sale or barter of goods; for the BUILDING is into the moral condition of the lives of INDIVIDUALS, and each is a party to same!
14. (Q) Can any political condition enter into the State taking a part in the settlement, because of Dr. Brown's connection with the university?
    (A) Should NOT be such, and CANNOT be such, provided same is presented in the proper channels. That's ONE interest where Venable and Parsons would be acting well within their rights, for those are associates WITH THAT political faith, but the political portion CANNOT enter in when we go to State Corporation Commissions, for this is without - or outside of such interest. That these are entered in, or are talked of, means little - except to stir up enmity. The moral basis of the circumstances would be that which the State law, or State Corporation or even under State JUDGES - would enter into; for the PURPOSES, the aims, the intents of EDUCATIONAL institutions stands on quite a different moral basis from other corporations!
15. (Q) Is anyone in Virginia Beach in a position to obtain private information pertaining to the affairs of the Atlantic University acting as an informer to Blumenthal Bros.? How can such an informer become known and guarded against?
    (A) These come as much through those of the LEGAL interest as through any that is being presented. [Ashburn?]
16. (Q) Of what further service can Dr. Scattergood be immediately or in the future in directing the affairs of the university? Is there a particular task for him to perform?
    (A) These, as we find, would enter into a different, or an INFORMAL development in the present. There are MANY things that the body, the mind, Scattergood, may aid in. Most needed is, as of old - uphold the hands of those who fight. Don't say too much himself, but the right word in the right place, upholding those who carry on.
17. (Q) In view of the financial stringency and the need of immediate funds, how shall this problem be met?
    (A) This may be met better by local and by distant contributions for the carrying on of the needs of the hour. This may be obtained through those who are especially interested IN seeing same carried on for the good of the community, the State, and the peoples at large.
18. (Q) What other interests directly or indirectly should be best to bear on the conditions facing the university at the present time?
    (A) First is to clarify the conditions through the manner and through the channels that have been outlined. This would clarify matters for all. Know the responsibilities in the present. These becoming placed in a definite way or channel, or manner, and the future interest outlined as to the way they may be carried on.
19. (Q) How can Mr. Wycoff be approached with regard to securing his support financially in view of his present physical condition? and is Major Coleman's influence with Mr. Wycoff of the Croatan Club detrimental to the best interests of the university?
    (A) Not as we find, but these may be best approached through the straightening of some of the affairs, of the conditions, or the channels as outlined; then through interests that may be brought to bear by individuals interested in the same CHARACTER of work as Wycoff.
20. (Q) In view of the attitude expressed by several people who attended the meeting held at Atlantic University on Wednesday, Feb. 25th, toward Edgar Cayce's connection with Atlantic University, what should be the reaction or attitude on the part of those working toward the rehabilitation of Atlantic University, considering the apparent promise of the Forces to guide and direct, given in reading of Feb. 13, 1931? [See 2087-5.]
    (A) These, as has oft been given, should be separate and distinct save as for the interest that scientific research may make into such fields of endeavor. While there may be those interests that would rely upon on the one hand, and interests that would be DETRIMENTAL to other on the other hand, these should NOT be attempted to be patted on the one hand and winked at on the other; but definite stands taken as with any other institution of like nature in its ministering to the needs of the public. While true, there exists in the affairs of the WORLD as a whole a greater interest in the character and the nature of such phenomena, yet peoples as PEOPLES - only as INDIVIDUALS may they be approached.
21. (Q) What part, if any, can Franklin F. Bradley of Chicago take in the rehabilitation of Atlantic University?
    (A) Take a great deal when affairs are in a position where the character of the individual and those whom the individual would associate with or draw into such interests may be of aid. In the present conditions, little or nothing may be expected from this source.
22. (Q) In connection with Dr. Paul Kaufman's visit to Eastern Shore, what are the prospects of securing support from this section?
    (A) This, as we find, will be as conditions PROGRESS a place or a source of aid in financial and in moral support.
23. (Q) What shall be Dean Mina Kerr's best way to approach the Atlantic University problem?
    (A) This has been very well approached by Kerr, and will the same attitude that has been assumed in the past be kept in the approach to groups and to individuals, these will be most helpful, and will be the proper channel and the proper way to be of the most help. The greater help and aid that may come to the situation will be the correlating, the combining of the efforts of the faculty in a body, as near as possible, to the situation. Get this! The approach of the faculty, as to their desires, their aiding the whole situation, will be their closeness of purpose in that presented to your Corporation Commission, or your corporate body, as to their desires TO carry on - see? This doesn't necessarily mean that any would jeopardize their own interests as to the future; for the FUTURE of the institution IS much in THEIR hands - as well as THEIR future tied up in the future of the institution.
24. We are through for the present.

    Five copies to Dr. Scattergood
    Copy to File

REPORTS

1. See Source File Key #2087 for Spring 1931 edition of The Tourist Guide Book of Virginia - Virginia Highway Magazine - Historical Markers re 2087-6.

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