7/09/25 EC's ltr. to Mr. [
2903]:
My dear Mr. [
2903]
I have yours of the 5th and will try to write you regarding
same as best that I can. I'm sure you realize, from the
information as is gotten in these readings, that a great deal
of same is entirely new and foreign to my way of thinking,
foreign to the way I was brought up or taught, or even tried
to teach in the little church work that I have done from time
to time. However, as it has gone deeper and deeper into the
subject, and has always tied up the work of the Master with
this as given, naturally, I have tried to study it in the
light and my conception of the New Testament teachings, and
I have come to the conclusion, or perhaps it would be better
to say, I believe I am coming to the conclusion more and
more, that it is not in contradiction to the Master's
teaching, and I'm sure, if you will turn to Matthew 17,
reading from the 9th verse to the 14th, you will see that the
Master taught that at least in one occasion such a thing
happened. Again, in the light of this same explanation, if
you'll turn to John 3, in the first 21 verses, I believe we
have a different conception of what the Master was teaching
one of the leaders of that day. I have heard many men, and I
remember especially a sermon by Sam Jones, another one by
D. L. Moody, on the first 21 verses of John 3, and they
were never very satisfactory to me, until I saw some of the
information as was gotten in these readings. Now, if this
was not of such a nature that it always put the Master and
the Master's teaching first and foremost, then I would
not want to have anything to do with it. From my
understanding of this, it does not mean that we were somebody
else, but we are the same individual, simply with another
name, living through the various environments and
developments of the different ages and times, coming to know
more and more of the laws that are unchangeable, as were set
in motion as the earth became a fit place for man's
habitation and for man to make the Spirit of God within
each and every individual manifest in the flesh, and as we
pass through these various planes, we gain that experience
necessary for us to become One with the Father, even as His
Son, Jesus the Christ, for as He, the Master, was able to
manifest all of man's environment in the flesh and come and
be man's ensample, that man might have the closer relation
with the Father. Now, I don't think re-incarnation gets
away from this fact, but really makes us all the more nearer
and Christ all the more our Saviour. The one factor that
stands out the most prominent is man's will being that thing
that may be put in opposition to the Divine Forces or the
Divine Laws as are manifest in the earth. Then, as I
understand, the answer of why any man does not direct his
best development through any period, or earthly existence,
into the best and most useful channels in the present, is
lack of the consciousness of that awakening within the
individual, and the WILL of the individual used in opposition
to the highest urges that naturally come to us, from past
experiences of which we are not conscious.
Now, I know this is a mighty hard thing to try and explain
by letter, in fact it's an almost impossible thing, for with
each sentence or statement that one makes they realize how
much and how many questions must come to the mind of another
individual who hasn't made any particular study along the
given line. I'm sure, however, should you but hear the
reports that come from so many people, in all different
walks of life, where we have given these Life Readings,
and hear others say how much good so many of these have
done people, then you'd realize that it must be some truth,
or wouldn't so many of them see themselves pictured in these,
with their inner urges and their inner selves exposed so much
to view.
Now, as for your own, seemingly, you've never been with the
personality of a very severe individual, but this is far,
far, from the experience of a great number of them. Many
have lived very useless lives at times, and have developed
in one sphere, gone back in another from some condition that
produced same by lack of use of will, and in yours is about
the second one, as I can remember, in the sixty or more of
these that we have given, where it was said of the individual
that their life in the present earth plane was such that it
would not be necessary for them to return. No, I do not know
anything of the life of Cromwell or Xenophon, as I have read
very little of anything of either of these, and I'm sure not
enough to have been able in any way, from a conscious
viewpoint, to have gathered their characteristics and fitted
them with any individual in the present earth plane.
I certainly would like very much to talk these things over
with you, and I'm in hopes if I get down to ... this summer
that I may either be able to come over to see you for a
while, or you come over to ... It has been rather amusing
in one sense of the word to watch Mrs. [
265]'s attitude
towards reincarnation. Of course, it is just as new to
her as to any of us. She will state one time she does not
believe a bit of it, don't want to believe it, and still
has to acknowledge that she finds when she is trying to
find argument against it, that her own statements go to
build up an argument for it. So, she doesn't know just
where she stands. A peculiar thing in her own Life Reading,
were we to accept these as absolute facts, she was supposedly
the wife of the King whom you had beheaded, so you all must
have been quite contrary to each others' thinking at the
time, and so often, as in that instance, we find were we
to study it from that viewpoint, why people in that condition
at one time would in another plane be placed in the position
where their views must come closer and closer to-gether, for
one becomes reliant upon the other. Now, should you desire
to read several of these, I'll be glad to make copies of some
of them and send them to you, and as we have others from time
to time, be glad to make extra copies and let you read them,
for as I say, you have to have a great many of these and from
various positions in life, know something of the individual,
to gain even the least understanding of just where this would
lead with the teachings of same. As for Gertrude and myself,
I believe it really has given us a better understanding of
our own lives and of the inclinations and dispositions of
our children than anything we have ever had. Now, I'm not
trying, as you well know, to force or even ask anyone to
subscribe to a new teaching that is contrary to the way
they have thought, studied and believed all of their lives,
but just as we have and do have nearly every day, with the
physical readings, we find truths and physical help for
individuals just the same I believe, we often find in
these life readings that help in understanding the
spiritual and moral welfare of other individuals and
may help them in their daily life.
One friend of mine, Mr. M. B. Wyrick, Plant Supt., the
Western Union in Chicago (you no doubt remember reading
his letter in the little pamphlet we had, perhaps also
you heard Klingensmith speak of him). He asks that we
send him a copy of each one that we have of these, where
people do not object to someone else having a copy of same.
He's made quite an extensive study of it. His father is
a Methodist minister in Missouri. He says that to him it
is the most logical, the most reasonable, the most satisfying
theory that he knows anything about. Now, he relates how a
Life Reading for one of his Supts. in his office has made
this man almost over again. It certainly did in that reading
tell the man what he was, what he had been and certainly was
not complimentary in either one, but told him how he might
go about to so plan his life as to make it so much more worth
while. Several in Mr. Wyrick's office have written me,
commenting on the change this has effected in this man's
life. So, I feel very much from this, one experience even,
for I know if it was my own boy, that it had made his life
more worth while, made him a better citizen, a better
workman, a better associate, a better husband, a better
churchman, it would be worth everything in the world to me.
Just as Dr. Munsterberg of Harvard once said of the Dietrich
case in Hopkinsville, that if I had never done another, the
help and assistance that I brought to that child, the
satisfaction and relief that was given the father and mother,
was worthwhile and worth taking note of, and the phenomena
through which same was accomplished was worth studying,
provided I kept my head level, my feet on the ground and
didn't try to cram some fool notion into somebody's head that
didn't want to believe it.
Hugh Lynn is over at ... at the present time. While he's
there I wish you could run over for a day and talk with him
about it. I don't mean to say by that that I think he has
gained some super knowledge by and through such things, still
as his professor said in his school here, he certainly had
an exceptional mind and contact with same certainly gave him
a broader, better view of life, and if he would only take
advantage of same it would make it worth while in his life.
I wish you could talk to him about it. I believe he could
explain it and my standpoint in the matter almost as well
perhaps as I could myself, for I certainly do not want to
have any conception of past, present or future life, or
religious thought, that I couldn't talk over with my boy,
for if what ever theory there may be regarding man's relation
to his God is not capable of being taught and applied in the
life of the tiniest tot, just learning to talk, and if that
theory doesn't make that child better, there's something the
matter with the theory.
Now, Mr. [
2903] I don't know whether I've explained the
thing to you at all or not, but perhaps you can gain some
idea of what the readings are all driving at, and any
questions you want to ask me regarding same, why you know
I'll be more than glad to try to explain to you my position
on same.
Glad to say we're all fairly well here. I hope this finds
all well with you. With love to all from all,
Sincerely, Edgar Cayce [EC:GD]
7/11/25 Mr. [
2903]'s ltr. to EC:
Mr. Edgar Cayce,
Dayton O.
Dear Edgar,
Just a note of acknowledgement, I have your appreciated favor
of the 9th. and was glad to have the long letter from you
for it was most interesting and I can readily see where such
readings can do a great deal of good, especially with the
young, and very little harm when the principal point I
mentioned is cleared up.
At the first opportunity I am going to have some of our
D.D.'s here explain to me meaning of the Bible verses you
referred to and at odd times I am going to give this further
thought and study.
You spoke of the reading for Mrs. [
265] and I am wondering
if, in discussing her case, the life and history of Cromwell
was not brought in to the talks that may have unconsciously
directed your thoughts in my case though I cannot understand
the others, especially the Greek fellow.
Both of course were worthy persons, history don't mention
the others.
Your readings along lines of the present were, as you know,
pretty accurate for I have always believed our board, lodging
and our clothing was about all that money could buy and that
our pleasures were largely found in doing something for the
other fellow and yet what a small percent can or will see
this, even our preachers talk one thing and largely practice
differently.
I have heard many prominent preachers give eloquent
discourses that an analysis showed was empty and their
lives showed nothing but moonshine and meant very little
while sure enough sermons that have effected many, even to
the second and third generation were given in the happy,
useful and quiet lives of some plain women one or more of
whom you can find in every community.
I do not believe you can buy religion but it must come
through contact, when you lose that contact it is about
the same as sawing off the roots of a tree and expecting
it to thrive in the broad sunlight, it can't be done, just
a make believe, that's all.
I am going to keep your letter before me and go into it from
its different angles and will reply later.
Probably this summer or fall I may see you and go over the
matter fully.
As this is Saturday and I am going out home to lunch I will
close with love to all and best wishes I am,
Yours, [
2903]
7/14/25 EC's ltr. to Mr. [
2903]:
Dear Mr. [
2903]
Just a note in reply to yours of the 11th. I'm glad to
know that you find the study of these things interesting.
I assure you we feel that it has really been beneficial to
us with our boys and cannot as yet say that I have found
anything detrimental or not in keeping with the Scripture.
No, I think I can truthfully say, there is no discussion
or reading that I have done that seems to enter into the
information that we have gotten regarding different
individuals, and I'm sure there was never any discussion
as to anyone that we knew anything about being Cromwell when
we were discussing Mrs. [
265]'s reading. I don't understand
where it picks these up from, but there have been so many
things that we have gotten regarding various conditions and
circumstances that several months later we have seen verified
through archeological findings. These have been most
astonishing.
I shall certainly be very interested to know of any of the
conclusions you arrive at with your studies of this, and
you'll know I'll appreciate anything that you may have to
suggest regarding same, for I certainly do not want to fool
myself nor anyone else, for there's great deal of this I
think is regarding too sacred a thing to be treated lightly.
You know I'll appreciate hearing from you any time you have
the opportunity to drop me a line.
Glad to say we're all fairly well here. With love to all
from all, and best wishes,
Sincerely, Edgar Cayce [EC:GD]
7/23/25 Mr. [
2903]'s ltr. to EC:
Dear Edgar
Just a note with a very scratchy pen to acknowledge receipt
of your last letter and to say it is not possible for me to
get over to Hopkinsville at this time.
In the meantime in making records of any other readings if
it is not too much trouble I would be glad if you would also
make an extra carbon copy and send me that I might see what
you say of the other fellow. Of course you can leave off
his name as I don't care for that. I will return them to
you as soon as I have gone over them. I can see that this
event would be discredited by good many and made a matter
of jest yet it seems would do a great deal of good for those
whose readings you may take, especially the younger ones.
Love to Gertrude and all with best wishes
Yours [
2903]
7/25/25 EC's ltr. to Mr. [
2903]:
Dear Mr. [
2903]
Glad to have yours of the 23rd and to hear from you again.
I'm enclosing you, herewith two or three copies of readings
that have been gotten for people, such as the one as was
given for you. You may keep these, if you like, as we made
those copies of and others that we have from time to time,
why we shall be glad to send you copies of same and let you
see how the thing works. Some of these, as you will see,
are ones that I'm sure you will be especially interested in.
I assure you I realize the position that a great many people
would take on subjects of this kind, but as I said in my
first letter, this manner of reasoning offers an intelligent
answer to so many questions that to me have never been
answered, and if answered at all, so unsatisfactory as to
make them bothersome and still not in contradication to
the teachings of our Lord and Master, until it seems like
to me that it is at least a reasonable conclusion to make,
especially if we consider that in all of nature before us
we see this same thing happen every day, and why would it
be an unreasonable solution of the development of the most
vital portion of man's being, and the very element that makes
him One with the Creator, and shows how he may be expected to
develop up to same. To me, it also gives a more reasonable
and understandable question as to why it was necessary for
God in the form of His Son to come into the earth, manifest
before men, through man's own environment, that man might
have the advocate with the Father. But I don't mean to be
a preacher or try to tell you something that I know more
about and perhaps have made more of a study than I have,
yet I'll be mighty glad, I assure you, to know the conclusion
you reach as you study the different phases of the phenomena
of life as is presented in the different individualities as
are shown in the readings.
8/04/25 EC's ltr. to Mr. [
2903]:
Mr. [
2903]
Dear Mr. [
2903]
Just a note to enclose you a copy of another reading we had
a day or two ago. This happens to be, though the name is
left out, someone you know quite well. I'm wondering if you
will be able to make any connections with same.
I certainly appreciate your interest in the work. I don't
want to become troublesome or bothersome to you with it,
but I'm sure you know that I regard your opinion on any
matter very highly and appreciate your taking the trouble
to study same and write me your opinion on same. I'll try
and answer your letter in the next day or two.
Sincerely, Edgar Cayce [EC:GD]
8/06/25 Mr. [
2903]'s ltr. to EC:
Dear Edgar,
Received yours of the 3rd with Enclosure for which I am
obliged.
You ask if I can say who this is? I think some parts of it
seems to fit [...] [[
1103], his brother] but a point or two
I don't think does.
Is it intended for him if not who? I notice it was given on
request of his Sister. I thought it was necessary that the
person himself make the request - Am I right?
Yesterday I showed this reading to a church friend of mine,
omitting your name entirely and asking his opinion. You
should have heard his comments.
Well according to him you was the best read fellow on modern
and ancient history in captivity and Gertrude and the balance
were your criminal associates. I had a good laugh at him. I
have not told any one here of your reading on me for obvious
reasons but want to carefully bring up with others to handle
direct each you are through them with others. I hope I will
be able to do you some good - Tell me is there any sect who
believe in life in line with these readings? if so who and
what progress have they made - Only time for Nate
Best Wishes
Yours [
2903]
8/18/25 EC's ltr. to Mr. [
2903]:
322 Grafton Avenue,
Dayton, Ohio
Dear Mr. [
2903]
I was glad to have yours of the 6th. I certainly can't help
but be amused at the comments that are made on the readings
of every character from time to time, and what you say your
friend said regarding the reading amuses me very much, and
I can very well imagine who it was said it. I don't know
why that everybody seems to think that I'm such a wonderfully
read person, for I know that I'm not, for as you know, I had
very few advantages as I was growing up, and the work that I
have been engaged in for the last twenty years is certainly
not conducive to a great amount of study in History, Ancient
or Medieval, nor of Physiology, Anatomy or Psychology - so
I think that we couldn't judge these things by that score.
As to just what it is to be judged by, I don't think there
is anything except the Good Book itself, and if it is in
contradiction to any of His teachings, I assure you I don't
want to have anything to do with it. I'm aware of the fact
that many people have many versions, or we wouldn't have the
denomination in the Protestant Church, much less Protestant
and Catholic, yet we find that each denomination berating
the other man for his belief in certain interpretations of
individual verses or chapters, and few consider it as a
whole. I do not know but very little of any of the people
who hold to the tenets of reincarnation. I believe Unity
and its teachings, and Theosophy, hold to these principles.
As to how far the developments have been with these, I know
very little. I certainly have not gotten any of MY beliefs
in these from either of these groups. As to the work of
Mr. Fillmore, as head of Unity, I'm sure this has done and
is doing a wonderful lot of good in the United States. As
for Theosophy, of course that is one of the older societies
and partakes, as I understand, of a great deal of the
religions of the East, and England has been having
considerable trouble with Mrs. Besant, the acknowledged
head of the society at present, in India. Whether it is
from the position held by believers in this portion of their
teaching or not, of course I'm not in position to say, but
I merely give you these that you may know the field in which
re-incarnation is believed in, and of course we judge a
thing by its fruits. The reading I sent you was on [
2698]
[[
2903]'s nephew]. [
538] had asked for this. No, where
some member of the family may ask for a reading of this kind,
why this is granted. I don't think that I am splitting hairs
on the fineness of the condition, but if this be correct, a
Life Reading is a fact, while the physical condition rests
with the individual as to what he will do with his own mind
as regarding the usage of suggestions that would be made.
That's why that I think that these kinds of readings may be
made of assistance to young people and children. I'm sure
it has been a help to us. Of course the fruits of it we will
see in after years.
Well, I hope to go over to Virginia Beach in the next few
days, with a view of looking over the situation and expect
that we will be able to start the work there in the very
near future. I certainly appreciate your interest in the
work and I'm glad you had the opportunity to see and talk
to Hugh Lynn, for I am sure that you will, with your own
personal experience, be able to realize the effect that
such work has upon life of a young person by talking to
him. I know you've formed some ideas already.
I hope you'll let us hear from you from time to time and
will be glad of any suggestions you have to offer.
With kindest personal regards and love from all,
Sincerely, Edgar Cayce. [EC:GD]
10/08/25 EC's ltr. to Mr. [
2903]:
35th Street,
Virginia Beach, Va.
Dear Mr. [
2903]
Was certainly very glad to have yours of the 5th. Had been
trying to get the opportunity to write you ever since I've
been here, but we were some days getting straightened out
where we could begin our work regularly, and we were so far
behind that some of the correspondence has been a little bit
neglected. I was certainly sorry indeed that Gertrude and I
didn't have the opportunity to get over to ... for a day. We
had intended to, but Mother was sick during the whole time,
then we left several days earlier than we had really
anticipated the goods making the trip.
Well, I expect Virginia Beach looks a great deal different
from what it did when you saw it a few years ago. There is
said to be about three thousand yearly inhabitants, and last
season there were more than twenty thousand during the months
of June, July and August. They have a beautiful boulevard,
now, all the way from Norfolk to Virginia Beach, up to Cape
Henry and around the Bay. We are about a mile or a little
more from the Post Office. However, have our mail delivered.
About a mile and a half from the school, where Edgar Evans,
the younger boy, attends. They seem to have very good
schools and he's getting along very nicely. Hugh Lynn
has just started taking a business course in Norfolk,
goes in every day. I believe we're going to like it
very well. It is certainly most wonderful weather we've
had ever since we've been here. We have a year lease
on quite a nice house, plenty of room for our work and for
the family, and will have some room for visitors, so we'd
like very much to see you here for a little while anyway
next summer, or whenever you have the opportunity to make
a little trip. I'm sure you won't find any place where
they'd be gladder to have you than we would to have you here.
Of course, we haven't been here long enough to know just how
the work may be taken among the natives. We've had some in
to see us from Norfolk, who know of the work through our
friend Leland Hume of your city and Browne of Atlanta,
President of the Southern Bell. Of course, the greater
part of our work, as you can realize, is by correspondence,
and except for extreme Western part of the country, I suppose
we'll be as well set here as anywhere. Naturally, from the
information we have received through our readings, we believe
this is the place. We seem to get a little bit more out of
the line of commercialism. Perhaps more in touch with people
who will spread the results of the work, more than we would
in a place where there was not as much transient work as
there is here. We certainly hope that you will keep in
touch with us, and any suggestion you have to offer, you
know we'll be mighty glad to have same.
Thanking you for writing us, hoping to hear from you again
soon, and with kindest personal regards from all,
Sincerely, Edgar Cayce [EC:GD]
10/23/25 Mr. [
2903] requested a Life Reading for his son,
[
2666].
3/19/26 Mr. [
2903] obtained a Physical Reading. See
2903-2.
7/09/26 Mr. [
2903]'s ltr. to EC:
Edgar -
Enclosed clipping from Monday's Banner in which Dr. Cadman
answers an inquiry from London, England on the question of
Reincarnation. Thought you'd like to see it.
EVERYDAY QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY DR. S. PARKES CADMAN
Questions from Banner readers are answered by Rev. Dr. S.
Parkes Cadman, president of the Federal Council of Churches
of Christ in America. Dr. Cadman seeks to answer inquiries
that appear to be representative of the trend of thought in
the many letters which he receives.
London, England. - Is not reincarnation a reasonable belief?
How is this doctrine, and what was Buddha's view about it?
The idea of reincarnation through the transmigration of the
soul goes back to primitive times when the soul was regarded
as a shadow image of the individual.
It was supposed to be subtle and elusive and was said to
enter, after the death of its original owner, into other men,
and even into animals.
This belief was held by Pythagoras, who taught the kinship
of men and animals. Empedocles also believed in this kinship
and affirmed that in the course of transmigration he had
successively been a bird, a plant, a fish, a youth and a
maiden.
The doctrine received its full development in India.
There it was held that man passed through a dreary cycle
of successive births and deaths. His future destiny of
retribution or reward depended upon his present deeds.
Like thus became an interminable chain which linked man's
present to his previous existence and bound him to an
inevitable future.
Buddha denied this Hindu belief and affirmed that the
endless chain could be broken. He accepted the principles
of rebirth, but rejected the doctrine of the existence of
the soul.
His ideal was the extinction of desire for a future life.
It was to be attained in nirvana, which is a state of
passiveness rather than of nothingness.
Buddha was not consistent in his theory, but he aimed a blow
at the tyrannical doctrine of transmigration. In so doing he
brought deliverance to those who were caught in the vicious
circle of recurrent being.
Neither his view nor that of reincarnation does justice to
a balanced conception of personality.
This is found in Jesus Christ, who taught that one who
experiences fellowship with God here is assured of a more
liberal fellowship in the hereafter.
(Copyright, 1926. New York Tribune, Inc.)
6/26/43 Mr. [
2904]'s ltr. to EC:
Dear Edgar
Want to thank you for your letter giving data of information
that I passed on to Mr. [...] [[
3441]'s father]. You will
doubtless hear from him later as he is considering the
matter.
Like myself he has tried about everything without any success
nor much hope from any medical authority [for his daughter,
case of dementia praecox]. It seems to be one of the
incurable diseases. The only ray of brightness is that the
person remains optimistic and seems to be entertained by the
voices. Some day a cure will be found and it will be simple. I have
been in rather a happy mood today over the action of Congress
yesterday in passing the antistrike bill over Roosevelt's
veto in jig time.
Since they have now shown they are he men instead of rubber
stamps I think there is hope for our great country.
No government can survive when there is a government inside
monkeying with the steering wheel when John L. Lewis began
taking things in his own hands and the president didn't tell
him when and where to get off as Wilson or Cleveland would
have done. I began wondering here we were headed for.
Like Sheridan that "we are now going back boys." I salute
Congress.
Best wishes,
Sincerely yours [
2903]
10/19/39 Niece's rdg.
538-59, Par. 21-A indicated that her
then Grecian mother, Xantippe, wife of Socrates, was a
seamstress in the household of Xenophon [
2903].
GD's note: Mr. [
2903] died in the fall of 1944 of cirrhosis
of the liver. He was nursed at the last of his sister,
Mrs. [
760].
See interim correspondence in re his health under
2903-2.
2/22/45 Letter to his niece, Mrs. [
538], from her cousin:
"Mr. [
2903] was such a grand man and was so needed in his
home and in society in general. Very few men had the
magnetic attributes of [
2903]."
1/07/72 Newspaper article from the Ledger-Star:
XENOPHON TOMB POSSIBLY FOUND IN GREEK CITY
ATHENS (AP) - Archaeologist Dora Karagiorgas reported
today that the tomb of Xenophon, the Athenian historian
and general, may have been found near ancient Olympia.
Miss Karagirogas said a cemetery of twenty 3rd or 4th century
B.C. tombs had been found, and there was evidence that one
elaborate one belonged to Xenophon's family.
Xenophon is believed to have lived between 434 and 355 B.C.
He lived in exile near Olympia for more than 20 years.
Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation