Edgar Cayce Readings, 3175-3

Time and Place: Set bet. 3:30 to 4:30 P. M. Eastern War Time. ..., Pa.

TEXT

GC: You will have before you the life existence in the earth plane of [3175], woman, born September 21, 1900 in Manor Township, Lancaster County, Penna., and the earthly existence of this entity in Palestine, as Martha, a sister of Peter's mother-in-law and one of the holy women. You will give a biographical life of the entity in that day and plane of earthly existence, from entrance - and how - into the earth's plane, and the entity's departure; giving the development or retarding points in such an existence. You will answer the questions, as I ask them, concerning the associations and urges from that period in the present.
EC: Yes, [3175]. Yes, the entity's experience in the earth plane as Martha, the sister of Peter's wife's mother. Yes, we are again given the records here of that entity now known as or called: [3175]. A lovely body!
In giving the experiences of the entity in the earth plane as Martha, the sister of Peter's wife's mother, it would be well that much of the happenings or history of the times be included, that there may be the more perfect understanding of the conditions and as to how and why urges from that experience apply in the experience of the entity in the present.
As is understood by many, there had been long a looking forward to or for the advent of the promised Messiah into the earth and there had been those various groups through one channel or another who had banded together to study the material which was handed down through the varied groups in that day and period.
Here we find there had been, for the mother of Martha, an experience of coming in touch with Judy [1472] who had been the first of women appointed as the head of the Essenes group who had the experience of having voices, as well as those which would be called in the present experiences communications with the influences which had been a part of man's experience from the beginning, such that the divine within man heard the experiences of those forces outside of man and communicated in voices, in dreams, in signs and symbols which had become a portion of the experience.
When the children of Martha's mother, Sophia, were in those periods of development these had become a part of what would be called today a play-experience for the entity, Martha.
For Peter's wife's mother was many years the senior of Martha but the coming of John, and the birth of Jesus, the dispensation of Jesus and John in Egypt, all had an impression or imprint upon the mind of the entity Martha, who builded in her own mind how the king and how the announcer of the king should be dressed, (as this had been a part of the experiences of the entity in other periods and thus the choice of things in this direction).
Then there came those great changes in the life experience of Martha. For one among those of the rulers of the synagogue sought the entity in marriage and through the individuals who made these arrangements the entity was espoused to Nicodemus. [[3021], her late husband in the present life. See 3175-1, Par. 50-A saying he had been her husband in Palestine.] Through his activities, and personality, Martha learned first of what had happened to the peoples in the homes of John the Baptist and of Mary and Joseph and Jesus.
Thus, when there were later the experiences of those entering into activities, and then when the message was given out that Martha's older sister had been healed from a terrible fever by this man, Jesus, this brought about great changes in Nicodemus and Martha, as they had to do with the temple and the service of the high priest. Martha began the weaving of the robe that became as a part of the equipment the Master had. Thus the robe was made especially for the Master. In color it was not as the robe of the priest, but woven in the one piece with the hole in the top through which the head was to be placed, and then over the body, so that with the cords it was bound about the waist.
This robe Nicodemus presented then to the Master, Jesus, after the healing of the widow of Nain's son, who was a relative of Nicodemus.
In the activities, then, when Nicodemus went to the Master by night and there became those discussions in the home, for Nicodemus and Martha there began the communion as man and wife rather than man and his chattel or his servant. They were more on a basis of equality, not in the same proportions which were established a bit later by some of the rulers from the Roman land but more in keeping with the happenings which had brought about the activities in the Essenes group. [GD's note: Mr. [3021], husband of Martha, died in the present life of uremia.]
Though Martha was an Essene, Nicodemus never accepted completely the tenets or the teachings of the Essenes group. These were a part of the principles and applications of Martha. The acquaintanceships, the friendships which were established between Mary, Elizabeth and the other Mary [[2946]?], all were parts of the experience and because of the position of Martha throughout those activities she was considered rather one of the leaders, or one to whom others made appeal to have positions or conditions set in motion so that there was given more concessions to the Holy Women who followed Jesus from place to place when there were those periods of His Palestine ministry.
The only differences which arose were with Martha and Mary in the household of Lazarus, Martha and Mary. Because of conditions there from which Mary had returned, from the houses which were a portion of her activity in various cities, questions as to morality arose. And yet, after there were the healings, or as it was discovered how she out of whom seven devils were cast became changed, or how there were even changes then and there, we find there was a greater working together with the activities of Mary, Martha, Lazarus and Mary the mother of Jesus, Elijah and many of those others, including John Mark's mother. These were parts of the experience of the entity.
The entity stood, as indicated by the accomplishments of the robe from Nicodemus, as one particularly honored even by the Master.
During the periods of activity, during the missions after the Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Master, the entity Martha gathered with those in the upper room looking for the promise of the coming of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This, too, became a part of the activities.
For the entity later was among those who aided Stephen and Philip, as well as others of the various lands. For it was with these that the entity first became acquainted with Luke and Lucius who later became the heads of various organizations in other portions. These acquaintances were then rather as counsel from those to whom Luke, Lucius, Mark as the younger of the Disciples, (not Apostles, but younger of the Disciples), went for counsel.
For the entity was one acquainted with the law, the entity Martha, taught the law to the young ones, the children who sought knowledge.
The entity had its own family, two sons and one daughter. These became ministers in the church in Antioch, aiding the peoples who worked with Barnabas, and it is mentioned that one, Theopolus learned from the entity Sylvanus, and those who labored in the church in Jerusalem with John, James, Peter and the others, as a child. As a child, this one was known as Thaddeus. The daughter was wed to one of the companions of Paul, Silas [707], who was engaged in a portion of the activities with Paul. [See 3175-3, 11/05/70 Par. R7.]
As to the activities of the entity, then:
The abilities are indicated in weaving, in color. The color of the robe was pearl-gray, as would be called now, with selvage woven around the neck, as well as that upon the edge, as over the shoulder and to the bottom portion of same; no belts [bells?] no pomegranates, but those which are woven in such a manner that into the selvage portion of the bottom was woven the Thummim and Urim. These were as the balance in which judgments were passed by the priest. But these were woven, not placed upon the top of same. Neither were there jewels set in same.
With the persecution the entity withdrew more and more because of its associations with those in authority, but its home became more and more a place of refuge and help for all of the young of the church.
The entity lived to be an elderly person, something like seventy-nine years of age in the experience, and was not among those ever beaten or placed in jail, though persecuted by only the Romans, feared by those of her own peoples.
Ready for questions.
(Q) Are any of the children of that period associated with the entity in the present?
(A) These will become associated with the entity - not in the present.
(Q) What place did I occupy at the Crucifixion?
(A) As one of those upon the right hand of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and the other Mary upon the left hand.
(Q) In the meeting on the day of Pentecost?
(A) Among those who heard all of the various places announce their hearing Peter in their own tongue.
(Q) In what way was I acquainted with Lucius?
(A) As indicated, as a teacher, as a helper, an advisor, when he was destined by being joined in the church activities in his own home areas. The entity never visited there.
(Q) Any other advice?
(A) Keep close to those things which draw thee nearer to the Cross of Christ. For it is in Him, through Him, ye each have thy being. As He accepted the work of thine hands then, may He accept the work of thy hands in the present.
We are through.
Copy to Self
Copy to Ass'n file
Copy for indexing

BACKGROUND

See 3175-1.

REPORTS

10/27/44 [3175]'s letter to Mary Wirsing:
Dear Mary,
Since returning home from my enjoyable but all too short stay at Virginia Beach, I have thought of you many, many times. It was a pleasure and privilege to meet you and I meant to write and tell you so, long before this.
I am glad too that, though many changes take place in the office force of the Association, you still remain as one of its members for somehow I feel that you are sincere in your desire to be helpful and are aware of the distinction between a life and a living.
My purpose in writing to you at this time is this, Mary. Since Mr. Cayce's illness, I have written to him several times and recently sent along a little gift of money because I know how important the filthy stuff can be at such a time. In the answer which I received, it seemed that by reading between the lines, I could see a definite need for financial aid during this particular emergency.
It occurred to me that perhaps there are others among the Active Members who need and love Mr. Cayce to the extent that they would like to add something material to their prayers for him. For, as James, the brother of Jesus, tell us - faith, if it have not works, is dead.
Of course I may be wrong about the need. You and Gladys would probably know if there is a need. If so, would you care to send me a list of names with addresses of such whom you and Gladys feel would wish to do a bit in this way to help him? I would be glad to write each a little note, not of course, ASKING them but rather leaving it up to them as being their own idea.
However, if you and Gladys are not in sympathy with this idea, please do not hesitate to tell me so. It is only that I am deeply desirous of helping him and believe that there may be others who feel that way also.
Trusting to hear from you soon, I am, with best wishes to you all,
Sincerely, [3175]
10/30/44 GD's letter to [3175]:
Mrs. [3175] ..., Penna.
Dear Mrs. [3175]: On the 19th of Oct. I went to Roanoke to see Mr. and Mrs. Cayce. I really went up on the 18th, spent that night and the next day there. Mr. and Mrs. Sea also came up from Blackstone while I was there. Mr. Cayce's sister, Mrs. Hesson, from Nashville was helping Mrs. Cayce nurse him but she had to go back home. Recently Kathryn Patterson (here in the office - you probably remember her) went up there to help Mrs. Cayce. Although he looks fine now in the face, at least so MUCH better than I had expected to see him looking, and is free from pain, his circulation is quite bad and it will be some time before he is strong enough to get about much. His left foot and hand are both quite swollen. You see, the doctors say he has had a slight stroke, although he is not paralyzed at all (thank goodness!). They can't understand why he is not. The reason is, of course, that he has been getting at the source of the trouble through the treatments outlined in his last reading, which Dr. Semones has followed. I found him much better mentally - in fact, he said he felt better than he did when he left the Beach, but it is terribly hard on him having to remain so quiet. Then, too, his nerves are so shot to pieces that he has trouble sleeping. Dr. Semones plans to go to Florida around Thanksgiving, and it may be necessary - or best - that Mr. and Mrs. Cayce go with him, so that the treatments can be continued. If he returns to Va. Beach he won't have access to anyone but a medical doctor who doesn't understand his case at all. In fact, usually a medical man doesn't have any corrective or curative measures to offer following a stroke I understand all they do is use sedatives and wait for another stroke, keeping the patient afraid to move or take a deep breath in the meantime. Anyway, Dr. Semones has been so wonderful through it all, doing things for him that Mr. and Mrs. Cayce both feel no one else would or could have done, I think he should feel free to spend two or three months in Hollywood, Fla., with Dr. and Mrs. Semones, during the worst winter months. Of course, the financial situation is pretty bad with the Association, considering that we had such a large office force being paid principally from money coming in for readings. This was all wrong, but there's no use dwelling on that. The thing is to do something about it from now on.
Your letter to Mary about writing notes explaining Mr. Cayce's needs is a very welcome one, because I have had an idea along the same line. Already some of Mr. Cayce's close friends have rallied round, as they would do in any emergency, and have sent him personal checks with no strings tied to them - that go right to his personal checking account and are not connected with the Association in any way. Under the present set-up he has enough money to last about a month, without any more coming in. We have cut down the office force to a nub. In fact, there are just two or three of us hanging on, without salary for the time being, trying to get things straightened out. We've got to make the Association pay without having to depend on Mr. Cayce's income from readings. In the meantime he has to have sufficient money to carry him on the road to recovery until he can begin giving readings.
I'm sending you a list of names and will send others from time to time, if you wish. I think it is so lovely of you to do this, and I know he will appreciate it beyond words. It will mean more coming from you, I think, than if I wrote the letters myself. Some of the people only need to know how he is, that it is going to require time for him to get well, and that the Association has no reserve to take care of the situation - we've got to work like mad to keep the Association alive in his absence. In helping him meet his personal needs such individuals would be helping the Association to survive.
I just haven't had time to write many of these people the details they'd like to have as to Mr. Cayce's condition and the prospects for the future. Some of them don't even know that he has not been able to give readings for two months. Some don't know that he has had to go away from Virginia Beach to rest and get the treatments.
Well, I won't go any further but if there's anything you wish to know before starting the letters, please write me. Or, better still, if it is at all possible, I'd like to see you make him a visit so you can tell people that you have done that and just how he is, etc.
As you perhaps know, they have just recently moved from the Hotel out to the home of Dr. and Mrs. Semones - Meadow View Inn, Cloverdale, Va., Phone Roanoke 61-F-3. Mrs. Semones ran this Inn for several years, but recently she has not been able physically to take care of it and they have gone to Florida every winter. They have kept it open this fall just to take care of Mr. and Mrs. Cayce, and the Doctor has moved all the treatment machines and what not right to the Inn, so that Mr. Cayce has everything as homelike and convenient as possible. I'm sure they'd be able to take care of you there for two or three days and you could "take in" the situation firsthand, as well as do Mr. Cayce a world of good just to see and talk with you.
Heaps of love and thanks, and bye for now.
[signed] Gladys
P.S. The Bulletin and This Week's Readings have been delayed due to the many changes in the office routine and personnel. However, Thomas Sugrue has just sent up the material for the November Bulletin and also TWR, so you will be getting your copies soon. (List of names enclosed)
11/30/44 [3175]'s letter to GD:
Dear Gladys:
A week ago today I celebrated Thanksgiving day according to our custom but every day is a day of thanks giving for me because it would not be possible to give God enough thanks in just one day for He blesses me with such abundance that I can say with the Psalmist, "He forgiveth all my iniquities; healeth all my diseases; redeemeth my life from destruction; crowneth me with loving kindness and tender mercies; and satisfieth me with good things so that my youth is renewed like the eagle's."
It seems to me that the best way to thank the Giver of all gifts is to consecrate ourselves in love to give to others that which we have or even that which we seem to lack. Whenever I have thus allowed God's power to flow through me out into action in love for others, I have found that my own blessings have been multiplied and my prayers for others have been more fully and more quickly answered. Thus Jesus' words, "With what measure ye meet, it shall be measured to you again," are truly proven.
I have been and am praying with my soul's sincerest desire for health to be restored to Mr. Cayce if it be God's will, and know that as my prayers go forth in the name of God Himself, they cannot return to me void. I thank God for this and want to manifest my thanks in some way, so am sending this gift to be applied where it is needed most.
I send it to you because, not having heard from or about Mr. Cayce for a while, I am not sure where he is but trust that by now he is back home again.
While I give the gift to be used wherever needed, it would please me if you and Kathryn would have a share of it because of the wonderful work you are both doing.
Please tell Mr. Cayce I will write to him just as soon as I know where he is. Tell me to have no fear for "God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love, and of a sound mind," and "is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think."
With much love to you and the Cayces and to all who are serving there, I am,
Faithfully in prayer, [3175]
12/03/44 (Sunday) [3175]'s letter to EC:
Dear Mr. Cayce, How would you like to spend a little while with me this afternoon, settled comfortably in the green chair here before the fireplace, toasting your toes by the heat of the glowing embers?
It's so cozy and comfortable here, shut in from the winter's coldness; and cheerful too, with the warm sunshine streaming in through the windows, causing the amber-colored glass paperweight on my desk to look like a huge magnificent jewel. The joyous, lilting songs of the two canaries add to the cheerfulness, and ... asleep in a sunny spot on the floor, adds to the coziness.
You might like to pop some corn over the hot coals and eat it, fresh and warm, right from the hopper like I did a little while ago. It's so good to eat and so delightful to watch as the beautiful white fairy flowers burst from the golden grain, - like little miracles, I always think.
There aren't any mugs of cider simmering slow as in Whittier's poem but there are some cold, juicy apples and some sweet as honey pears that can be gotten in a minute from their storage place, if you wish.
Such a gloriously beautiful day should be shared with someone so I can pretend you are here anyhow, for pretending is an art I have learned to cultivate through the years. It helps me in so many ways. You see, when I am sad I pretend I am happy, so of course I must act as though I am, and before long I really am happy; if someone says something to hurt me, I pretend they didn't mean it that way, and so am not hurt; and once when I suffered such pain that I was unable to sleep for days and nights, I pretended to live in the future. I thought of myself well and strong again and free from all pain, as I would be in the life just beyond the horizon of that particular time and, do you know, it wasn't very long until I was actually doing so. I suppose that is the law of growth or the spirit of life; to lift oneself upward toward the desired dream.
It's been so good, having you for company this little while. I wish you could come again tomorrow and help me with the cookies. I have to make some for the Christian Service Guild and it would be a big help if you would put the sugar and nuts on the tops for me.
But since you cannot do that, don't forget to meet me in prayer each day, for, you know, if two of us agree on earth as touching anything we desire, it shall be done for us. I am looking forward expectantly with joy to that which I desire with all the strength of my heart and soul. Can I depend on you? Lots of love, [3175]
P.S. Read Isaiah 41:13 and Proverbs 3:24.
GD's note: 6/19/46 See report on her Life Reading to Gina Cerminara under 3175-1, Reports.
11/28/62 To this date Mrs. [3175] has remained an active, interested member of A.R.E.
11/05/70 [3175] wrote: "In the rdg. [3175-3] it was given that I (Martha, at that time) had two sons and one daughter. The name of the daughter was not given, but it stated that she married Silas [707] who accompanied and worked with Paul for a time. A day or so after the rdg. was given me I spoke to Gladys about one of the photographs high on the wall of Mr. Cayce's reading room. The photo was the one photo which held my interest. I thought it was because the man of the photo resembled someone I knew and I could not bring to mind who he was. Gladys told me the man's name and the state of his residence but that didn't help me any. Then, as she started to leave the room she turned and exclaimed, '[3175], that man was told he was Silas, so he would have been your son-in-law in your Palestine incarnation.' Since then I have thought many times of how almost unbelievable it was that I, [3175], would have a remembrance of a man I knew in another lifetime, from a PHOTOGRAPH of that man as he is in this incarnation." [GD's note: Mr. [707] did look like a Biblical character, even in this incarnation.]