6/03/52 Rudolph Johnson's letter to DEK:
Rudolph Johnson (Letterhead)
Attorney at Law
Mercantile Bank Building
Dallas, Texas
Mr. David Kahn
56 East 80th Street
New York 21, N.Y.
Dear Dave:
Pardon my delay in not answering your letter sooner. I have
been in San Antonio and San Saba and returned last night.
Your letter was confusing but I spent some time on my trip
thinking it over and hope that I have properly understood it.
In the first place, Edgar Cayce told me in 1943 about his
Texas oil venture. He told me about the Humble people, Edgar
B. Davis and the well that was drilled at Comyn. He
expressed a keen disappointment over the so-called failure,
not because of the resultant lack of money but chiefly
because of the cloud on the validity of the readings. He
stated that if big money had come into the picture at that
time, it might not have been good for the work or the
participants. He recognized that the most important phase of
the work (life readings) developed subsequently, and if oil
had produced millions for the individuals and the work in the
early 1920's, his readings would have been channeled
principally toward the physical and with the need of money
gone, might have diminished substantially. He also
recognized the possibility of a terrific fight being waged
between the partners when wealth aroused their avarice and
cupidity.
He told me about San Saba but at that particular time did not
identify it by name. He expressed an earnest desire for
someone to drill the property and prove the readings, as well
as provide a substantial income for the Association. He said
that the readings repeatedly stated that income for the
Association would stem from the natural resources of the
earth. He thought this probably meant oil.
He told about the people who had put money into the venture;
however, he had no statement to make about widows, orphans or
other needy persons who had sacrificed their all in order to
prove the validity of the readings. I gathered that all such
transactions were understood to be based on the customary
calculated business risk, and that when one lost, one simply
lost.
When I came to Texas four years ago, I asked Hugh Lynn for
this reading and have worked on the area at frequent
intervals ever since. Being ever-mindful of the admonitions
of Edgar Cayce that grasping, selfish, turbulent minds must
be kept from the venture, I turned down opportunities to
drill this well until I worked out what I hoped would be a
happy connection. My three partners are Cayceites although
they are not active members of the Association. Hugh Lynn
has met my main partner, sized him up and thoroughly approved
him. I personally vouch for the other two. They thoroughly
realize that the geology on which we solely depend is
information obtained through psychic sources. They believe
and have great faith and we have set aside, by a legal
instrument, for the benefit of the Association, a full
partner's interest which will be increased by contributions
from our individual incomes, if the Forces see fit to grant
us success.
My partners would not understand the logic of your request on
the checker-board suggestion. As a matter of fact, I am not
sure that it is clear to me. However, I have worked these
titles rather carefully and I have assured my partners that I
am prepared to defend, in any way necessary, claims of any
kind and character which might be made against our lease
titles in the entire lease block. I have filed affidavits
and other instruments to clear up contingent claims growing
out of these old leases owned by Wilmott and others. In
event we get production, it is only natural to expect some
"sore-heads" to assert claims, attempt to change their lease
terms or come in with spurious demands in the hope of
settling out for some cash. This sort of a situation,
however, is right up my alley and I expect to be a very busy
man if the well comes in.
I am sure that you would be interested in a recent word from
Bud Wilmott. Our driller is the one who drilled the dry hole
with Wilmott across the creek from our present location and
knows him quite well. He saw him in Oklahoma (or Kansas)
about two months ago and told him what we were doing.
Wilmott expressed a great deal of interest and wished us
success. He said he did not have any of the old readings but
would be glad for us to have them if they could be located.
He said that he had cured his drinking trouble through a
goiter operation and seems to be getting along fine.
The driller told me that Wilmott told him that Edgar Cayce
met him on a train coming South from New York City where
Wilmott had been to raise money for an Oklahoma well after
having gone broke. Cayce told him about the good prospects
in San Saba. Wilmott arrived home and remembering that Cayce
gave physical readings also, got a reading for the
twelve-year old crippled son of his negro cook. The reading
was followed, the boy who had never walked got on his feet
and Wilmott thus believing, wrote Cayce for an oil reading
and on the basis of the San Saba reading of 1926, moved to
Texas. [Copied for [
4837] file. GD.]
I am very glad to see that you are again keenly interested in
the Association work. I hope to have the pleasure of meeting
you at Virginia Beach at the Congress this June. I have met
your lovely wife and have enjoyed your Son speaking at the
Congress.
I recall after Edgar Cayce died and you were no longer a
trustee that you wrote me stating in effect, that with the
death of Cayce, the effective work of the Association had
gone. You also stated that you had arranged to have the
readings turned over to a university where they could be put
to good use. I am hopeful that our present venture will
permit the Association to go forward with the program
established by the readings to disseminate the information to
classes and then the masses.
In my opinion, Dave, the world needs the philosophy of the
Cayce readings to learn a lesson in service as opposed to
selfishness. I can imagine no greater dramatic proof of
validity of all Cayce readings than that which might come
through an oil well. It seems that all Americans drool at
the thought of oil and take it for a symbol of great wealth.
It represents the epitome of materialism. It is certainly
something that everyone can understand and try to get his
fingers into if possible.
I am glad to advise that I have been able to buy for members
of the Association approximately 1400 acres of royalty under
the well and adjoining it. They are putting their faith in
the readings with good hard-earned dollars.
I appreciate your offer to have Buddy get a message through
automatic writing but please do not do so. My experience
with this has been that it is not only chiefly unreliable but
is extremely dangerous to the person cultivating the "gift".
I know of at least two people close to me who passed within
the shadows of the insane asylum through their venture in
automatic writing. I am sure you will never let Buddy get
into it deep enough to harm him.
I have a good bit of information about the well upon which I
believe I can base a sensible decision. I think I know what
dangers we are to encounter and I hope we will be ready for
them.
I am sure it must give you a mighty thrill to know that seven
years after Edgar Cayce's death, there are four men willing
to spend about $50,000 on a hole in the ground only because
they believe that the information given by Cayce came truly
from the universal consciousness and, therefore, was worthy
to be acted upon. Three of these men know Cayce only through
Tom's book.
I am still surprised that some of you who had all this
information available and who were so thoroughly
indoctrinated with the spirit and truth of the readings, did
not do sooner what I, a comparative new-comer, have fought
and studied and planned and struggled to do. I suppose
though that the convert to the faith carries more avid
interest and militant spirit than those born to the faith.
It has been nice to hear from you and I would like for you to
know what progress we are making. I am a very busy man and
cannot write as many letters as I would like but no matter
how busy I get, I shall always take time to write Hugh Lynn
and Tom and since you are so close to Tom, I suggest that you
check with him frequently on news from the well.
All good wishes, I am
Sincerely, [signed] Rudy RJ:NF
6/07/52 Letter from C. Rudolph Johnson: "We encountered a
very nice show of oil at 2487 feet in a blue shale. Please
check EC's original geology information and you will see that
this is exactly as he predicted it. He stated that we would
encounter an overlap of sand at around 2200 feet and another
overlap at around 2400 feet, and we found these conditions as
predicted. We are now within approximately 100 feet of the
hickory sand but I imagine it will be about a week before we
can test it. In the next 100 feet we have the cap mountain
lime which is very hard drilling and I doubt if we will be
able to average over 25 feet per day. After we get into the
hickory which is directly under the cap mountain, we expect
to encounter considerable fresh water which will pose quite a
problem. The success or failure of this well will depend
upon how fortunate we are in handling this water, as it is
expected under heavy pressure. When we pass through it we
will then set our 7" pipe in the sand and cement it heavily.
Through the 7" pipe we will then drill about 25 feet to 50
feet into the sand where we expect encounter very heavy gas
pressure. This will also constitute a big problem as we must
exercise great care to keep from having a blowout. Send us
your good thoughts and let me have your suggestions, if any."
6/14/52 Rudolph Johnson's letter to HLC:
Johnson & Mead (Letterhead)
Attorneys at Law
Mercantile Bank building
Dallas 1, Texas
Mr. Hugh Lynn Cayce
Association for Research & Enlightenment
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Dear Hugh Lynn:
I am in San Saba and your letter of June 10th was read to me
over the telephone.
It does not look as if I will be able to come to Virginia
Beach as soon as planned. As a matter of fact, I don't know
when I can leave because of difficulties at the well. We
have a bit in the hole and another fishing job in progress.
We are now at a depth of 2682' and hope to reach the hickory
sand within the next fifty feet. When this is done, we will
have a delay in arranging to take care of the strong water
pressure which we expect to appear in the top portion of the
sand. After we get through the water, we will set our 7" oil
string in cement which will require three days to harden.
Possibly all of this can be done by Thursday of next week.
We are hopeful of being able to make our first test not later
than saturday, June 21. This will prevent Polly and me
driving up with Taze who expects to leave Thursday or Friday.
If it looks like our situation will hold me here past the
date of the Congress opening, I will plan to fly up with
Polly and it may be that we will not get there much sooner
than Saturday, June 28, in order to attend the banquet. In
the meantime, I will let you know, of course. This means
that I may have to cancel the reservation but I will let you
know about this as soon as possible.
I do not know if Taze will want to go without me. I am
asking him to write you directly about his plans.
I am blocking up more acreage; and, if we get what we expect,
it will be okay.
Most sincerely, [signed] Rudy RJ/lg
6/25/52 Rudolph Johnson's wire:
NF095 DL PD=MK DALLAS TEX 25 246P=
HUGH LYNN CAYCE=
ASSOCIATION FOR RESEARCH & ENLIGHTENMENT V=
DRILLING CAP LIME AT 2750 FEET. HAVE ENCOUNTERED OIL SHALE.
SHOULD REACH HICKORY SAND WITHIN SEVEN DAYS. SORRY
DEVELOPMENTS HERE HAVE KEPT ME FROM ATTENDING CONGRESS.
CAYCE GEOLOGY REMAINS ACCURATE. GIVE MY REGARDS TO ALL MY
FRIENDS=
RUDOLPH JOHNSON=
6/29/52 Letter from Rudy Johnson:
Dear Hugh Lynn and Tom:
Tonight the well is down to 2763 feet. Although the original
reading said we would hit the Hickory Sand at 2600 feet I am
not discouraged. I think Willmott must have hit the Hickory
at about 2787, so we could have news for you any day. Polly
and I are disappointed that we could not make the Congress,
but Polly has it all figured out. Suppose we had been able
to make the dramatic announcement on Saturday as we had hoped
- then there would have been widespread publicity at a time
we were not ready to cope with its results. There would have
been a swarm of people after me - the readings - our property
here, and the competition would become so keen that we would
not have time to organize properly. As it is, we will have
time to get everything ready. In the last 3 weeks, I have
leased up about 6,500 acres in addition to the 11 or 12,000
we started with. I am starting in to lease up about 6 or 7
thousand more. If we get a well, I want us to be well
protected. Polly is here with me and we are living in a
tourist cabin. We will have been here 4 weeks next Friday.
We have worked hard, but have had a bushel of fun. Polly was
especially disappointed that we missed the Congress, but
perhaps next year we can make it. Things were too critical
here to leave.
Ken Broman, from California, came in to see us Friday and
left yesterday. He owns 50 acres of royalty. He is much
interested and wanted a copy of the reading. I hemmed and
hawed, so he said "never mind, I'll write Hugh Lynn for a
copy." I let it pass and did not say that neither he nor
anyone else would be able to get any oil readings. If he
writes you as I think he will, you might tell him that no
exceptions can be made, and that the oil readings are under
the sole charge of the "Oil and Gas Development Committee."
Very soon you will have many requests for these readings.
please instruct Gladys to keep them under lock and key. They
might be valuable enough to be the subject of theft.
Our drilling has passed thru the oil shale and we are now in
the hard cap mountain lime. The sand should lie under this
within 100 feet. I think we are prepared to handle the heavy
gas pressure we expect to encounter. The problem concerned
me night and day. I dreamed about it. So Ray Denhart and I
went to Breckenridge and bought a heavy control head, a 6000
pound pressure gate valve, two smaller valves, and an
arrangement whereby we can stand 30 feet from the control
head and turn a wheel and cut off the pressure, in case the
gas gets to acting up. Three nights ago I dreamed we had a
new driller who did not stop drilling when he passed from the
lime into the sand. Dreamed he drilled 100 feet into the
sand and the gas pressure blew all the water out of the hole.
At first when I saw it shoot 30 feet into the air I thought
it was oil and out of control (This is what we don't want).
But then I got some of it on me and saw it was only the black
water that has been running from the hole for months. Ray
was there and grinning - Then I knew that here was the place
to set the pipe. The gas pressure was present, but not too
strong. There was no oil in evidence as yet, but my dream
feeling was that we were on top of it. All this corresponded
with what The Boss said we would encounter. So I am going to
check this to see if we should not set our oil string 100
feet into the sand.
Tom, what are your immediate plans? When the well comes in
we will need you and Hugh Lynn at once. You must help us
work out a practical news release program. Neither Polly nor
I are in favor of a publicity situation. I think that
nothing should be printed until we all have our ducks in a
row.
(1) Let me have enough time to protect the Association as to
acquiring more property.
(2) No press releases that would minimize the value of books,
articles, etc., that we might use to further the work.
(3) Plan the type of publicity that is to be utilized and set
up an authority to control it.
(4) Determine by what means the greatest good can come to the
Association thru use of the publicity.
(5) Set up a plan for handling the inquiries resulting from
the publicity.
Tom, I am glad you are going to have a swell trip to
Scotland, but, Boy, we are surely going to need you. Please
think these things over and write us an outline of your
thoughts before you leave, and remember, you are coming back
to Texas to walk again. Polly and I know this and so do all
your friends here. Taliaferro sends his warmest wishes for
your health and happiness to you and says he is expecting you
back soon. Polly and I will have a place for you to stay
when you return.
We will be in San Saba at Hi-Land Courts until Thursday of
this week, and if we hit the sand, we will possibly be here
an extra week or 10 days.
Pray that we use good judgement and do what we are supposed
to do, at all times doing God's will.
As of old, Rudy -
8/05/52 Rudolph Johnson's letter:
Johnson & Meade (Letterhead)
Attorneys at Law
Mercantile bank Building
Dallas, Texas
Dear Peter, Ken, Elsie, Bill and Hugh Lynn:
I am sending a copy to all of you to save time. This is in
answer to Peter's and Ken's last letters.
There is dissention among the partners, also with the
drilling contractor, which has brought about a strained
relation between me and two of my partners. Without going
into details. My partners have telephoned me long distance
on several occasions while they were drinking, and have said
things which caused me to take issue to the point that two or
three times I have lost my temper. I felt that I was not
being treated fairly, and perhaps they felt the same way
toward me. However, last Sunday the two partners and I spent
the day together in Waco, and ironed out our differences and
now we are in accord as business partners. I have no way of
knowing if we are in accord as spiritual entities as we
cannot examine other's hearts.
The driller has not made any hole in six weeks. He has
drilled on top of the iron in the hole until he broke off in
the hole a second bit yesterday. I think he has run short on
good judgement and my partners agree. They are sending him a
registered letter signed by their attorney, advising him that
if he does not complete the hole before October 6th.,
pursuant to his drilling contract, they will not pay delay
rentals for the 12,000 acres in the block due October 6th.,
but will abandon the hole. In this case the driller will
have drilled at his own expense and this, of course, will be
disastrous to him. The partners tell me that they may put up
a little money ($3,000) to be paid the land owners for a
ninety day extension past October 6th. My experience tells
me this will fail as the land owners are suspicious and the
only way to save the drilling block is to put up the delay
rental of $1.00 per acre ($12,000).
My partners have plenty of money and their attitude is not
dictated by lack of cash. They are used to gambling and
frankly I do not think they will drop the matter as they
threatened, but it is possible that they will. Being a
mystic I cannot be overly apprehensive, as my life has proved
that calamities later turn into blessings. If my partners
decide to get out, it will be of their own free will, but I
will continue to do everything possible to keep the deal
intact so as to finish up what I have started.
I wish that there were some members in the association with
sufficient capital to buy out my partners if they should
finally decide to sell. I do not at this time know if they
would want to sell or for what price. I do know that the
driller is having so much hard luck that conceivably he will
not be to the hickory sand before October 6th. On that day
the rentals of $12,000 will be due, and unless an extension
is worked out or unless the partners agree to pay, the leases
will be lost for non-payment.
It is possible that the partners would be willing to have
some one step into their place. They have got approximately
$50,000 in the hole and it would be necessary to pay $12,000
in rentals on October 6th. My partners own 6/8's of the
7/8's working interest. I own 1/8 and the Association owns a
free 1/8 over ride.
My faith in the presence of the oil is in no way diminished;
as a matter of fact it is stronger at this point than it ever
has been, as I have had repeated assurances from many sources
that we are on the right track and that we only have to
handle it properly to produce results.
In view of all the prayers being said, and the work being
done for the success of the well, I am convinced that there
is a higher reason for this delay than merely the clumsiness
of the driller. Perhaps dissension is the factor. Perhaps
the time has come for the Forces to change the operators.
Perhaps there are some people more closely attuned to the
spirit and purposes of this undertaking who are standing
ready to enter and to participate. As I consider the money
necessary to buy out my partners, the price seems large, yet
I know that this can be paid easily if the Forces WILL it.
Something has urged me for several days to write all of you
this letter so that the problem may be explained, and the
answer invited.
Think it over, and let me hear from you.
Sincerely, [signed] Rudy RJ:pj
8/11/52 Peter Ballbusch's letter to Rudy Johnson, subject
"Discussion of the Well":
Dear Rudy,
Yesterday afternoon we got together at Jessica's, read your
letter and discussed the many things concerning the well.
The meeting started at 4 p.m. and broke up at 6:45, in other
words we covered the ground pretty thoroughly. Present were
Gene and Jessica Madigan, Esther Pierce, Katherine Whitman,
Ken Broman and Heda and I. Missing were Frances Robey,
Burnice Ridgeway* and Louis Love. They will be notified of
our conclusions by letter and phone. In this way, all those
out here concerned with the bringing in of the well will be
notified.
Ken read us first some excerpts from the book "OIL" on
drilling operations, leases and royalties, so that the issues
involved would be clear to everyone. Then he read your
letter and we started the general discussion. Here are some
of the main points:
1. We know that no one in the Western Groups has the money to
buy out your partners. The finances out here are pretty slim
and I doubt that even the $12,000. - could be raised out in
the West, that is, the money you indicated which was needed
for the renewal of the leases. - I am talking now of the Los
Angeles and San Francisco Groups and I am not including the
Eastern Groups. Generally speaking, people with money don't
seem to be attracted to Group work, only a strong need of
some kind gives a person the "stick-to-it-ness" which one
must have to work things out together in a group.
2. The question was raised, if such a change of partners was
actually needed, or if the entity: Rudy Johnson had some
karmic pattern to work out with those men, who are now his
partners?
3. The all important point of "PURPOSE," came up. It seemed
to be strange to the group, discussing the issues, that the
Well seems haunted with so many difficulties. Either -
obstacles are needed to test those concerned with the
bringing in of the well, or the obstacles have arisen because
things are not "spiritually right," or maybe, and that seems
to be the most important point "GOD WANTS TO BE SURE OF THE
PURPOSE OF EVERYONE CONCERNED."
Maybe everyone should ask himself this question, "Why is the
Well being dug? Is it for the purpose that God's words, ways
* [
2/09/79 GD's note: Berniece Ridgeway was later known in
the E.C. work under the name Bereniece Wiatt, then Bernice
Brown (under Bernice Brown she painted a portrait of Edgar
Cayce, from a photograph, in 1975, which hangs in one of the
Edgar Cayce Foundation offices.]
and work will be spread? Or is it for personal gain or the
aggrandizement of the ego? All those concerned with the
affairs of the Association should ask themselves this
fundamental and vital question. Let us go humbly into our
closet and pray: "Father, let this enterprise be for the
Good of all, let thy blessings flow from it to everyone. And
may thy will be done in thy way, in thy time and for thy
purpose, oh Lord - Amen!"
Our prayer must include everyone, your two partners Rudy and
also the driller, who must be paid for the work he has done.
Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation