Reading 254-115

TEXT OF READING 254-115

Text

Date: 6/25/1944 Sex: M ReadingID: 1253

This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at the office of the Association, Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 25th day of June, 1944, at the Thirteenth Annual Congress of the Association, in accordance with request made by members of the Association present.

[Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis and Mildred Tansey, Stenos; and many others.]

Time of Reading Bet. 3:30 and 4:30 P. M. Eastern War Time.

1. GC: You will have before you the Association for Research and Enlightenment, Inc., and its members present in this room and the Association’s work as presented by Edgar Cayce, and you will give the Association and Edgar Cayce individually specific directions as to how this work shall presently be carried on in the light of current Association problems. You will also answer questions as they are asked:

2. EC: Yes, we have the work of the Association for Research and Enlightenment and the members present here, together with the efforts and the work - contributing to same - of Edgar Cayce.

3. The activities have been set forth in the charter under which, through which the Association has been granted the privilege of activity. This is how the work is to be conducted.

4. At each meeting of the Board of Trustees, then, this charter should be reviewed and the activities thus far seen to conform to (1) the law under which it is granted the privilege and then (2) as to how the Association may contribute to the general welfare of those individuals, groups, associations, corporations that have made, do make it their business to be of a greater service to humanity. For, as is indicated, those who will be the greater service to their fellow man are the greater among the activities in the earth.

5. These, then, are the manners, the channels, the ways in which greater service may be rendered.

6. There are those who, through their own experience as individuals, would be of help; and, as has been indicated, first it must come to the individual, then to groups, then to masses. Do not ever attempt to convince, to impress, even to “expose” the work to those who do not of themselves seek same. For God is God of those who hate Him as well as of those who love Him. He is patient, He is kind, He is merciful. Thus there should be that same attitude in the shadow, at least, of those who thus conduct the work of the Association. Thus there should be that attitude, that manner, that way of conducting the affairs of this Association. For it is a trust to those who have in themselves experienced, in their own lives, that which is good.

7. Then, have no individual a member of this Board who has not himself received that which answers to his own better self, as to the good which has come to him.

8. Each member of the present Board may say this, and is thus acceptable as a member of this Board.

9. As to the work of Edgar Cayce, this - as it has ever been - must of itself depend upon that wherewithal he, as an individual seeking to be a channel, responds to that which is the direction through the physical, the mental and spiritual abilities of the body.

10. Well that each member of the Board first, each member of the office, each member of the staff, each member of the Association - Associate, Active, Living Sponsor or what - be asked to give at least once each day a silent prayer that the work, the power, the might which may be that guiding force, may bring health, hope, a better understanding of the purpose of life. Ask that the life of Edgar Cayce be spared to serve, to be the greater channel, that the love of God in Christ-Jesus be manifested in the earth; not to the glory or honor of any individual but to the glory and honor of God.

11. These, then, are the beginnings.

12. This too, as ye pray, LIVE, ACT! So conduct thine own life as to show thy appreciation of that which thou hast received. For he, or she, who neglects to be thankful builds that which is condemning in the own self.

13. As to the activities of Edgar Cayce - remember, the physical strength is limited. There should be definite rest periods. HE did! Are ye greater than He? In thine own prayers, then: Ask that ye be shown the way, not from those who would condemn, those who would preach, but be guided by the spirit of the Christ-Consciousness that maketh men alive, that giveth hope, that giveth life! His promise is there, yet there must be consistency, there must be sincerity.

14. Let the Board, then, appoint one physically capable of judging according to health as to what the limits may be, guided also by the spirit of the Christ. In this manner, under the present circumstance, may even greater work be done.

15. Prepare for a meeting place, yes - when consistent with the needs of those who are through this channel seeking to know themselves and their Maker the better. Let each contribute according to the dictates of his own conscience.

16. Ready for questions.

17. (Q) Pending the return of Hugh Lynn Cayce, the Association’s Manager, tell us a better way to handle Association office routine than is now being followed. (A) This finds disturbing factors (the office routine) by the necessity of change, under the existent conditions. Be patient, be gentle. Let those who labor there not find fault but let them do with their might what their hands find to do.

Those who are laboring there are seeking first the satisfying of material interpretation, except the conductor of readings, the interpreter or the scribe of the readings, and those who keep the records of same.

Then, let them so live in their OWN lives as to be an EXAMPLE to others - and those who don’t belong won’t stay long!

18. (Q) Please advise Gladys Davis if there are better methods of handling the work which comes under her supervision. (A) Only don’t find fault so often. Look within self. And ye can create, ye can add to, ye can STIMULATE SINCERITY in the minds and in the hearts of thy helpers - who will be entirely changed in less than sixty days and you have it all to do over again! So begin with self first. Be sincere. Be patient. Be gentle, be kind. And let each understand that to SOMEONE this means life and death, hope and despair, and that if this were thine only channel for help what should be thy attitude?

19. (Q) Any suggestions as to a better way to get out the readings as they are given? (A) No.

20. (Q) What advice about getting out the Bulletin and the Weekly Letter have you to offer since Mr. Bro is leaving? (A) Gain the services of one of thine own members of the Board. She can, she may, she will - Esther Wynne.

21. (Q) Outline a daily routine for Edgar Cayce to follow so that - (A) (Interrupting) How will you make him follow it?

22. (Q) (Continuing) so that he may receive all the rest and relaxation necessary for his health? (A) As indicated, the Board should provide someone, a physician, who would be in charge of his health, and a praying physician! How many will you find? There are such things!

23. (Q) Could you suggest one? (A) Who was told to find one? Not me!

24. (Q) Are all members of the Association’s Board of Trustees satisfactory, including those decided on yesterday and the previous years? (A) All, as given, have received personal help - all are acceptable. In the bylaws it has been provided that those who do not indicate their interest, or sufficient interest to at least be represented by a proxy for two years, automatically do not belong! For the interest is not in self nor in Cayce but in their fellow man! So long as that which is being presented is helpful, they do God’s service.

25. (Q) Is there any suggestion on the Living Endowment? (A) This should be presented to each member. There should be prepared a booklet on what the Living Endowment is. Let Sugrue write this.

There should be the presentation of the needs of the Association for the building. Let the secretary of the Building Fund prepare such. She can do a good job! [Beatrice Seay] Let this ever be presented (as understood) that the contributions to such are to the Association, and thus many who would not contribute may, for they can take it off their income tax!

26. We are through.

Copy to each member of the Board of Trustees ” ” Ass’n file ” ” for indexing

Reports

Reports & Follow-up

R1. 6/27/44 EC’s letter to Mr. DEK gives details in re Congress, those present, plans for future; very informative and well expressed letter, dictated so short a time before EC’s breakdown.

R2. 7/13/44 EC’s ltr. from Mr. Rudolph Johnson, a new member of the Board:

C. RUDOLPH JOHNSON Attorney At Law Commerce Title Building Memphis, Tennessee

Mr. Edgar Cayce Association for Research and Enlightenment, Inc. Virginia Beach, Virginia

Dear Boss:

I have just studied plans [for the new addition] submitted by Vaughn Shelton and am wondering if he has been able to estimate the cost. The lay out looks very pretty, but it is difficult to tell whether it actually meets your requirements. For instance, there is no provision made for sleeping rooms, a kitchen or the tremendous file room that you are going to need one of these days. Of course, two of the offices might be thrown into a file room, or something could be worked out in that fashion.

I am not going to get enthusiastic about a new building until the reading says that we are not supposed to have the old hospital building. If the reading turns us down on that, then I will start working up a sweat on the new building. My off-hand opinion is that it would be less of a burden on you and Mrs. Cayce if your office and the office of the Association could be located in a distant part of the town. I am sure that Mrs. Cayce gets tired of entertaining Tom, Dick and Harry in her home, which is more or less made necessary by the Association offices adjoining your residence.

Most sincerely, [signed] Rudolph CRJ:ijl

R3. 7/26/44 Mailing of 8/44 ARE Bulletin went to 1928 members, with HLC’s letter of 5/24/44 from England entitled, “What Will You Do With This Man?” [See Par. R4 below, also under 1797-3 Reports.]

R4. 8/44 A.R.E. BULLETIN using HLC’s letter from England, dated May 24, 1944:

VOL. XII. II

B U L L E T I N ASSOCIATION FOR RESEARCH AND ENLIGHTENMENT, INC., Virginia Beach, Virginia.

“Man’s search for truth is his search for God.”

We are favored this month with an article from Hugh Lynn Cayce, Manager of the Association. This article is very timely, as there are now so many new members, who need such information on the ideals and purposes of the Association and on his father’s relationship to the Association and to the members.

“WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THIS MAN?”

England, May 24, 1944

May I add my welcome and greetings to you who are attending the meetings of the Thirteenth Annual Congress of the Association for Research and Enlightenment, Incorporated!

For several days, I have been trying to select a subject for this paper; something more than hello and good-bye, but obviously not a treatise on anything demanding technical study and research. The army routine hardly permits time for that; certainly not just now. The result has been considerable thinking about a subject which has as many sides as there are individuals involved: namely, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE ASSOCIATION?

Frequently, my father receives letters containing a tirade over the necessity of joining a society in order to secure a reading. For many individuals the blank is only a form, something to be filled out in order to secure the reading in question. The signing of membership forms constitutes the first and last act for too many as members.

Part of the indifference has been due to confusion on the part of those who constitute the Association’s policy forming group and the members of the office staff. Much of the confusion is due to a wide variety of concepts held by important members. All of the indifference and confusion are not without basis and can be traced to some consistent, but hard-to-interpret, statements in readings given over a period of many years.

There are two horns to the dilemma. On one hand there is the constant warning that the Association must not become a cult or ism with any formal system of beliefs, and on the other there is need for concerted study and unity in presenting “the work.” This is neatly phrased by the readings “in decency and order.” Since I do not have the readings in front of me, I cannot go into this in any exhaustive manner. Everything from details of membership fees to broad principles are contained in readings on the Association.

A careful study of all these past readings would be in order in preparing any expansion of the membership activities.

In the development of the Association program the privileges and work of members form the backbone of the organization. Stated simply, the purpose of the Association is to serve its members.

For example, an individual seeking a reading becomes a member of the Association, for only members of the Association can receive readings. This reading is a privilege, a service rendered to the member. For it he pays a membership fee, either as an Active or Associate member. Any function of the organization can be interpreted in terms of service to the members, and reversely, only through members can the work of the organization be carried on. There is no need to follow this further. I wanted to establish a simple premise from which we can examine certain general principles.

Each person will come seeking something different. You know what these are, for you were motivated by these desires: some come seeking help for a suffering physical body; some want help for a loved one; others have a problem in human relationships or a decision which must be made regarding their work; a few are interested in the possibilities of scientific research, in studying the laws which govern the unusual manifestations of the readings; many are attracted by the strangeness of the whole matter and come out of curiosity, fluttering about for a time and then either they settle down or drift off; a growing number find new spiritual stimuli. These are common interests, easily recognized by all of you.

The Association program must be broad and free if it is to serve all of these needs and interests.

Yet, we must pause and consider still more basic aspects of the principles of service involved. All of the above attractions of the work are only means to an end. In serving its members the Association is committed to stimulation of the spiritual nature of man.

This does not mean that the organization has any set formula or any system of beliefs. It is freedom from all these which gives the Association its greatest opportunity.

Let us state this a bit differently. The readings point out that each individual is part of a great system of spiritual evolution. Every physical reading, every life reading, every mental and spiritual reading, is concerned with giving man a better understanding of his relationship with God and with his fellow man. Every department of the Association, every phase of its program, must recognize this principle and lead to this end.

There are expressions describing methods which are essential: freedom of thought and expression; simplicity and clarity; cooperation; honesty.

The time has come when we must cease being vague about membership in the Association. It is time for those interested in the work to stop saying that the Association is an organization which permits Edgar Cayce to give psychic readings without the law attacking him. Edgar Cayce does not need the Association. This is a strange statement, you say. Isn’t it for Edgar Cayce that we are working as members of the Association? Certainly not! A great many of our members, some of them prominent in its affairs, have for a long time been assuming that they are rendering a personal service. There is no doubt that some are drawn to this point of view because of past relationships which bind them karmicly (if I may be permitted to build a word).

In becoming connected with the Association Edgar Cayce has limited himself and his work to the intelligence and ability of those who make up the membership of the organization.

In thinking through this matter let us examine some general statements which will help us think clearly about membership in the Association. Without the readings in front of me, I may not be able to quote exact passages but the ideas will not be far from the information given through the years in the readings.

1. There will be two classes of members; Associate and Active.

2. Associate members hold a membership for one year and during that time may apply for readings. They receive the monthly Bulletin. Through the Bulletin and such letters or circulars as may be prepared for the purpose, the Associate members should be informed of the various activities of the organization and given the opportunity to take a more active part as an Active member.

3. Active members SHOULD BE the real Association. The most important of their functions is one which is ignored (as it is in civic life;) namely, the selection by vote of the Board of Trustees of the Association. This Board should consist of Active members who have taken a prominent part in the Association activities in their respective communities. This answers the problem of Active members voting on people whom they do not know. The work of the Active member is limited only by his initiative, for every effort has been made not to limit the direction or extent of an individual’s study or participation in any phase of work.

4. This brings us to the Board of Trustees, Active members who have shown a real interest in the work in the eyes of other Active members in their community. After this vote is taken each name is presented to a reading and thus checked as a future Board member. The existing Board of Trustees is bound by the Association charter to accept this final list and so elects them yearly to serve for three years; thus one-third of the Board is retired each year.

It is this Board that selects the officers of the Association including President, Vice-President, Secretary, Manager, Treasurer and delegates the power of the selection of the office staff. It is this Board that controls the policies of the organization, plans its major operations and works out the program.

Briefly, what are some of the services now being rendered the Active members:

A. The opportunity to secure readings through Edgar Cayce. The assurance that these readings will be recorded accurately and the records preserved carefully. Members have a right to expect prompt handling of all their affairs pertaining to these readings, and our organization should endeavor to maintain a schedule which will make this possible.

B. Active members receive free all publications of the Association, including mimeographed and printed booklets. They have a right to expect a publication program which will cover all phases of the work.

C. The Active members have free access to the Association library and extracted records of the organization. (No one but the Secretary and one working on the extracting have access to the personal records, which are filed under a classification number.)

D. Active members are supplied with leaflets for distribution, are encouraged to organize study groups and, if they have time, act as Regional Representatives who assist in the interpretation of readings, prepare questions and follow up important case studies.

Look ahead and visualize some of the services which can be rendered Active members: I will only list them now, perhaps you will help us plan and fulfill them.

1. A monthly printed magazine giving a far more comprehensive picture of the work than can be achieved through our Bulletin.

2. A radio program which will reach many more thousands of people with the information and inspirational material.

3. A lecture program that will bring outstanding members of the Association to their communities - frequently.

4. A well organized study group program.

5. An expansion of the printed booklets to include every phase of the work, prepared by authorities on the various subjects.

6. Use of one of the finest libraries on psychical research in the world. (A mail exchange should be worked out.) We have only scratched the surface on this library program.

7. A research program which will provide helpful and valuable information direct to the members based on the finest possible experimentation handled by the best men who can be secured.

8. A series of books which will amplify THERE IS A RIVER.

9. Adequate provision for lecture, study and library space near the records, and near Edgar Cayce.

10. A complete index system on the thousands of readings in the files which will make all the information available by subject. This will be supplemented by an extracting system which will provide hundreds of looseleaf books in the library containing data under a variety of subject headings. This extracting system should be extended so as to make it possible for extracts from readings to be furnished by mail to members interested in special subjects.

Let me return now to the first premise. The purpose of the Association is to serve its members. All activities must be pointed toward an ultimate stimulation of the spiritual consciousness, leading to a better understanding of the relationship between man and his God and man and his fellow men.

There are those of you who will say that I have not stressed enough the importance of Edgar Cayce, the importance of working with him, for him.

To those of you who think this: The life of Edgar Cayce has been dedicated to the service of his fellow men. There are few of us who will ever (in this life) be permitted to serve as he serves. In building a structure which will give all men the full benefits of his work we are serving in a way which cannot be measured in time or space. It is not his work, it is our work! People like you and I, and thousands of others who have come to know him, have an opportunity, a chance, which will not come again, perhaps, for hundreds of years. He has no problem, no question. In every reading his life is fulfilled and God is glorified. Ours is the question, “WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THIS MAN?”

294-202. “God seeks all to be one with Him. And as all things were made by Him, that which is the creative influence in every herb, mineral, vegetable, or individual activity, is that same force ye call God, seeking expression! Even as when God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. For, this is law; this is love.

“Hence those who seek in sincerity, in hope, in purpose, to know, receive only to the measure that they manifest their hope, their belief, their desire in a God-purpose through a promise made to a man!

“Thus ye have the source. Thus ye have the manner. The seeker answers. For, know ye all: Ye give an account unto God for every deed, for every idle word, for every purposeful hope you have made manifest. Then, to all: Let not thy heart be troubled. Let it not be afraid. For ye believe in God. Then, as His children, for thy sake, for thy Lord’s sake, act like it!”

THE BUILDING FUND

Those who have attended the last two meetings of the Congress have observed how crowded has been the library, which we have had to use for a lecture room. Many have not been able to hear either lectures or readings because they found neither seats nor standing room for themselves.

The Board, recognizing this existing condition and realizing that as the years pass the attendance at the Congress will be larger and larger, began to plan for an auditorium, a larger library, more offices and, if funds are adequate, bedroom and other facilities that will meet the needs of the members of the Association, who will attend the Congress in the future.

The following are extracts from a recent reading to the members of the Association, calling attention to this important step in the progress of the work.

254-115. “Prepare for a meeting place, yes - when consistent with the needs of those who are through this channel seeking to know themselves and their Maker the better. Let each contribute according to the dictates of his own conscience.

“There should be the presentation of the needs of the Association for the building. Let the secretary of the Building Fund prepare such. She can do a good job! Let this ever be presented, understood, that all contributions to the Association for Research and Enlightenment, Inc., are deductible in making out individual income tax returns.”

Contributions should be sent to:

Mrs. Richmond Seay Secretary of Building Fund 425 South Main Street Blackstone, Virginia

R5. 8/12/44 EC’s ltr. to HLC overseas:

Sgt. Hugh Lynn Cayce 30th Special Service Co. APO 350, c/o PM, New York

Dear Hugh Lynn:

While I have been back from Florida about a week, I haven’t really gotten down to work as yet. I am still not feeling as good as I should, and from the X-rays and the information, am not in very good shape yet. I am trying to take it easy, and hope I will be feeling all right soon.

I don’t recall having received the applications for the two people whom you mentioned in one of your letters to Mother [GC] a day or two ago. Maybe we will have them in the next day or two, or maybe they are in the big stack on my desk. I haven’t been able to get through it yet. Being slowed up as much as we have been, and not feeling any better, is inclined to make me worry a little bit. I hope this will be all right, though, soon.

Now, I want to tell you about my visit with Tom [Thomas Sugrue]. First, while the progress is slow, Tom is getting along very nicely and, personally, I feel that his attitude is marvelous. However, of course his friend, Mr. Keller [Herman J. Keller, Clearwater, Fla.], and Mary Sugrue], seemed to think he was on his good behavior because I was there. Maybe you know Tom well enough to know whether that is the case, or whether I might see through the whole thing. But he swims about an hour each day, then takes his exercises and gets his treatments regularly. His lower limbs have not straightened out to any great extent, and he still has a great deal of trouble in his back and neck. However, all of this, as both his doctors say, is really slowly improving. He can get movement in his ankle, and can wiggle his toes which, as you know, he hadn’t been able to do. The doctor is gradually getting his knees farther apart. You know how clamped together they were. What they have to do first, is to move in the pelvic bones so circulation can go through to his limbs before they will ever be able to get his knees straight. With his shoes built up, as was suggested, when he gets on crutches he doesn’t just hop and swing his legs, but makes his feet move, taking about one-half or three-quarters of an inch steps at a time, but he forces himself to do it that way. They say he keeps that up all the while. So, he is really on the improve.

He completed the book for Bill Starling, though it was too bad that before it was published, Bill has passed away. He took pneumonia while in New York with Dave, figuring with the publisher, and he passed away about a week ago. Just what effect this will have on getting his book published, I don’t know. I think it will be published anyway [STARLING OF THE WHITE HOUSE by Thomas Sugrue, published by Simon & Shuster - reviews appeared 3/46 - by 6/56 100,000 copies had been sold.], though doubtless the publishers will want some little bit of it changed, under the present circumstances.

Now, about our discussion about the program here. I talked with Tom at some length about the publications program. These are the things that he has agreed to go to work on right away, and have ready, possibly, by the latter part of October or the first of November. First, he is going to rewrite the Life Reading Booklet, and write a new one on Mental and Spiritual Readings; rewrite the Cayce booklet for publication possibly a year from now, for we have about a thousand on hand. Rewrite the Essenes, still leaving it in the name of Dr. Smith [Dr. Enid Severy Smith]. Also, he will rewrite Ra-Ta, leaving this as being done by Millincent Horton. We have just typed these in manuscript form, giving him the data, and he will write it as part of the Spiritual Evolution, as was suggested through the Life Reading. He is also going to try to write a booklet on Auras. I don’t just know about this, for there has been so little published on this subject, but he has gotten everything that he can find on the subject, but the interest in this has grown. Whether it is because it is something not understood, and whether we can set a precedent in this part of the phenomena or not, I don’t know, but he is really of the opinion that this would be one of the best sellers that we could write; and I believe that all the rest of the data will be put in shape if he carries through with his program. Of course, if he does this, I will want to put him on the payroll. I am wondering if the payroll will stand all that we have piled on it, but we will do the best we can, and hope we don’t have it in too big a mess for you when you are able to be home again.

Now, about the general office, and your suggestions. Miss Esther Wynne, as you know, is here, taking care of the Weekly Letter and the Bulletin, and has plenty of time to write on any of the material that she deems wise regarding Study Groups, and these - the Groups - we are having requests from various individuals in different parts of the country regarding organizing Study groups, and eventually this should require the entire time of someone - possibly, no one better than Miss Wynne might be found for this special part of the work.

Now, the regular office work. I don’t know how it could be put under the supervision of any one individual. Miss Gladys is supervising it, and doing a good job. Mrs. Fitch [Jeanette Reeder (Mrs. Leonard) Fitch, called “Jeanne”.] is writing the readings at the present time. I think you met her - I don’t know. Grace Premo Grace L. (Mrs. Bernard) Premo.] is personal secretary at present, and helps with the readings and with any other part of the work that comes up. Miss Patterson [Miss Catherine M. Patterson of Youngstown, Ohio] has just recently come, and she is quite a good balance, I think, for everyone in the office. She takes care of addressing of envelopes. We had an offer for a machine to do this, but we haven’t any place for the machine, as yet, and I asked him [Mr. Wm. Frank Mitchell of N.Y. & Larchmont, N.Y.] to hold it up until further notice. There are so many changes in our addresses, and it costs a lot of money to have each of these plates made, and would require a lot more work than the way we are, at the present time, changing them on the card or rewriting them. Cayce Jones [Wm. Cayce Jones, son of friend Wm. Lamar Jones of Selma, Ala.] has been here since the Congress, on the payroll as a sort of “roustabout”. Of course, he is just trying it out. I think I wrote you this, before, but I don’t know whether you got that letter, or not. He will, of course, be going back to school in just a week or so, now. Mrs. Millaway [Gussie W. (Mrs. Jack L.) Millaway, from Okla., husband in service] is secretary for Miss Wynne, and does the mimeographing. Of course, everyone, in some way or another, turns to for getting out the Bulletin, for there are about two thousand now, each month. [Counting all those new members waiting for appointments up to two years ahead!]

As for the Active Membership program. As you know, we had already used some form in this direction, and there is now almost as many Weekly Letters as formerly were Bulletins to the whole membership - close to three hundred, and some being added to this almost every day, not only people changing from the Associate, but many writing in the first time asking, as they have read the suggestions in the Cayce booklet for the Active Membership. This, as you know, was changed when the book was reprinted. 25.00 for an Active Membership, or 35.00 for Active Membership and the first reading. 20.00 for other readings, save the check physicals. [[Virgin Mary|Mary]] Wirsing [Miss [[Virgin Mary|Mary]] McClain Wirsing of Roanoke, Va.] is, of course, still taking care of the books, and they are getting to be quite a problem, keeping up with Memberships, sending out literature. The two weeks I was away, the literature amounted to better than 200, so you know if this was stressed a little bit more, and we added more literature and advertised in other publications, it would be a full time job for someone to look after this - with the work that we hope Tom will do before the first of the year. It should be in much better shape, and we will possibly be proud of what we are putting out, rather than feel questioning about it. I wasn’t pleased with it, but it was the best I could do.

Harmon Bro is not doing any writing, so far as I know. He has written Tom, as well as myself, and I suggested that he write a booklet something like this - “What should be one’s approach to this work?” - but I haven’t heard from him about it. Apparently he didn’t just agree with me on my suggestion, and after talking with Tom, whether Tom will be more lenient, I don’t know. I don’t mean there is any rift, but he might have done a lot more while he had the opportunity, as his mother said, but he got more than he could digest at that time. I got a couple of letters from Mrs. Bro that I haven’t been able to answer, yet. My desk is piled up with correspondence.

Now, as for Mae [Mae Gimbert Verhoeven - later St. Clair]. She has been helping Miss Gladys with the appointments, writing the material as each of them do when they are writing off readings. They write that that they think will be used by any of the researchers. Mae hasn’t been able, then, to do any extracting, and there isn’t really any room for it, at the present time. I think this has to be worked out in a little different way. Of course, there are some of our members who are very enthusiastic about each phase of the work. I had a letter from Mr. Shaw [W. Sutherland Shaw, Truth Research Foundation, Portland, Oregon] the other day, and he is still anxious to see and to help in getting the extracting done, and he feels this should be done before any consideration is given to expansion of the building, under the present circumstances. But there is no room in this part of the building, as you will see from what I have told you of what all are doing. In fact, we have had to have many more individuals than space for them to do good work.

But when we can get settled down, I think the type of work from those we now have can do as much work as if two or three others not interested in what they are doing might accomplish. But I am of the opinion that as long as we can keep Mrs. Millaway, and have Grace [Grace Premo] and Jean [Jeanne Fitch], the work can go on. Of course, we have to have the bookkeeper, and have one who sort of looks after everything, takes care of filing, changes of address, and I think Miss Patterson is as well able to do that as anyone we have had yet. Each of these enter into the spirit of the work. We don’t want anyone who is just working for the salary, or even working AT the Association - either working WITH, or we don’t need them.

It takes time to get all this together, I am, possibly, not a good manager. I know you have been howling for someone to manage the office, but if we do get organized, you will possibly change it all - but don’t spend any more money than we are doing, now, or we’ll never get ahead!

There should be something on the Building Fund in the next Bulletin. Everybody, everywhere, seems anxious to help. The trouble is, I can’t help as much as I should. We are more than a year behind now with appointments, but I have to take it slow. The last reading said, and the cardiograph verified it, that my heart is too big, but I hope I can get it down to its right size.

Now, about yourself. We, of course, can’t help but be anxious. I just trust that you have a lot of work to do, for I don’t know as what has been presented here can be, or will be, given as good opportunity without some of your plans and ideas - yet I hope they don’t come too big, or that we will ever get involved any more financially, as we have been.

As for your boy, and Edgar Evan’s boy. Well, they are growing up like weeds. Your boy is saying everything and anything he hears anybody else say. As cute as he can be.

Lots of things are happening, but let’s hope most of them are for the best. Do take care of yourself, and if you have any suggestions or questions, when you have studied this over - and there will be a great many! - write them; but I feel like maybe I am doing the best I can.

Lots of love, Dad EC:gp [Grace Premo]

R6. 10/19/44 EC’s ltr. to Members of the Board: [Used also under 294-212 and 254-116 Reports.]

HOTEL PATRICK HENRY Roanoke, VA

TO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE ASS’N FOR RESEARCH AND ENLIGHTENMENT, INC., TO BE READ AT THE MEETING of Oct. 21, 1944.

Friends and loved ones:

It seems that exceptional circumstances have made it necessary for this special meeting. God in His wisdom has seen fit that I not be present. Yet you know I am with you in spirit and purpose, when that purpose is to serve our fellow man - in love, patience, longsuffering, bearing one another’s burdens.

We all have fallen short of the glory which we may indeed manifest in the Christ.

I’m glad to say I am feeling better. Through His love and mercy I may be able to return to the work very soon. Even in the last reading, when everything seemed so awfully dark, He promised to be with me. We have much work to do. Let us be sure that it is for the glory of God and not to the glory of any man.

At this time I am asking, and have asked, Miss Gladys to be my personal representative. She knows my personal wishes, as well as the faults and failures of each of us - as we have tried to be of a service through this channel.

I do not feel that there are a great many drastic changes to be made just now, until Hugh Lynn can return to act as Manager of the Association, which we trust by His grace will be in not too distant future.

I would like to have the Executive Committee, whoever is elected, to appoint Miss Gladys as Treasurer - or Assistant Treasurer - for each of the funds or accounts to be set up. She should have been given this authority long ago. It was through my own negligence that this was not done.

If it seems best to make other drastic changes, please do so. And above everything, may peace, harmony, love, with the purpose of the Association at heart, be the rule in this meeting.

God bless you all.

Sincerely, [signed] Edgar Cayce EC:GD

TO EXPEDITE MAIL DELIVERY PLEASE ADDRESS US ROANOKE 9, VIRGINIA

Background

Background

None.

Mentioned Entities

A.R.E. (Association for Research and Enlightenment), Purpose, Gladys Davis, Grace, Thomas Sugrue, Hugh Lynn Cayce, Book of Job, Jesus Christ, England, Gertrude Cayce, Prayer, Records (Atlantean), Virgin Mary, Virginia Beach, Law of Moses, New York City, Air Shafts (Pyramid), Alpha and Omega, Aura, Christ Consciousness

Source: The Complete Edgar Cayce Readings, A.R.E. CD-ROM (2006). Reading 254-115, ReadingID 1253.