Correspondence from Eustace Miles to George MacNie Cowie

Oct. 31st 1916.

Dear Mr Cowie.

Thanks ever so much for the great trouble you are taking, and for the papers, which I will read most carefully. It is very kind indeed of you.

I am glad to hear with regard to the ceremonies and the words.

We will meet in January and talk things over.

I look forward to this meeting very much indeed.

I will ask questions then, and, if I may, by letter before then.

I see a good deal of the meaning of the L.L. [Liber Legis] After your letter, which reached me this morning, I should like, with your permission to keep the L.L. book a little longer. I will send it, registered, to you in a few days.

It is really delightful to have a book so beautifully printed and got up, as, indeed, all such books should be.

Later in the week I will read all the papers again, and all your interesting letters.

Certainly send me 50 copies, and I will distribute them by degrees wisely.

I quite agree with regard to the sexual matter, and it is true. I have just written about the importance of fixing the attention on the divine energy rather than on any misuse of it.

Now, with regard to pity, for a long time I have felt exactly as the L.L. advises or orders.

I have felt that pity as distinct from help was a mistake. Professor Elmer Gates, of Washington, supplies one reason—namely, that pity is one of the feelings that poisons the system literally with a chemical poison, as he has proved, and wastes its energy, and depresses the system altogether. I am writing a book on "Respectable Sins", and the wrong kind of pity and sympathy is among them. He who pities takes on the trouble of the other person, and to do this is only justifiable where one can destroy the trouble by taking it on, as some people can. They are, however, so few that they can be left out of the general question altogether. Pity is unnecessary when actual help can be given.

Akin to this is the word mistranslated "Comforter", an English word which, in early times, of course, meant Strengthener. Strengthening makes comfort unnecessary. Comforting does not include strength; it is rather telling a person to submit to something unpleasant than telling him to be up and doing something useful. I believe the Greek word meant something stronger than strengthener—namely, Inspirer, and alluded to the power that urged men on. Demosthenes used the word when he tried to urge on the Athenians to ruse up and fight against Philip.

The great point is that, just as help makes pity unnecessary, so inspiration and urging makes comfort unnecessary.

All kind wishes from

Yours very sincerely

Eustace Miles.

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