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Correspondence from C. F. Russell to Aleister Crowley
An XV Sun in Virgo, Aug. 26th, 1919. ev.v.
The Master Therion, New York City, N.Y.
Care Frater—
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law!
You make me want to apologize for not writing more about the progress of the work, but Brother Jones [Charles Stansfeld Jones] is of course much better informed than I, and I believed he was keeping you informed. I had no idea that he was uncommunicative, unless it was because of a misunderstanding which exists perhaps of your attitude. Perhaps there is really very little progress to report. I am not fully aware of his plans myself. He outlines to me the general course which he intends to pursue, that is, showing certain of the rituals to Lodge, and taking subsequent action accordingly. I don't know exactly how much of this has been done. I helped him to type and make complete the first degree several weeks ago, and have continually offered my services to get the others in shape, I have no doubt but what he has finished the others himself since.
I am thoroughly aware that the O T O has the goods, but of course that does not have basis in actual experience except as far as I have been initiated. Of this I am sure—the rituals that I have been put thru, and those which I more or less know, being the same, and the new ones, are perfectly constructed for a definite object, and I think I know that object, which they are naturally constituted to fulfil. Therefore their magical significance cannot be overrated. This is the foundation I have for preaching and promoting the order. There may be other reasons why I do this but that is what remains to give me the confidence to put the proposition before another—altho I have never voiced that argument.
I am not as thoroughly certain of the purpose in establishing the order in Detroit, or in any other part of the world. The exoteric answer to that question is of course in a description of the order itself, but the real why is beyond me, just as why any of us happen to be connected to it.
Now I believe thoroughly in the Way of the Tao, but of course my interpretation is different and according to my own understanding. But I really do not think that it can be successfully interpreted as waiting, or even watchful waiting, I do not think it means waiting at all, even for the proper moment to act. That waiting apparently becomes a habit which does not tend to develop alertness for the psychological moment. I much prefer to be acting constructively, actively and positively, all of the time, even tho that action is not expressed in violence, or even in any visible motion of any sort whatever.
Therefore I am not prepared to say that Brother Jones is not exceedingly active in this way of the Tao, as I do not know what is really going on. But I can see the surface, and apparently nothing happens or is likely to happen.
But—again—he is to commence a series of lectures in a new hall on the 7th of September. Undoubtedly this will start a new current, but is apparently unconnected with that one already started with the particular crowd to whom I refer—namely Lodge, Bowman, etc.
Every Monday I have been lecturing, setting forth in my own words the New Aeon thoughts, and endeavoring to arouse by all my magic power an enthusiastic response in my audience. I am perfectly aware that my viewpoint is worth nothing except as conditioned by that of every other. Below the Abyss Reason is Lord, but that is no reason why it should be worshipped, or that an idea is necessarily true or right because it is reasonable. I take Reason to be a weapon, as it is written, "being armed he is similar to the Goddess". I don't think it is necessary to prove that I am right any other particular time, that would be an idea which would enslave me. If any particular idea always brings up the same associations and makes me do the same things it is certainly time to disconnect it and separate it from those things which it constantly evokes. I believe that if I can succeed in really disconnecting any one idea I will break up the whole chain, for the mind has its tail in its mouth. There must be a right and easy way to do anything that is my true will, just as there is a true and inevitable method of evoking any particular god. One way is to use the weapon of the god, as it is written "There is no part of me that is not of the Gods. But I am not a public speaker as yet, or a mighty thinker. I cannot yet play with minds as a skilled fencer plays with his opponent, so that often I err in setting forth some point. Whereupon straightaway those to whom I speak fall down into the pit of because, and even those to whom I look for support, give me no support at all, but humiliate me before all the rest. And I am so weak myself that I forget to keep my magical consciousness clear, and fall into the pit myself, becoming so foolish as to argue with them. I have made this mistake twice, but I hardly think I shall do it again. But it leaves me a very poor opinion of some people who presumably are living the new law, and it is damn discouraging.
Last Thursday evening, Bro Jones introduced to us at BL class, and gave it over to a man from Los Angeles. Schloss by name, about whom he has probably written you. This man has one idea, which is that of a mother society to all new civilization ideas and their sponsors, and this being his life-work is anxious to establish such a club in Detroit. It is an entirely feminine movement, and from an impersonal standpoint I think it is a fine thing, and would perhaps help us, as we might find among its members, those sufficiently tolerant to accept the new law. But the practical side that he has presented and which is revealed by questioning him is all Schloss. When asked what concrete work the club has done—he at first refuses to answer the question on the ground that its aims are too high to be judged on concrete grounds, then he names an Art-Liberal-Dramatic-Club, a Raw-food restaurant, a printing-house of the Greenwich Village type, physical culture scholls, and a quasi-radical political economic debating club. Now one also finds from questioning him, that he is a fanatic vegetarian and raw-food eater, that he was once a printer, and is now planning to become a publisher again, that he is a physical culture enthusiast, that he has ideas peculiarly his own along economic lines, and that he is very much interested in the artistic drams—as he calls it, for he admits that the particular scheme was not a financial success, and from his arguments it is easy to see that he prefers idealism to materialism—so I don't think anything further need be said. I burden you with all this because probably Bro Jones will write you about him, and of course it will be clearer to you if you have also my view-point.
The idea did occur that he might be the rich man from the west, and also the lady who has offered her room to the society lives at 156, and it has occurred that this Mother-Club scheme might be a good thing upon which to beget a child of our own, but as things stand now after his holding another meeting at the Fellow craft Club last night, I think there is no justification for any of these things.
I am eager to take whatever initiative I am authorized to use, but I am aware that I am in no position to take the amin [sic] initiative at all, and also from what I said in a paragraph above.
I do not think the Equinox is selling at all rapidly, and of course I am not in a position, either, for criticising the means adopted in that manner.
There is a certain element out there, and I think you will understand to what I refer which is the very incarnation of dispersion of Choronzon, it delights in manifesting indiscipline, and is incapable apparently of any restraint whatsoever. It is easy to watch the operation of such a factor imposing its personality and indifference to the soul and motive of the work, spoiling the one-pointedness of any group. If I had my way such a factor would be entirely eliminated once and for all, but perhaps it is needed for the sake of balance, and perhaps I am entirely wrong in interpreting it as I do.
Personally I believe that my inertia and laziness are here in order that thru their conquest I shall be able to show others how to conquer them.
I will write you another letter later regarding this, and my magical progress.
Love is the law, love under will.
#953 Vinewood Ave., Detroit.
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