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Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to Charles Stansfeld Jones
Collegium ad Spiritum Sanctum, Cefalù, Sicily.
Sept. 10, 1921.
My beloved son,
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
Let me begin by thanking you for the draft, which arrived in the nick of time. The Gods are really very business-like! I want you to realize that we have none of us had a square meal for the last two months; and the anxiety and strain have been terrific, especially as there have been a lot of illnesses—fortunately nothing very serious. I think I may say without boasting that, in spite of all, I have done a fair summer's work, though my brain is so fagged that if you asked me what I've done, I should simply be bewildered!
To deal with yours of Aug. 21. About the Abyss—having cast you down, I will now permit you to lift me up! There are certainly signs that we can get people to the brink easily; but whether it is desirable to do so is another pair of boots.
What you say about Koresh appalls me. Bennett [Frank Bennett] seems not to be the only person who is "hampered by lack of general education." I implore you to remember that the one chance of establishing the Law is to avoid any theory that is not in accordance with recognized science. Koresh is the worst kind of swindler's drivel. I can find nothing in the Book of the Law which would have upset the late Professor Tyndall. When in Paris last March, I discussed the Law from the point of the Mathematician and the Physicist with one of the most brilliant men of science of the younger school. I compelled him to admit that there was nothing in our teaching incompatible with official science; and furthermore, demonstrated that the Book of the Law had anticipated some of the most remarkable discoveries of recent years. Let me urge you to make a most careful study of the work of Einstein, Henri Poincaŕe, and the Hon. Bertrand Russell. Read in particular the "Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy" of the last named. I also recommend Science et Méthode, La Valeur de la Science, and La Science et L' Hypothése, of Poincaŕe. You will be delighted to observe the way in which the best thinkers find themselves compelled to a species of Mystical conception which resembles our own most remarkably, without in any way departing from the empirical conclusions of the Great Victorians. I am amazed at your dallying with American quackery—unless you are simply trying to get my reaction again.
I don't see anything wrong with your remarks on Acause. My alarm about you was principally due to the fact that you seemed to be overexcited about your discoveries. Initiation is always dangerous; and the test of good morals is good manners. It is most essential for us to manifest in our lives that we are hard-headed common-sense people without any bats in our belfries.
Genesthai [C. F. Russell] is pulling through slowly; but he had a dreadful time through neglecting considerations of this kind. You can imagine how I felt when your letters contained ravings so similar to his that I'm damned if I could have told them apart.
I don't quite understand what you say about Grand Neophyte, or about your being freed from obligation. There cannot be any obligation except "Do what thou wilt". I took you to be Grand Neophyte. The appointment was a matter of administrative convenience; you had been marked out for that job by the fact of your having been cast out into Malkuth. Your explanation of the offending leaflet is quite satisfactory. I have written my views fully in a letter to Mrs. Ford which no doubt she will show you. You will see that I have revised my views considerably, and I think I have now found a practical compromise. I rather object, by the way, to symbolizing times and the like. Genesthai has just let us in by ordering a candle 93 inches high and 11 inches in diameter, for which we cannot pay!
With regards to the Tribune, let me mention that their principal literary critic (whose name I forget at the moment) is very interested in my work, and asked Guy Holt for a copy of the Equinox 3-1 just before I left America. I sent him a copy. If you could get him on our side it would be a big thing. Of course, his primary interest is literary. I have also a good friend in Vincent Starrett, 300 N. Lotus Av., who could help you with the publicity. But I strongly advise working away from Qabalah and such technical esotericism; let us stick to our solution of the practical problems of life which are already in every one's mind. Our technique comes in later, when prominent people recognize our superiority and want to know how we obtain it.
You are a little mysterious about "some parts of your Comment". Have you some objections? If so, write a full criticism, please; frankly as I write to you.
With regard to the use of our name A∴A∴, I asked the Yi what line to take, and got Hexagram XLVII. I don't quite know what to make of it—the creature will only damage himself in the long run, of course. I doubt whether it would do any good to use legal action. At the same time I think I should take an opportunity of making it clear that we have nothing to do with any such Order, and that our name has been stolen because we are so famous.
In a recent addition to the Chapter on The Oath in Book 4 Part III [Magick in Theory and Practice] I have explained at length the question of money—and why I am unable to use my power to acquire it. However, I quite understand your situation, and think that my latest remarks will put things straight.
With regard to the sale of my books. I have a recollection that we signed some agreement as to your taking a fixed percentage. You have, of course, no claim on any receipts except as a salesman's commission; and I naturally supposed that your expenses were to be covered by your percentage. I am, of course, only too anxious to give anything I can to the Movement; but I am hampered by not having enough to eat; and therefore for the present I want to have my percentage sent to me every three months. I could do a great deal to make money for the Work if I were not tied hand and foot as I have been this summer. I have, in particular, an important plan which should put us in good shape, once and for all. To carry that out, I must pay the $600 I owe on the first of November; and I must have the means to travel for a couple of months in reasonably good style. I feel sure that your difficulties are principally due to your preoccupation with advanced technical subjects which only appeal to a small and rather despicable section of the community.
You misunderstood me in what I wrote about "MY order", "MY reputation"—I only meant to say that the honour of the Work was concerned. You ought to know by now that I don't care tuppence about my personal reputation. I am only a Word; but, living by and for that Word, I must see that those who are fighting under its banner are not mercenary troops. It is our greatest asset that we have given all that mankind values for our Pearl of Great Price. I'm always thinking of what history will say of me long after I'm dead. What people say now I despise, as You know well.
Yours of Aug. 24. I enclose your scenarios. It is utterly impossible for me to do anything in or from Cefalú—selling things means personal contact.
I don't think I can do much about Paul Carus. Mrs. Ford could quite properly pay a personal call, and talk of me as a friend of her late husband's, discuss the interests which he and I had in common, and so reach the suggestion of issuing my work. Is the Open Court still running? I would consider an offer to edit it; even if suspended, it might be revived. There's a big field.
Deacon is apparently a creature formerly known as Barclay, one of the most perfect pieces of shit I was ever privileged to eat. He used his acquaintanceship with me to swindle people. I have nothing to do with him.
Frater Progradior [Frank Bennett] is prograding at a great pace. He is a very bright spot in the Abbey. At present he is on a G.[reat] M.[agical] R.[etirement], and it is hard to keep pace with his illuminations. These, by the way, are quite genuine, not at all of the Aelfreda Tillyard or Meredith Starr type. He is a real man, full of common sense, as enthusiastic as possible, but without ever forgetting the practical conditions of life. He has worked for a long time in darkness, and he is getting the results of that work now that he is in touch with the source of light. It would have been no good for me to utter the words of initiation to a person who had not prepared himself for hearing them by a course of honest endeavour. You know it as well as I do. He is a man, first of all, before being a Magician; and the result is going to be that when he reaches Australia at the end of the year, he is going to sweep the continent. He has had too much horse sense to hamper himself in practical ways as I have done myself by my noble conduct in screaming "All for Jesus!"
He has the same effect on me that Eckenstein [Oscar Eckenstein] always had—to make me feel like a piece of tepid diarrhea. He has worked with his hands since he was nine years old, and therefore possesses all the elemental power of one who has met nature fairly, knee to knee, and come out on top.
In a few days you will be getting the final additions to Book 4-Part 3. I have thought it best to make it as complete a text book of Magick as possible.
Love is the law, love under will.
Thy sire, with many thanks for timely help, and heartiest congratulations on your beginnings of Success—which is my proof!
The Beast 666
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