|
Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to Charles Stansfeld Jones
Tunisia Palace Hotel, Tunis.
Sept. 3, 1923. e.v.
My beloved son,
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
Many thanks for I U and the charming compliment of the dedication.
I have refrained from sending you any criticism of Crystal Gazing [Crystal Vision through Crystal Gazing] or this book, the matter being so important as to require the fullest consideration and the most detailed judgment.
Frater O.P.V. [Norman Mudd] is trying to find a spare moment to write out a statement of what we think of these two books. I may say that our judgments concur closely.
His opinion should be invaluable to you, as representing the point of view universally held by the Scientific world.
Without going into any details, I feel bound to say that some of your statements—though I may understand and appreciate them myself—are calculated to produce the worst possible impression on serious students, and this to work incalculable harm to your reputation, as well as to the work which we all have at heart.
Let me urge you, with the most loving and sympathetic emphasis, to postpone the publication of any other books which you may have in mind, except the Hymns [XXXI Hymns to the Star Goddess Who is Not] which do not involve this line of criticism, until you have received and thoroughly meditated O.P.V.'s remarks. I will get him to make a point of losing no time.
I hear the American edition of The Drug Fiend [Diary of a Drug Fiend] is a great success. If you are wise, you will use this fact in your work. In particular, you should call the attention of the many people that there must be in Chicago who are utterly sick at the restrictions of commercialism, hypocrisy, and sham democracy; to the account given in Book 3 (Purgatorio) of Life at Cefalù. You should induce people to join us or at the very least arrange that one responsible delegate should be sent to report formally on conditions in the Abbey [Abbey of Thelema].
I am most anxious that you should do all in your power to come over here for a month or so. You and I need to discuss matters intimately, face to face, at leisure. I cannot but notice various indications that you have not fully understood my recent activities.
Let me impress upon you that since I last saw you I have undergone many ordeals and learnt many things of which I was ignorant. For one thing, I am much more "steady going" than I was of old. There is now practically no occasion for the enemy to blaspheme on account of my personal conduct: which, thou not blameworthy, often seemed so to the lower middle classes.
As to yourself; you have insensible lost touch to some extent with European habits of thought. You show symptoms of becoming Americanized in certain respects. I regard it as vitally important that you should get out of your present environment and atmosphere for a short period, look at America in perspective, regain touch with the fundamental principles of serious thought, and in particular, put a keen edge on your critical spirit. Several things in those books suggest American bluff, the tipsy optimism of Christian science, and the acquiescence in enthusiastic assertion as rigorous proof.
You seem to me to be in great danger from these causes. A month with me and O.P.V. should put you right.
The July "Reviewer" [English Review] printed my essay on Cabell. I think you will like it; you might use it as the basis of a lecture on Cabell. He has now a great vogue in the U.S.A.—you would draw the best people in Chicago to hear you; and, if you showed fine literary judgment and spiritual insight, you might make a great hit.
My health is better, though still far from satisfactory. I managed to get a lot of work done despite all. The Hag is nearly ready to print—600,000 words. The devotion of Alostrael [Leah Hirsig] and O.P.V. has saved my life and reason. They have pulled me through the worst ordeal I have yet had to face.
The financial position is still critical, and gives us all great anxiety. If you can help us, however little, please do.
I have written a long comment on Liber LXV, and will send you a copy as soon as I can get it typed.
Love is the law, love under will.
Ever your loving father,
The Beast 666.
P.S. The announced contents of those two new books of yours, the "Anatomy" [The Anatomy of the Body of God] and the [illegible] scared both O.P.V. and myself. For God's sake, don't chuck away your chance of being taken seriously by serious people. Above all, don't let success turn your head, and don't despise the loving anxiety for your welfare which is whitening the hairs of your war-worn father!
666.
[handwritten note by Norman Mudd.]
Care Frater,
93.
Certainly I will not fail to write you at length by next mail. For the moment we are all out trying to broadcast [illegible]. If you can proceed in getting any of them printed in papers or magazines, please do so. The copyright is not reserved, so that no payment can be accepted for them.
93. 93/93.
Ever in love and service,
O.P.V.
|