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Correspondence from Wilfred Talbot Smith to Aleister Crowley
[Undated: circa mid April 1934]
Care Frater 666
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
Most glad to hear tat you are in better health and certainly shall welcome you when you come out here.
Enclosed is a copy of the incorporations paper [of the Church of Thelema], which have been signed, sealed and recorded. Also a copy of the program of "Crowley Night", held on April 11th.
We feel that the incorporation is a very definite milestone passed, and will on the one hand enable us to collect donation of any and every kind, and on the other free us from taxation at many points.
The Mass [Gnostic Mass] goes steadily along and I have improved much in my ability to talk afterwards, though still far from an orator. Twenty seven attended last Sunday, and the business of trying to find enough seats drove us to expand some of our little cash in hand, so we now have thirty folding chairs; which will save us the no light task of dragging all the household chairs up three flights of stairs each Sunday.
The Crowley Night was most successful, and an enthusiastic crowd of over 150 came. 137 signed the guest book. We are gradually building up a mailing list which will serve us one of these days.
. . . Max Schneider must have some literary ability or he could make anything appear reasonable in respect of his conduct while here. Did he tell you that he tried to make most every one of the good looking young girls who came along and that, always failing, he made life unbearable for the household by sulking for a week or two after each failure; and that if anyone reproved his most ill brought up son we all had to put up with a similar attitude.
Of course John Bamber and Self did not suffer quite so badly as the four women in the house with him most of the day. Did he tell you we did not like his idea of stating that the Mass was amateur theatricals, and quoting you as authority for the statement? We felt it was poor advertising, besides not being true.
The whole household months before he left grumbled about his ill manners and perpetual grouch and sulking. Frankly there was nothing reasonable about it. Further he wanted to go, and we wanted him to go. He does not want to return, and no one wants him back.
We have all got to work to maintain this place, empty garbage cans, cut lawns, scrub floors, cook etc. Any one too stiff necked to do his or her share graciously, just don't fit. Birds of a feather learn to flock together after all. He [Max Schneider] is a first rate jeweller, however, and when money is more plentiful he will be useful.
It is our suspicion that the main gripe of the person was due to the fact that never before in his life did he pay in full his obligations. This time it would seem he felt morally compelled to do so, but how it hurt. This is the one time he left no debts behind him. Of course, this may be all right for his advanced view-point as expressed by Mrs Dinsmore that "when one is occultly connected, one does not have to worry about money, it just comes". Yes, via a younger brother, who is fool enough to keep him.
However, it won't work with us. We are going to put this over and "all must be done well and with business way." And we will one day make the people bow to the Big Beast (Revelations). Those who are not for us are against us.
I have been very much under the wind for nearly two years myself. Fierce case of acidosis, it seems. . . . I have about decided I shall have to get glasses, soon. Oh yes, I got a nice little jolt in the office and a 40 dollar drop in salary. However I really don't care. It was damned good for me, and just brings home to me what a fool I have been to stick there so long. Regina [Regina Kahl] has got a bit of a job—or will have in a fortnight. So matters will about even up, and I will try to re-establish the regularity of the 25 dollars a month.
The Word [of the Equinox] came to hand the other day, and certainly seems most interesting.
Love is the law, love under will.
Fraternally.
132.
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