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Correspondence from Karl Germer to Jane Wolfe
K. J. GERMER 260 West 72 Zone 23
January 12, 1944
Dear Jane,
93
Your interesting letter with M.O. [Money Order] for $45 received. Let me answer point by point.
I am glad Jack [Jack Parsons] and Betty [Betty Northrup] dined with you and that he keeps on proving his interest. That is the vital thing. If he sticks to it, he may get over the problems that confront him. I am also glad he is in direct touch with A.C. and gets his advice from him direct: to tell you the truth, I have not very many ideas for any new organization of Order activities. Either I am not ripe for that angle or it is my complete lack of interest in the Lodge work which makes me in some spot of my soul obdurate against it and prevents my having any practical ideas. However, Jack may cast for some role in that line. I wish he were, and I wish that he would make some progress in his magical growth. As A.C. said: he is now, or was until recently a straw blown by every breeze.
As to his Betty problem, I enclose a little note A.C. sent me some time ago. Please keep this to yourself and return it to me soon. I have some theory that Jack is in a phase through which I passed around 1923 to 1924. It was for me terrible legal intricacies, and ended with breaking up all I had, with the exception of Marie [Marie Wys] with whom I broke finally 1926-27. Will it help you, if I say that her image still haunts me in some subtle way, occasionally at least, and if I conjure it, to understand the subtleness of the Kundry problem? And so to get a clearer perception of the proper attitude to take for you with regard to Betty? Because I think you are having some doubt about the accuracy of mine, or A.C.'s diagnosis in that respect. You are a woman, and a man who has gone through that phase sees more clearly what is involved. My mistake was that when I perceived Jack's situation that I barked like a Prussian what I thought. It had just the opposite effect. If Jack should succeed in solving his problem, then he may understand many years later his own case.—What it ultimately comes to is that nobody can intervene in an ordeal set by the Gods. Jack has to solve it and find the strength all by himself. As a matter of fact I don't understand A.C.'s remark "If I were on the spot."
The essay "ARTEMIS" is really for people who have been given the IX°. I enclose a copy for yourself.
The devotion of the Burlingames [Ray and Mildred] is admirable. They sent me three days ago: $30 annual O.T.O. fees for Ray & Mildred; $10 A.C. fund; $5 Liber Aleph; and $25 from little Laylah[1] as her first contribution (an amount given by Ray's boss) $70 in all. I was deeply moved. Is Mildred behind all this, and is she inspiring Ray? I'd like to know.
Go ahead with your plans of initiating informal meetings. It can only work out to the best. Only see that membership doesn't develop too much and overgrow the genuine shoots.—As to Max [Max Schneider] I wouldn't put it too formal: he may be in a critical phase. But it would be best not to show it in any way. Keep up with him as usual; but make your observations and let me know what you think.
I don't like the way Miller [Joe Miller] is behaving at all. If he is still in the poor old phase where he has got to solve the family problem which, I think Buddha meant for the very beginners, who intend to tread the path, but have not karmically ridded themselves of physical ties,—that is either poor excuse for not contributing, or, I don't know what.
If you see Jack again: there is no reason why he should not tackle members for a $200 drive. Your passage, that the Pasadena group were lukewarm about publications, etc. and were more interested in social activities, is quite illuminating. I had always feared it was like that. Why??? If they are members of the Order, it is up to the Heads to determine what is essential to produce at any given moment.—However, if he can get a share of $200 together, I won't ask how he got them together. A.C. wants Jack to continue and consider his resignation as "off the record". He has my blessing as long as the spirit of devotion to the Order itself, and not to some local Lodge or so, is right.
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All my love in the New Year to you,
Karl
P.S. The fact that Ray and Mildred thought it right to send the annual fee has made me consider whether it would not be possible to get some cash together from all those who are formally members of the O.T.O. and who have not made any contribution otherwise. This would probably be best up to Jack to collect all the fees and either thereby get the money for a publication share and transfer it to A.C. What is your opinion? Naturally, I would never expect anybody who is making his or her monthly contribution anyway, to make the formal payment of the O.T.O. fee in addition to that, as Ray and Mildred have done. Do let me know your opinion on this.
1—Laylah Mildred Burlingame. Ray and Mildred Burlingame's daughter.
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