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Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to Grady McMurtry
The Ridge Hastings Sussex
March 15. [1945]
Dear Grady
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
I have got acclimatized to Grady now, and it seems to suit you better than Louis; so I surrender with a graceful bow. Ave Grady!
I wrote "groping on all fours for crutches," not crumbs. Meaning: mechanical support from outside
It is really too shameful for manhood that he [Wilfred Talbot Smith] can think of nothing at all but cadging on Lodge Members. Any man would have been too proud. He should have gone into the first house, and said Lady, can I dig your garden? or Lady, can I split a few cords for you? or—anything consistent with self-respect. But—not only does he not try; the idea never crosses his mind. I spew! He has seen July squatted in Jack's [Jack Parsons] cabbage patch and whined and cringed and fawned until he's allowed to stay—the thin Edge of the wedge for more mischief.
This time it is going to stop: S.T.O.P., stop.
I have put an interdict on the Lodge, which means that no transactions of it no such are valid until I remove the same.
Here is where you can help the Work a whole lot: write to Jack, rather sadly, to say that you are very sorry such a fine friendship should end in so shameful a manner and hoping that he will come to his senses and keep his pledge etc etc.
(Interdict doesn't imply excommunication of individual members. They are O.K. so long as they write disassociating themselves from the Lodge action, and showing their loyalty by their conduct.)
Love is the law, love under will.
Aleister
P.S. I enclose copies of several letters relevant to this matter; they should put you wise to the inside story and give you the low-down and all that!
Pen—thanks, but, as you see, I
have one now. £10. Can't tell, if sent [illegible]
P.S. News just in that Jack has come clean; he is quite in order now.
A.C.
Notes on £200 loan: Security.
1. A.C. is a public character, and cannot afford to fade away. The money is to be spent on making him more public.
The O.T.O. is a substantial organization of many years' standing: it owns real estate.
2. The interest on £200 is £40 per quarter for 6 quarters. The income for 1942 was over £830: for 1943 up to Nov 28 was over £1250. Interest is therefore easily paid.
3. Immediately realizable assets amount to some hundreds of pounds.
4. The first £100 can be secured on the edition of the book OLLA which it will be spent to produce. This stock is worth £210 less 33 1/3%: There is thus a considerable margin, on that alone.
5. The remaining £100 will have to stand on the general credit of the O.T.O.
6. Note that the interest amount roughly to 27%. Compare this with the Bank Rate.
Lieut. Grady L. McMurtry 1814th Ord S. & M. Co (Avn) A.P.O. 149 U.S. Army
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