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Correspondence from Karl Germer to Gerald Yorke
3 September, 1948.
Dear Yorke,
Yours of Aug 21st reached me on Wednesday when I spent a day in New York. It was lying at the Post Office for excess stamps.
You say Achad [Charles Stansfeld Jones] is writing a book on Liber Legis and his qabalistic where he will expound them. Good! Let him shoot his ammunition. He has for all these years been convinced that A.C.'s publications, and others, especially in Liber Legis etc., referred to him. He waited for A.C.'s. the mighty Magician's death who, while being alive, would prevent him from ascending to the throne. Instantly that death comes, he breathes hard, and up turn all these illuminations which prove his Godship. It is all so neat and all pieces fit exactly into the jigsaw puzzle.
I agree: John Symonds is first-rate for the book he is going to write. I disagree when you think I won't like it. I only wish he'd find a good publisher and make a million dollars with it: He'd deserve it. He seems to put a lot of work into it.
Do not worry about your typescript letters to or from A.C. should I get them. You should know that I know that side of A.C.'s well enough and hardly ever grew blind of it. None of that material will pass into the hands of a "follower", or be permitted to publish it.
Do try to understand a little one side of A.C.'s nature. He was impatient in the extreme, natural in a man with such unique gifts, and the strong urge to transform his visions into material reality, and then the agony to see so many of his magical ops. thwarted again and again. He was waiting for that to develop which he knew had to come. More, he wanted it to happen in his lifetime, to see the 'proof'. Many of his silly actions can be explained from that angle. Neither A.C., nor any of those who work on Liber Legis, appraise the factor of Time. What does it matter to the slow convolutions of the Snake Ananta whether a chain of events for which humanity is waiting begins in this century or the next.
There is somebody I know who is waiting for Jones's demise, in the same way as Jones waited for A.C.'s. He says he'll outlive them all. He had recognised Jones's beginning mental defection some years ago.
As to the printer: thank you very much for your offer to help proof reading. I hope you have meanwhile received the Galley Proofs of Golden Twigs. Those for Liber Aleph went forward to Grant [Kenneth Grant] a few days ago. Thanks equally for your advice not to go ahead with the Hastings printer. I'll tell you my position very frankly: I want to get both book published. Guy and Son quoted me recently for both books, 500 ed. each, bound in cloth, roughly £500, of which they acknowledge a down payment of A.C. of £100. I got a quotation for 500 copies of Liber Aleph alone in Spring 1947 in New York for about $2600, which makes my choice rather obvious, doesn't it? The matter of the quality of the paper is a matter per se: I can pay more for better paper.
But, entre nous, I am not sold 100% on having the Hastings people complete the books and pay them, without having adequate assurance that they'll stick to their promises—after the past experiences. I have written them some weeks ago, and it'll depend on their reply what factual further steps I'll take. I am ready to drop the whole printer like a hot potato; but I'll pursue my goal to reach the best possible arrangement with them.
It is quite another thing again, if you advise against my going on with this printing of Liber Aleph from deeper reasons. Are you of the opinion this book is untimely? Do you have other considerations? I'll always appreciate your advice which comes not only from a knowledge of the substance of these publications, but also from better local information.
Kenneth Grant sent me today a Preface to Liber Aleph which is very well written, but does not entirely satisfy me. He reveals himself as an extremely promising young man. I'll have to think his Preface over.
I also had a letter from John Symonds, giving information about the printing, and offering help in a very practical way. I'm very glad about this. Is it possible that the fact that the printer begins to behave decently has changed his opinion?
I enclose copy of a letter I mailed Kenneth Grant which explains itself.
Sincerely,
Karl Germer
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