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Correspondence from Karl Germer to Jane Wolfe
K.J. GERMER 260 West 72nd Street New York, N. Y.
October 4, 1948
Dear Jane,
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
Yours of Sept. 28.
Do not hold it against Mrs. Sherrill if she "is averse to emotional approaches"—'Rituals comes under this head'. There is an infinite variety of stars and human beings, and they must not all follow one path. If she has studied so much, she may have a capacity for reading and studying. Let her now try to get a grasp of where A.C.'s teachings are so fundamentally different. They demand that students do actual work: start with training the mind, do Yoga to get control of the various functions of the body, mind, etc. Then, on this fundament, build up the superstructure. A.C. has far too much taken granted that people who call themselves students go ahead and do work of this kind seriously, passionately, with vigour. Unfortunately, the whole group around Agape Lodge do not show any signs of progress along these lines; therefore all that stagnation and frustration.
I am afraid some day somebody will have to wake up and make all of them wake up, and forget about gossip and charlatanism. A.C. was always impelled to make allowances and accept things as they were for the single reason to keep the spark glimmering, however weak, on the West Coast. Smith [Wilfred Talbot Smith] probably was the only one of any stature out there—apart from Max [Max Schneider], of course. Nobody has been able to follow this up, so far. I would like to think that out of your womb may yet spring someone to fan the spark to white hot heat.
I don't like that part of your description of the 'Man' on the ranch, that he is a bachelor and lives with his mother. How very American! Motherlove; Mother is always right; the American Mother, how different from and how much higher and holier than any other!!! How often have I not heard all that slimy bunk!—Still, may-be that man is a Man after all?
It is certainly no weakness on your part to keep certain things to yourself and not communicate them to others. As you know, I've long had some doubts about Roy [Roy Leffingwell] and his family fetters and grip which I think is at the basis of his magical stagnation. Some 4 or 8 weeks ago he wrote me about his plan to sell most of his land on the ranch and use it to get Liber Aleph out. I now hear he wants Lodge members to put up the money to buy land etc.! I have not heard from him again. But I don't like all that.
I wish Paul Milliken would turn up here. I have not heard from him. What he should do at least a little toward this. And with Paul's help we may get somewhere.
Liber Aleph and Golden Twigs demand another $2000. There is something peculiar about the Hastings printer. I have corrected the galley proofs, sent them back for a final check to Yorke [Gerald Yorke] and Grant [Kenneth Grant], and Symonds [John Symonds], asking them not to return them to the printer before I do not give the green light. The fact is that the printer is unbelievably unbusinesslike; they do not answer letters. I have written them three letters since July or August, and no reply!
The H.Q. We have lost that house in Penna. It was the funniest combination of circumstances. Anyway, we could have paid for that house, but would have had to build a road to get access to it, and water, and electricity, total about $3000 on top of the price of the house. It now has been taken over by one of the heirs himself.
But we are driving around every week-end looking at other properties. We want seclusion; conveniences; some acreage to retain the privacy on which too close neighbours would encroach with their radios, juke-boxes, gossip, check-up on where one goes to church, and all that inquisitiveness which is unknown in Continental Europe. One thing is certain: real estate prices have gone up considerably since Spring, and we have to pay much more than we figured. But it has to be done.
Sascha [Sascha Germer] is even more behind the thing than I myself have been for some time; she is really driving, and on her would be the main financial responsibility; so we are perfectly unified in this undertaking. (I believe I wrote you once that I did an Op[eration]. on March 26, and am wondering whether it will have to run a nine months' course, as certain more important ops. seem to do.)—My old Belgian stuff has at last arrived and I am having it sent to my apartment. I am very anxious to see what the cases contain, and whether my important thelemic files have been rescued, and what of my books are there. It had to be packed by a shipping agency who in turn had to pick the various files up in cartons at three addresses in Brussels, and pack the lot in two cases!
Again: beware of Culling [Louis Culling]. Do not reveal anything to him which would only go on to others.—Can you let me have some copies of AL?—I congratulate your old Studey on its performance; but even more you yourself; for I myself am getting tired now when driving 200 miles in heavy traffic around New York.
Love is the law, love under will.
Love from Sascha and yours ever,
Karl
My love to Mary K.!
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