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Jane Wolfe Diary Entry Saturday, 17 February 1923
as narrated by
The doctor reported the death [of Raoul Loveday] immediately and within the hour Raoul's body was removed. The next day he was to be buried, as quick burial was the law in Sicily.
The superstitious Sicilians could not tolerate a body lying any place but in or immediately outside a cemetery. The burial ground was used only for Catholics but Raoul's body was lying in its coffin on a bier inside the gates when the residents of the Abbey arrived for the burial the next day. All of the Thelemites were robed, Aleister at the head of the procession,
Howie [Howard Shumway] had not been with the group that walked down to the cemetery, but he was there when they arrived. He had on his blue silk robe, the red lined hood falling down over his shoulders, and had crowned himself with a wreath of flowers" He was whirling himself in joyful circles when the procession arrived and was shouting; "We are going to bury Raoul!" over and over.
The Beast stationed himself at the head of the coffin, Leah [Leah Hirsig], Ninette [Ninette Shumway] and Jane were at the two sides and the foot, Betty May was in the line at one side with the children. Jane remembered later of this ceremony that Aleister used his tiny bell made of magicum, and that the rites were simple and dignified. He ended with the poem from "The Ship". "I am that I am, the flame hidden in the sacred ark. I am the unspoken name, I the unbegotten spark."
They were watched only by the monks who lived in the monastery next door to the burial grounds, who stood afar off on the other side of the cemetery. It was late January of 1923 and the days were short and cool. Aleister was also pretty sick that winter and when the funeral was over he returned to his bed. Jane and Leah had done all the nursing during this period and had done it without complaint and with intelligence and efficiency.
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