215 S4 K«d2MKrth Kf%
Oak fcxk, HI* U» S. A*
Oetob«r 22, im*
X X
X 'T^idotibs 6r Kadraredk fh^&no; * X
X Dinclf)loo of the Groat Sohool| 'I
X DenrotCKia of tho Haxtnoole I4illo8^phy^ X
I Frlciida of B» Qaroat Worl^ ' X
X Noophitoo In "Ihf Ordecr of TackB", X BeCLoyoti FrJandot
X Fddbcrc of th« LM^M df Tlaiblo nalp«rs> X
X —and-* X
X FqUonq of "Hm Odd Qrotm"! X
X X
XXUJ'JULXJUOLXXI/JCLXXJUJUUUULUJJUUUULl^^
1 m writing thit latter, jQOt b«ettiM I bellanre its fiubjoct mttor ie of
ny r<eal inqportcmo^ but beosoee eoas oi yoti hecro repeatedly asked rae. and u-rnontly
lolieited no to do so «• vniwr the evident iiqpi^otdon onl oarr»trb oorrdetion that
feidentitr will mam day^ in tho far-«gray f attire, be a matter of Vdiy norl.0113 and
ostvrtai inpoortanoe to the suocesa of ]I^ ^^^i^, ^o^H * ^ ^^ ndndo of futuro
puftrCitlano «.
For thlrtor (30) jmn - lacking a t^ jnonfha •» X hare labored incoooantly,
nder gagnnod nmmi ^ ^ obeourlty, as the afl(Le, llting, "AoPwiaitad Ropreeontatl-yQW
•f ^ Great Schoola in this oomtry*
Dtirltx; all that tliae it would hvre bem easily poeslblo for no to ha've talcon
he p^iblic into eqt oonfldfftee, and thus to hare eetabDAshed s^ pergonal identity
«yorvi all posaiblt 'iuostion| bat I did not do it *- amJ tho caoatiorii "VilQr?" naturally
lzIsos in tlio ninds of a nod nai^ of those who hare not, as yet, boon in pooition to
tudy the oubjoot in all Its vazlad phases and froa all 5.te diffonnt an^oe.
1 alret^T l!kttvt anfwered the qudiiti<tti * good rxu^ tiaoa erallyt and to
jidlvidual 5tud«it» and Friends who, from tljae to tljoe, hairs auload it; but 1 do not
■ocoll haring dror pat ny ancvrar in wrltingi nor in euoh Tonn that it nicht b3 aocenolblo
or r>itiire ref erenee tgr those who ni^t deen it b nattcrr of some Irportonoe* Fco* this
■eocon I an. eoing to t4LkB thi« occasion to eaqireso it in writing as brlnf ly and con>
lisely as possibKi-*
1« Tlh«B't hivi iMtti» irtto'dbnrtiiMf itntflh wj!%h the Qroet School and wns
idknlttod to the- radoi of iti Students, I was a praotiedn^ Attomecr on tho padfio
loast* As such, I ims the le^ rcq;>resentative of a nooBer of the laost Jnportont
usiness and flnonoiil instl^ioos and JAtereete on the Ooacti m that oapaolty
: was brought into deee poroonal totxih azd btuiness r«l4tion8, 02 noil ao intlT.ate
»ciQl accuaintanM^ with the iiifiortant nan of the politiloal as woU as tho business
md flnancl^ weilda . s»Ai' *
■ ■• • ■ •*"^-
2» As A tKibllfi leeturor along edusailehel> od£sntifle> pldlosorddo, roll-
^ouo, ooonoclc, sodLoiloglo, dvio and politieal lines of ^oo^t. I was A fanoliar
:iCuro and poreonalit|r from CQympia to CCLd Ueodoo; and ^gfollpv^ that I ha^nary loyal
Lod wsin personal friittda in almoet «?ery tiUago and hcmctt on the Qo&rrtm
r-
.V
- 2 -
3» In a^Witlon to thoco avcnuos c£ approach to and touch with tho
pubGLiC;, r^r a:bitionL; luid token, nc activoly ^uid aeErcosively into tho current
of politiu'vi USo lAifU'Of oltioudi younc in yoara^ I hod booooo a conapiououa
fifiuro.
It ^JUJ in tho Eidct or these conditions that I found iqytaLf in the
city oi" rcockton, :Axa Joaquiii Cuuiity, CaLifomiaj in tho suMaoi' of 18S3j ct tiic
0.Z0 of 30 years*
Tii^xi it TiU;-; tl^at tho CTQp,t I.Uintort H--!i-.K~, oano to rae and iduntifiod
liiniiDciLi' tiu a "i.!ri ri.c.:^' and Iraior Mantor "o/ iiio tfrcnt School. IIo had coiud Trua
tho Coriti'oL TaiixLo ii; tlio foauioe coo of the Hioalayae, in far-off India.
Uo orfcroi to inyti-uct iiui in tho Icnovilodgo of Natural Science, rnxJ
onablo r.;o to da.ionatrate tiie contindty of intiivi'lu^vl life boyond tho indLJcnt
of piiyclaa "do^tli" - vjrod.doc: I coiJLd, to Ids oatiaf action, pixivo tliat I
poaaoGwod tho Diccrotlon to m^'.^ a vdao U£o of that IaKWla>liP> the Try^dty to
dovoto Kjy life to tl-io Cauao or Ti-'jth, -ar^Tio Hirdlity of Soul' to nini: i-y
poi-soiir'ill^^ c.itii-oly fra-n 'pu^;lj..r vlcTr, and thoi-o, in obacurit^, cari-y oA '[im
Gixiat 'Vi/drk, ai'on© and luidiar iziioti, tho bala::ice of iny oaiiiily llTOj if the iiitci-oiiLc
of tJiQ Call 30 doi;ia:ido(J this 6<3li,'-^abiioGation»
To n&i:j a very lai^j a;*i esccotxlin^ly Intorosting and faadjiatin;^ nuLjoct
as bidcf and to tlie point as ^iuiulblo, I accontod ld.'j offer, pi'oved oysclf qma-
lif lod for tho or loaJ., to hhi c .ilaf action, took up tiio V.'ork and, under his
porsoiial inatructJ.on for Uiii'-oofi (13) nonthe, oado liio sciaitific daiojiutratlon,
rotii'od froM tlio practice of 1,^;-.;, want "into tlio nllunco'' cand obccurity as co;>^
plotely ac j>oa^i:ae v.horo I lu-v^ rcvaiiiod for tlilrty t30; years - and here I cti^
tolling you about it,
fjnl norr let u> Qo bad: to ti\o boginninc of the otory of ay idontity
anJ, a.T bc::;i I am, ttjll it iii ofi..'u'iolof;ical and i;e:uontial order. Ilio bcfpai-
nhiQ ix)ijit of tliu stoi-y ou^?.t to be v^y bla^h, but that iiuportant event falls
outcido tJio llr;iit3 oi.' ty avfii iiaxo-j, ixrd I must, tliereforo, /p to the oaly
avallablo source of inaOiriation, vfliidi is tho fandZy Diblo.
Tlaoroiii it ia aola.uily recoixloi that I va^i born July -'Qt-h. 1^53 »
lly n>iao io tiicru-Li caid to bo " Jciux rdcha;v!lnon" ; an! by that naae I uau known
t:ir-.u/5hout ;.y ddl^ihood iU'id youtb, ajid until I \ma old enou£ji to develop a diij-
Uko of a.> .liiort a narij aa "Jdm". '.Tlioii about el^itoen (18) years oW I took
unto riyciclf a miL^uIo acjao "niaott" v;'iich I conceived to bo an ouiJioniour; coobi-
nation, and tlioroaftor, and to u\iu day, I h^ivo d.-jiiod r<y nano to all Ic^aL
docuj.ionts as 'ITolin 'iZ, I'J.chaidfsoa"; :j^l by that naao an I kncxm oaong all iqy
people (brothoixi a*k3 ^iotoiO « ' '
.Vccoi*dinc to tiio lUblo .Joc^ird^^i^y Tathor's nana was "Anaon Tdchai-dson"
azid tx; riOuIioa-'c uaa "U-.Ila M. :acliJi-oaon"j and her ru-ddon name tja's "T^eller". "'
'ilio recoixtdiscloaeii tho infortiation tiaat ny Father vraa bom in ISnh,
and riy wthoi- i:i 1818, c&aotly 4 yoai-o later to tho day, end they rorc oftrilocf
in 1834 viion ho vao 20 and alio l6»
Tha rocord furtlioi^ dior/a that they reared 15 children - 7 boyo and
8 cii-lc ~ of wliicii fanUy I vian tho liJtli child in i-egular order, and the 6th
oon, - cold vao bora on July 20, 1353.
If HQT Fathor and Uothor oorrootljr uod^rvtood tl^dr linMeo^ 8h« voa
a mixture of Gegrafln and Wolcdi, and ho of 3ooic||| dw) ahgli^VMLth a vtraln of
JvQprlcan Xrailari on agr Uofthttns oliU*
At tho tine of tholr laorriags thi^ aonr^d ct oooa troa Indlazui to Zova «•
thon a Torrltory, and Infcahitod olmost ontlx^tly tor Indians - and o^rttloi on a
sectlcei of Go7«rrsaant Land and iuDodlat^iXy bagin the r«ardii£ «f th«dLr laz^go
f ocdJjr^ tho aultlvati^>n of a fam and tb« ndatoft of *tMk»
llhieff looatod In Ceokuk County, noar the yillA5o.of lAnoaatoi' - (then
tho County c;oat) <- utioro my Father autoi*ad i^poQ his jhqto than alxt^r Toara of
niaainnaiy labors 'aa a "Hard-Q^ol^^Ky' Bapj^^ Mlnlatjqoc* •• "H^jXr-Hnadfl^ in ovary
eoDso of tho t«nu . > , .
As a mttor of pflndplo hid wlnlatiy was a ■Qljt'* to hi* people, in
tJiat' ho rocoived not so axax aa a poinj Xw bll rtllflotaijSbors diudiig hia ontiro
lifo, - tiiua <»c«,aifydfle thf ,32^of tu ft^Ttet^
IIo vos a can of indacdtabld tdll and nnfl 1,n<ii1 ng ' ooareea, • and livad
as doQu and oonedotont a lif o aa any naa I havo wnr knonu Bo aon, noiaan or
chUd 0vor vreot f ron hlM door hungjy or oold^ U b* oouU jprvftnt It*
0
IntoULoctually ho was a "giant anocg ahUdreo" aa wall aa acxtng nm,-
of tho uneraotloml typo, a jpoirarful dibator^ qad tiia HMt thoroq^ «tud«at o3;
tho BlbSo I hare over kncMU^
^ Itother mo a itholoaocao nato, coopanlon and ooaoxkOTi •■ full of lif e^
aa.«cs7 and denrotlon to hor fandly, Jol3jr'flnl fiood natux«d| hoocat and slnooro^
a hard vorkor and a good Quljitlan
Ijy Father llTod to tho ripe aeo of 66 jobxb, rotalndngMs oloar cdn!
to the laot, and oarrlod vith hin ii^ tho lljfo bsircod tb« Icnro and racpoot of
all y4io knew hljn; To tho cntiro vozld in itxioh bo UgnA and aortd ht «a« knosa
as "UnoLo Anaon"*
Uy Uother paosod tho allottod "throo Sooro and Ttal* and 3uff erod miik
frcsa riiounatljaci and indicaotion diulng tho laat tsrantgr yoara of her life* But
che faced the transition ^thdxit foar| and I«ft a noaozy rid) in th# f rs^anco
of a sweet and beautiful life*
naaaly:
Today there reoain Itrlns bat aix (6) of th«dLr tit%9m (13) Ghlldron,
Drt J* F« Rlchardaoni ago 76 yra* -roaLdLng at Keotai Xoaicuk County. lorn*
- — - fl a Bigf^avlILi, » « ••
a a a . ^ a il n
H a a ■'* • •'! • n
• ■ OaJi Pftrk| ODOk " nu -
' " Hiy»avllU|I»|M6 County^ Zom
If the atataaonts of tho older iaflobera of tho fatally aro true, (and
I ham no i^saaon i^tevor to doUbt thn). I v&s born in a HUdo log oabin on
tho South bank of the north brangh of' ^Stoait SlTBr"| about ont nUt; north of the
vllla^ of %Qnia&otQr<*g Kaokuk Ccmztjyi 2fWW
But bef oro the tine Halt of jqr asnozyi tiho f anl]y had rannrod frcn
Joel .Ichordoon
:s
looao "
GoorBO ■
■ 65
John (nyself)
n 59
mth* Katlo L* Hsyoe
" 53
thoro to a f&rm^ cnoo thr»« niloo South of tho "South 8kunlc<* Etverj and £boat
jftTCr-ni)AT:'-':6rth Eaai of tho tonn of UtaiXBfibuy^ MOA iSowH^ t»S n«U*
Hoi-o It naa that tho oxporlMiooo of m llfo CLnt Iflprooood then- '
sqlLvos apcai xagr Oon3d.ou«nos« with oufflolant ophaitl.t to fix thoBi iji s^ aoocoyt
It wac lioi'o ihat iq;y oon^c^om^ Ufa bogeu^ and vmuaj firo^ msSLatoarodt
FroQ cOjdox* iaenbero of Uxo tmLfy X loom that X «lr^«l threo (3)
pounds at tho ticto of cqt birth| that Z vaa a yesy ursmloono arirtitulon to tho
f ocdl^jT} tiiat Z hcxf ored botMoor llfo ond dootli for over a yoar. and oriod Ia^
oouaanU/; that I thon began to Iroprove and troci'tho a^ of toxvo (3) b«oiBio
a fairX;^ ttroqg •• thou^ oUIX and«!>«l|Mit <mX4«
At tho ago of four (A) Z booano tho our^-^akfir of iqy yoaaeor b2t)tb.or
and it ma thc|^ and in that oapaoJUqr# that I btflan to reallao tho noaoisg of
PuiraoBifCL noaponsJLbllltyf
Yiivmx amoa (7) Toars old tho fSondJly raoioirod to a "nLvozHDottoa La»j"
farm botmaon the tiw) '*SkunIi^*Iiivor8'' and agr Fltthor (ihooe Uinlstry brou^t hini
no income) hod to dopoiu} on othacr linoo of labor tttjr th« UtIas of himoaU! onl
fandXy* As ropixOy aa tlie chUditn boooa^ old flnpu^* fads jMa flttod into oono
ocQupatlon md booooQ a "ooj^ in tho fnmlly "Hhotf^^ of 'MfflMif^i^-**
At ooTon (7) it f ciLl to r;ir lot to baoooo ■^Bcrop" In a littlo atoom
soixiLIl ORnod by ay ?athor - ohiafly for tho aoccBsaodatioaa of his nol^borc ••
^o brou^t their lo^a froci a didtonco of 3 to 5 xoiloo in «foi7 direotioni ' to
havo them 8a»ed into Ixmiber of all" kind i for tho building of houooS| bams*
buildings of all Idtidsf and fonooQ| in tho hoart of a. {xLoDoor fansL^g oount|y»
For rdjje (9) yoar« Z aljaoot livod in" tho little "fovtr-^oot-ptta" that
ccrmtitutod tho station or **post" of oaiQror andj| booauso of the neooseitioB of
tho coneral situatioiu Z'naa denendtd up^\ » am laa ahla to perfoxs - tho duties
of a grcwn mn, ami that^ too. in a poidtioa of roapcniilhiltty nucb groator than
that of tho avorago imx of zsgtura 1m>rcJ,Mgii>0Oi
I'ftion Z vaa aixtoen (16) yoars old - the oldor bosro of tho family •»
Ydth but am ecccaption - had cdthor narrlod and assuiaod tho xtx^iocudbilltloo of
fcuoilles of tholr cmi, or had 3>m "for th«iuiap.T08" into tho tali; round world to
fitiit their aim battlao and mka for thvasolvoo plKoo of liiolr am dioosing«
Ihis x3ado it poosihlo for xao to "cooapo" froa c^ "nmy^B four-foot
prioon'* and rondor a Moro ir.^;>Qrtant aoz^vioo in ohargo of tho faxm, irfiare Z labored
for tho noxt tMD years vLth a^ oldor brothos^ Qtorgo^ noLU Z «ui «ich^O«^ (IS)
yoara old^
Pscthor «ta3 a Beptlyt^ nlnlfltor « a^'Z hovo boforo stated ** and as such
a fim boliovor in tho " Doetrlno of lajytlon** « *dLdi hold -that tho dootiiiy of
evoiy individwil has bocsi dotaxiixLnod in advfinoo <• "beforo tho foundationo of
tho wDxtLd" ~ by SLection* - Soiae eire "eHoctod" to gp to fitosrw and *sLt at tho '
richt hanl of God" forovor^'ond all the othorf lopo ^tfjsotod* to 0O to HaOUl and^
undor tho dondnion of Satax\| bum forvvenaqnto
"""'■ But under a oooowhat aar« gorarouo "doctrla©" he percdttgd hla boyo
to "QXect" Trh^thor tliey wouXd loavo the pwmtal roof at the «co of IB, or ro-
malxi until 21, If thqy oleoted to go at IS, thflgr did eo «BBpti3^-handadj but if
thoy rer.uined until 21, theQT reoeivod fJ^aa him c. horae^ eoltilo andbridlo and
a euit of dothoe* Cveae war^ the r«irard of tho three ymn }Abor^ fran K^ to 21*
For the foIlovUs reoaoM X cLectod li? XiMr« «t W
!• BocQuee of ngr uaofVilnose in the eOBnoain eyatepi of tho hccae, Z
bod no tlDo nor opportux^iV to obt&ln tho kUad uf eduoatioa Z decdxed*
2« During the 9 Teare in the eori^dll and tw> ox the fanB, Z had a
novei^-enlin^ da7-<lro«a that aooe tiae I would 0p to OdU^eOi eh^alA «a education
and bocoae a writer, « Journallfft, a niwyiHiir vlMi>
3« But OS CQT I^th birthd&jT drew aeaiv I reallsied that Father ood
l^Uvsr MQi-o groiTit^ old az^ that in a fev year* looro thccir would need tho oore
of 5one one of us« About tam nan^he bofoa'o nj ISth l)lrthda7 Z Mcfc to eqt hrotlior
Goorge and oonf id«l to' hla my drooa} but re&llalng Ihat he had a tear batter ii>>
t«aii^eroe than rt^BOJg I propoeed that ^ 6^ to ooUoge orti flniflh bis oduoation
and that I vfould ronxOn oi^ run the fam and h«Lp hiA thxou^ aqd at tho sane tline
oare fbr ttie told f oaJse at baaex^
But if ho did not witii t» do that^ thcD Z propoeed Ui«t ho ronain and
let a£ fip unaided« '\\
ATter iae oonalderatiou it was dooLded that X ahould (ffh
Sio dajr of n^ «aanaipatiMX oaq| • JuQIgr 20f 1^73^ '<» idthoab a word to
aay one but Bro« Oaorgo*
vfith C2«50 in cff pod&et * and a borrowd lukree <- Z rode 62 rallee due
North into the uheat fielde \tiQro thero waa a great dmtoA for hanreat hands.
It mo tho hAPpioat dei^ of n^r lite* I'vaa free • fre« to earn aaaof and go to
coUego £uvi make agr plaoe ia the «UEft4a
Z found a zuan liio needed help and th^ n«act jsmndng went to vniic *
binding tiioat for llortit^ liUia - in lom QaaoX^ ^ «tl I3« P«r 4^«
I worbod 17 daws. rocolTed C51» oaA - ny flret ooniy as a «»ain'» -
3x>d« back hotm', rront to dlBtriot school a tern, aifliod for a tcadherfa cortJU. '
ilcatoj cot it, taurfit echool a year, took the aonty earned (at 940* pear oonrth),
•nont to lam City, loHa, and in S«pt, 3B73^ cataixid the State rSaXrwd^ m a
"Sub-Predinan".
Uy collage work waa aloag the lima of on Iniepaadant oourse and wae
finiohed in 1878 vdthoiA degreoa of any idnd, but wllii a certificate froci Uw
Prosidont giving m full credit for all the voyk den^ « ihiqh eioiverad most of
tho ourricolum of Lai^ Wadlnlwi and an X» A^
' paasing over a period of tme y^^an desultory i»rfc, Z w^ narriod la
sigoumcy, Iowa, Hay 19th, 1S80, to Mlae Paulino ntqvoiia^' (dau^t«r of qwmi find
Ann ntcvenc - old and rospoctod citlscma of loiva) «- a young «d ohanaing
yta-^an of rare nusical ability «- a pianiet, vooaliat and teacher of cuoio *
and a vjoman of oKcollcsxt oental and aoral tii>er « a Frstabgrtarian 9f tiio
• 6-
Scotch bloocJ - \A\Of I thinlc, luid hopod, in time, to load no liito tlio "fold" -
but fcvilod.
In .'jopta.ihoi-' of that yoai' I bado hor a tcnporary o^xA-hyo end v;ont
to Sin Fx'c^vAccof \j'ho:'v), in tho ]jolitlc<il intorostG of Gcsi^ ItOoeci'Qno, I dii'octod
tliu u'liioi'iij^ policy of tlia "H-at'^inor' " - Da-:ocrr.tlc orc^ii -• for ono yoi.v -
12Q0 rjid l-ill a)U '.aatll IloiiccT'or*.; t.lthdj'ovf Ai-aa the raco ior tho nonin^itiori,
1 tiion roai.i-jiod r^jr jx>nition on Hiv "Bisaplnor" - djatcndinc to (it;
dii'oct to 11, y. City and accept liio poaltloa of l^wcinc B:iitor for tlio y:.^ Y,^^
[firioo - wJiich position van offoi'od no»
On ):y IT-:,:'' I otoppod at Ptoclcton. S n r. Joa "i tin C ount;r . Ceil, to visit
a fa<" duya vitli iiaj, P, V y ]3attp > - Uicn bu^'-oi' for iixo' loi'^o xlm of grain ;,io*^
ci;uutc ~ .•i;o/jart ■-.ind Si.tltli, ofwat toTJa»
(lillo tiioro I hsA occacior. to lock up a point of 1-a/, concor:-d:n2 tlxo
probuLir;": rf an o.';t.^to onJl anpolntr:cnt of a c^iardion for ninor liolro - to accaa-
modate a poor folio/ tjioso vdLf o had juut died, loavine hira tho care of iiureo
little diildraa.
I otoppa^ into a proj'povoua appoari.nc;'"law offico", introducoti rayoolf,
a: id asl:od a fino ai.poiU'irif, raatlor.uxn of A5 yoars, or ao, If I id^jit oacai-iino hie
copy of tlao iioviood Statutoo of Calif onila,
IIo coai-trtj'Ji}]^ liandgd no tho Vciucic and went on >dth his work ^iiilo
I lYos loolcinc up t2io point of laiv I had in oind*
:<liai I had finichod I rotui-nod tlie book to hiti, tJiaokod'hijn and timiod
to loavo hit; office, viion ho aslosd if I imtj a otrcrGor to C*3^ili:ton, to viiich I
ropliod in tlio affimiativo. IIo aolcod if I vias a loivyor, axU I rciiliod tliut I
luid fitudi-i,-*! la'.r, but had novo:* ra-actioovi. liii: na:ct' (luootion vrcuj ^Thotlior I v^-'l;]
cai-o to praculcu if a \^oqi\ opcnlns pi'oaentod itaclf, ai.<l I rox)lled that it v/ould
"depend" •
\U tl;ou -f^'ld no uitii tho ixtnioat franIaioc3j that ho ivanto^d a partner,
a "J^j^ i^w of intolliGonoo and QiMtioni UkVo ho lilaod fiiy appoaranco and vuc
aatlaSod that I T;ao the :.iaii for Uio place, if I tttouIi} occ^t itj tiiat -altb.jid:
fnrtj-ior rcrio:j:!;iid,\tion tiian 1.7 I'Oi-oonal appoca'cncc, ho wpaW off at* ao an'c::uai.
p^-tuoi-aliip v.ltli hrlni iri on coLd^Udiod praci-ico tl^at nettod hin crvor i;2i3,000,
ai.:uxalli'; :uid d.ooal by'aoki'x ^^ t^ corridor liie oattor and call on liia a£pin
bofot'c louvii"iC the city»
I t^lu iii.i I had neve-' conta-^Tlatod practicinc 1^^% that his offor v. 0
so uii.-ir^)caLc;d, .-'3 \;cll an 00 unpi-ocuiontod, that I vna;: not proparod to ana^ror iiia
off-lioiid; buu that I ap-precLatod' deeply tho cncij:jlii:Tcsat ho had paid :ao, aa troll ja
iiie confidonco 1^ offor inpliod, and wouU ^Ivo tho laattor careful ooncidoratian
arxl soo hii ajain b^J.'oro loavin^j Stockton.
Durinc tho next f ou dc^ra I tif.do dv .11 gent iir:;iiiiy an- to this rof-iarlcablc
nan, only to fl«i that heirao a wai oi' unifr4>3achablo diaractor, aixJ ono of tho
bout Iraiyoro on tlio Coaatt
'./itliin a-v/ook I coliod at hia office zn\ '.vao cordially ez-ootod vdth
tlio in oiiiy: "iJoll, yciinc i^^an, have you coi.i«ii to accept qy offor?" I rqiliod;
-7-
"Yec, ix it is otdll open*" IIu vvlu it v/aoj and aalsod tiion I wuld bo ready
to beglr'« 'I told hin ri/jit away. If tliat waa o^oocblc to hln» He ropliodj
"/lU ri^iitj i;o'nuGh tho bottoi*; thoiti is your dcalc rjxi diair, oonsidor yoiu>-
GGlf instiLlod, and toiaorix*/ I iriU Jraii up foniol artdcloo of copartnorylxip" ~
Tdiidi he did} and thuc I bocitio a practicli.\;i Attomt(y, - eocujthine I had ndvor
contc -plited for oiw norien t until y^ first laootlng tdth hijo, a weds bof oro»
Cur rclatloiiti_y both baoinoos and poroohal, mgto of tho inoot corclial
avif! plo'u3.'.nt natuiv. iuid \d,tlioub a Jar of any ldnd» Two yoai'o later, lf2C3, ho
vdthdrcn: ivon tho fim, rotirod froa active businoas lif Oj, and left ne Ln full
poosoaoion and or.rrk3i"QliLp of a profoeaional practico vdiich ho had spent nany yoa^'a
in bitlldinc up oncJ viiich nottod mo ovor v30,000« annually.
1 continuod in tlio activo practico until tlio auturan of 1866, at \Aiicii
tiae, for rcacona I'i;ill a;qjlain iator, I rcxiovod •• uitli n^ Ydfo and t\jo little
■?.rls - tc- Blciard:, llortli Dakota, - tho Capitol of tho tlion Toriitoiy, ^nd
joinod a fOiTJor Jnivcroity claso-uato in tiio practico of tho law.
But tb3 prospect \iaa not a' pleasing one to no, and at tho end of a
yoar in ICG? I rc«ov'od to liinnoapolis, Llinnesota, and tliore fomod a law part-
nurshlp ■ .lith anothei* collojo claauaatc and did a £pod bur.inoaa until tho autur.oi
of lIS^Oj v.-lion I cajaa to fliicaco ami, \dth tliroo of tlio good buoineos i.uja of
Chieaco. xoiiiod a boainooa ao20ciation vdth riiich I rouoainod conngitod untiL'
1900; trxiico viiich tinio I Itavo dovotod iny ^ihole lifo and onercios to Iho ivritin^;
and puULication of books tavl other litci-uturo along tho lincQ of Natural .Gcionco
i'Xid tlic "Ilamonic rhiloBOfil.>y" - and to tho W)i*k of Poroonul Inatinction in tho
Gaxjat sdiool and Uork»
I havo, tliuo far, ci-von but a vciy briof and proBaio account of tho
purcl;'- caai^-ictiCi aiid uatorialiatic sldo uf ty lifo» It VKia, hovfevor, a llfo as
fai' rc:x.vcd fror.i tho dull or prosy as that of any run of all ny actjiaintanco,
Cn tho contrary, it hac boon a lifo full of tho inost intonoo activity and in-
terest all alone tlio'wa/, fi-cia tho day I Idt tho paixx^tal honie and rodo ai/ay
ij-ito U\(j- hxr,, bi'iijit, fctoinatint; world, ao I oaw it the nomine of wy Ifith,
blrtiiuc^', doi'/n to tlio pi'ooent j.iooont*
For inatancot I liavo r.aid nothing of tho yoaj'o of political actl~ •
vitioc and ai±)itiona on tho Paciiic Coast, \ihoro I bccacio a conspicuous f.^'^ui'e,
and ;4ici'o I urtdoiibtodly could and v*Diild hcvc boccno Covornor of tho grout Cor>»
j:ioni/u<aw. cf California, had I yiaLdod to tho oolicitations of ny nany firLondc -
uvU hr-;i I net obaej-TTod tho "Fingor of Dostiny" pointing Eastvfardj and had nob
tlio G^'c-.t llaotor lod no up out of tiioso v/iin-glorious conditions by tho'hnnd
of L<JVc anrl tal:oi"i no to tho uountaiiitop \dienco I could lool: back, dorm, upon
tho litLloncoa, tho pottineae, tiio solJPiahiiosa and unwortliintjao of it all,
:;or havo I told cf tho fascintitiiig oc:porioncos of tho locturo field
and platfou^ xjJicrein Luad ;iiu'a)n I cpont csich tiiis and effort along educational
line^ uarix: tltc yoarn of c^ "!±fo on t!iy Pacific Goaatj nor of tho i-dde rango of
intorooting ac< uaintancoa aticiig tho great lHucators of that tiao.
TJor yot havo I ;a(aitionod cjy touch vdth tlio Ilusdcal V/orld, viioroin
I raado for roy^efl-C a ixLace and a naao as a drnnatlc Tenor of unusual rango,
« s -
quality of tonband cariyinfj power j nor of tho toaptatlonn tlilch load ricn to
sook far.io upon tlio grand opora ctaca; nor of my exporioxiOn aa a. eolo violiiiiat,
Thoco end r-iany othor osqjorioncos, oil of yiiich added color and irt-
ioxedt to an iritcaaso lifo of activity mvi vavloty, havo boen aalttod bocauao
of thu tiue, oXforb and apaco nocoocary to tiioii* jjuUTatlon*
But of ijif littlu fci..-dly I uust cpoal: in ordor that tho uiioln of i'.en-
tiflcatlon nay bo conploto:
1. Vy v;ifo, v;!io I'on.'d.nod bolilnd with hor Fathor and'H^thor rtovon;i
vrfion I first wont to tlto Oouar^t, joined ks iu UiO Oprlnc of 1B81,
2. On IIov, 13, 1C83> oui- oldect diild - a daurfitor - "VomaK - was
bo:.T-« She vac a i.ioat bca.utiful and brl^lat baby, cliild and younc lady riio in-
herit c/I il.o dftc of a nuaical coniuc froa both paronto. She wao glvtiri tmcJi
{xluoivtion and rmaical ti-aininc ar to could affordj bocaco a £Lro pianiat and
a d:^cjiit5.c aopraiio of raro brilliancy and a/ootnossj r>ac horeolf rtirried to
W. N. Broyton in PasodonU;, Cul, Juno 6th» 1910, and on ?cj)t. 9, 1912, bocarae
tJio oDtiiGr of a oplondid baby boy vAiich - in honor of nyoolf - bears the m;:o
of "Johia itichardoon~Bi'ayton" - and today iho and hor little futaily aro ;tith
mc find stio a.iouiios tho caro mii Liana^jQcaait of ray honoj and dbo is a |)erpotuol
joy to no and holds ij^ eonfidonc«j, adairatlon aiid love iidthout ohadow or flaw
of any Idi"td»
3. Cn Copt* 9» l£o5, our Oi^cond dau^^itor "Hina" was bom in Stockton,
Gal, - one of tho riost bt^utiftQ. children I have over laidwn, 5iho livod a year
iuid a day, L^nd-cliod in tlio horuo of hor crandparonta (r.iatei*nal) in sisoumcy,
lovm, nopt.lO, 1806, aftor Ui illnoan of but a foi7 drya - and thile I vias in
Bisnarck, ;i» D, preparing a horao for cy faidJy to join r»«
.+, Cn Aiiiiust 5> 1BC9> oxu" youn^oat cliild and only son, "grpott
LaT^pno'^ - wa:; bom, in )iiiuiQapo?_i3, Hiniu IIo vnc tlio acjiio of all layHopoG
rm2 dorda*oc - a diii.i vdtliout flaw of any Idnd* Ho iivoa but 3 nonthu and 15
dayc, anci ciiod in tho hojjo of hij birth, Ilovorabar 23, ISis^f aftor an iUncoo
of loan tlian i;iD houro, Villii Ida wont out one of tho Gi'eat hopoa of qy pro-
sont life*
5. In tJio sunccr of 1907 - aftor a ccrroro epoll of plcurl-iy, it
Via'.; dincuvoi'cd thr.t tiio littlo .liother v;ao afflicted vd.th tuborculx>ais# /iftor
oauo rrwnthe of tho iooot careful ti*oatr.K>ut un'lor our ovaj bolovod "Dr. iVobstor"
a chaxv^o of cl.^juito v/aa rocorar.iondod and cho xvertt to Arizona ^ere edio \\ai tho
voiy boat of oaro - and ir^arovod sooeviiat. But on tho advice of her physician
cho wcxrb a: to tiio Pacific Coaot and stopped noaa* pasadaiia, at a araall pri-
vate Sanitai'irjcw
In Iho facQ of hor ovm letters tollinc rao of atoady iriiprovoraant I
bccarae iaprecDal ^titri the conviction tlaat cho'vjas not in a good' onvironiicnt^
and \i\cXi I Cfjuld rocist the fcolinc no longer, I took tho train, mii in Aug,
1908, I Mont to her, I found ry oonviction fuUy vertfiod and althou^i lu-
provod ovor her <iondition \/hon ;;ho loft hone - I took hor at once to the notod
rpod..:OJ^t *• Dr. Iloruan Bridfje - In Loo An^olen, viio - after a moat carofui
eDcar.djiation, - found only about ono-fourth of the left lung only af footed.
Ho unhGc;itatincly sixid "She oUy^ht to got well"*
I plicod her in "the llm PasadoiV?. Ilocpital under his poroonal caro •-
-9 -
f xx»n v/iaich dato cho ioproved rapidly and stoadUjr*
Cn Jcui, 1, 1909 2i-, li'ld^o roportod tliat slio was virtually moH --
so f ar ac ho could dotoirroirw. Sho had coaaod ontlroly to oou^ or CDq:>oc-
torato, JiaJ i:ainod In wolijit until iio \vxo heavier than d\o had boon sljxco
■.•;o Viero .:ari.-lol, folb woU oiid at;^iUi ami bollnvoJ horsolf ontlroly rostorod
to IiocO-tli. i:ho wus plaiininG to couo huao - to uo in Oalc Park, HI, - tho
foUoT.in^ <^un6»
On thio ©voniiic f r Ja.i. 15, 1909> rho went to bod Ln tiao bout of •
spirits ari v/aa foeLinf^ ivoli oixl liai^ui'* j'vrtor aooing Iwr carefully in bod, •
the nurno left hor to tP to tho aljacoiit ixoa, Dofoi'o aho roacliod ita door,
ho-.'ovor, dm lioai\l tli.'oo uliar^) rin^a o-f i^t" c.tll boll, 'Jae (tlio nuroo) hui'riod
back and found hor in tlio cUiiat of a terrific horaorrliafio. In lose than ono
miriuto uhe Y/ao doad.
Dr, Brldco> 'tiritinii rao tlio noxt day oald 1 "It is ono of tho puthotlc
plivi:-:o;j oi' oiiT pi-oi'ocjsian tliat '.^c notfor can toll, vrlth ubo^'luto cortuinty vdioa
th .-• r^x::i3 of thio dread diaoaso liavo all boen dielodeod. In hor cayo, I tliou/^t
fho was rrall. She thoufjit so. Wo all thoii^t bo. But it 00 happened tha-o tJioi-o
yet i-a.iainod a ariall aroa ivj larjjoi' than tlio' surfooo of a fln£oi>-nall \/hoi'o tho
Cc;tiS v;crG atill active, -'aid otrani:cr btlll, it co ha^jpaiiod tliat tliia activo
ai'ea ivas dii^ctly ovor tiio ViBll of tho "/.oi'ta", or larcioat ax-Lorj- of tho luns -
and vJian U\oy liad oaten arwy Uivtil Uie wall of tliat lorco vooscl Could no iontioi-
stand tho pix>s3uro of blood froa tho hooi't, it g^vo wjy at that ono littlo upoc
a«i in a nJji-to dxo was gouo* Kothlng could savo her."
lliiV bot^ waa bi*ou£^t to Sicourncy, ' I«va, and laf.d to roat beside
tliooo of her t\To bloocod and boauLiful babieo, in tlio faally vault*
^nd here enda another chapter In toy cnsx life*
Go vrlth ]3o nov; back to tho days of ny chilAhooJ oixd let us ti'i.vol
ovut' tliu puthv/uy of v-v Spiidtucl ovolution tocethor* Froa this journey you
\;ill loom tho unbrokun road'ovur and alon^j vhich I found ay way to tho door
of tho Groat Scliool, knocked, wiis adnittod and finally bocaoc the aolo acca^o-
dited roprooontativo of the School in this country^
Liy Fatlior'3 indOiX3«lenco of wind and UberaJ attitude of aoul on
tho Eubjoct of. re]i-i(p.on ::iay bo apiirociatod sonua^'diat fron tlw fact that not oho
of Iiin chil'lrrin avor bolonccd to hxa Qiurch - nor any othor, for tloat oattor.
All of us \i\o crov/ to yoarc of disci'etion uero natural olcepticG' -
Oiljiootico, /j^xl yot, wo all v/oi-o intcreetod, and desdrod to laiavi tlio truUi,
but f oimd ouruolvoa unable to accept tho Chriotiarx do^jaaa as thea tau^t,
Froa tlic tiioo I vas 9 yoaa's old I lovod to listen to Pathor and tho
"Sldcro" of Ids Churd'i diaoua;; abatruuo UiOoloGical doctrinoo, and nany ti.?.c<3
'.Tliea alono v;ith Fatlaer I oaloid quoatione and diaputed iim correctnoas of Ida
answeiu.
l^' icipi^osoion ifl that tlioro wore tiraeo wlion ho was stroxtc^ of tho
conviction tJiat I was a »aiild oX tlio I>ovil« - du!!^ "SLoctod" to go to HcU
-10-
fcy tJio '•air-lino'* vhanavor the "Trurapefc should sound" j but ho was £pod ©nou^
not to say eo spedfloally*
At tlio aco of 16 a moat interooting oveat in hqt spiritual life oo-
cur2>3d» A Geiinan frniUy by tho nana of "Follnian" - froch fron the old country -
consicting of Fatlier and liothor (about if5 yoars old) evnd one dau£^tor (about
IB yoai-a) novod into tlio vlllaco of L«aicaatcr, soao 4 nilec fix)n our hoiua, aid
openod a littlo ^cnoraL fitoro* Nobody knocr tiiori, and they woi^ accoptod at
thqlr own voluatioaf
They had not boon thoro long until word bocatao quite generally cir-
colated thirouf^iout tho cuaiiuialty to the offoct that tliqy v^ere vory strange
pooplo, vnd v;oro called "SiJirituolista", It v»ao- tho firat I had over hoard
tiio narao, and I knar notliing about viiat it noant^ but fron the ejcprosolons on
tho facos of tJiouo viao did know, (or thou^t tiiey Imow), I infeirod that it
nuflt havG rof oronco to aofoethinc quite "out of the ordinaiy" and ootaovdiat
bolgy tho ordinary in point of Morality*
But all Dorts of tircdrd and uncanny stories woro soon ooinc the rouxKla
c; ncorninc tlio ati'an/je and unbelievable things that were constantly occuriring
in tholr horjo* Spiritual phcnouona of unusual ranfio and character were reported
by liioae viho had been tiiero and witnassod thaou
It WIG not strungo under theao conditional that tlio spirit of
"curiosity" soon toolc possooeion of tho coranunity, lly two ncDct older brothers
tund I caurfit iho iiipuloo of invootication and one Sunday afternoon cot on our
horoon anrJ rodo dovm to Lancastorj v«int to tlie Follr.ian howej in-uirod vrtiothor
tho tJiln^^n v:o had hoard Vfere true; wore told tiiat sojoe of tiioa v;ero undoubtedly
truoj inquired if vra could oit vdtli thou that ovoningi' woi'o heartily invited
to do soj and v/e oagorly accepted*
Vrtien other thlncs were out of the way for tiie evening wo three boye
found ourcolvoa alone vdth the throe naobei's of the fanily with tihom we tried
to talk - but soon found that tiio daughter was tho only ono of thoa \tio could
spoak onouch JSiTfiLinh to give us any informatioxi, and che found it nost diffi-
cult. In a labored effoi^, h<»ovor, ohe'raade us understand the mothod of pro-
coduro and our o;vn part in tiie "sitting"*
An oixlinary wooden table was brou^t in and wo all took our eeato
around it in such r.anner ao to balanoe the sex influence as evenly as pooaible,
I romaaber very distijuctly that they clairaad to be f ollo\irLne the directions of
t:ioir "Spiritual Guidea" - and that 1 aat between the Father and dauc^tor -
he on riy rif^t and' ahe' '<» ny left* "^
A large ooalroil Lamp sat in the center of the table, and vjhen all
v/are coated vdth our hands tou(iiing - "loft hand under and rirfit on top" - tho
light was turned dwn till tlio rooci was a deep diadovr, but not quite dark«
Wo sat quietly for a few Eioc^jnte and then the Father began hutnoing
an air of seme song in viiich all Joined* Before v/o woi^e throu^Ji the first
stcmzii I could hoar distinctly p^t maiy^ volcoo in addition to our ov«i, sing-
ing tdtli us in perfect hanaony*
Aa yio proceeded, tiio Fatl-ior» s hando began vibrating and tho farther
wo wont tlie nore intez^e bocauo tho vibrations until auddenly his Ixanda wore
torn Troxa (xira on either sido anJ ho Toll back In hie cliair in a rodining
position and cvoiythinfi beccaae otiU*
Iho dau£^tor turned on tho lit^t untU. vro could gqo distinctly*
Tho "Llodiin" - Ji-* F, - l;jy tlioro broathinc hoavHy, for coiao ti^no, ^"ri.th
lAa cyoo i3hut, and his faco an asha^ liiito and entii-oly ejqii'ocriioniaGe*
Thcai clwfly lie ai'oao, novod fonrrcu'd till tho tiiJi- of hio finccro
re3ta<i on ti-ie tal:lo, in tlio attitude of a jxiblic spoalcor » hie gc^oc still
closed. Thai Ills llpa oponod and, in a calni, dioiiriod voico Oiid nvoiinor, bo-
f.an to rpoik - in pcrfoct Qri{'J.irii, and ontiroly froo frcd C«iT.uin accent oa'
dialoct»IIo bocan ^onuthii^i; lil:o tJiiaj
"Fricndo, - I an fjLai to ooet tdth you tonit^it, and throucli tho
vocal orcano of tliio Llodiuu toll you aomothinc of tho Spirit rddo of life viioro
I noiv livo« When I xrac on your sido of tho divide i-y moo wao f.cott* I vclo
iTeabyterian Minister* l^ laat pastoral charco v;as in .':7i'acuoo^ N, Y. v<tu3i"0 I
diod in — — civini; tlao date," i.c»
Ho wont cti and told uc tiion of tho transition and of tho r.iany eur-
nrisoG that aftYaitcd liia ani Liany Q:q:>arioncos of intoroct* Ho opolco posidbly
tiall'-.'inr+iour and tJion politoli' oixusod hlnficlf on tho cround that thoi'o v.'oro
sovoral otlier "Spiritual Friaide" v:lio T/isliod to speak to us, and thoy nuut not
Iceop the Ilcdluci umlor controL too lonr> lost it injure loin. Then ho said cood
nij:jit and tho fivjrw of tho riaiiiri undeivent a sovero shock and etraichtoned
up acaln and boc'in to apoak,
Kiis tdxie tho voico \vaD bruoque, cuicl:, sliort and eciphatic wd at
loant tifo full tcnos hi^jior ~ but still in cood Sigliali. It wao a auifiloto
dianro of iTcrsonality* Ho r/j±d hio name on earth was "".Vilkins", that ho \raB
Q bunino.';o nan, c^vo ur; Ivliilast oai'tlily arldi'eus, and the naraos cf friondo who
nad kn&itn hin, and tho tir.ie, place and nanner of hia doath - aH of v/iiich wo
fully voririod by lottor.
After tollinc iia coractliinc of his life on tho Spirit sido ho ro-
tiixKi - as tl;o foimor Control had done*
Than. follovKxi a littlo cirl^s poroonality, and in rapid cuocood.on
uorioti . inij lila 15 diffoi'ent pci'Lonalitlos o]xjko to us during that first sitting
ono of v/licin roprociontod itsolf as our Cousin vdio had been drownod but a short
th'Xi bei'oro. llo told uy ninutoly of tho naiinor of hie doath - and •vhor'o v/o
could find his pot doc that luid disappeared after liis death* This also wo
vcrifiod, to oui" ontii'o aatisfaction*
1!ii3"jx^3 tho bo^^inninc of our iiivootiiyition of "Cpirituallaa" - or
nore accuratoly, "Hodi-.^vJilp" •
/iftor thic flrci c:<poricnce, viliich Intoi^entod us intonooly, v/c at-
tondod a nurobor of aittincs - until v*o bocoao aj»'aro that tho r.wral atrwspiacr©
of til o place and the pooplo xitxa not cood*
It ocGui'ixDd to us til at wo had a sufficient nurjbor at hoao to fpna
a "Devolopinc Cirtio"* Tlxis we finally accaaplishod - over tho protests of
Father cmI Ijothor, vriio Boer.iod to fooL that it was only tho vcrlc of tlio Dcfvil
and laocrt uanccroua to us tvll* Ihqy consistently hold tiiat po3itJ.oo and ro-
fusod to have any part in our aittincs.
-12 -
Vio ::icloctod SunJair ovoiunga ao tlic tiiao aiid Mother's Icitdion aa tho
placo, vjliore wo 3at around tho Idtchon toblo*
ViQ v.oi'c In ooi-iouo caniojt and ToUovjod the ruloa laid do\<n for uo -
and lb mob not many wceka until v/o boC'^n to cot reculto.
I^ yoiu-i/>yit ciotoi'^ Katio, vfiia tiae Tlrst to ahaci aieno of balii^ con-
troUod, i<jx\ ijoon dofvolopod ao aix "autor.iatic writer", as v;q thOiTi supposed •
Cno after tho othor tlio ncrnbers of our f^roup - or "circlo" ~ yloldod
until v;o had i:ojx five or six. partially dovclopcxi Modlujna.
I thiiil-; the phonomG^xa tliore dovolopod v;cro nuch as to convince every
one of uc Uiat Mo woi'o in tho laidet of Spiadtual influoncoa*
Cno of the noot conviiwlii^ ran tho dovolopcmnt of ":'pii'itual Tattoo"
vrxutinc on the body of xny oistor'o little girl baby - a £aii years later.
But ao foi- Eiyoelf, I so>nod to bo eiitirely iramuno, I did ciy boot
to ue'/olop into a Uociima, durin<3 tho firct yearn of our olttinc-, but never
for an iii»timt v/ac I couo'cioua of any outside influonco upon ne« Tlie eaiaOj, I
believe, VKxa equally true of cy three brothers*
•But in due coui':;u of tine I began to have a diatinct foellr.^'^ or
0 .-^iivic l^lon J that there vaa srxiotldjnii involved in tho j^cc.tb of Control tiiat
vfa^ nou rl^it, was uixv^iolc-onej aivl even deatructdvo and dan^oi'ouo to tho
I4y oir/tcr becaino ner/ousj her littlo sirl' did ncrt groiTj a niece was
ojsor.sod; a cou:dn v/oJit inoono^ and all were nadiunc, developed in our ovm
circle* V^-^' other thiri^s occu.-rod to l^prcso no that tiioro viae " ciooothin/^
vft'0112 in tlie l^x'ocaca",
i''rou tiiat tirxi for.iaivl_, altliouch I cat in circle raaiv tiinoc^ I did
not try to ourrondo;' rycelf to outside Control, nor iicvclop aa a "L'odiua''»
After I v<ai: 10 yoar« old and loft ho:;K3 I \Tc.r. vdth the hc^ae circlo
only at lorii^ into^'vala anl kjiavx but little jxirconolly of vhat occurred - eoc-
copt in a ccnoiul \vay, by i'cports fix)n those vho v/ere thoro*
But othci^ continued, irreGulor]^, to meet for several yoarsj but
ceaaod to obtuin ai-^ vciy c^od or satiofactory rocults and gratlually tho ij>-
tcroot v;anod and tliey virtually dial-ATi-Klodj and I believe tho feeling Mas quite
gonoa'al tJiat tho prccooo vrar; not a T^doRomo one for tho nodiuiao thonsolvos.
/vfter I loft hoiic and ente^^3d tho State Univcrcity I v/as oo bent on
my ntiiiCi'io for an education that I had little tino or opportunity to continue
iiy invoeti^^ition of p'^ddc pliencoena, except during vacation tixaes viion visits
Inc at lior.io»
But durinc tho yorirs 1070-9-00 I enjoyed sxccptional opporbunitioa
duianc vdiich tiiuo I vid-ted raany me<llunis, botii i)rofo3nioiiQl and private, and
vdtnoasod virtually evoiy ptiaso of peychic xxsnife station, toGother v/ith lauch
doliboiate fraud.
-13 -
I catiafiod isycdlf on a nurl)cr of pcintc, oisonz Tvhich aro:-
!• That I novor oaiv an hone at public ciadluta during that tlxw.
2« That niaiy of thaa, hoiiovoi", I'oall^ wore raDdluraistio, and thoir
controls- could - vrfidi cc>rUitlOiio v/ai'o f avorublo - produce a v/ide ran^o of
pjjycliio phoncuona throu^ thaa#
3» But tlic desii'o of tho nadluns to tuJca noncy, ovortaxod thalr
^•sychlc capacitloij and to guard ajoinst poor iittirc- and dicsutlsficd patrons,
thqy loamod a lot of triclce vhidi thoy cdxod in vhcn tlioy found tliat tlioir
oontroli; \;oro unablo to v/oii: thrcu£}"i thoci aiil produce tho gonuino pho;;a'aona,
/(., Itiat evciy ;rlvato uodlun I 0vor vicltod confepGod that tho
procoas v/a.. hrimfUlt
5, That' af 'or tho fii*ct period of oKxiltation and fervor (cov9a>-
Inc vaiyinc periodOj f xxjn a fovr r/ookc to covoral raontha) thoro wao a ci*^dual
lettiii^ doirm of U^o uoraL tone Oi tlio payoliio atr.TDsphcro and influaico, free:
which tho pxogi'Qca was oixj of steady retrocr63Bion#
6» That in ovoi-y inotrmco tho dootructivo nature of tl^.o rubjoo-
tivo pnyaiio Procoso nron tho '-k^diuri iaanif oct itsolf in oithor phydLcaQ, ,7.<intal
or noral decenoracy, - orvJ often in all throo directlona.
In 1B80 ^vllen I v;cnt to tlio Pacific Coaat, I Ivid aa-rivc3d at a point
vfhoi'o I v/.is fully satiafiod that tiao "Subjoctivo Pi'ychic Procosa" - involved
in botii !I;-pnobiEn and LlCvJiu-ichip - ia dnntructlyo • and that, theroforo, tlio
linos alaic \i\±di I had booi studying and invo.-.tirotlnE> up to that tixio, v;tarG
yfronif, in ave*7. toiao of tliu '..oixi, ]fodiunship was "tho wronc way",
.\nJ I liad rooolvod to havo ncthlnc further to do with 'Spirit.ialiaji" -
nor kdth "J^odlua^hl^", nor vdth '•?:;i'cliic Roooarcli" alone thoso linoo.
It 30 happonoi, hoi.'ovor, tliat on .-ay arx-ival ai^ location at Stockton,
CaL» - T soon disoovorod a nost imosual and' unojqxjctod situation and oocial
coniition. Tho loadins pl\yoicianOj, lawyoro, Judcoo tmi ncn and wonon in the
very best cf.dctyj wcro alD- r»abero of a "Pf.ydilcal ^'.esoni'ch Socloty" and \i\no
ncotins ro/;;alarly, and uore oai\-wntly invcstl^^atirig tlie fjubjoct of "Ppycluc
Phonaaonfl" aloixg tho lineu viiich I liad but rcoontly abandoned.
It van inovitablo that I ahould meet thoGO good poopla and boconvo
kncsm to then ao a Studoi^it alone those voiV llneo in viiich they were onsaeed,
I was liwitod to join then and did so, and soon bocarao ono of thoir
active and prooinont niaabora.
At tliQ tir.ie I Jollied then, tliay wore Juot ontoring upon a oorlos of
sittings for tho "dovclopuant" of a younj and handoone wonon - a lirs, L- the wifo
of cno of tho Icadinc riowcpapx)r lilitorlal vn?ltcra« Sho wao a woman of i^;fln&-"
nont and brilliant noritality and poosossod a fp^acious and diamine peraonality.
In orko abort yoar this diarnlns and brilliant wnan becaao a cctt-
ploto va-ock Li ovory sonse of tho term - physioal3y, mentally, aoriJLly and
r.>lidtually. :iio dovoloped into ono oi! tho moat ronarlcahlo nodluma I have
ever kna/jijibut at tho ojq^ense of all timt undo hor lifo v^orth liviiig.
This v;ci£ the I'inuL tinath that cauaod ne to tumforovor away fron
over/tliiAf/ of a Gubjoctivo r*aturo in psychical dovolopfaont^
I notified t2io Socioty of i:jy intontion to roaign, but at the saiae
tLue a~tod foi* tlic pilvilese of oscplainlns i»^ cpun mooting niy reaiions for so
doing, viiich roquost wȣ, ^yiuntod.
'fho ovaninfi Ciuno :aKi I took two h^iuro and forty rainutoa to teLl tliaa
the stoi7 of EQT psychic invoutisation and Uio reaulto of *-qy o^m oboorvationa
and conclusio^iot
The rbsult was tliat tho ^ocisty thon und thero disbundod and novor
lield coiotlior ueatlng*
I told thoa I lad pruvon boyond all quoetion that tho Uodluaiotic
I'rocoos vfaa liypnotic, aaibjuotivo and doBtruotive and callod attention to tho
condition of Uioir wm i^iua»
I Gaid I wau absolutoly certain that wo wore on tho v/rong way; that
I vra.ci conviiicod, howevor, that there ia a i>id:tt IVay if w© only knorf it, but I
did act liiVJ^r tlio aot/iod ol' nroccdui^o and I'dTd'not knovf any caio vtio did Iuicjvt
It J but until I found socio ono yixo loiow tho id^t Way - ilio v/ay of Indopendont
Pcychic Ujifoldr.ioiit, I was dono with paychic roaearch end stut^ ond iiivoatica- '
tion'onU abovo all "6CiCpoi'i;!.;ont.in{i". If I nevar found an InstxAictor in this"
life, tlioTi I v/ould vifait until I paaaod to the other lifo a;vl loam it tlioro.
.'Old f A'oru that day I put it all bohind no and tui-nod to i-:^ loBfxL xiorh
vdtli umivided attention and onthuoiaara. I tJiougbt but little of those past
expeiTiencoa, cave, new and tli9>, car.io to lao the conviction that Nature nust
surely Ivivo rruiuo pi\>vijion for donionctratin^ tho continuity of Lifo by
Conr^tnictivo .'.[othode, and Uvxz there uuct bo those soraotsfaere on liarth who
linew all about it, if I but knew how and Wtero to find thooi*
This was tiio General attitude of ay Soul oi'. tho subject up to tho
r:'.itnc.ior of 1BQ3 wen tliore oano t« rae an oiiqiorionce, entirely unsolicitod, Uio
lils.c of viiich I lia^ never bofore hoaixt of, jiid which dian^od the entire coiunio
of r^- lifo and all ay piano, purpooea, aspirations and oahitiona aa fully and
coiuplotcly oa it \.o\il<i bo possible to conceive. It ia of this that I now will
try to toll you, voiy briefly from nocessikyi—
For coi.i& four wookc continuously, iCTnodiatoly pilor to July 21st »
18S3, I had boccr. intensely mgOGod in tlio trial of an iiaportant will contest
involving an estate valued at about vl|0(X),000«
>iO tho Attcmoy a."or tlie contesiini: hoire, I was pitted against
t}iu ihroo ableot Attcxnocis on- tJio Coast, (with tho exception of Hon, Daviii
s, Tv^ixy) uiid I realized that, uccordix^ to all tiio jnilea of logic ani cca-
raon fionnc, I oui;;ht to be beaten, thorouglily*
-15 -
Hut thoro wan oor.iotiiirt; Uiat filled uo vdth m abiding convicticwi
thai I v;ould bo fJ-Ven ihc vci-vlict \iion tho Jury vmn thr.--iiij-i vdth ti.oir do-
libor.'.itio;:i;i, I v/a'i nbijolutely certain tlxoi'o haxl boor, "unduo iiiCluoaCQ" en
ilio tGCt;.\toi' tjir.t lod hi:.i, lit Uiu clooinc houro of his lifej to diaiiihGrit hia
clu .';cct.ch r.-.otl;cr 94 yor,-^ old, ^.nd t\<o c^Gcn sic tore pcist 65 years »
•/'sTlcr thi'oe days 01' arguraont tho coeu wont to tJie jmy about IC a..r.,
of July 21, li3C3.
»\t 2 p,ia» I rooaLvofi VADi\i tlv^t tho Jmv waj roact^ to ixjport uvi I
v.Tiab ot .winco to tho Court x-owi \ti±ch was fJJLlu*-! Tidth tho iiita.ao pai'tloan fadoutuj
of Ijoth pai'tio.3«
I Uiink if a voto h:id been takoi of tlie spoctatorc and AttoiTi^ycj, 1
v;oiTlci lava stood alono* i^ut I "way aboolutoly oortoin tliat tho Jury waa witi. ...c.
To UiQ atiaaaiicnt of Uiu /attorneys ag:dnst ew, tliu vardict \tos in
uy fc.vo;-,
IL Won a- ci'oat triiripi^, for so younc on />tty« - urtier ."ill the corf-
ditiona of tho oaoo, and I vras tcr^aerod quito an ovatio/i by Uio :£ir.>-'crs of tho
Bar procont.
.iftor tho ^uxy wa'j diocliai'tjod cuiwl tlie pi-opor orders and records o"
tlio ccv'i rjado :uT(:i cnitcnKl, it wui about lu LUJiutoa to 3 pWii# v-lion I rojclvd
r,iy ofi'ioo, foolinc ^vcll oluiijuu wxUi Uio world in toucroj., and i^yoeiLf ixi
particular,
I opoixed r:5y docik .-md found a lai'tio voliimo or liidl and ioc^'il r-iattord
av.'oitinc ay attention. I toofv/ I wao nox'vouaLy v/oary and noedod root,
A.v tl.o day Tivay well opcnt I did not fool liko taldji^ up anytliin^r; nov;,
aijd Vcu; L: . ii-Jdnc cix>at cjulttiitj^ \.hon I su'iuuiily ooor.ujd to rocoll having an
appointiaoht to i.ret r.oi;iocne ct the Gi'anrl Conti"al liotol, a diatonco of four
b].awCG r.-ja !^f ofrico. \.'itiiout tii.i;ildJTC viio tho p£U"ty mzc I c:'-poctQd to roo
uo 4 p.^'< - I f on^:.1.udod to (j; taijc; a lon^ \ioJaZ in tlie ;,'orUi pai-t of to^vn anc!
retara by yroy of tiic Hotel and koop ii^y tupposod appointnent*
I cloood wy dcak, ii-ustructtBd c^ clarkn t< be on haiii oai'3y mact
Jay, tcok py hat and oano z,x\ atai-ted for r.^ \tzdk»
At tho foot of the .stiiiT; horfovor, I u?.t a fella-f Atty, \iio otoppod
to coni^i'atalatc no and diocica Iho V/ill Qcijot Soon other frlondj joined ua and
in a f o-' iu-nu«cc roiLo a Q'oup had feathered and I was in tho laidot of an ir.-
proiipta ovati<'jn, thoro on the nain Street.
Tinio ixi3Sod rapidly, a:iii tho hear war; conr>uaod Li clrittln^ ovov
tI;o o-'UG« /2.1 tho viiilo, hov.ovar, I had in niind lay appolntr-iont at h* and e.bout
10 .rJ-u-ilc.;; to 4, I «;xusod tj^'aolf, anfl started for tlio Hotel.
to tho vniy up I'o.la St. I stopped a inoLijiit at the "roecvAto ilouao"
orri uJion continuod to the crowtuni; of iijdn ai-jd California Sta. froni viiilch
point I could ooo tho Orazicj Gontral IIotoL, tv.-© blocko North on Galiforrdo St,
- 16 -
I turtiod Nortli on Galirornla St, and VKilkod about half-e-block
!;ortl:_, vtitia it sudrloiily occiui-u-l to zc to ar;k tiyaelf viio it viae I oq/cctc-'::
tv r.JGot at iho Hotel, I \rc.a ac;tonldiod to Tina tl^at I uaa unablo to i'oca.ll
havinfj r.-:'.uo ari ripi.-ointacnt vdth ciny ona»
I \-(C:j cznr}l:\o^ci.>li' ■Urjti.u-'bod, becnuac it nn., the ^i;^^t tir.o in r.:y
lifo Uiat .-.ly ncriox-y over plvoJ :.ui -uch c. ti'ick^ and I tlioii^jht. it luuat bo tho
roiault Q-.' Uiu lonj norvouj a.-id ixatol ctrain cf tho trial,
I iuxnoJ buck ■ i.itoiidin£; to go ha;ic und rojt a. 3 cu.'^>iotcl/ a.s j)oo~
i^HjIo until tlio iici>ct day#
I Iia-I i^'.-o l«it a fui; Mtopa, {Kavovor^ vdica a still raoa-o unur.ual thiii^
ocolU'v-ou. GLuUa.ly thoro ex- j tho di'jtinot l..p-'*oauioii ~ "Thcro 5.n ,""'yo^;^^^5J7 at
ilio ilotol 'iho. )jci,it3 to poe ypt\»"
I yocuoj to licoi.' tlit-so ;vDrd3 vd.th porfoct dictinctnoso, I could
^^ tliC"! aa tho/ ivci'o ir.-ii>roouc.d upon ry cor^ciouar^oo.
I utcp.-a'l^ ta:'::-;d ^vrain and looked tci.xird tho Ilotol, I yraa pu'^r.lod,
I c;uiLlu lijt iUi.-oi':;t-.j:il it. It ;i;:s a Tiacljy r.aiv oxr/jrianco to no. It troublod
;.io dov^viy, I t2.( .■.:jit it nint nc.:ji Uiat I v/aa on liie v.;rco .r a nci'voiw :i'ul
uc-.tiL Cu?_;ia.pc-e, Xlio thoojit Vi:a hoi-'iVO.o, Ihcn I nantally folt of ivsolf
and jt'ound tliat I 00 nod to bo in c^<i^ coniitlon.
All tho v;IrLlc, ho-.;oivoj;', I could fed tiiose vordo boating upon xi^r
Laviiij ■'Thovo ±c na.'jaboL-'- -^l-. j^tj liotcl vilto vvtuitn to 300 you," ~ jul.o c-'.a :lf
Ciu.*; r.)OixciI'ral iJxxd v.ar- 'rcpoatini": "tlia- over and cvci'," \dtia such f<^-^.3 ^i-'^ to
ii^jx-oao thua upon ;.y conccloLiunosc.
I stoo^l tli-ro for xjOiXi tlau tr^fii^ to nsanon out vhat it ell
i.iOiUit, xno-1 I rcXLyA Uiat Uio ;:ua'c;t and -uiclcoat ivaj' to pixjvc v.liov.liu;.'
OX' not it './ac only a ;.L::itcl hi^ll urination v.a:. to £p en over to tho flotal ond
jl;oo ii tiioi-o Mac, miyoody tliwo v/aiitii^c to if^*j ia»- vdtli cr»ouijU intuaaity to
llSEo uucli ar; iioproscion,.
I :;tu:'\.wii ..t i-ii:;ir \v,iwaiM Uio IIoti:l_, rdi;; k;j I appi'oncihod tlio iapro3-
1,1 on boc:i..o o iiLi'<:r<^ tliai tiio IvidLA-idunl \!ii.r, in tho laflicc' parlor, that I
poecod wio :;.-d.!i cfxioc Oiitx-anco Oiw wo.;t to Uij hcllvvj^ loa.llni; to tiie Laaios'
i ^'luj.',
I Ojjpx'oaaii'jd tho parlor doox- viiioli oponod imvciid iuiu v-ae partly ajar,
I pudicd it opi;n .'u-J ^t<;ppod ;'nr.iiLlo, I t.-ol: a Lacty i^iirux; of tho roou -ti\ cayr
at onco tiiat thoixs i;ac but 0:10 poi'uon iii Uio roon, '/ids v^h a /.vin iTiiOci I Imd
tic.'vjr Lioon bcToro, to cy I;:iai7ladg0i, axKi I ob3o:.rod a- a i^laiioo'tliat ho v/afi a
Xo;-'uii5icrj bat of "irtiat nationality I couU *iot have dotoAi.ui"iv,»J,
IIi^ wao di-GJ3ad in i\a3rican oootuj&o, axil r^t quiotj;>- on a .v^l di-
van Hvjiar 'iilio 'uiauov/,
:ioalizinc i-iy ovidar± jxLjtalaj, I tomod to loavo tho roon. Au I did
;xj tlio ;.;an called ao by aj coi-roct rioiuo, - "Li", iiclmixlaon" - I tiirnoJ ruiokly
and ac; I did co lie arr.so, ctopi-cxl acroaa Uio roon to jue^ oxtoiidcd hia ha:id and
naid - "I»a r^d yuu caao",
I took Ilia QKtoiyiod hard in a iaocliai^cal acart 01 vray^ lookod hia
- 17 -
stroAtjit ii^ tho cjo3 ainj rupliuU: "You Iiiivo bho ailvaritafjo of joo, I Co rj^ot
raMoiiuor lijvinc loot you boforo,"
He ruuixijvlod at onoo mid vd.Ui aaaoin^; frarilawKini "No, you hacvo
not; cathou^i I havo uoon ;^ imay, j:iany tiiaoo."
I TOjrooiJod LIS' aui'pi'ijo at hij rufja^'k^ to vdiitii he ixjup-crJolj
"liJixicrvo-";, I h.wu Ivaowa :,'-a iutijjaloli' -^rtf-i yoii^ L.-jfa.icy, ai'l UiVo oaao ova'
OcosJiC! CJid contiiiontij to too y^a horo and y^u cilu..';;,"
Suduail^ it flaahod iiitocy rdndi "lliiu iu a Coiifidoaco r.iaii - a
tbur.eq *i-^rJ vdicji I havo r.x^t at l.iat, aftoi* all Uicce yoa-^j o£ MonCc.'-LnQ v;hat
a''^M"nco-i'uan" .to iii>*(«
"'Jo, i;o," - he x^upLLod to my oontal Uiouf^t - "I hope you Vflll not
tliink ?o poorly of :ic, I ei-i ^cA a cotJUdoaGO mj.i, und if you vdll but. puiTtit
r.x; I v.'.i '.'Ufo I c^i pi'ovu to y^or cntu-i-o oatlcractloxx thut all I luivo i.aid 1:3 tt'uo**'
•T.ut you nuat iuku-i" - I iyjpliod - "tliat it io noet Uiia.junl to noot a
tct"^3. ^iti-arijor vaio^ ■.o.uiicuL a^i i.itroductiaii,, cala.a you by Uc'jUO aiid tcH3 you ho
ha-J i"i'jcn you i.iviy ca.;^o, ia f^iuL Icno^u* you xruii youx' liua;v^, ujid caiia .-xll tliio
by uojurlos you lisi liac ooay ovcj.- Ov-Ocltiu and Goiitiaciitj to t-oo you alone. You
:^u3u ucVilLo tliat UU^i i.. '■iciy i^^ii aftor tlio i:u3t!ioi of a CoaTideioo Lru-.,"
o-x^in,-: y.tj c-''^"'^-^. -ut:piclon, he ixuiaod an iiiutunt, loi/l:(jd rao etraidit
i.n xho, ^^y^xn■€^ vath a r.oijt xa^•.0i^^3tir)^ caqvrcx3aion, r.djcod wltli a u':dlo^ c:dili
"P:'-thc^-ij"x\. I'duit, bi-"oujJ:il, i'oa to Uiio Hotol?"
/Lftci- uii irujtunl or oiioncc - diU-iiiij v.liicli I hctd liio dictiact iri-
prv:njlo.-i of "j:al.^_ui,Koatli^:'0" - 11" I h-d u.lj lu*i uolu, t(. "falj." ~ I rcpUcKl-
"You have cnkijd n£i a tiixfl^ulL. t;iiu3uLon. Fraritlyj I do not Iaio\/ viiaL cr vho
brou;:Jit Hi) hero*"
IIo 'diOii odd J "You huvo boon ajca^d Hov uoad tiijo in aii 1 ioui-tarib
lOT-^uit, h'-n'o yiiu nut?"
I :..idxi Uiat I li;id»
"/..rl ai; about 2 p^;., tJia .^uiy roa.io:vd a vcrJic': in yotir ruvc:"?"
AfviJii I ao.'jontoi,
"At a To.i )i;iut(j3 oyroixJ 3 y<-'U v^oat tu jOur oiTico?"
I did.
Afl you aat at ycua- uofjk you tlioucht you rccallod havir.£ n.:\ app-jint-
EK:nt to raoet ofjunoorio at tliio ilotol at 4 o'cloclc?"
Very true*
"/uid you tool; yooi" hat call onme, intendinc to talce a v/alk in iiio
IJortli pai't of tcv.v.'."
I fUd.
^1B«
"But you {Udn»t do it?"
No* .
'f\t tho foot of iho stair to yotir off loe yon ost a f ollocr Attorn^
vtio ntcppod you, ani you woa-o Join&d by others* lou paaood tho tlmo at your
ooi.irva;\cl in tolldrif; witii thoo* A fen* alxBxtes to U* you l«ft than, and walkod
dov/n tho ntroot loading thlt; way, Tcu stopped at a hotol on tho way* i\ftor
roQdi.inc tho oti'uot loading to tills hotal you turned thio way aod walked half-
a-lilock rnoro - vhar. yuu ti'lod to recall the person with nhcsa you had on ap-
pointnontj ani yni could not. You stopped, and bocaae troubled loet this brooch
oT r:\w.1017 nxiiit indicate an tUnoBs frcja cver-^ork* Tcu tumcri baolj intending
to go bono. You had jjono but a fo«f ctopa urtion you roceivod on Imp^'ooelou,
strong and docir, that thoro waa cooeono'at ttxis Hotd ttio wajitod to coo you:
aivi, after furthor doubtu and cii«j£:ivlxige, you oane on to eeo if your iiiprocaionfl
woro true or uorely halluoinatioaB»"
With mucii creator dotiiil than I have given It, ho doncrlbed ny aon-
tal procosuoe and conduct tdth pei'foot proolGion^ roqiuirinc ao to cionfiisi hio
oorrectnoea at ovdz7 0toi> of the wsj^
When ho had fininhofJ hio narration and 1 had odniitted its accuratcr,
he looke<j Kia strai^t in tlio eyes and oaldi "Can ycu dotbt no vtfien X toll you
that it waa I who brcuf^it you hero?"
I admitted that he had- node out a protty otrong case, and that ho
cort-inly hod tho advnntaeo of no, althouf^ I tw^a still oonailiat olcoptical,
aa it v;a» t^u) flrot o:q>arlonco of the IdLnd of vhioh I had mei" been CDnooioua*
Ho aoloDd ro if I did not think hs had gone flftr cnouijli to entitle
hlra to an opportunity to provo to mo the truth of the otatoniGnta ho had nado
ooncomlng his Icnor^odce of my life and tho parpoee of hio vlcit*
I oold I tliouf^t ho had oamod Ihat rifjit, and he aakud zae If I
v/ould go to hla roan* I as.' entod, and wo prooeodod at onof to hia room*
As wo approached the door I observed that the nunber vma "13" -
aid mentally said to cQrsflQLf 1 "Unluclgr nonber"*
Instantly ho replied to ray thought - *Ho, it la the "Saci'ed Numbor"
Tdth U8, and the oost fortunate of all^ and that la riij I aeloctod it*
- He unlocked tho door and uehored me in* Tbaa ho turned and Ix^ckol
the door^ took tho kqor And put it in hla podstt*
Afl he did tills tho thou^t flajshed into ny rind acaint "Surely hq
nuat bo a "bunco-nan" and ia proparln,- to Bpring ooae oonfldenoe c^ao on xnoi"
Irij-taritly \\o repliod to ajy thou^ti "I am aony you havo ao poor
an opinion of raej for I am not a confldeDoe mon* ISy only purposo in locddng
tlie door \Kia to eavo interruptiona fron the intrusion of tho chaobor-oaidt"
%
I ropl-Lod that It waa a rathor unuaual procoJuro to bo Invited to
tho rooa of • an ontiro etronfior and then looked Inj and furthoxisore, if his
purpose \i''xr, indood, to provont tha nald trom oitoring* then ho had bettor put
tho kqy b;ick into tho lock, for oth«r«d»« thero was nothing to provant her
fi^Mi ir^ycc'-tlix; har key fixa tho outaida, opmitB tha docur and wilking in at onco,
IIo eaid tliat had not ooourrad to h5ja, thanked oe for tolling him,
put tlic l:cy ba>3k into tho Lack, and than aekod ao to be ooatodi I did so and
ho took a aoaii i'aciiifi no and not over 2 oa? 3 f©flit anny Xron mo, itiara ho could
luck n^ in Uxo o/oa vitlioub 9a|)«ciAL •ffoH*
After a mco«it of thouf^tful ailonoo he bogan sonotliing as followei-
"I have iaado a nuuboi* of statoiaonta vhioh appear to you very reraarkable, and
yoa hav J klivily filvon oo tho dianoo to prijve the trothfulnoas of ny utatomento^
if I can« X thank you for tho oomtogy and Kill ppooaad at ance*
"I havo said that I have atnn Ton irflny, nany tdx»aj that I have
known yoa inLljaac.ely ^ixcx your infanqyj that I liavo can» over OooanB «aTd Oon-
tiivuits to 000 you and you alont*
"I o/in tliink of no bettor way to proceed tloan to begin at the b«-
eirttiinc 3ind tell you the hietory of your cwn life, I am coins to adc you,
hoivovcTj not to interrupt wo till I havo finished. Thon I will be (Jlad to
ancr.vor aiy c.u^dstiona or nake any e3q;)lanatlos)B you r.\ay deair**"
Uo tlion boeon, and his firpt amtonoo waBj as nearly ao I can recall
it, o£ follocrot
•You woro born into thia preo«nt lifo in a little log oabin on the
south bank of a little atroof;. of water in tha Stat« oal3.od Iowa, on tho 20th»
day of J^al;/, (as you count tlxw) 1B53^ at 2? winutea past 12 o»olock (noon)^"
ITiifl t/ao the firet timo I bad eRror hoaard any living peroon toll
rat', tile hoiu* of laj' bii-th, and aloo tlui fact that I was bora in a "j-Og cabin".
fj^ta, that point ho ri\)coodod with hln story of raj^ Hf e« Tcr foui'
hoiu'n, vdthout interruption, ho told oe the aJt'oiy of my llXe, Many things
dmli-ic ^'"Iw yoara of ny infancy I had- nenrer before heard, and of these I waa
alcopticalj but| to ay great Burpriie, I vaa able to verify ovary incident by
tho oldor aofjborc of the fanl3y.
Fixaa tho tino Mhon my own mcnory was active, ho related tho liv-
cidonto of r,g cl^clhood, youth aiwi mature Ufo cope oorroctly and aoquentliaUy
tl:ian Z oouLI have don«»
Ho told of tho yoaro epait In tho little aid aaw-nlll and of n^r
di>y-<lreann of how I would go to CoUeca, got an education and boooiao a writer*
ile followal me into tlio haivo?t fiolda of tho Norbhj to public achoolj then
an a toacliorj thenco to tho State Univercity, and throuj[^ it; then back into
the nouDpaper wrld; thenco'to Calif orola) to Sax Fttmoiaoo; and finoUy to
ntoclrtoni nhero ho found cie«
'^<
Hut It was the inner^ aoul-^ft^ that h« related with auch a woo-
derful and cactravagant vaaJLth of datail a« t« atartlo ma with his knowladga
of ay whole internal life.
Fie told of qy natural skeptldem oonoemlng tha rdllgioua teach-
ings oi' ra^ h'ati;ar; huti agaiii an'J again I had aaicad FaUiar to explain to oa his
"Doctrinos of "Foroordination","Prede8tination''^ "KLaction"f The "Tm seed",
"Salvation", "I'he Atcneiawit", and thoir relation to "Perronal Rseponaibllity"}
and oi' n\y iriability to harinoniiie thoa with li^ own ideas of Con«ietenO[y«
Ho told of ray first meeting with the German faailj of apiritual-
isti:; o'i" r::/ deop into^oct in ti^ie eld Qaitoun Medium; of how the low moral plane
of the Medium, and finally tho coarse familiarity and oocaslenal Tulgar su^
gontione of tho Spiritual "Controls" th«nselTes, had finally so hurt and dis-
gusted us that viQ CQOsed attoiocling tlic^r eittingsj 'then of our decision to
form a circle of our own} of the ioany interesting events that followed froa
our "novelopins Circle" j then of ay drifting awtgr from tho hcvme circle} and of
the ycarc of ti^avel and invoa titration that foUowad the tnd of my Ccllegs Course*
He followed with the utmost oare and detail the experlenoes and tha
©videncon fivjin vihich I finally ifJantified Hypnotism and llediumship aa the re-
sults of the same Procesa, and how I dat;armined that the Frocaso was pgyohi-
call^ Subjective and 'l^esiruotive to the Subject. ,
Step by st^ he followed the path of ey psychic unfoldmeafit until I
final' y resir.nod from tii9 Society in Stockton on the ground that we were tra-
veliii' "Tha Wrung x'^iy", aiii ho b^d >*Xou were rifijiitl Madiuraahip l8_ destructive
and it is the wrong w«^«**
Thon he told of hov< I had coma to the oonolusion that "There ou;^
to be a Hif^t Way that would be "Constructive" and he said "In this also you
were right, Ihore is a llirht IVay and it la Construotive axvl also Independent,
And it is be causa o?~tlvi« tiiat I ."ai here* ""
"It is for thi£ reason that I havs traveled over Oceans and Oonti-
naitc, froa iar-otl IiiJiu - the Haae of Ancient ijyetery, - to sea you and you
alone*
"I hs.vo caoe to offer you the p«raonal Inatruotion that will enahlo
you constnactivaly and independently, to deaonstrate the continuity of Life
beyond tiio Grave - pro^d.de-J you are in position to recoive tho Instruction
and con satisfy ne that ycii vdll mxi-^ a ri^t use of the knowledge, end can
meet all the terns and ccnditicms"*
For four houro I had listened to the smooth, eteady flow of his words
and to nifl voice of wonJei^Xul rldmeas and sympathetic powori until he said,
"And now I un throuf^ and yuu know vihy I am hare* HaTd you any quastione to ask?
I had. In trutli, I was almost bursting vdth questions* I a&ked
him about the School f .om whioii ho had ocioa, - whore it was - How old It was -
Ito manner of initiation, - >hat were the ^d^tloos of toy own adoittanoe
%
and instruotion to vhlch h« had ref«rr«d* AH of utilah ha mapigMwl fully and
frankly.
Aaang tho oonctLtloni ««r«i
!• That I ffluflt arrang* to glT« hin at j^aatt 6 houra avery d^, fr«a
A to 10 p«a» Old aa much mora aa I oould*
2« Ihat I rauat pladge nQTealf to davata qy lit* ia tha IVoric*
3« That I aeoapt tha Inotruotion aa a Qlft from him abaolutaly and
in aveiy 8«i«a*
A. That I oontinua tha Work undar his Instruotion until I had mad a
tha personal domonatration, whathar that ba 3 yaara ^r 20«
5* That I naver daviata from tha pathway and Ihat Z •xmaplily tha
Spirit of tha Work in ay daily lifa and oanduot * to tha Taiy bast of n^ ahl-
litias th«noaforth«
6. That I davoto cgrsalf to tha fenaulation of tha Soienca and phi«>
lOBoph^ of tha Qreat School into deflnlta statamsnt in tha Shglish Languaga
in tho ol.{)lo8t and moat dafinito and axaot form possibla and publish tha soma
in book fora to bo uaad aa the modem Taxt-^ooks of tha Sohoal*
7« That I do all in hqt power to olroulata tha books so formulated
and published and with these ad a basis that I inau£;urate a work of personal
instruction of such applioants as oould prove th«aaiQ.ve8 raadly far tha work*
8. That in all niy work I should sqploy tha Mathoda of tha School
and go as far as oonditiMis and iny abilities and int aUiganoa would permit to
inaugurate and establish an Sduoational Uovemaot of tha Sdhool in this Wes^
em World*
On one point X protested^ and that was that I wanted to pay him
for his time and ecxponsa* He told ma. however, in tenos that couljd not ba
mistaken, that ho oould not admit ma to tho inatruotion on a^y otJier oondi-
tions] that tho Knowledge was a Gift to him and that it must ever and always
be gjlven in the same way and the'e^raT ^lETt| that argr variation from that
rula would be a violation of a fundamental principle of tha Work| that "^
an endless chain of Gifts shall tha C^^sat Wark ba Establi^ad*"
Ha told me to go home, think the matter over carefully until the
next clay, and ocae back to him at U the natxt day and give him my decision*
I went home and did my boat to sleep, but made little headway un>
til almost doyli^t, i^«n I fell into a deep sleep and slept a perfect slesp
until almost 9 a* m« I arose at once, ate a bite of breakfast, and started
to my office* So skeptioal was X, however, that X was, by that time, won-
dering if tha li^ole exper lance of maating tha Uastar wasnH a draam* So I
oondluded to ga lay tha Hotel and oaa if ha waa still thara*
• 22 «
I wont Bortly up ttairs and along tfaa hallMjr to Ho* 13« I rapp«d
gently on the door and olAost inetantljr It opanad and thora etood tha aama
strangely fascinating flgura and faoa^ half aolllng* Ha graotad me with "laa*
I am ctlll hera and it la npt a draaca* Qo on to your work and ratum to am
at 4 p* m* I will atlH baEtra*"
I aald not a word but saluted him, tumad and went etralg^t to qy
office and work* At 4 p* m* I was again at his door* On being admitted he
asked me to be seated and his first quaetlon waat "Rall^ idiat la your decision?**
X replied that I presumed ha alraadj knanr^ as ha e^woad to know
about all that waa passing In ngr nlnd*
He admitted that ha knew ay dedslon^ but said at onoai "I want you
to know that I have not in the least degree Influaioed you in that regard, for
to have dona oo would have be<n a direot Tlolatlon of tha Constructive principle* "
I them told him that I had detenninad to aooept his offer, provided
I could know that in so doing I could diacharga tha dutiaa I <wed to my little
family. Ha a08tu*ed me on that point, and aaked ma hew eoon I would be ready
to begin the Work* I told him I was ready at ary noiaant«
Ha seemed greatly pleased, and oaidi "Ihwi we will enter upon your
first leason toni^t***
That was the beginning of the most wonderful Inatruotion, Work, and
Exporienoo of hqt entire previous life* Hia personal Instruction continued frtza-
that evening, for wcaotly 13 months; during which time he took oa, atep by step,
over the ontiro field of paychology covered in "The Qfeat Wory and taught me
hovf to dorcnstrato every point, until I had developed aH my ^iritual Senses
perfectly - could see, heai^, sense and talk with those of the Great Frionda
on tha Spiritual side of life*
And ny final and crowning achievenent, under his direction, was to
withdraw at will from tha physical body and travel with hin out into the
Spiritual realma*
He had told me of the School, its Wark, and of its Headrjuarters in
India, and that when I was able independently to 0D with him he would take
ma to the Control T«apla in India, liiara I would foznally ba initiated.
Ohore were then 32 Mmbers living on tha physical plana* Ihe full
roster called for 33* Therefore one vaoanogr was to ba filled*
Before the end of his work with mo I withdrew fr«a the physical
body and with hira as iny gidde went to tha Central T«aple (an earthly Tenple
in the province of Thibet) and was there formally Initiated as the 33rd*
and youngoat member of the Order* Uy initiation occurred August Ifi, 1B84*
Ihe Qreat Uastor renalned with me In Stodcton from July 21, 1683
to August 21, 188A, during v^lch time I was with him in hia rooa No* 13
every day from U p* m* until late into the night • uauAlly botwoen 1 and 2
the next morning* As nearly as I can estimate, I spent 9 houre out of eveiy
• 23 *
2A - cai the Average • with hla- receiving insiruotlon and deijig the work he
ladxl out Tor me*
To tell li^t those 15 ioonthe of instruoilm and Work were In de-
tail, and ^&t thtii/ meant to tm, would be In^eslblo* It would mean to give
you the detailed exposition of the Scienne of Constructive^ Independent.
Spiritual Unfoldnient and the HUlosophy of Life baaed thereon, and the indi-
vidual stops by which I domonstrated every propositien in sgr own personal ex>
perienoe*
«
For the porpooos of this historic narrativCf it is sufficient te
state the facts that I took Ihe instruction &s the Qreat Uaster gave it me>
did the personal work required, and made the demonstrations; that I was then
induotod into the active membership; was appointed to represent the School
and work in this country; that I accepted the reeponsibilities and have done
nff best to discharge thfloi*
But I must tell you of one eoperienoe ^at meant more to me thm
any other during the yaster*s stay tdth net
Tbward the doee of the tenn of jpj Instruction the G* y« - during
one of our "Travels in the Spiritual" - took me to a hone sooeihere in the
liorthwestem part of our own Country* Ttmrm was but one person there - a
young and nu)st beautiful woman* She sat at a little table and had been writ-
ing* She was resting her head on her hand and was thinking intently* I knew
she was troubled and I Icngod to help her*
He said to oe i "Study her face and «gr ee until you will know her
when you- meet her in the phjisicalj for you wll3^ mset her inside of ^ yrs.
fraa now, and she will beoone your Studwit ana first real Helper*
He took me to her twioe thereafter before he left me| and on one
occasion she was in a groat Hall with maiv gaj aixl brilliant people, and
she was the center of attention and Interest; but I knew her heart was not
in the occasion* She was etiU troufcOLedi bat v%b ooverli^ that fact from
all about her*
I studied her carefully* Z knew that I could identli^ her If I
should ever meet her*
Two years later - U!^ 7, ISfft «* I Q*t her for the first tine in
1^7 e^rihly fona* It was in Dismarok, K*' Dakota, in the offloe cf my friend
Dr* Winiamsoni in the First Ktl* Dank Bldg*
The Dr* came to my Law Office, ooroee the hall from his own office,
and called as* He saidt "Came to loy office, I want you to ffle«t a Lady-
Friend of ours it)o ia visiting Kith ue for a few wveki**
I followed him to his office and there I nst "WLorenoeHjai^ylL^
the same beautiful woraon I had come to know in the spirltuSTT'TrKSo^ftea
her at once; and told her I bad met her before, but would toll her later the
circumstances*
Ihe next day I net her again and dtoilng an hour's conversation
I told her a little of ay life and studies and how and where I had seen
her on three different occasions, each of which she recognised a»l verified*
-24-
Thla was the beginning oT ngr aoquadntance with off first real
^'tudent and the moat wonierful wcaaan I have ever knowu
In a few raonUis thereafter I removed to Uinneapolis^ Uinn. and she
soon took a position ob acsietant ijlitor of the Pieney ff^^. ^"^ during the
next two years we met often at the home oX Dr» Ilaineej with ihoa and hia wife
she lived*
Here she began her work as a Student and during the two years
1837-1888 made splendid progress and ioade a nunber of verifioationa*
But a better position was offered her on the Washington Post and
she went to Wash., D. G* - where she worked under Frank Hatton for 3 yeare^
uc his aerdstant liiditor of the Poet*
About the %ul of that time 1891 I removed to Chioagpj where she aloo
rontoved in Jan* 1894*
Here oho began her first writing on the US* of "Hamonics of Svolur-
tion" in her Room 130 of the Leland Hotel - (now The Stratford) at the comer
oi' laichigan Ave* and Jaokson Blvd*
From that tine - Jan* 1894, we wei^ never s^)arated, but contin-
ued to raeot almost every day and work together for the estahliahmont of the
Cause of the Groat Sohool and Work in Aioarloa*
Hot KS. was finally completed and in 1899 was published, vdth the
publication of Kev book "H£^^•lonica of Byolutipn" be^an the integi^tion of a -
littlo Group of interested Students - among whota was Dr*"Sigar M* iiVebster who,
later on, became nor first regular Student of the "Techrdcal VJork'<*
■ As our little group grew in numlaere, it became neooasary for uo to
moot often, and this we did at Urs* Suntliiyis roams*
But we begem to attract attention and to enable ua to answer ques-
tions of the "curious" witliout betraying our real, serious work, - we or-
ganizod tho "Sublimo arxi rU-Hluminated Order of TaOks",
This is, perhaps, the most unique "Oilier" ever organized*
It grew out of a comical little incident, around which grew one
of tlio niost reiuirkable rituals of initiation ever formulated. In the evolu-
tion of tho cora:iony of iioitiation into this, the most remarkable order on
earth, tho fun-loving natures of the blessed "RA" and ngraelf found full vent*
In this Order each maaber was given a "Taok^-name suitable to his
or her station and cfaaractor*
floronco Huntley wae i.ady Tactful"- tho "Recording Angel" - from
wi;ich last designation her f bbreyi»tod "name of ••i^A" developed*
I wa.-^ V.r, Tact, also The Tack-Hanraer, and my abbreviation of "W
grow out of "Tad:" - being tiie first and last letters - T^
The "Order of Tacks" formed tho ycoteric side of our Group meet-
ings, and served a splendid purpose*
- 25 -
BocauQo of my doaire to work quietly and avoid oboervation, I
found it advlBablo to use son^e nom-deplumo wlion publishing wy ovm contri-
butionc to tlio Literatoi-o of tlio Groat richool and V/ork, - I 'iioao tho "Tack"
n.ina tlict had bocc«uo attached to aa - and hence Vols, n and m of the
HaruOiiic jox'ioQ v*oro puixLiLhod in the naao of "TK".
no alao my naao aa iiiitor of "Lii'e and Action" is "TK"»
In tile oouroe of our /:iutual acyii^ntanceo, llr, John K, liLLholland,
of M»Y« City, one to knonv v\e» Ho gave mo the name "St, John" from knowing
that iiy firat name ic "John",
Later on, whan Dr, '.Vebatcv hud booorao intot^stod actively in tho
treatment nnd euro of oubjoctive, psychic insanity - olonf, the linos cug-
Coatei] in "Ihc Grcat^ PrrydiolorjuCnl Crlr.Ki", it of ton occurred that ha dooirod
to call nc into consul ta-JL on Ibr tiio Bpocial purpceo of havinc Qo C^-ve him
rny oT/n independent peychic cHaenoaia of scmo now caae of ineanity.
In all mch cuao.', I doaiivjd to avoid, on far as possiblo, attract-
inc attention to ysalf porucnally, or aroueiiiii curionit/ in the niinds of tho
rolativoa and attonciijntfl of such patients, or projudices in the minlB of ary
of the " r.eqular" motabors of the iledical Profession,
To c.cco;aplirJi th-j de.'lred ren'olta 'Jr, V<ebater simply "tacked" onto
cy nou nax.ie of "'t.. John" tho title of "Dr." and in all" 'such cases introduced"
me to^patlGnt.-;, thoii' rolativoa and frierffo, and ewch Drs, aa wore intoreatod,-
ac "Pr, St. John",
Tho disguiae worked lilce a charm, and saved me all manner of em-
barrassnonts, and at the name time nado it possible for me to be of some help
to tho Beloved Dr, V/ebctei', during Uio early years of his exporienco and viork
as :r. alic2ilr:tj and lintj.l he hid become able to .Majco his cmn "poychic diag-
nosofl" without r^' aid and vdtliout having to call mo into tho casea at all,
Hiis, therefore, sivas you, very briefly and iraperfectly, the
iiiannor in rdiich tlio name "^r. St, John" boca'ne attached to me, and tiie woy
in \Jhich tho name was naturally ovolv'od from Kff firot name - "John",
ThuD, tho name bocajno attacliod to mo, and has served a nost &c-
cellont purpose, all thcr>o y^arsj i:! that it haa enabled i,io to v/ork freely
Ln tho Ca'ose of suiforinj h'Jiia'Aty, and without idontifyinf; mo in the public
mind, with tho Groat School, with tho autliorship of Vole, 2 and 3 of the
Ilamonic Sfjrie", nor with tho Groat T^ori: in /jaorica.
During the last ferw yoars, however, in iny work of Inatruction,
an'.I ar t!io rea/onsible he..uJ of tho "Ma-^* a L'opai'ti.iont", I have rjignod my
letters to Students and "Filonds of tiio U'ork", aa well as to inquirers, -
indiscriminatoly aa "J^" and as "]?r.,, . rv,i.ighn«
Socio of thom - enpocially tho ye I have written personally, on
0 typov/rito:' - I have sisnod sL-iply TK - in typ^» Others I have cignod
a same and then with pon and ink have added "^ J. St. John and occasion-
Ly "rr. ::. J. rt. John",
But, during the laot three yoars - prior to this 22nd. day of
-26-
Nov. 1912 - I have inotructod r.ioGt of ny correspondents to addreas me aa
"Dr, K. J, St, John - 23/^ r. Kenilworth Ave. Oal<^ park. HI." - and tide too,
Twhilo oigning raoet of iny ovm iattero as "TK",
And thus, you will observe that it has become aliaoat generally
loTo^m that "TK" and "Dr« E« J. St, John" ai'o one and the came person. This
has boon pronoditated on n^ ovm part, for tho purpoco of tlie moro easily
irl ontlfy inc^pth of thoce nanos with qy roal narao of "J, E. iiichardson" or
I' John E, .iipi'^|t|noa'< - trtion tho timo cones, If «vor, that it would ceaa wise
for the JPmrflWkfiLic to know ay real name.
On J.:inu. ry 30, 1910, - Florence Huntley - viith whom I had worked
for al^riost 25 years ~ and I wero married, in the hono of our beloved Friend
arx] Brother - Horniann Hillo - at iJo, 4l6 Hort^ Konllworth Ave. in the Villafio
of Oak Park, nilnolB.
This was the consummation of all our dreams of Earthly Happiness.
V.o wor<^ by tho gracious Benediction of the "Illfijier Destiny", per-
rriittod to roallzo t\vo full years of "The Fulfilling; of The Law^ - in tho sweet-
oat and aoot blar^ood and beautiful Life of The Soul, and in the moat perfect
CX>rnpanioncldp and Cojnradeship - in tho Groat Work - before hor tasks were fi-
nished art! olio responded to tho call fron above f "V/ell done, good and faith-
ful r.ervant" - and loft we hei^ to carry the double burdon aa far as I can
bofore I, too, shall hear tho call to "cofna up hirfier".
V^ioti that tijTW shall cctie I pray that I may qd as calmly, sweetly
and peacof«i!^as she did, and that I may leave bdaind me, in the Conscious-'
no3G of our many mutual Frierds and Students, oorao aaall measure of tho Love,
the Friondahlp, Gratitude and Confidence they cherish fbr her.
.\B one more link in the Chain of Indentification, lot mo say that
un tho occasion of our oartlily union and legal man'iagOj Jan, 30, 1910,- thoro
v/Gi'o proaont in the homo of Hon.iann ilille - 416 N, Konllworth Ave,, Oak park -
in a<'ntLtlun to nr, and lira. Ilille^, tho follovdng named guests, among othors,
who vdtnosaod tho raarriago ceremony and participated in the Joys of tho occasion:
I'ev. Cmar W, Butler, - the officiating Clergyman 1
Dr, Edgar Morgan iVebstqr,
Lura BaacHVoboter,
Wm, J. Candlieh, Atty.-
Henry W, Schimpf,
Alma il, Schimpf,
Laura fl. SLdrldge
Charles J. Dorrano«,
0. B, Moore,
Harlo Behrena,
Inaa Behrens,
'.v. H, Caldwell,
Dr. J. Llayd Haninondi
Urs* iiose Hodgos-Gay,
Mrs. Alice Idchardson, of North Adama, llass.
There wei-e, howevor, 3c«ao others, I am quite ouro, but just now
I am not entirely certain ac to tlioir names, I do recall, hcwever, two
-27 -
others, vlzi- Lo/ioy F» rpurlln and I bellova also, Dr# H« Lindlahr, Mrs,
Anna Lindlahr, Lira, Cecilia Gemar, and ^r» J. D, Buck and Dr, Ihoe, U, and
Allle .'^towart of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Viith only ono or two axoeptiona, those personal Frlonds were also
regularly adnitted Students of the Groat school and moot of there were nambers
of our Central Groiqj of Students known and designated as "The Old Group", «
who had been /loeting vfith ua rocularly, as our ^tudonta as well as Friends;
and they ajj^ knew at that tiriw, that "Dr, E» J. St. John" and "TK" and 'vjohn
E. J ioharoaon" were all one and the same Individual and that I was that in-
dljddua^.
Another point, - and that has reference to the authorship and the
writing and publication of "Hamonica of Evolution", - Vol. I of the Ha]>-
oonio Sozdest
I have, trom time to time, received letters from men at a distance
from the Center, who have e^qjreesad their conviction that Florence Huntlty
never wrote the W'". of that Book, - in fact, that no woman ever had written
such a work of profound Science and philosophy, or over cculd or wojld wi-lte
a book of such depth of thoui;ht, such a knowledce of Science, both physical
and spiritual, such perfect Logic, such analytical pcwer and depths of wisdom
and brilliancy of intellleenoe.
Uany of the .students of the "Old Group** know personally^ that
Florence Iluntlgy is tho Author of that book. They know all the (arcumstances
under ;?tiicli it was written. But for tJioee hereafter t«ho may ever question
tho authorship of that V/ork, let me sayi
1, Ihat no raoro conacientiouo Woman than Florence Huntley evor
lived. She viould no mors think of allowing her name to bo used as tho Author
of ajny work not her own, tlmn she would deliberately stoa^, or maliciously
falsify.
2, She wrote evory page and para/3raph of the book - as truly as
I wote evory page and paragraph of "The Great Work^ and "The Great psycho-
logical Crimo".
/Old tlois means that her authorship of "Harmonics of 2yolution"
is absolute and complete and perfect.
3, She bop.an the writing of that V/ork in 1894, in roaa 130 of the
Leland Hotel. Chicafp. She was four years in the task of receiving the in-
otruction' and completing the US.
A. During all that time I was her Instructor and CrLtic, I gave
hor the knovdedge of Natural scLenoo from which die formulated her own con-
cepts and understanding, and I criticised her MS. wlicrever I found that she
liad either not understood my instructions or had failed to ejq^ress the sub-
ject fully or accurately} and in all r<uch cases she rewrote or revised her
IS. until I could approve it as an autiiorltative expression of the Great School.
But Florence Huntley wrote and formulated the MS. of "Hanaonics of
Evolution" - as truly as any writer ever wrote any^ book. She is as tmly and
-28 -
conplotoly the Author of that book aa she la the Author of "The Dream
Child"- which latter she wrote and completed while ohe waa in Waalilngton,
D, C, on "The poat" - and the MS, of which I never saw until after she had
it co/ipletod and ready for the Publidiera*
5. It seoos impossible for the averag^ pian to give the credit
due Women for their native intellicenco*
But nKtst man have never had the privilege or the honor of knowing
a waiian of auch Intelligence aa that of Florence Huntloiy*
I have come into personal contact and aocuaintanoe with oar^ of the
jTjoat brilliant and intelligent woraon of the World during the laat 35 years,
and ajuong thoa all Florence Huntley stands alone and unique, as the moat won-
■ioL'ful, powerful, Vei'iatllli,' 1aaLHy«^lded, beautiful and capable woman I have
ever known, A3 compared with her, the rest of womankind are but child rerij
In :.ental gi-asp and maturity, and Liliputlana in point of Intellectual Sta-
ture and power*
Docause of hor Intellectual hel^-^t, breadth, d^th, pcwer, bril-
liancy, beauty and vor:;atility, by compariaon with her iVoraan Contemporaries,
as v/ell aa the noted '.Vomen of Illartory, It is not strange that there are so
few rion today wl:io are able to give her the credit due her; nor is it reciark-
able that so Lviny raen have questioned her authorship of the "Harmonics of
Evolution" •
But I want the World today, and in the years and csnturiea to cone,
to niyo her the credit duo her] and I ask of the Students and Friends of the
dreat School and Work everywhere, (and nore especial 1y of those who have known
her Life of noblo renunciation and consecration), to make it a part of tlielr
l^sponslbility, to soe tliat hor Authorship of "Hamonica of Evolution" is fully
oatablishsd an. recognized.
They can, at loaat, do that much In return for the Defl:wflts they
have received from her without "Fee or lieward",
Florence Huntley, to my personal knowledge, is the sols and exr
clualve Author of x-
1, "The Droag Child"- her first published "occult" book;
2» "Harmonics of Evolutiorf' - her first published work cf Sclenoe
ard rhllooopliy;
3, "The Gay Onani of Gln^alee" - her first published book of non-
sense ord fun*
S]» has collaborated with me Int-
1, "Who jifiemare Prj^yer" j
2, I did write the one serious chapter in "Ihe Gay Gnanl of Gln/'jalee;"
3, 'Life and Aotion"]
^v. "Harmonic Birthday Dook^t
5, "Rituql of The Order of 1hckn"|
6, "iKe "Tost Course" and "Iiovlaed Tost Course (T«C.)
7, "Pl£in.q, ^'onns ant^ Form Lettero for parrying' on the Yioxk of
Instmctlon In G* S*
-29-
8, "Inotjruotlons to Student-InstructorB"
9, "lluch other Literature connected with the Dctension Work of
the G. S»
She acted aa my "^itor" and "Literary Critic" oft
1, "The Graat l'8voholo;d.oal Crline" Vol. II of tho Harmonic serieo
2, "The Great Work" " III " "
3, B-ilie Ideality of I'atter"
J^, «ThQ }:eality of SpinT* - not yet puhli«h«d.
I ajtt the eoccluaive autlior oft
Vols. II and III of the Harmonic Series ♦
Fhe io the Author of nunerous unpublished 1133. and I am hoping
that it r.iay yot be poeE^blc to collect togethor anl publish in Book form some
of hor almost countless personal letters to her Students and Helpers in the
\Vork of Personal Instruction, Those letters breathe the real Spirit of the
Vtoian in all her Womanly tendernosE, sympathy, kindness, generosity, sweetness,
loyalty, Eraciousness, wisdon, power and personal cham, - as, perhaps, nothing
else she left beliind when she wait away from us out into the other life.
There are enourfi of them to make many Volumes, if publldied; and
they could not fail to be of tho utnoet value to the wmen »ho are to have the
renponsibility of carryinc on the Work of Personal Instuuotion in the Wonwn's
nepart<->ent hereafter - and especially after I shaU have finished wy earthly
labors and gone to join her in that Life.
This also Euccests the fact that in rry own Letter Files covering
my correspondence with Students, Instructors, Applicants and Inquirers, dui-
inr the last 12 to 15 years, will be found letters from me, Tdierein I have
answered huixirods of ouesUom that are nowhere else, thus far, answered, or
elucidated.
It has occurred to nn that, after I have rendered my final account
to the Great School and Friends a«i left with you who remain, the responsibi-
lities of carryinc on the Work, - you nifiht find it of sane real help to you
to have some of tho best and most irr.portant of ay letters, carefully edited
by a Conmdttee con^)osed of Vema (my beloved Daughter who knows- me better than
anybody else on earth), Ur. Hermann Hille, Mrs. Lura B. Webster, Dr. E. U.
Wc^Bter, Mayta Turner arei Charles Crane, - and publish them as a series of
companion Volumes with those of Florence HunUcy, aa above suggested.
Suppose the Seriso were krown as "Letters from The TK a^id llh,»
and the Volumes alternated' as follows!
Vol. I by The IK.
Vol. n " " RA.
Vol! IV " " KA* and so on, ao far as thoy would gp. And all of
these shoiad be "Biited by the Committee - giving their names and fact that
they v^re appointed by "The TK« - othei^se "John E. Richardson", during hia
lifetime, with instructions to edit each and evoiy letter in such manner
-30 -
that itn pubGLloation will not^ in any case, disolos* the naoM nor th« ldei>>
tlt^ of angr recipient^ or corroflpondant*
Another item in the line of identification!
In Au;3uet 1908 I wont to California via Salt Liike City, Utah and
visited nff then Student, (Jharleo Crane, 929 E» South Temple St. VMle there
l!r» Crane inslotod that ho and I sit for our pictureo together. V'/e did 80,
and Ut» Crane had the photographs of the two of us taken together authen-
ticated by the svrom affidavits of himself and the photographer.
All this seemed to no then and seems to me now unnecessary, for
tho reason that the thing of importance to the Viforld now and in the years
to come is not who wi-ote the Books, but are their teachings and findings
true? And that 1r sonething that every honest and earnest Student axri
Search oi' canverl^ for himself, if he has the Intolliganoe, Courage and
Perseverance, the Time, Place and Opportunity, and the ri^t caotive and
attitude of Soul*
I have Labored in obscurity for 29 years and the Work is at last
Gotablished « liy personality is of no importance whatever, as the matter
prooents itself to me. Those who have accepted the findingn of NaturcCL
J^cionce and the Teachings of the "Harmonic Philosophy" based thereon, have
dtne no not because I wrote the text-Books, nor becaufle Floi'once Huntlec'
wrote "IlarnonicH of Solution"; but because the Truths we have foinulated
into Engiiflh in' tKo Books have appealed to thorn and have eatisfied the d*-
Djanda of their lieaaon and Conscience.
But I have made the foregoing statenent of Facts to satisfy those
of ray students end Prienis wl» tliinlc the time will cony when the World will
want to know yiho wrote tho booka arri who oatabUshod ihe School and Work in
AJQorica.
It may bo po.ssible that they ore correct and that I am wrong, - in
which event this statenent may be given to the V/orld in whatever way seoos
best, and for v*iat it may be worth to thooe who read it.
Had I told the story in detail it would have required several
volumes, and would have contained raapyj r^ny^ incidents of the most fas-
cinating and absorbing interest to those who are interested in the "Qocult".
tho "Lf/gtical^t the "Psychic" and tho " Phenomenal" »
But I have told only the bare and unvamiahsd facts and only such
of those as have seemed to ne to have any bearing upon the question of my
identity as tho Author of Voifl, 2 and 3 of the "Harmonic Series" and the
Instructor of Florence Huntlciy, the Author of Vol. 1.
With a I'rcyer for tjio ever-increacing success of the Great School
arti the Viork in America, and a Bleeslng for each and all who liave in the
past, contributed to tiioj,!" ,§»*SPe8s, and Uioce who are now contributing or
-31-
Vfho naj' harecCtor contributo to the succoso of tho Liovonent, - I harounto
eubscxdbe ay aesiuasd nacme of
,\nd niy true, lec^'-il and coiroct naraa of
Finished and Sir>ned in ray Work-RDom •
at No, 215 Kaxiilworth Ave., Oak Park,
HI,- this 23. day of November, A. D.
1912, at oxaotly 11 o'clock ?X, aiA
delivorod to my Bleased and Beloved
Daughter, Voma It- Brayton, to be
by hor kept In safety until she
sliall deem its publication wise and
Juat.
li'powrltten Coplee may be mcde
at onco, and ouch Copies I will sign
as I have signed this original,
Jolin £. Idchardson,
/s/
II XK"
/b/
"E.
I J • St %
, John"
/a/
"Dr.
St
J, St.
John"
H
John E,
Jdchardson
i
i
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