Netherwood
The Ridge,
Hastings, Sussex
1. 10. 45
Dear Grady,
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
What a blow to all my hopes that you should be shipped off to the ends of the earth! I had counted so much on having at least three months with you. I had such a nice plan by which they could have fixed up something useful for you to do in California while you were waiting and working with me.
The letter ‘k’ is not really Latin and only occurs in borrowed words such as Kalium for Potassium; they use the hard ‘C’ instead. Konx is a corruption of the Greek, as Kabbalae is a corruption of the Hebrew; but in the Middle Ages they spelt the word either with a C or a K indifferently.
What you say about Chess is very intelligent. You ought to get on well if you are staying any time in the S.F. there will certainly be a first-class Club there, and if you can, I should get some training from a professional, or semi-professionals. We are having a great “do” in Hastings at Christimas — an International Victory Congress.
I do not think I have anything more to say at the moment. I got a chill in my tummy last week which was very trying at the time and has left me an absolute wreck, especially in the way of nerves; I am shakey all over. There has been a little difficulty with the local doctor; who was rather deaf, and I could never be sure that he understood what I was telling him. He has now retired at the good old age of 74, and I shall take myself a bit seriously with his partner, who begins to-morrow.
I am half way through with the dentist.
Lots of work to do this afternoon, and hardly any energy to do it with, so I shall now break off, hoping that you will be able to find some dodge of getting over here after all.
Love is the law, love under will,
Yours ever,
{signed} Aleister
Lt. G.L.McMurtry,
3637 Fillmore Street
Apt. 110, San Francisco, 23
Note: This letter was written after McMurtry had visited Crowley. Originally published in Thelema Lodge Calendar, August 1995.
Note: Thank you to William Heidrick for making this image available.