(03/06/1945) Grady McMurtry to Aleister Crowley

1814th Ord S&M Co (Avn)
APO 149. U.S. Army
6 March 1945
FRANCE

Dear Aleister,

Found your of 21 Feb. waiting for me when I came in last night – and must admit that I am a very puzzled little boy. Who is the failure – groping on all four for crumbs – Smith or Jack? With your reference to 132 it must be Smith – and if so them I am even more puzzled because I have never expressed the opinion that his experiment would be a failure. In fact I was rather depending on him to carry it off. I think that the mix-up must be that you are confusing my statement that “I do not think that Jack will succeed with his present plan” with Smith. Apparently there is some news from California that I have not received as yet. I note then perhaps it would be best if you explained it slowly and carefully. This brings to mind that it is quite possible that I was guilty of ambiguity in my remark concerning Jacks’ success. I was thinking in terms of a mass formation along Thelemic lines, and it is quite possible that Jack is more interested in building a small, but very solid, group. Which is, with the facilities he has at hand, a very practical viewpoint. A slight conflict of theory, as applied to future possibilities, and practice, as applied to present circumstance.

Will attempt to procure the stamps next time I visit Luxembourg. Were the ones I sent of any use? Hardly likely. If the recipients are earnest stamp collectors they probably already have them.

Yours of 28 Feb. came in today. Trust you are well again by now. That is always a nasty business. Will have to drop in on Münch the next time I am around that way and see if he has been able to do anything with the song. I have a cheap pen in my junk some place that I have been keeping in anticipation of that inevitable day when I will lose my Parker 51 – shall I sent it along? Got ten pound off to you this month as of the 1st. How long does it take them to come through? Some time, I should think. Sorry to hear of Regina’s death, I had no idea that her condition was so critical. Sending along my latest dabble.

Yours ever,

{note of enclosed poem}”To my Fallen Comrades

Note: Originally published in Thelema Lodge Calendar, October 2001.

(03/06/1945) Grady McMurtry to Aleister Crowley

Note: Thank you to William Heidrick for making this image available.