COVE

12/9/1930

Dear George,

            Merry Christmas! I am sorry I was not able to make it home for Christmas this year, as I am still stuck in Britain for my studies. I thought Oxford would not be this rigorous, but clearly, I needed to grow in some humility. I hope you and Mary are doing well, and I am excited to meet the little one when I come home for the summer.

            I’ve been spending my days roaming around the small bookstore next to campus because it reminds me of the one mom took us to when we were kids. I came across a very enticing book on display a couple of months ago called The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. Its cover draws attention to the eye because it looks like it is foreign. But misleading since it was made over here in Great Britain. When I picked it up to look through it to my surprise Charles Robinson was the illustrator. I do not know if you remember, dear brother, our childhood book The Big Book of Fairy Tales that mother always read. If you do you might recall the illustrations in it, knowing how much you adored them, Robinson illustrated that book, and once I found out I knew I had to give it to you.

            I could not withstand my own curiosity and I gave it a read before sending it your way. I soon found out that it is a poem written a long time ago, in skepticism of religion. It has an introduction from a playwright who grew up over here in the UK, Laurence Housman. He touches on this skepticism that arises and the popularity of the poem. The poem is one of giving up religious practices and focusing on current pleasures because that is all that we can rely on, and trust in. Pay close attention to when you read brother, in the introduction, “Omar and Fitzgerald stop short; they make a guess that the Potter [assuming to be God] exists, but they don’t quite like to guess that He is as good as they are--- as interested in life”. Could you imagine such a belief? It goes against the whole belief of God and his foundation, that He is good. I have seen this new philosophy arise, what is called the “modernist” where there is skepticism of religion arising, if not outright objection. It is not a new thing brother, but has there ever been such a time where large groups of people will outright leave all religion behind? The poem itself calls for this increase in interest in only the physical pleasure, “Ah, my Beloved, fill the Cup that/clears/ TO-DAY of past Regrets, and future Fears”. Is this where our new generations will lean to, away from goodness but rather towards engaging in pleasure as if it is God himself, better than salvation? Even the illustrations themselves my dear brother depict the speaker in darkness, a slave to wine/pleasure, self-centered, and even as Christ himself!

            I give this book not to worry you or send you in despair, brother, but rather to strengthen you against any of this new philosophy that might be arising or that your little one will be exposed to. Be rather strengthened against the falseness and lies that this poem brings, that physical pleasure is the highest good in the world. I pray dear brother that you may seek the highest good always. Send my love to Mary and your little one.

            With love,

            Will