[Dialogue] Charles Moore

[Louise Singleton via Dialogue]

Greetings:

 I am very distressed to hear of Charles Moore’s death, and very sad for his family. 

 He was my prior for four weeks in Summer ’71.  I had little knowledge of EI except for an RS-I in George Yost’s church in February, and no context for being there except for the enthusiastic recruitment of Tim Lush – this is a chance to change the world.


 My first contact with Charles was on the falling-off-the-wall porch of South House where John and I were trying to decide whether to stay at Summer ’71 or decamp for home. I had been assigned to a women’s dorm on the fourth floor next to the central atrium in this falling down, wooden building; John to a men’s. No responsible mother of four would stay with that risk of fire. I was in tears (not all that usual for me) when Charles happened by and asked what was the problem.  I let him have it.  He said to wait here.  In a few minutes he was back with a new room assignment for both John and me: the room off the porch over the kitchen. I later learned it was his and Pat’s room.


 Summer ’71 was a major shock to my system, and Charles was both a patient and inspiring prior, with a wonderful wry humor.  He suggested at one point, that at the age of 39 I should pick up my bed and walk, the instructions given another woman of that age by Jesus. From him I learned that I too, perhaps, could be a spirit woman.


We kept in touch.  He called one day in the late 70’s from Grand Saline to say that he was very depressed and had been unable to get out of bed for two weeks.  I suggested he come to Denver.  He was talking then of self-immolation.  I think he always thought of himself as a monk and the monks in Tibet were very visible in their fiery protests. 

 John set up an appointment for Charles with a psychiatrist at the medical school and he was admitted to Denver General Hospital Psychiatric Ward.  He was angry with me, but accepted library books, etc.  I called on the next Friday to tell him that John and I were going to San Antonio for the weekend to see my brother.  He was not there.  He had just walked out, left no message.  We went to the airport to catch our flight and came home because I felt I needed to know what had happened.  John called DG and they said, yes, he had left.  No, the doctor did not think he was in imminent danger.  He had left the bag of library book for me to return. 


 We lost touch over time, but I was very happy to hear that he had married and had a church in Texas.  I wish he had chosen other ways to be the very powerful spirit that he was.  However, I am not totally surprised that he would take this step.  He had been thinking about it a long time. 


 I regret that I did not talk with him about our journey with our gay son Will.  He married his partner of twelve years in August 2012 in upstate New York.  Ken Barley a one-time Order member, past minister of Montview Church, and friend, was celebrant. I would have liked to tell Charles about that extraordinary event.  It would have given him hope.


 I was talking to my pastor today about the Institute and Charles, and said that in 1972, EI had made the turn to the world because of the belief that great social change would happen through secular structure, not through the church.  That seems to be the case with acceptance of homosexuality.  The Presbyterians are just putting their toe in the water to change their stand.  We’ll see how all those Presbyteries vote.


I am clear that if it were not for Charles, I would not have been associated with ICA for over forty years – a blessing indeed. 


Thank you, Charles, for being a great spirit and for being part of my life.


Louise



Louise R. Singleton MSPH
4 Calle Aguila
Santa Fe, NM  87503
Tel: 505-983-7077


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