[Dialogue] Charles Moore

Tue Jul 8 05:42:52 PDT 2014

Louise, an amazing Charles story. One never knows where life
changing events come from… I was at a July 4th picnic with Terry Bergdall and
we started talking about the movie Requiem for A Heavyweight as I was about
ready to see it after 30 years…in seeing it I was once again struck by how
clear it was that Miss Miller by all’normal’ understanding of somebody who wants to help others
is the hero, but once one digs deeper into Mountain's problems it is Ma Greeny
who provides a life changing event… “Maish, do you want here or in the alley”.
I am struck by Charles ability to really step up and help people to pick up
their beds and walk… And Louise, you have done an amazing amount of walking.

Richard H.T. Alton 166 N. Humphrey Ave, Apt, 1N
Oak Park, IL 60302
T:1.773.344.7172
richard.alton at gmail.com

Don't let the fear of striking out hold you back 
   Babe Ruth

Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2014 16:46:39 -0700
To: Dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net
Subject: [Dialogue] Charles Moore
From: dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net

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 MSPH4 Calle AguilaSanta Fe, NM  87503Tel: 505-983-7077

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