[Oe List ...] [Dialogue] death of Charles Moore

Thu Jul 3 11:26:52 PDT 2014

Like many of us, the last time I saw Charles was at the Vail event in 2000.
 The mode and intentionality of his death are very much appropriate topics
for our reflection; so is our way of celebrating this unrepeatable life by
recalling our own stories and the impact this life had on us.

I generally appreciated Charles' dour perspective on whatever was
happening, including what we were doing at the moment and he was himself
involved in.  In a community which was decisionally upbeat, Charles
perpetually saw a lack of attire on the Emperor--and I found refreshing his
willingness to share those perceptions with the rest of us.  A line
attributed to Thomas Hardy comes to my mind when I think of Charles: "Cheer
up--the worst is yet to come."

Our only posting together was the team sent to Maliwada in 1976 to launch
the first HDTIs and the replication effort in Maharashtra.  Charles and Pat
were there for the first year.  All of us on that team are profoundly
indebted to Pat's keeping us alive during it by managing to find food when
there was none.  My recollection is that Charles found himself utterly lost
in that environment and soldiered on during the year they spent there
without ever finding a role that genuinely engaged him.  Most of what
happened in his life after that I knew little about.

My favorite recollection of Charles, though, is of a moment during the 1971
Global Research Assembly.  Our plenaries that summer were at Malcolm X
College (pre-Kemper era).  On the occasion of this evening's plenary, a
thousand or so of us were gathered in the assembly hall following dinner,
and there was a great deal of excitement and accompanying din.  I happened
to be backstage with Joe and a few of the staff, getting ready for the
upcoming session.  Joe turned and said, "The mood out there is entirely too
high.  Charles, will you go out and say a few words."

This simple request broke us all up for a moment, recognizing that Joe was
calling on one of our colleague's special gifts, namely, that of lowering
the mood of a group.  Charles did go out and say a few words, and the mood
quieted dramatically.  I have sometimes told this story, which sticks in my
memory along with the one Slicker was fond of telling about his friend,
Red, as a way of recognizing that we all have remarkable gifts to
contribute to the mission, however strange they may appear to be.

We celebrate this completed life of a colleague --

Gordon

On Thu, Jul 3, 2014 at 8:49 AM, Del Morril via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
wrote:

> Thanks for this meaningful response, Jack, for it does speak to the other
> side of things, which is to truly appreciate the being and works of this
> colleague. I most certainly do honor what Charles has given to the world in
> the past, and what his life has meant o those who've known him.
>
> I guess I was simply so shocked at the way he chose to do this, especially
> not letting his family know of his plans. This is one of the reasons I felt
> it was totally unfair of him to choose this way out life.  I appreciate his
> life, but still consider his act one of a totally disillusioned man, rather
> than an act of social conscience.  But, as usual, that is my opinion.
>
> I am sure that Charles' hope included that his death would, indeed,
> stimulate dialogue of one kind or another, not only by us, but by all who
> saw and heard about it.
>
> Del
>
> Del Hunter Morrill
> 3217 North Mason Avenue
> Tacoma WA 98407-5419
> H: (253) 752-1506; W: (253) 383-5757
> delhmor at wamail.net
> Web site: www. hypnocenter.com
>
> The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek. (Joseph Campbell)
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jack Gilles [mailto:jackcgilles at gmail.com]
> Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2014 8:39 AM
> To: Del Morril
> Cc: Order Ecumenical
> Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] [Dialogue] death of Charles Moore
>
> Del,
>
> For many of us we are his family, still. It is not for us to judge his act
> nor its sanity. That is between he and the Mystery, which I am sure he was
> deeply aware of. It sounds insane and a waste to most, I'm sure. I
> certainly
> wouldn't have done it. But that is an opinion and we will never know the
> deeps of his soul or the call he felt. Our task is to celebrate his
> existence, his place in the galaxy of the Order and pray for his immediate
> family that they may be comforted.
>
> In one sense all our deaths are absurd. We were born to be free and act in
> forgiveness. I take him at his word and deed. We die our own deaths or we
> allow death to decide for us. As I said, his choice is not my choice, but
> he
> certainly understood the call to act on behalf of all.
>
> The last time I saw Charles was at the 2000 Order Gathering in Vail. He
> spoke and it was not received well and for that I am sorry. He was a
> beloved
> man, with so many gifts and so much anguish. May he be at home in the
> ultimate Mystery. I shall miss him and am grateful for having him shape, as
> so many hundreds did, my life and direction.
>
> Grace & Peace,
>
> Jack
>
> On Jul 3, 2014, at 10:22 AM, Del Morril via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
> wrote:
>
> >
> > Can you imagine what this act has done to his family?!  He may think it
> was
> > sacrificial, but I think, like any open suicide for any reason, it is
> > totally self-serving, regardless of his philosophy! An insane
> demonstration,
> > from my perspective, and yet, in some ways, understandable. I just don't
> > think it will make a bit of difference in changing the social conscience.
> > That's the truly sad part of this act.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Dialogue [mailto:dialogue-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net] On Behalf
> Of
> > George Holcombe via Dialogue
> > Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2014 12:19 AM
> > To: ICA/OE List Serves; ICA/OE List Serves
> > Subject: Re: [Dialogue] death of Charles Moore
> >
> > Our colleague Charles immolated himself June 23, see article at
> >
>
> http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/retired-pastor-saw-destiny-in-self-immolat
> > ion
> >
> > Memorial service will be held  July 12 at Faith Presbyterian Church in
> > Austin.
> >
> > George Holcombe
> > 14900 Yellowleaf Tr.
> > Austin, TX 78728
> > Mobile 512/252-2756
> >
> > "...we have the choice: we can gratefully cultivate the relationships
> that
> > make us part of a vast network, or we can take them for granted and allow
> > them to wither and die."  Brother David Steindl-Rast, Deeper than Words
> >
> > Sent from my iPad
> > _______________________________________________
> > Dialogue mailing list
> > Dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net
> > http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net
> >
> >
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