The Equinox (Volume I, Number IX)

DEAD WEIGHT eradicable; and he used to wince when his familiars called him “ Art,” as it revived the story of Crowley’s epigram on his work, as Art for Art's Sake. Again, he objected to references to the “wait-a-bit” thorn in connection with occult style and subject, so that he took what was really quite an unreasonable dislike to Fra. S. P. merely because that worthiest of men had spent some years in Africa. However, these were small blemishes on a_ beautiful character. Having given up trying to look wise, he began to be wise ; and he never forgot that the fear of Crowley is the beginning of wisdom. To the end he combined an intensity of holy awe with a kind of timid audacity of reverential love for the Master, to which the latter responded with the most gracious condescension, mingled with that peculiar affection which one feels for an old and worthless dog belonging to somebody else. It was an unique and altogether idyllic relation. His motto, “Fides, spes, caritas sunt virtutes ab omnibus Christianis diligende” had to be shortened for convenience’ sake to “ Fides,” or, more usually, “ Fido”; and it was excessively touching to hear the caressing austerity of the tones of the Master when he had occasion to address him. So, calm and even, passed the autumn of his life. It is now a painful duty to record the passing. Subject from youth to chronic capititis,! its attacks had diminished both in frequency and severity under the wise and patient treatment of the Master; but they still occasion- ally recurred. The shocking accident which resulted in the death of the 1 He had also chronic diffuse meningo-encephalitis, but only on the astral plane. 219