This file contains what is surely just a portion of the correspondence between Franklin Wolff and Eugene Sedwick, who was one of Wolff’s most enduring students. Gene and his wife Alma were from Chicago, but the couple also built a home on a parcel of Wolff’s ranch in Lone Pine, Calif.
A former musician, here is an introduction by Wolff for a presentation that Mr. Sedwick made on the “Power of Music”:
The Assembly of Man is happy to present to you a man who is a musician, one who has deepened his understanding of music through the study of metaphysics and philosophy. He comes well equipped, therefore, for the presentation of the subject from an aspect which is not generally known. We feel certain that he will present a new concept on the power of music, or at least original correlations with reference to music as power and influence in the lives of men.
Music is generally accepted as a universal language. It supplants the spoken word in reaching the innermost depths of our nature. One would infer that in man there is something of an intangible but universal nature of which we are not generally conscious. We believe that music may act as this medium by which our consciousness may be awakened to this higher nature, or self, and thereby man may gain a greater understanding of the cosmic scheme of life and extend his field of consciousness. Musicians as well as lovers of music have always felt the power that inheres in music and know that its subtle forces act both upon the sensuous and spiritual nature of man through his feeling nature. Depending on the quality of the music, this is of great importance.
It gives us great pleasure to introduce you to Mr. Eugene Francis Sedwick.
Wolff thought so highly of Mr. Sedwick that he appointed him to continue the work of the Assembly of Man in the event of his death.[1] Gene also introduced Wolff to his second wife, Gertrude.[2] The correspondence found here starts with a note from Gene regarding the death of Alma, and then several personal letters from him to Wolff and his wife Gertrude. (10 pages)
[1] Franklin Merrell-Wolff, “Where Do We Go from this Point?” (Lone Pine, Calif.: December 12, 1978), audio recording.
[2] Franklin Merrell-Wolff, “Autobiographical Material: The Feminine Side of My Experience (Part 2)” (Lone Pine, Calif.: May 21, 1982), audio recording.
