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OPEN LETTER April 11, 1975 TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, Today I signed a petition calling for
an early election of the Board of Trustees during the month of May, 1975. I
had intended to discuss with you the matters which I will present in this
letter prior to supporting such a move, but circumstances combined to prevent
me from doing so. Briefly, I would like to share with you my reasons for
signing the petition. For many years now The Stelle Group has
been functioning as a school for participants as they aspire to citizenship
in the coming Nation of God. As an extension of this function, the physical
community of Stelle was legally declared a campus, and a logical extension
has been to view all participants of The Stelle Group as either
administrators (Trustees), teachers (Trustees, orientation teachers), or
student body (all other participants). As a school, The Stelle Group is
responsible for teaching basic principles, such as the ten Lemurian laws;
also for forwarding information which emanates from the Brotherhoods
regarding the establishment of a successful civilization, such as the need
for maintaining distinct sexual identities. The Stelle Group must uphold such
concepts as basic to the success of our venture. In this area the
student-teacher relationship is maintained in keeping with the seventh
Lemurian law (non-interference) by virtue of a contract which might read
something like: “I, the Student, aware that you, the
Teacher, do in fact know something about that which I wish to learn, do
hereby agree to submit to your guidance and. discipline within this specific
area in order that I may profit from your knowledge.” I, the Teacher, in exchange for
compensation or out of a desire to serve, do hereby agree to impart
information, provide examples, and offer guidance in order that you may
profit from my knowledge in the area with which you desire to become
familiar.” As we moved to “the site” during the early part of
1973, the base of The Stelle Group functioning as a school moved.; but, in
addition, I believe a subtle change began to take place. This change involved
the development of a Stelle community quite apart from the mainstream of
American society. Some participants, who both worked and lived in Stelle,
noticed. that when they visited Kankakee or Chicago, it was like visiting a
foreign country. Thus did “the site” become Stelle, and those living in and
around Stelle become part of the Stelle community. Although we cannot legally define ourselves
as a separate country, we as a community have developed the consciousness of
being citizens of Stelle, and I believe this is an identity quite distinct
from that of our identity as students in ‘The Stelle Group functioning as a
school. Herein, I believe, lies a problem. Basically this difficulty centers
around. the question, “Is Stelle to remain simply a school, or is Stelle to
become also a citizenry with its government?” I believe the latter is rapidly
becoming the case as people commit their lives, their fortunes, and their
allegiance to Stelle as a community. As this transition is made, I believe it
is important to realize that directives, policies, guidelines, etc. which may
have been appropriate when forwarded by the administrative body of a school
under the student-teacher contract, become distinct violations of Lemurian
law when enacted and enforced in the spirit of law by a government without
first submitting them to its citizenry for approval. “The tenth law is that in all matters affecting the common good and.
when no violation of Natural Law is implied. or involved, the opinion of the
majority shall rule, subject only to the consent of the Elders whose decision
shall be final. “The Sun Rises
, p. 330 “The determination of the opinion or desires of the majority is to be
established through the vote, which I mentioned in discussing the fourth law.
Neither the Council nor the later government shall have the right to enact
and enforce any laws affecting the citizenry as a whole without first
submitting them to the citizenry who will be affected by them. Anything less
is a violation of both this and the seventh law...” The Sun Rises, p. 331 in the environment or personal affairs of another unless asked. to do
so by that person. The commonwealth or government may do so only where
criminal or treasonable intent can be proved, or the civil rights of another
have been violated.” The Sun Rises,
p. 328 I
find several policies, directives, etc. in the Membership Manual which, if
enforced, may constitute violations of Natural Law: “a. Smoking is not
practiced on Stelle premises; never in front of children.”, “b. Men must keep
their hair short and must be clean shaven...”, “Rework and. Restitution
Policy Statement”, “Policy Statement: The Privacy of the Family”, “I Care”
(dress standards), “Stelle Work Week and Time Tithe”, “Traffic, Safety,
Esthetics...The Stelle Way”, and “Stelle Traffic Regulations”. In fact, I believe that you, as
Trustees, have acted with sincerity. I can see no cause for charges to be
brought of malfeasance in office, and I respect the integrity of each member
of the Board. I personally have not been affected by any of the policies or
directives which have been issued, yet I believe such policies may have been
imposed on other participants, and I feel I must object at this time to what
I feel may be a lack of awareness that school and government (i.e. “church”
and. “state”) are being subtly combined in The Stelle Group. “Alas! This law (the seventh Lemurian law) will be one of those most
commonly violated, either consciously or unconsciously, by countless
thousands. Many there are, through their lust for power, will seek to
dominate others and bend them to their will, and. countless will be the
devices and schemes used for this purpose.” The
Sun Rises, p. 329, emphasis added. There has been a tendency these past
few weeks to stray from the real issues at hand and take sides in the case of
“The Board. of Trustees versus Richard Kieninger”. I have found myself,
finally, unable to take sides. I have every reason to believe that Richard
has erred. I have every reason to believe that the Board of Trustees has
erred. I find myself neither blindly “for Richard” nor “for the Board of
Trustees”, but rather “for Stelle”. This refusal to take sides does not
amount to indecision, however, because I have decided to support the
formation of a participatory democracy in Stelle as distinct from The Stelle
Group functioning as a school. I believe it is time for us to realize that
the political awareness of a people is dependent on the free exchange of
ideas and that politics is “the total expression of man’s relation to man”,
as Dr. White stated. in The Ultimate Frontier. We cannot legally
form a government at this time, but we can become a citizenry with its
government in spirit, and we must begin to function as such in
preparation for the time when the very government which now limits our
official growth ceases to exist. I believe it is time to establish the
governmental base of Stelle. I have signed the petition for an early
election because I feel that is of the essence in the matter of creating a
governmental base for our community, and because I see no evidence that you,
as Trustees, favor such a direction. At least one Trustee has indicated to me
that he does not trust the judgement of the membership at large. On personal
contact, I have found my ideas belittled. In general, I sense a lack of the
responsive attitude which I feel government must exhibit to effectively serve
its citizenry. I believe the people of Stelle exhibit great emotional
maturity and are truly ready for the democratic form of government
recommended by the Brotherhoods, as stated on page 220 of The Ultimate
Frontier. I believe Stelle must have a government which is separate from
The Stelle Group functioning as a school. In reviewing the events of the past
four years, I see that the nurturing of Stelle could probably not have been
accomplished any differently; but as I look to the future, I believe that in
order for us to grow it will be necessary to achieve this transition from
school/government to school separate from government. Stelle was once a seed,
which sprouted and needed careful tending to prevent its demise; the sprout
required shelter from the wind, protection from the sun, and careful
watering; now the growing plant needs the wind to strengthen its roots, the
sun for nourishment and a sufficiency of water in order to grow. If the plant
does not grow, it shall die. As we make this transition, I believe “the time....to
build. the city” will be upon us. And I am glad. Respectfully
submitted, Walter Cox |
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