The Three Christs of Ypsilanti - Milton Rokeach [132]
The Catholic service is a do-not-wrong service, it is full of moralism. It is adopted from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and it is full of history—history since the persecution of martyrs and of crucifixion of Christ. The service is full of prayers, essential to the fervent—prayers to the saints and to God. God and the saints are forever prayed in church—in Catholic church.
When the priest preaches, he is enunciating in favor of doing good and he demolishes the bad and evil in the world. The Catholic Church is forever heralding the good, and evil is spoken against. The followers of Catholicism are forever reminded that once upon a time the followers of the new religion, Catholicism, were persecuted by the pagans. . . . The early followers of the church were right, when they knew there was but one God. . . .
Yours truly,
Joseph Cassel
March 22
Dear Joseph:
I would like an up-to-date report on your medicine, your work and whatever else is happening, and should you ever attend the Catholic service an up-to-date report on it.
I continue to think of you with high regard and esteem.
Sincerely,
O. R. Yoder, M.D.
My dear dad:
Thank you for your letter of March 22. . . . I am sorry to relate I cannot write another Catholic service report. I am sure the one I have written is sufficient, so please do not expect any other Catholic service report from me. . . .
As for the up-to-date report which you ask for on my medicine, I can only reply … that the medicine is very excellent for me; it is the same as I have scribbled before: good for all; for constipation, for stomachache, etceteraes. . . .
As for my work, I work in K-1 building, as you know, and I work hard enough: I empty waste-baskets, I pick up laundry, I sweep and mop the hallway, on both ends, I sweep and mop the stairways, two of them. I work hard enough.
Yours very truly,
Joseph Cassel
P.S. Please do not forget to make a reply to this my letter. . . . As for money, I am broke … I have not any money.
March 24. Joseph embarks once again on a letter-writing spree to all his relatives—this one a pre-Easter campaign. To his father in Canada he writes (in French):
Dear father:
Easter greetings to my parents. Wishes I could see you. I have not had any news for a long time … How is it in Canada?
I have no money. Can you send me some. Thanks in advance.
Dr. Yoder wants me to write literature; told him I had to justify literature and could write better later on, when I leave hospital … I correspond with Dr. Yoder regularly.
Do not forget to send me money. I have been in hospital for a long time. Would like to leave. How I would love to be in Canada with you and Mama. If you find some way to get me out of here I would be very happy …
I love the English language and people. I write well in English. Don’t forget the money.
When there is great trouble, as in the present time, England steps in and ends the trouble with God, who is me …
Can it be arranged in Canada that Elizabeth ‘gives in,’ that is, if she is not willing to give me my job as king. I need a good lawyer in order to get back my job as king.
Drop my going to Canada. I’ve no head for it.
Yours truly,
Joseph Cassel
March 30. In a private interview with Joseph I ask him whether the man he writes to in Canada is his Dad.
“Supposed to be,” he replies.
—Is he really your Dad?—
“Yeah.”
—And Dr. Yoder is your Dad too?—
“I guess that’s right.”
—It isn’t very often a man has two Dads.—
“Dr. Yoder says he treats me like a Dad but he doesn’t say he is my Dad, but the other one in Canada writes ‘Cher Fils,’ so if that’s the case he’s my Dad.”
—Which one is your favorite Dad?—
“My favorite Dad is over in Canada, as far as I know. But Dr. Yoder is more prompt in answering letters.”
He goes on to say that Dr. Yoder’s letters are “answering some purpose