"THE ALMIGHTY HAS A REAL HAND IN THIS COSMOGONY" GRENFELL (Sir Wilfred, 1865-1940, Medical Missionary & Author, founded the Labrador Medical Mission)

Fine Autograph Letter Signed to Herbert (annotated in pencil as to Herbert Threlfield Edwards) saying that "Nelson Rockefeller tells me he talked photos with you, & you gave him the ideas of what he should illustrate. Many thanks. I was awfully sorry we couldn't meet before I left Charlotte. I wonder if you couldn't save a few days either early or late in September, when I expect to be in Charlotte again. I never properly thanked you for your affectionate interest in the matter of that 'loving act'. A small bird whistled me recently that you had the big share in it. I value it greatly. Is is one of the things one can love. Anne H says Mr Britt of the 'players' who runs macmillans lectures. He is going to go & see Ted Greene - He was on the Maravel, & seems sincerely interested. He was a special man, who would set up the big lectures, who has done that for many many others, and he will let us have him if we given him notice fairly soon. He says he is the best expert in this country, and Anne's judgement and mine, after the conversation was that he would be a very fine person. However Britt will see Ted, & yourself as well if you think it well. He seemed to have all the 'Dope' on lectures, to have learn by long experience and to have excellent connections to work on. I somehow feel this is what I would call God's leading. As you know I'm a bit more inclined to think that the Almighty has a real hand in this Cosmogony than the average 'practical man'. But how can a man form judgements? Should the basis be his fallible brain cells evolving reality or his fickle willpower directing his decisions? I have an ever increasing absolute conviction that this cosmos is very much less real than the etherial one into which we are going next - and I can properly conceive etherial garages as well as I can those of steel & concrete, which are so much less dense & permanent material than the Ether of space. This philosophy helps me to see life as worth while even when a man is 65 and on his beam ends - It still challenges him to the glorious faith that God needs his feeble help!! Foolish? One more thing. It has been suggested to me that if we could get the White Star & Cunard & other steamship libraries to include a copy of A Labrador Doctor it would be a mighty good advertisement ... heaps of folk going round the World or Europe would have to read 'Labrador looks at the Orient' in idle hours on deck. I would be willing to donate a few copies if necessary & I think the publisher would also - But though I never thought of it before I think we might get those lines to include them as the work is international, & as England has hardly done her past I'm inclined to think it would be a zippy adv. You are the expert? Can it be done ...", 4 sides 8vo., Canadian Pacific Railway headed paper, 23rd June

In 1931, Grenfell had a small speaking role in the film, The Viking, in which he narrated the film's prologue and gave a brief statement of the tragic circumstances involving the film's production. During the production of the film, which was filmed on location in Newfoundland, producer Varick Frissell felt that the film needed more action sequences and set out on the ice floes to film them. During filming, the ship, SS Viking on which filming was taking place, exploded killing Frissell and 27 others.

Item Date:  1929

Stock No:  39306      £475

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