When I leave, I shall leave the key to my apt. in my mail box (or yours - or just give it to you). Help yourself to anything you can use in the refrigerator, especially the things that will not keep.
Dearest Patricia:
My celebration is over and it was a most joyous occasion. It’s really too bad that you and your mom could not have been there. I am sure that both of you would have enjoyed every bit of it. A copy of the program is enclosed. To my surprise I learned that this is only the second of these annual banquets to honor specific individuals, so the only person who has preceded me is Dr. Clark. Dennis Britton and Kate Swart (See inside page of the program) were the couple who called for me - at about 6:20. Whether picked up Mrs. Clark. Dr. Clark did not arrive until after we were all seated for dinner, as he was giving a half hour’s talk to some local organization. There were about 250 persons present, a good many representing the community such as Assemblyman Albert Alquist, Judge Nelson, etc. with of course quite a sprinkling from the college. Also, there were quite a few former students from years back, who didn’t get to come to my dinner last May 16. It was fun to see them again and chat with them a little while. The last to present himself was a Filipino employee who came up after the dinner and asked, “Do you remember me, Ag aspito patacsil; I used to be in your classes?” I remembered him as a person but it would have taken a lot of reviewing in my mind to have selected the right name for him out of the many Filipino names I have garnered over the years.
The program was a mixture of the serious and the humorous. The speeches gave a most impressive analysis of the [page 2] Ecumenical Congress in Rome when he attended officially and for which he apparently put in many hours as a translator of a number of the published conclusions of the Congress. He translated them from Latin, Italian, and I think occasionally French, into English and occasionally, I gathered - the other way round. However his talk concerned the serious aspects of the Congress which, apparently was the first time in the history of the Catholic church when it recognized the innocence of the modern Jews for the death of Christ. (previously, all Jews have been officially held to share in the guilt) also for the first time he (Father Norris) said that an ecumenical gathering had recognized and been concerned with and given recognition to the expression of faiths of all or any types of human, no matter what their specific belief or striving toward goodness. He repeatedly asserted that nothing of the sort ever had occurred before. He gave the late Pope John credit for launching the dominating spirit of the congress, though of course the present Pop and other leading dignitaries (archbishops and bishops) organized and carried out the congress. Only the Catholics had the privilege to vote on specific propositions but a number of protestants were given an opportunity to speech at length and react to the deliberations. Some of the protestant’s talks formed the basis for subjects that later were discussed at length by the Catholic leaders. So I guess the [page 3] whole thing really was extraordinary. All of it however took place under the basic assumption that Catholicism is the proper or best form of religious expression (this your really is Alan Watts belief) no recognition was given anywhere to the existentialist revolt or the “god is dead” theme that is troubling the minds of so many today. From what was said and discussed, as Father Norris presented it, no one at the Ecumenical Congress was even aware of this philosophical revolution in the religious world.
Except for Norris, practically every one else spoke in a lighter vein to make the occasion as joyous as possible. Father Largenti, who is the primary Chaplain of the Newman Organization here, has an excellent sense of humor and uses it frequently. I have known him for some eight months now - since Freshman Comp last Sept. and we have got to be pretty good friends. And that pretty well sums up the evening.
However, before our dinner tomorrow - and you and Applegarth see me off, I am impelled to restate my feeling for you. I expect, of course, to be back in a week, but I want to leave with your mind filled with a restatement of my love for you. it’s nothing you do not already know, but I want to say it again and this doubtless will not be the last time. I could wish that it will give you as much of a feeling of uplift and security as it gives [page 4] me to say it.
I love you sincerely. I love you deeply and profoundly. I shall always love you as long as I live and I shall do everything that I can to further your welfare and to ensure for you as bright a future as it is possible for you to have. Knowing you and your appreciation and affection for me is the greatest, the most buoyant thing that has happened to me. It has brought new light and life to me, and the chance to ease your load while you finish your education and as long thereafter as possible - and to see your mother and Connie and Leon and your four little brothers enjoying the peace and security of 457 Los Padres is as happy an experience as I could hope for, So accept it all, my darling, continue to be your sweet and charming and always stimulating and interesting self and you’ll provide me with the inspiration and uplift that will keep me alive for years longer than would otherwise be the case. Any confidence you place in me and any problem you wish to bring to me, I will keep to myself in complete confidence and trust until or unless you say otherwise, and I shall help you find solutions to the best of my ability. It is my hope that the quality of our relationship will ever be lowered and that I shall be granted many more years in which to enjoy that relationship and to further your well being. With all my love, as always, Carl.
Dr. Carl Duncan and Patricia Whiting Collection (SJSU)
