Handwritten letter from William H. Benade in Cairo, Egypt to Gertrude Starkey Pitcairn. 1 page, double-sided. Fragile condition.

Contents: -Gertrude’s complaint on behalf of the Academical sisterhood regarding tyrannical actions of the Academy vice has been noted; Gods of Egypt have sentenced the offender to write three 12-page letters to “the recipient of the goodwill of the sisterhood” -appreciation for Gertrude’s account of meeting at Mr. Beoricke’s; gratefully for any news of Academy; expecting letter from Mrs. Burnham -Gertrude & sister will find Maria (Hogan?) & Mary (?) delightful correspondents -Benade back in Cairo after journey to Abul Simbel; stopped at ruins of tombs & temples along Nile -mythology of Ancient Egypt never been recorded; none but a New Churchman could write it; nowhere else in Ancient Church are ultimate expressions of Divine in seen in so multiform a manner as in “land of science”; 300 deities = representations of the one Divine God -as Gertrude will see in their photographs & drawings, religion pervaded all aspects of Ancient Egyptian life -Benade hopes more about Egypt will be reproduced in series being published by Marriette-Bey -next week, will begin 6-week journey in Syria, returning from there to Paris via Constantinople & Athens; time of return to America uncertain -love to Dora, father, mother, brother, sister, & all friends

Names mentioned: Mr. Boericke, Mrs. Burnham, Maria (Maria C. Hogan?), Mary/Macy, Marriette-Bey (Auguste Mariette-Bey ?), Dora (Theodora Starkey Wells), *** *** & Co. Bankers (Paris) Places mentioned: Egypt, Museum of Boulog (?), Phila (Philadelphia), Paris, Cairo, Nile, Abu Simbel, Syria, Constantinople, Athens, America