Typed letter from N.D. Pendleton to Rev. Hugo Odhner in Durban, Natal, South Africa. Pendleton has received Odhner’s letter of Oct. 14th with enclosures. Pendleton comments that Mr. Braby’s resignation is a pity, and he advises Odhner to keep in touch with Braby “almost as if nothing had happened.” Pendleton discusses the materials for the construction of a church building in Durban; Stone has a better correspondence, and wood is not practical because of its vulnerability to ants. Pendleton elaborates on the New Church view of ancient religions; “Even the Ancient Church itself was probably composed of several ecclesiasticisms, and in general was rather a state of mind, (i.e. spiritual.) In my opinion both Animism and totemism (and they are fundamentally one) pertained to the Most Ancient Church.” He also gives his opinion on “comparative religionists”; “The comparative religionists anticipated that their views would indeed become the sword point of evolution, but they have in this been somewhat disappointed so far as attracting public attention is concerned. There is not sufficient interest in religion. However, even they are finding that in time every theory digs its own grave.” Pendleton reports that they are getting along well in Bryn Athyn, although their most recent difficulty “has been to get our people to recognize some standard of tuition for the Elementary School. However, they are coming around to it, and it will, I think, be a good thing in the way of increasing the sense of individual responsibility, instead of the habit of ‘letting somebody else do it.’” Names mentioned: Mr. (Alfred Cyril) Braby, Mr. (Richard Charles) Grix, Theodore (Pitcairn)