Doroethy B. Leonard - Franklin Merrell-Wolff: an American Philosopher and Mystic: A Personal Memoir

FRANKLIN MERRELL-WOLFF:
AN AMERICAN PHILOSOPHER AND MYSTIC

A Personal Memoir By

Doroethy B. Leonard

Copyright 2017 by Doroethy B. Leonard.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016919535

ISBN: Hardcover 978-1-5245-6390-5

Softcover 978-1-5245-6389-9

eBook 978-1-5245-6388-2

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Rev. date: 12/28/2016

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CONTENTS

DEDICATION

For my children: Sherie, Michael, Dana, James, Jennifer and Bobby

For: Denise, Paul, and Jessica

There are many I would wish to acknowledge. Certainly, Franklin Merrell-Wolff (Franklin) and Sherifa, my grandmother, for their dedication and compassion. I have enormous gratitude for their on-going influence throughout my life. Also to James Briggs, my dad and Sherifas son, and Helen Briggs, my mom, who were devoted to Franklin and to my writing.

Ron Leonard, my best friend and my spiritual partner, has encouraged me from the beginning of this memoir in 1987. As author of his published thesis on Franklins philosophy and editor of Franklins philosophical treatise (Parts 3 & 4), he has used his amazing editing skills to proof my book line by line.

By writing this memoir I want my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to know Franklin not only as wise philosopher, but also as he was in everyday life.

Finally, I am grateful to my many friends who shared important parts of my life and stood by me through this long process.

How do I begin a memoir of Franklin Fowler Wolff (Merrell-Wolff), grandfather, mentor, spiritual teacher? Initially this was just to be a family history for my six children, Sherie, Michael, Dana, James, Jennifer and Bobby. Years later, it is a memoir.

How do I cover ninety-eight years of a mans lifea life lived in his spiritual journey and filled with so many interesting people, associates, students, and yes, family? Franklin Wolffs life was not always lived on the surface, to be seen. It is most often his inner life that is of interest. However, that he wrote himself in his books. How can I, who am not terribly facile with words and not really a storyteller, write about this man? However, I believe this is a story worth telling and it chronicles more the events in his life. Since, as his step-granddaughter, I inherited his hundreds of files and letters and have a lifetime of memories, the task is mine. So I shall begin.

First, let me address a couple of preliminary issues. The first concern is his name. His birth name was Franklin Fowler Wolff. He wrote in the earlier years under the name of Yogagani (more about this later). Some of the older students called him Yogi, but he didnt really like that reference much, and we will discover the reason in a later chapter. When he began writing Pathways Through to Space , he used Sarahs (a.k.a. Sherifa) maiden name (Merrell) in hyphenationhence, Merrell-Wolffas his pen name. This was to honor Sarah as his spiritual companion. Still, the correct name for all business, academic, and personal affairs is Franklin Fowler Wolff. I will simply use the name Franklin when I refer to him in this memoir, as that is how I referred to him from the moment I could speak.

This brings me to the second issue: his relationship to me. Sarah, my grandmother and Franklins first wife of forty plus years, already had a son who was six years old when she met Franklin. He was born during her previous marriage to George A. Briggs. That son, James, is my father. So although Franklin is not related to me by blood, he was my dads father for over sixty years and was my grandfather as much as if he had been related by blood, especially if one considers the inner connection that, for me, supersedes everything else in relationship. For the purpose of this memoir, I will use Grandmothers birth name of Sarah until the time much later that she adopts the name Sherifa. There will be times I will also refer to her as Grandmother.

Franklins life, I believe, consisted of two major phases: the first half, forty-nine years (at which time he attained Enlightenment), and the second half of life, during which he wrote two major books and recorded about one million words on reel-to-reel tape.

My wish is for Franklin to be known for his total lifespan and for the profound richness of his experience, personal as well as spiritual. So in honor of Franklin F. Wolff, I share my memories and files to the best of my ability.

This is a memoir. The first part consists of Franklins memories; the second part consists of others memories and interactions, including mine.

Please see our website: franklinmerrell-wolff.com.

Our Facebook page is Friends of Franklin Merrell-Wolff.

CHAPTER
Franklin Fowler Wolffs Childhood

Family of Origin

Franklin Fowler Wolff was born on July 11, 1887. He began his life in this world by showing consideration for others by not arriving until two oclock in the afternoon. His parents had recently moved to Pasadena, California. His father, Benjamin Franklin Wolff, was a Methodist minister. Brother Wolff, as Benjamin was called, held pastorates at Monte Vista, Glendora, Santa Fe Springs, Whittier, Artesia, Santa Maria and Lancaster (all in California).

Franklin says,

My father was of German descent (originally coming from the Gutenberg area of Germany, where they belonged to the agricultural community). He was born in Pennsylvania and later moved to eastern Ohio. At the time he became a minister, it was the policy of the Methodist Church to move the clergy around to different charges, towns or parishes.

Benjamin Wolff was a conscientious father who was a strong influence on young Franklin. Throughout Franklins lifetime, he too was conscientious and diligent in his everyday thinking and living. He was hardworking, and he was scrupulous. In addition, one could sense his power. According to a longtime associate with the Methodist church, Benjamin Wolff was quite well-known and liked by everyone. Franklin was proud of his fathers accomplishments.

My father taught Hebrew and Greek at the Maclay College of Theology, then located in San Fernando, and, of course, had a natural knowledge of German and English. He also loved the land and developed orange groves, where we worked side by side.

Franklins father actually pioneered citrus growing in San Fernando, California, and was highly respected in this business. He owned two large orange groves, which brought an income. He also served as a member of the board of directors and as manager of the San Fernando Fruit Growers Association and, in addition, became president of the Packing House Board. As a result of being active in the community, he became a member of the San Fernando Valley Committee, which arranged for opening the Owens River Aqueduct. This latter involvement would have an impact on Franklin when he moved to Lone Pine, located in the Owens Valley. The inhabitants of the valley strongly resented the loss of their water to San Fernando and Los Angeles and still resented it over fifty years later. Franklin sided with the Owens Valley people but did not admit to family or friends his fathers (and later, his brothers) involvement.

Franklin later bought part of his fathers orange grove in San Fernando, with his wifes financial help, where he also built a home. He loved working the land: watering, cultivating, and harvesting. It was, of course, also a source of a modest income. Franklin and his father also tediously harvested almonds, but that was not very financially successful.