D-2-G-1
Telephone
Home: 64631
Office: 61540
Brickdam Presbytery
Georgetown,
Guyana
P.O. Box 528
Rev. Robert Barrow
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D-2-G-2
July 25th, 1978.
Dear Father Barrow,
Your name was given to me by a friend of mine, Father A. I am writing to you, and also to Bishop Singh, because I have a very serious problem, and my son and eleven hundred other Americans in “Jonestown”, Guyana may desperately need help.
First of all, I would like to ask that my name be held in strict confidence due to the possibility of retaliation against my son, by Jim Jones of the Peoples Temple.
My son, X.Y., was raised a Catholic, but, like many young people, left (or drifted) from the Church, and became involved in the Peoples Temple, which is a “religious” cult. About (date) he left for Guyana, without even saying goodbye to any of his family. If you read the enclosed article, you will understand why I am so terribly worried. I talked to the girl [Debbie Layton Blakey] in the article, and she told me even worse things than were printed. I have also spoken to several other former members of the Temple, and they all are frightened, and say the same thing.
Aside from their testimony, I know personally, from my own son, that Jones claims to be healing cancer, raising people from the dead, and “protecting” his people from any physical harm such as an automobile accident. I saw a change in my son, and I believe him to be most fanatical and thoroughly brainwashed.
It is very difficult to get either the government of the U.S. or of Guyana to move. Not many people here heard of the Peoples Temple, so it is hard to arouse public opinion, so that someone will go in there and investigate thoroughly, what is going on, and give everyone there a chance to leave without fear, if they wish to. According to Deborah Layton, certain church members put on a show when the U.S. Consul or other members of government visit the outpost.
We may not have time in our favor, Father, so I would be most thankful for any help you could give me. Have you heard anything about this? I hear that there are two groups in the church, those who are in the privileged class and are allowed more freedom, and those who are not.
If you know anyone who could help us force an investigation, or just arouse people to do something to help find out exactly what the real truth is, it would be most helpful.
I would be grateful for your prayers for the safety and well being of those people, and for any information you could give me. Perhaps if the local Council of Churches, if you have one, could pressure the government there would be inspectors stationed out there until the truth comes out.
Please do whatever you can, Father, and let me hear from you as soon as possible. I have been about this for a long time-there has been quite a lot of adverse publicity for over a year, but this latest is the worst. Remember, please to keep my name confidential, because I don’t want my son hurt because of me. Jones was very politically involved in California and I hear he has “friends” in the government there, too.
Thank you so much for any help you can give us.
Sincerely,
Z.Y. (address supplied)
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D-2-g-3a – 3b
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D-2-g-4
Article: “Grim Report from Jungle”