Saturday, June 28, earthly remains of Gnostic Saint Harry Everett Smith were buried at Woodstock Artists’ Cemetery in Woodstock NY in a ceremony that began at 4PM. Those who spoke at Harry’s interment were all friends of his who’d met him during his time living in New York City. The master of ceremonies was writer, curator, editor and publisher, Raymond Foye, a neighbor of his at the Chelsea Hotel. Eli Smith, a former bandmate of the late John Cohen (folklorist and member of the 60’s Folk Revival outfit, the New Lost City Ramblers) performed “I Wish I Was a Mole In The Ground,” from Harry’s legendary compilation album, The Anthology of American Folk Music. Poet Ed Sanders, founder of the incendiary Folk Revival group, The Fugs sang a song, he’s composed for Harry, “Just Do It.” Rani Singh, director of special projects at the Gagosian Galleries in Beverly Hills as well as director of the Harry Smith Archives, and Smith’s assistant the the Naropa Institute spoke about his legacy and immense influence on American culture. Tau Silenus, the Sovereign Patriarch of Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, who providedf Harry with free housing from time to time, performed solemn ritual, and spoke about Smith’s occult endeavors as well as the part the community in and around Woodstock has played in maintaining and spreading the utopian ideals of the 1960’s. All in attendance were invited to move a trowel of earth into the grave.
Harry’s remains rest at the center of a circle of graves of many notable artists. Directly beside him, interred that same day, lies Herbert Huncke, noted Beat poet and close associate of William S. Burroughs,
