Britain is a Police State...says L. Ron Hubbard

From the archive, 1 August 1968: Britain is a police state, says ... The Guardian

Scientology founder rebukes Britain as a 'police State'
Date: Friday, 2 August 1968
Publisher: The Guardian (UK)
Main source: link (53 KiB)

Mr Lafayette Ronald Hubbard, American founder of the scientology movement, sent a message to the movement's East Grinstead headquarters yesterday saying: "I have finished my work. Now it is up to others." 

He founded the movement in the early 1950s.

The movement, which was called "socially harmful" by the Minister of Health in the House of Commons, has been described by one scientologist as "an applied religious philosophy, designed to increase the individual's ability within his community."

View of world

The news of Mr Hubbard's message was given by Mr David Gaiman, wife of the movement's chief spokesman. She said the message read: "I retired from Scientology directorships over two years ago and have been exploring since. I gave Scientology to the world with hopes of good usage. If it is a decent world, it will use it well. If it is a bad world, it won't. I finished my work. Now it is up to others. Love, Ron."

In another message attributed to Mr Hubbard, there is a rebuke for England "once the light and hope of the world" and now "a police State" which can no longer be trusted. Mr Hubbard's whereabouts is a mystery. 

Last week he was believed to be somewhere at sea aboard his vessel the Royal Scotsman.

The organisation yesterday also issued writs claiming damage for libel in four newspapers, the "Sunday Express," "News of the World," "Daily Express," and "Sunday Mirror." The writs seek injunctions restraining publication of the "said or any similar libels."

In the writs the organisation is stated to be a nonprofit-making corporation incorporated under the laws of California and with a registered office in Fitzroy Street, London W 1. Co-plaintiff in two of the actions is Mrs Jane Kember, a senior executive and deputy guardian in the organisation at East Grinstead.

After a private hearing before a vacation judge, Mr Justice Fisher, in the High Court yesterday, the organisation's solicitors issued a statement. It said that following recent Government statements, an application was being prepared for submission to the European Commission of Human Rights.

Scientology company issues libel writs
Date: Friday, 2 August 1968
Publisher: Scottish Daily Express (UK)
Main source: link (24 KiB)

THE Church of Scientology has issued High Court writs for libel against the publishers of four British newspapers.

And it announced yesterday, through London solicitors its intention to lay complaints against the British Government before the European Commission of Human Rights.

Suing as a company with registered offices in Fitzroy Street, London, the Church is claiming damages for alleged libel in the Sunday Express, News of the World, and Sunday Mirror last Sunday, and in the Daily Express last Friday.

In the writs against the Daily Express and the Sunday Mirror, Mrs. Jane Kember, an official of the Church, is a second plaintiff.

Each writ also asks for an injunction restraining the defendants from publishing "the same or any similar libel."

Scientologists issue writs for libel
Date: Friday, 2 August 1968
Publisher: The Times (UK)
Main source: link (56 KiB)

The Church of of California has issued writs claiming damages for libel against four newspapers. The writs also seek injunctions restraining publication of the "said or any similar libels".

The newspapers concerned are the News of the World, the Sunday Express, the Sunday Mirror, and the Daily Express.

The church, stated in the writs to be a non-profit-making corporation incorporated under the laws of California and with a registered office at Fitzroy Street, W., is suing the publishers — the News of the World Ltd., Beaverbrook Newspapers Ltd., and Daily Mirror Newspapers Ltd.

Coplaintiff in two of the actions is Mrs. Jane Kember, an official of the church, of Challow, Courtlands, Sharpthorne, near East Grinstead, Sussex. The writs allege libel in articles in the News of the World, Sunday Express and Sunday Mirror last Sunday and in the Daily Express on July 26.

After a hearing before Mr. Justice Fisher, the vacation judge, in the High Court yesterday, solicitors for the Church of Scientology issued a statement which said: "The Church of Scientology has been advised that injunctions in libel actions to restrain further publication of any similar libel are rarely granted in the English courts. Notwithstanding this, the church intend to pursue every appropriate remedy".

The statement continued: "Following recent Government statements as to its present and future intentions, an application is being prepared on behalf of the church for submission to the European Commission of Human Rights, and such application will be lodged forthwith.

"Individual applications to the European Commission of Human Rights in respect of individual members of the church will be prepared and lodged if such action becomes necessary in the light of Government action."

Later, solicitors acting for the church stated that at yesterday's hearing the judge gave leave for short notice of motion for injunctions to be served. The further hearing will be next Tuesday, when the defendants will have the opportunity of being represented.

Our Legal Correspondent writes: —

A defendant to a writ for libel may continue to publish matter concerning the plaintiff while the action is pending unless and until an injunction is granted to prevent him from so doing.

An interlocutory injunction is not generally granted unless there is strong evidence that the statement complained of is untrue and that immediate injury will result to the plaintiff if the publication is allowed to continue.

Sanitary inspectors to investigate Scientology premises
Date: Friday, 2 August 1968
Publisher: The Scotsman (UK)
Main source: link (56 KiB)

Sanitary inspectors are to carry out an investigation into the conditions in which, it is alleged, members of the Scientology cult are living in their office headquarters — a converted warehouse — in the centre of Edinburgh.

Councillor Rupert Speyer has asked the city's sanitary department to find out if members of the Scientology staff who study a religious philosophy, are sleeping in their offices at North-east Thistle Street Lane.

He also wants to know how many toilets there are for the 100-strong staff and if planning permission has been given for the warehouse to be used as office accommodation.

Mr Speyer said yesterday: "I expect a report from the chief sanitory inspector within the next few days. I understand that members of the staff are charged £2 10s a week for living in the offices although there are, I believe, no beds or bathrooms."

"CAN'T SLEEP"

A neighbour of the Scientologists, Mrs Isobel Graham, 17 Thistle Street, Edinburgh, will be visiting the public health authorities today.

"Since the Scientologists moved in as our neighbours some months ago, I have hardly had a wink of sleep," said Mrs Graham.

"The building is as silent as the grave during the day, but there is a lot of activity at night. My husband and I have complained to the police about the noise but now I am going to the health authorities to find out what can be done. I can hardly concentrate on my work during the day because I am so tired after being disturbed at night."

Life in the cult -- by Kathleen and Iain [part of the article missing]
Date: Friday, 2 August 1968
Publisher: Daily Record (Scotland, UK)
Authors: Ian Metcalfe, Allan Gulland
Main source: link (151 KiB)

A BOY and a girl told last night of what happened to them in while they worked at the Scottish headquarters of the Scientologists.

THE GIRL, Kathleen Riley, said it was a bit frightening at first when she was given a kind of lie-detector test.

THE BOY, lain Thomson, 20, claimed he was told to work for more than 15 hours — then sleep on a wooden floor.

Kathleen, of 31 Niddrie Marischal Place, Edinburgh, said she was linked to an E meter — a "kind of lie detector" — as questions were fired at her by the staff at the [organisation on] Thistle Street.

She was asked questions like: "Do birds fly," "Have you embezzled money in any previous office?", "Are you afraid of the police?", "Are you running away from the police for any reason?"

"I was a bit nervous while this was going on. But there were no after-effects."

Screened

The test was given to Kathleen two days after she answered an advert for a job as a filing clerkess in the Scientology organisation.

Her answers to the E meter were recorded on cards which were screened from her and she was never told what was recorded on them

After Kathleen had undergone her initial test she was graded in a state of "NON-EXISTENCE" and later re-graded as NORMAL.

Wrong

"They had all sorts of gradings for people who worked with them. They had gradings such as DANGER, EMERGENCY, NORMAL LIABILITY, TREASON and DOUBT."

"There were different kinds of punishment ranging from not being allowed to have a lunch break, not being allowed to wash, shave, have a bath or having to wear old clothes.

"I saw men there who had obviously not shaved for days."

After five weeks working for the scientologists Kathleen was [rest of the article missing]

[Picture / Caption: KATHLEEN RILEY . . . her answers in the E meter test were recorded.]

[Picture / Caption: IAIN THOMSON . . . he claimed he was told to sleep on a wooden floor.]

[Picture / Caption: HUBBARD . . . somewhere at sea.]

I'm not your leader // Hubbard tells scientologists
Date: Friday, 2 August 1968
Publisher: Daily Record (Scotland, UK)
Main source: link (151 KiB)

The founder of Scientology, Lafayette Ron Hubbard, announced yesterday that he is no longer leader of the movement.

The 57-year-old American said this in a cable to the cult's headquarters in East Grinstead, Sussex.

He sent it from his 3300 ton yacht Royal Scotman which "is somewhere at sea."

The message stated that Hubbard had not been the leader since he "retired from Scientology directorships" two years ago.

Earlier this week staff at the Scottish H.Q. in Edinburgh seemed to think he was still their leader.

They agreed, at the Daily Record's request, to send a message to him asking for a 'reply to the Commons statement by Health Minister Kenneth Robinson, that Scientology was "objectionable."

Decent

Hubbard's answer expounded his views on Scientology, but did not answer the allegations.

At East Grinstead yesterday Mrs. David Gaiman, wife of the cult's chief spokesman, said that the message read:

"I retired from Scientology directorships over two years ago and have been exploring since. I gave Scientology to the world with hopes of good usage.

"If it is a decent world, it will use it well. If it is a bad world, it won't. I finished my work. Now it is up to others. Love, Ron."

Meanwhile Mr. David Gaiman, the cult's chief spokesman, said they were to issue 14 writs alleging libel on parties who had reported their activities "unfairly and grossly inaccurately."

Father 'alarmed' at rise of the mind cult
Date: Friday, 2 August 1968
Publisher: Scottish Daily Mail (UK)
Author: Nigel Benson
Main source: link (47 KiB)

A FATHER said yesterday he was 'alarmed' at the rise of Scientology. Mr Thomas Riley, 45, spoke after his daughter Kathleen, 15, was sacked from a job in the publications organisation of the cult in Edinburgh.

Kathleen, of Niddrie Marischal Place, Edinburgh, worked for five weeks in the cult's offices which send out pamphlets and leaflets.

Last night she told of tests she had been given on an 'E' meter. 'They asked all sorts of questions — they were really odd.

'I was asked if birds flew and if I had been in trouble with the police.

'Finally, after one session, I was told that I was 'clean." '

She said that after a row with staff at the publications department in North-East Thistle Street Lane, Edinburgh, she was asked to leave.

Mr Riley said: 'She tells me that at times staff were expected to work late, and even sleep on the premises. I told her that she was not going to work late and this caused the row.'

He added: 'I am very alarmed at this going on in Edinburgh, especially where teenagers are involved.'

Mr Lafayette Ron Hubbard, 57, the American inventor of Scientology, has sent a message to his followers at the cult's headquarters in East Grinstead, Sussex.

It said: 'I finished my work. Now it is up to others.'

[Picture / Caption: KATHLEEN RILEY // Odd questions]

Cult jobs: Ban imposed by Ministry
Date: Friday, 2 August 1968
Publisher: Evening News (Edinburgh)
Authors: Logan Robertson, Nigel Hawkins
Main source: link (93 KiB)

The Ministry for Employment and Productivity have stopped sending people for vacancies at the Edinburgh offices of Publications Organisation. The ban was applied after it was found there was a link between Publications Organisation and Scientology.

A spokesman for the Ministry said in Edinburgh today that they had referred the whole matter to their headquarters in London.

He said : "We have sent several women, and one or two men, to vacancies notified to us by Publications Organisation. We did not know they were linked with the Scientology Organisation.

"We also placed a woman student with them and she later called at our Rose Street Exchange and made a complaint about conditions at Publications Organisation.

BROCHURES

"Publication Organisation first intimated they had vacancies about the end of June. On July 17 or 18, a worker with the organisation complained to us. He produced some brochures, and it was discovered there was a link between Publications Organisation and the Hubbard Scientology Organisation.

"We suspend any further action by stopping sending people for vacancies at Publications Organisation. We referred the matter to our London headquarters, who will consider what further action should be taken."

M.P.'S INQUIRY

Today an Edinburgh M.P. said he was going to investigate the activities in the city of Scientology — a philosophy of American origin, which claims it increases people's ability.

Mr Norman Wylie, Q.C., M.P. for Edinburgh Pentlands, said : "This is something that I am going to look into very closely."

He had spoken to one of his constituents, a member of whose family was employed by part of the Scientology organisation.

"From what I have been told, I will certainly have to look into this matter," said Mr Wylie.

"VERY ODD"

"If it is the case that they are paying young girls £9 a week to work for them, it strikes me as very odd."

Two other city M.P.s said today they would be keeping a watch on the matter.

Mr Anthony Stodart. M.P. for Edinburgh West, said "I will be keeping an interested eye on the situation."

And Mr James Hoy, M.P. for Leith, said : "I shall be watching the matter."

Mr W. I. Wintour, Chief Sanitary Inspector for Edinburgh, said: "My senior sanitary inspector in charge of office and shop premises is probably going to visit the Scientology premises today."

The Sanitary Department were approached by Councillor Rupert Speyer following allegations by a 15-year-old girl about conditions of work at the organisation's premises at North East Thistle Street Lane.

Yesterday the "Evening News" published a special investigation into the case of 15-year-old Kathleen Riley, of 31 Niddrie Marischal Place, Edinburgh, who worked for Publications Organisation for five weeks.

* Reporters were expelled from the room and questions barred from the floor when Scientologists held the second meeting of a South Wales tour in Cardiff. The hotel where the meeting was held have refused further bookings, but the group said they would open a study centre in the city.

On this day...

Check is made on cult premises
Date: Saturday, 3 August 1968
Publisher: Evening News (Edinburgh)
Authors: Logan Robertson, Nigel Hawkins
Main source: link (47 KiB)

The premises in North-East Thistle Street Lane, Edinburgh, occupied by the Scientology administered Publications Organisation World Wide, have been inspected by the Sanitary Department of Edinburgh Corporation public health authority.

A spokesman for the department said they found nothing to report, "except a few minor infringements of the Office, Shops, and Railway Premises Act, which will be attended to. There was no evidence of employees sleeping on the premises."

The inspection was carried out after the Sanitary Department had been approached by Councillor Rupert Speyer, following allegations by a 15-year-old girl about conditions of work at North-East Thistle Street Lane.

The "Evening News" carried out a special investigation into the story told by the girl Kathleen Riley, of 31 Niddrie Marischal Place, who has now been declared an "Enemy" by the Scientology cult.

 

GIRL "ENEMY"

Councillor Speyer said today that he had not been informed by the Sanitary Department that an inspection had been carried out, but expected that they would be communicating with him to this effect.

Kathleen, who told the "Evening News" of her experiences while employed for five weeks by the cult — she has now left her £9 a week job — said they had declared her an "Enemy" of their organisation.

"I called at the offices yesterday to settle my pay and records now that I'm in another job and was told by friends there that the staff I had been told to 'disconnect' from me."

They had been asked, she went on, to write out five times "I disconnect from Kathleen Riley."

Religion or business? // Practices of Scientology being investigated again
Date: Sunday, 3 August 1969
Publisher: Los Angeles Times (California)
Author: John Dart
Main source: link (531 KiB)  

RELIGION OR BUSINESS?
Practices of Scientology Being Investigated Again

By John Dart
Times Religion Writer

[Picture / Caption: YOUNG INITIATES — The Rev. Robert Bobo talks with two children who are taking Scientology courses. The photo on the wall is of the founder of the worldwide group, L. Ron Hubbard.]

The mimeographed notice looked more like a secret police communique than a church message.

It informed "those concerned" that a certain 20-year-old girl "is hereby declared a Suppressive Person and assigned a condition of Enemy for the following reason:

"Demanding a refund of money for services rendered."

The menacing note signed by two "ethics officers" went on to say "she has taken herself off the only road to Total Freedom for Mankind."

The communication was from the Church of Scientology of California, a growing organization being tested in the courts as to whether it is primarily a business or a religion.

The state attorney general's office, it has been learned, is investigating the Los Angeles-based church, one of the three Scientology organizations guided by writer L. Ron Hubbard from his yacht cruising the Mediterranean Sea.

Combination of Complaints

The investigation was prompted "by a combination of complaints from members of the public and inquiries by other law enforcement agencies," according to Larry Tapper of the attorney general's charitable trust division. He did not indicate whether any charges would be made.

Arthur Maren, a spokesman for Scientology in the Western states, said there have been investigations many times before, "but it still surprises me when we hear of another."

Scientologists claim they are subjected to unwarranted persecution by the press and by government agencies, especially the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Under a 1963 court order, the FDA has authorized seizure of Scientology's E-meters "anytime we can find them," according to Joshua Zatman, assistant FDA commissioner for education and information in Washington.

Form of Lie Detector

FDA scientists claim the E-meter — a galvanometer with two tin cans attached — is a crude form of lie detector which measures the reactions of skin when a person holding the tin cans is questioned.

The instrument, however, is indispensible to Scientology.

With it, Scientology "auditors" employ a kind of psychoanalysis to bring initiates along alleged levels of self-understanding to the state of "clear." (In recent months, Scientologists have been speaking of "pastoral counselors" instead of "auditors." And those undergoing the analysis are now called "parishioners.")

The steps to "clear" cost anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000, according to Maren. The final steps to clear are administered by the American Saint Hill Organization, 2723 W. Temple St.

If one wants an "understanding of the universe," the cost of courses given by the Advanced Organization, 916 S. Westlake Ave., can run more than $3,000.

Scientology officials stoutly maintain that anyone dissatisfied will receive prompt refunds.

On the other hand, the 20-year-old Southern California girl who received in her mail the notice labeling her an enemy of Scientology said in an interview she found she could regain the $812 she spent in three months only with persistence.

The girl, a Harbor College student who asked that her name not be used, said she became interested in Scientology when she read Hubbard's "Dianetics," published in 1950 and containing many of the concepts of what was later called Scientology.

[Picture / Caption: USE OF E-METER — The Rev. Michael Miller demonstrates Scientology's use of E-meter with Rev. Robert Bobo holding tin cans. Scientologists use device as kind of lie detector in questioning initiates about their past and other problems in what organization calls "pastoral counseling."
Times photos by Fitzgerald Whitney]

Take Courses

She began taking courses at the Church of Scientology, 2005 W. 9th St., last December, and later started "processing" with an auditor and the E-meter.

"At first I thought it was great and got a lot out of it," she said. "Then a month later I began to feel it hadn't helped."

When she wrote a letter asking for her money back, she was asked by an ethics officer to come to the church building. Claiming it was inconceivable that anyone would not get anything from "processing," an ethics officer persuaded her to take a $100 review course without charge to find out "who was suppressing her."

Same Old Things

"It seemed like we went back over the same old things," she recalled. "Then I decided the processing was utterly worthless."

Two more trips to the church headquarters and two more attempts to dissuade her, and she eventually received her refund.

The girl, who said nearly everyone she met in Scientology was "friendly and happy," received the suppressive person declaration in the mail several days later.

A newsman questioned a Scientology representative about the incident and within two weeks the representative said the practice was canceled by world headquarters.

"The practice had been under review but the change probably gained velocity because of the inquiry about the case," said the spokesman.

Return to Fold

At one time, Scientologists designated many persons as suppressive, partly as a technique to bring disenchanted Scientologists back into the fold. One official said 60 to 63% would return.

Cognizant that the terminology and styles of operation have presented a militaristic aura to outsiders, Scientology leaders have instituted reforms over the last 12 months. Discarded have been such things as the practice of "disconnection" — which was to urge a new Scientologist to sever relationships with any objecting family members.

For a while, Advanced Organization members wore white uniforms with white helmets and boots but a spokesman said the garb was abandoned a few months ago. However, a newsman reported talking to several uniformed members recently.

Scientology still has its own "navy," though. Uniformed members of the Organization of the Seaman Scientology's six yachts, two of which are sometimes docked at Southern California marinas. They also serve as "ethics" supervisors for some advanced courses.

Stung by a Life magazine article last fall and a later Today's Health article (which described Scientology as a serious threat to health and a cult couched in pseudoscientific terms and rites), the organization's leaders found that their growth rate was not significantly deterred.

"We figure if we could survive the Life article, we could survive anything," said a spokesman who claimed the expose was a "smear."

Scientology has its world headquarters in Sussex, Eng., a dozen churches in U.S. and Canadian cities as well as centers in other English-speaking countries.

Staff Expansion

Although expansion of the Scientology staffs and adherents — especially in Los Angeles — is evident, detailed membership figures are difficult to obtain.

Gordon Mustain, public relations chief for the Western United States, said the U.S. membership is 5 million. Earlier this year other spokesmen had estimated the U.S. membership at 3.5 to 4 million and that Southern California had about 20,000 Scientologists — although the fact that Southern California has one of the largest followings makes the figures appear paradoxical.

A consistently agreed upon number is the 2,000 persons worldwide who have been designated "clear" and constitute the hard-core membership.
 

For what it may lack in numbers, it makes up in income and zeal.

South African John McMasters, the first person to be declared "clear" and a personal representative of L. Ron Hubbard, said money received by the world headquarters rose from an average $10,000 weekly in January, 1968 to $140,000 weekly six months later. McMasters said he did not have any more recent figures on income.

$140 E-Meters

Scientology publications are filled with order forms for books, courses and the $140 E-meters.

Hundreds of Scientologists have purchased E-meters and other materials to operate their own low-level "franchises," now called "missions." The "mother church" in England derives certain "tithes" from the missions, according to Mrs. Tanni Oman, another public relations representative.

The zeal shows up in their enthusiastic telephone mail followups with anyone who has ever bought a book or attended a Scientology lecture.

Some persons claim they cannot get off the Scientology mailing list once they are put on, but the organization's officials claim people are put off the list if they request.

In a counteroffensive against the "establishment," Scientologists are waging a "human rights" crusade in their publications and news releases against national mental health organizations and psychiatry in general, claiming there are widespread abuses with electrical shock treatment, hypnosis, lobotomy and other practices.

Australia Protest

More than 500 Scientologists appeared Monday at the Australian Trade Commission offices in Los Angeles, protesting what they called antireligion laws in three Australian states. An Australian consulate official in San 

Francisco said the three states had banned Scientology in recent years because of the organization's practices. The laws do not apply to other churches, the spokesman said.

Great Britain has prohibited foreign Scientologists from entering the country since July 1968 when the organization came under press scrutiny and a warning by then-Minister of Health Kenneth Robinson, who said the practices constituted a danger to mental health.

Scientologists claim that Robinson was later discharged for his views but a British consulate official said Robinson was not. Robinson was appointed minister of planning and land when the health ministry was merged with the department of social security.

Scientology still has its own problems in the United States because of the public scrutiny of its practices and of its claim to be a church organization.

Tax Status Revoked

The Internal Revenue Service revoked the Church of Scientology's tax-exempt status July 18, 1967, according to Jerome Hollander, an IRS spokesman in Los Angeles.

The revocation was based on an IRS claim that Ron Hubbard's founding church in Washington, D.C., was not a church, but a profit-making, commercial enterprise.

In a U.S. Court of Claims decision July 16 in Washington, the court avoided ruling on the IRS' contention that the Church of Scientology is a commercial enterprise but supported the IRS' claim that a portion of the church's net earnings went to private individuals and therefore was not eligible to be tax exempt.

Court of Claims Judge Linton M. Collins wrote in the decision: "What emerges from these facts is the inference that the Hubbard family was entitled to make ready, personal use of the corporate earnings."

Legal Front

On another legal front, the FDA claimed in 1963 that Scientology had made misleading statements about the E-meter's healing powers and a federal jury agreed.

However, Judge J. Skelly Wright of the U.S. Court of Appeals said last February that unless the FDA can show Scientology is not a religion, the organization would be protected by law.

The Church of Scientology has its clergy — complete with black suits and collar — to perform church services, weddings and funerals.

The handbook for church ceremonies instructs that prayers are not to be used, sermons should be always on some phase of Scientology and services should be conducted with dignity, but not solemnity.

Also, The minister should dress in a way that does not upset the accepted stable data of what a minister looks like."

Church Functions

After conducting a wedding ceremony (in which God was not mentioned) at a Scientology conference in the Hollywood Palladium, McMasters commented, "There is not much here that indicates it's religious — but by whose standards?"

McMasters hinted that the church functions in Scientology are secondary. But he maintained: "The way we can most honestly describe ourselves to mankind is as a religious group, because our purpose is to bring spiritual freedom to oneself and to the rest of mankind."

Testimonials by persons undergoing Scientology processing, however, invariably describe increased ability to cope with their personal and professional lives—rather than spiritual understanding or fulfillment.

Actress Carolyn Judd, daughter of former Congressman Walter Judd, interviewed after a few months of experience with Scientology said she could handle roles she couldn't before and was suddenly able to read music.

"What Scientology does is put you in an environment where you understand that you're doing that's limiting your own ability. It hands you a tool — not a belief. It's a technology."

Miss Judd, 26, who played the blind girl in "Wait Until Dark" on Broadway and on the road, was given Scientology processing free, but she added, "It would cost incredibly less than what I paid in psychoanalysis for two years."

Scientologists have increased their attempt to appeal to persons in the entertainment field. A new location for Scientology's three-month-old Celebrity Centre was dedicated July 15 at the corner of Burlington Ave. and 8th St. Music, films and Scientology lectures are scheduled seven nights a week, sometimes with special invitations to the cast of a play showing in Los Angeles.

Interest in Occult

Those attracted to Scientology often have an interest in the occult — "the powers of your mind" religions — says Dr. Sidney Walter, a Hollywood psychologist.

"What Scientology is basically saying is, 'If you could clear your mind of problems, you'd be happy,'" said Dr. Walter.

"Scientology provides exercises to condition your mind to eavesdrop on the past," he said. "That part is not really bad. Anytime you can teach a person to be less inhibited, it helps."

The danger, he said, comes when a mentally disturbed person believes the 100% guaranteed results claimed by Scientology and finds he cannot achieve what he thinks he should. Dr. Walter said he had a patient three years ago who attempted suicide after believing that he failed in Scientology where others could succeed.

If Scientology appears to have a mystical, almost science-fiction sound to it, it shouldn't be too surprising.

The dianetics-scientology concepts of the Nebraska-born Hubbard first found themselves in print in the May, 1950, issue of Astounding Science Fiction.

Beyond his basic tenet that a person has an analytic mind and a reactive mind, the latter being the root of one's irrational behavior, the 58-year-old leader has developed a jargon peculiar to Scientology with terms such as "engram," "ARC break" and "Operating Thetan."

The advanced, or Operating Thetan, courses are divided into eight steps with prices listed for each level.

OT3, for instance, is described in a handbook as "the band or wall of fire that L. Ron Hubbard single-handedly confronted and found a completely safe way through for you."

Hubbard Quote

On OT3, Hubbard is quoted: "It is very true that a great catastrophe occurred on this planet and in the other 75 planets which form this confederacy 75 million years ago. It has since that time been a desert."

Explains the handbook: "OT3 is the full revelation of what happened and its resolution. At the level of OT3 the barriers that obscure the ultimate truth of the universe are blown."

While pushing aside barriers to "the ultimate truth of the universe" might seem about as far as one could go, there's more.

OT4 provides the "final polish" and OT5 enables one to look "at the fabric of the mest (matter, energy, space and time) universe and understand its simplicity." At OT6, there's a return to "basic drills."

More than 200 persons, including actor Stephen Boyd, have reached OT6 — the highest level obtainable so far. Ron, as members affectionately refer to him is still doing research on the last two levels.

"Ron is his own guinea pig," said McMasters. "As soon as he is quite sure about it, he'll put it out for the rest of us," he added confidently.

"He's a tremendous man. He's not interested in being the glorious Ron Hubbard. He's interested in freeing people," said McMasters.

A Los Angeles public relations man who spent $1,300 in eight months of processing before dropping out said:

"You keep paying money to get deeper and deeper to the place where you hope to get something more out of it than you have, and you keep going." Any grievances about the system, he claimed, "are merely acknowledged and put down as a problem in your case."

The best description of the frustration that some initiates have, according to the public relations man, was from another ex-Scientologist:

"It's as if Ron Hubbard was digging a tunnel deeper and deeper into a mountain and everybody following the light was going farther and farther from the outside."

Press watchdog backs Observer // Sex pervert was a cult teacher
Date: Wednesday, 3 August 1994
Publisher: East Grinstead Observer
Main source: link (55 KiB)

BRITAIN'S newspaper industry watchdog, The Press Complaints Commission has dismissed a complaint by the Scientology movement against the East Grinstead Observer.

The cult tried to stop us telling our huge following of readers that an evil sex pervert who preyed on schoolboys at the cult-backed Greenfields school was a Scientology teacher.

The cult accused us of inaccurate and misleading reporting following a court case earlier this year, when cultist Mark Kent was jailed for five years for serious sex offences. The Saint Hill-based cult attempted to stop us from disclosing that Kent was linked to their organisation.

The Scientologists complained to the Commission that the Observer's coverage had breached the newspaper Industry's strict Code of Practice.

But the Press Complaints Commission found no substance in those claims whatsoever.

On hearing of the Commission's ruling Observer Editor Ron Parsons said: "We have been totally vindicated, and I never had any reason to think otherwise. As I have said before this newspaper has always printed the truth and will continue to do so. The public has a right to know the truth".

ADJUDICATION

MS SHEILA CHALEFF, Public Affairs Director of the Church of Scientology, Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead, West Sussex, complains to the Press Complaints Commission that a headline "Evil sex pervert sent to prison — Scientology teacher molested schoolboys" which appeared in the East Grinstead Observer on January 26, 1994, inacurrately referred to the defendant as a "Scientology teacher" in breach of Clause One of the Code of Practice.

The school where the convicted man taught is managed by Scientologists. In these circumstances the description "Scientology teacher" in the headline is not unreasonable, and in the view of the Commission would not mislead readers.

The complaint is rejected.