|
THE EVENING NEWS 27 April 1911
THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSICRUCIANS.
Strange Evidence in a Libel Action.
“SECRET CHIEFS.”
Jury Return a Verdict for the Defendants.
There was an uncanny air about proceedings in King’s Bench Court II to-day, before Mr. Justice Scrutton. The presence of distinguished persons long since supposed to be dead was hinted at.
The case being tried concerned the doings of the Rosicrucians, who know so much more than ordinary mortals about the occult and the mystic.
The plaintiff was a Mr. George Cecil Jones, a consulting chemist. He claimed damages on the ground that The Looking Glass in a series of articles entitled “An Amazing Sect,” had reflected on his character and libeled him.
One article said:--
Two of Crowley’s friends are still associated with him—one the rascally sham Buddhist monk Allan Bennett; the other a person of the name of George Cecil Jones.
HEAD OF THE ROSICRUCIANS.
For the defence there was called to-day no less a person than the “Head of the Rosicrucian Order”—an intellectual-looking gentle[man] named Samuel McGregor Mathers [MacGregor Mathers]. He said that Mr. Crowley had been expelled from the order.
Mr. Simmons cross-examined the Head about his name. Explaining the McGregor part of it, he said: In 1603 the name was forbidden under pain of death. There is no one who bears the name of McGregor who has not had another name in the interim.
You have called yourself Count McGregor of Gunstraye?—Yes.
You have also called yourself the Chevalier McGregor?—No.
Have you suggested that you are connected with King James IV of Scotland?—I don’t understand what you mean. Of course every Scotsman of ancient family is connected with the Scottish Kings.
Have you ever asserted that King James IV never died?—There is an old tradition to that effect.
Do you assert he is in existence to-day?—What I say is that there is a tradition.
Do you believe in the tradition?—I refuse to answer the question.
Do you say you are King James?—Certainly not.
Do you say that you are Cagliostro?—No.
THE “FLYING DUTCHMAN.”
Counsel mentioned the Count St. Germain as one who had survived in a mysterious manner.
The Head (very impressively): I am not responsible for traditions.
Mr. Simmons: But you believe in them?—That is my business.
The Judge: Another case of survival is that of The Flying Dutchman.
The Head observed in reply to another question, “For a man of no occupation I am probably the most industrious man living. I have given the best part of my life to the work which the friends of your client have stolen—I mean the restoration of the Rosicrucian order.”
Counsel: How many belong to your order?—I refuse to give you the number; there are more than two hundred.
You exercise all the powers of Head?—Yes, the administrative powers.
There are secret chiefs?—Yes.
You are in communication with them?—Yes.
Who are the chiefs?—I am sworn not to divulge them.
Are they living or dead?—I am sworn not to discuss them.
Counsel was proceeding to put another question with regard to Rosicrucian mysteries, when the judge remarked, “I don’t want this court to be turned into a place of amusement.”
Mr. Simmons: You have known the plaintiff for some time?0—Yes, I liked what I saw of him to begin with, but I have altered my opinion since.
“ALICE IN WONDERLAND.”
In reply to another question the witness mentioned somebody who was said to have obtained £300 from somebody else.
The Judge: This is getting very much like the trial in Alice in Wonderland. (Laughter.)
Mr. W. Migge, a merchant, described how he paid five guineas for the privilege of attending seven Rosicrucian performances given by Mr. Crowley. He did not like the performances, and did not consider that he got his money’s worth.
Mr. Schiller: What were they supposed to be?—Rites and Rituals based on mysticism and the planetary spirits. There was an invocation of Saturn.
Was the room frequently in darkness?—All the time.
The Judge: Was there a character taken by a lady called “The Mother of Heaven”?—Yes.
An account of the performance as given in The Looking Glass was put to the witness by its editor, Mr. De Wend Fenton, who appeared in person.
It described how Capricornus made a fervent appeal to the Mother of Heaven to ask the Master whether there was a God or whether the assembly could do what it liked?
INDUCED BY CLAIRVOYANTE.
Mr. Simmons: Why did you pay five guineas to see these performances?—I was induced by a lady, a clairvoyante, to go.
What did you expect to get?—I expected to get some clairvoyant manifestations.
Another witness, a Dr. Berridge [Edward Berridge], who took the oath in a Rosicrucian form, said that he had told Crowley what was being said about him. He did not like to repeat it before the ladies in court.
The Judge: Any ladies sitting in this court are beyond scruples of that sort.
The Witness said that Mr. Crowley dealing with an unpleasant allegation had made a peculiar answer, and had added, “The police can find out nothing about me for more than two years back.”
The jury returned a verdict for the defendant. |