THE DETROIT FREE PRESS

Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.

21 January 1922

(page 2)

DENIES JOINING MYSTIC O.T.O.

A. W. Ryerson Says He Was Not Active,

but Letter Deplores “Equinox” Failure.

Federal Investigation Into Activities

of Cult Is Still in Progress.

Denial that he was admitted as a member to the O.T.O. “love cult,” a branch organization of which is said to have thrived in Detroit since 1918, was made Friday afternoon by Albert W. Ryerson, manager of the Ryerson Building, 159 West Larned Street and former head of the Universal Book Stores, Inc.

Ryerson and Mrs. Jenny E. Walker, former secretary and treasurer of the company at the time several hundred volumes of the Equinox, official organ of the cult, were placed on sale, testified Friday at the resumption of a bankruptcy hearing, before Referee George A. Marston, 419 West Fort Street.

Letter Is Introduced.

Contradictory to Ryerson’s assertion that he was not active in the inner workings of the cult, a letter was introduced as evidence in the hearing by Grover A. Morden, attorney for the creditors, which tended to show he accepted the “philosophy” of the cult in his expression to Aleister Crowley, of New York City, alleged head of the cult.

“Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law,” the “law” of the order as set forth in the Equinox is the first paragraph of Ryerson’s letter to Crowley, dated July 5, 1919.

The writer deplored the failure of a “Mr. Norwood, of Louisville, Ky.,” to give his assistance “to help market the Equinox” explaining that the latter “appears to have become concerned in the evil reports, apparently circulated by our enemies.”

“Not Commercial Proposition”

Mrs. Walker, who at the time of her connection with the book concern, was Mrs. Lumley, told of her activity in the purchase of a book store in Toledo, which later was sold to the Universal Book Stores company, at the request of Ryerson. Mrs. Walker was unable to explain, she said, the disposition of a check for $2,000 endorsed by herself incidental to the business transactions of this purchase. Ryerson later testified this check was in payment to her for the Toledo store, and that 1,000 shares of common stock in the Universal company was turned over to Mrs. Walker.

Frank Murphy, first assistant United States district attorney, who is conducting an investigation into possible violations of the postal laws by the “love cult,” said Friday, several interviews with persons believed to have been approached by representatives of the Detroit society are scheduled for Saturday. Mr. Murphy was in consultation Friday with E. E. Fraser, post office inspector.

The bankruptcy hearing of the defunct book concern was continued until 10 a.m. Friday.