THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD

Auckland, New Zealand

11 February 1930

(page 12)

LECTURE BANNED.

OXFORD POETRY SOCIETY.

AUTHORITIES INTERVENE.

LONDON, Feb. 4.

A lecture by Mr. Aleister Crowley before the Oxford Poetry Society on Giles de Rais, the fifteenth century magician, and the original “Bluebeard,” was cancelled by the secretary, who stated that the authorities had banned it.

Mr. Crowley told the Manchester Guardian that he believed the trouble was due to a report that he was responsible, directly or indirectly, for the death in Sicily of his secretary, Raoul Loveday, an Oxford undergraduate.

“Perhaps the lecture was banned because de Rais is said to have ritually murdered 800 children.

“A false accusation has been made that I have not only killed, but eaten, children,” said Crowley.