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Correspondence from Martha Küntzel to Henri Birven
12 November 1928
Dear Brother:
I would like to explain a few points and discuss your letter of the 30th. You say you are taking up the cudgels in behalf of men of genius; this would be an extremely thankless task if they, like Therion, were being claimed to be all sorts of people awaiting the chance to engage in business with him. (Tranker [Heinrich Tränker] and Grosche [Eugen Grosche] are named.)
I don't know what you mean by the expression reclaimed in connection with Tranker, if the latter's intensive work consists, as you say yourself, of broadcasting the most unheard of calumnies regarding Therion. I have communicated these things to Therion and am awaiting his answer. It seems that letters from him, as well as a very important one from this end have been lost, but I can say that much to you, that the allegation that Therion is being sought by the police in several states is such an infamous falsehood that it must be avenged by all means. It is entirely the style of the thought processes of Tranker. When I called Therion's attention to this a few months ago that Tranker had written at that time to the one still subordinate Lodge that Therion should be arrested the moment he set foot on German soil, he replied I should not get excited over it. Tranker would become silent automatically when he arrived and keep out of his way. That was the sense of the answer—I do not know it literally. He counselled to forget all about Tranker. That this was not feasible is evident from Tranker's actions.
What Tranker says regarding demonical spirits which Therion has sent against Russia is in thorough keeping with his stage of development; he judges everything from his own low viewpoint and invents blood and thunder tales for small children, who cannot yet think for themselves, and there are more of those than vice versa. He figures on the love of sensation of people who will believe ten times more readily in the bad and insane, because it tickles their nerves.
That the works of Therion will never reach the big masses goes without saying. They were not intended for them, but for those who are ready to become leaders of people, in recognition of the scope of the Law of Thelema; for the individual, and finally for the masses. If up to date there has not been a single scientist in Germany who is a believer in Therion, that is only because of the minute possibility of disseminating his works. In the first place those which have been translated are merely small things, and secondly, it takes a man of learning to show his colleagues the way. For that reason I was so glad of your cooperation. I can quite understand that your fine style of work could not progress very fast when you looked through the manuscript, but I have not, I am sorry to say, had a chance to see the final result. There was not a line of correction in what you returned.
That Therion is more for maniacs is also absurd like the rest of it. He has experimented with all the drugs, a fact which can be verified from his diaries, of which I have some thirty in Leipzig, and this is moreover absolutely a matter of course when he wants to write about such things from his own experience, because only he can try those experiments. He is not one of those who can take six books and produce a seventh—a Master must know everything. How else could he help humanity—such as make revelations, etc. That is just what gives such value to his works, that they far surpass all previous ones and that everything of which he speaks is based upon personal experience. It is necessary to have studied his works in order to obtain absolute clarity. In his diary you will also find that which he expects of all his disciples. That is a very clear and sharp self analysis and self criticism without which no progress—which can be obtained by self induced and self devised methods—is thinkable, else one sees oneself in an illusory light. Such a man does not possess the necessary attributes of which he probably is not aware, as you presuppose, but he behaves differently from other people. Have you ever heard of a Master of Wisdom or a World Teacher who asked anyone if his actions were agreeable or disagreeable to people? Or even if these were understood by them? Still whoever wants to judge him from accepted conventions must wonder—that is if he does not understand the Law of Thelema. Those who expected admiration, adulation, etc. from their fellow men make slaves of themselves to public opinion and act very often wholly other than in accord with their own True Will. I have seen plenty of examples of that. The World-Teacher in a way, nails himself with his teaching on a cross.
Now, merely a short word about the mental photography which you deemed advisable to give me. Don't be angry at my saying so, as if it were influenced by Tranker, who also has written the Lodge that Therion had only two disciples in Germany and that they were already so old that they could only shuffle along. There is no doubt that myself and Gebhardi [Otto Gebhardi] were meant. I have laughed heartily over it. For at that time he would have liked me to work for him.
Your opinion of me is wholly wrong. I am not for Therion or his Cause as a sentimental matter, because that is opposed to my mental makeup, which is critical. I cannot see how you can come to such a conclusion. On the other hand I can contribute all I have toward the success of a cause I have found to be true and right and that without consideration of my personality and by ignoring the advantages which I may be compelled to lose in such a case. This feeling in me is an enthusiasm for a great cause and not for a personality. I have no talent for the cult of persons. All manners of sentimentality are far from me. Nor that I have been buffeted about in life too much and I have gone through too many experiences abroad and at home. And how come you to so coolly deny me the understanding of Therion's works? How many do you know? It is not all scientific, and so far as the problems of mathematics are concerned I can get over that. My brother is a professor of mathematics. But because scientific questions are naturally giving me more difficulty, I was so glad to find help in you. You say at last you would consider it under your dignity to divide his "favour" with Grau [Albin Grau] and Grosche. Therion has no favourites. He takes each one for what he is worth.
The moment I hear from Therion I will let you know.
I shall be in Leipzig in another fortnight.
Yours,
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