Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to Lt. Colonel John Carter

Ivy Cottage,

Knockholt, Kent.

Nov. 7th, 1929.

Thanks for yours of October 31st. I have had a bad relapse of malaria complicated with cellulitis which keeps me from moving about though I am quite well.

The U[niversal] B[rotherhood] is the most enigmatical society that I know. I am getting some information through other sources but our esteemed fellow-citizen, the bearer of this note, will tell you anything you want to know so far as he can.

The point is that it rather fulfils the definition of the man with the beard who neither smokes nor drinks. The main points are these:

1. Secrecy as to membership is safeguarded with unimaginably strict precautions.

2. The expenses of the organization appears to be actually nil, bar postage. They make their members type out their documents and send them duplicates to be issued to new Enquirers.

3. These emoluments are apparently not spent in riotous living or other avowable channels.

4. There are no stated principles.

We have thus all the conditions requisite for unintelligible and irresponsible power, which is I understand exactly the sort of thing which demands investigation.

What I propose is that a man entirely unconnected with me should be posted as well as possible and work his way as best he can into the organization.

I think I can get the address of one of the big bugs.

Thanks for your reply about my daughter [Astarte], which I will duly take.

[111]