Aleister Crowley Diary Entry

Tuesday, 24 June 1924

die Tuesday.

1.30 A.M. During the last 3 days I have had two "royal" dreams—one of Julius Caesar (I think—can't remember exactly) the other of some man, not actually crowned, of whom I said, "He was more a king than any of them". Again I cannot think of the name. There was also a third dream in which I myself was asserting my kingship in some way—as Poet and Magus, I seem to remember. The series is not as clear as it has been often in the past; but the idea of kingship is less crude.

Note. How neatly the Gods have synchronized the murder of Matteotti (which should lead to the execution of Mussolini) with O.P.V.'s [Norman Mudd] work to vindicate A.C. Now what of Beaverbrook [Lord Beaverbrook], James Douglas, and G.C. Jones [George Cecil Jones]? Etc.

     Sir,

     Being uncertain of the present address of Mr. Geo. Cecil Jones (a member or fellow as I understand of the Chemical Society) and otherwise inhibited from communicating directly with him, I request you to bring the following facts to his notice. (1) He has been accused of "deliberately driving to the point of death" Mr. Edward Alexander Crowley, the founder (and a beneficiary) of a trust at present administered by him. (2) The gravity of the charge is such that it would appear antecedently unlikely to be true; the well-wishers of Mr. Jones therefore urge him to offer an alternative interpretation of the established facts. (3) The principal facts in question are as follows: (a) Mr. George Cecil Jones became acquainted with Mr. Crowley (who is two years junior to him) in the Autumn of 1898, and introduced him to a secret society (the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn) whose object was the study and practice of Ceremonial Magic. (b) Mr. Jones, holding high rank in this Order, procured the initiation of Mr. Crowley to it on November 18, 1898. (c) The two men worked constantly together at the evocation of demons etc., whenever circumstances permitted, for many years. (d) In September and October 1906 the reconstituted the Order, which had become disorganized, owing to the disgrace of its former chief, Mr. S. Liddell Mathers, and such scandals as the Horos Case (1901) when two persons claiming authority in the Order were sent to penal servitude for 7 and 14 years respectively. (e) In April 1911 Mr. Jones brought an action for libel against "The Looking Glass" which (on his pleadings) had accused him of sodomy. The jury found that the libel was to this effect, and was justified. (f) Mr. Jones attempted at this time, and thenceforward, to minimize his connexion with the Order. Since December 1909 he had been inferior in rank to his colleague, who in that month became one of the Secret Chiefs who govern the whole body of Initiates, and thus Mr. Jones' Master. (g) Some time previously, Mr. E.A. Crowley had appointed Mr. Jones co-trustee with the late Mr. O. Eckenstein [Oscar Eckenstein] of a settlement of between £5000 and £6000, himself and certain other parties to benefit therefrom at the discretion of the two Trustees. (h) This settlement only came into active operation in 1916. (1) Mr. Eckenstein was stricken with mortal sickness in 1919, upon which Mr. Jones took immediate steps to break off relations with the Founder of the Settlement, but retained his Trusteeship. (j) He has persistently opposed or evaded the appointment of a new Trustee on the death of Mr. Eckenstein, and had refused to resign. A. It is contended that he has no right whatever to handle the Fund in the absence of a colleague, that his actions are null and void, and perhaps (considering his motive and conduct) criminal. He has evaded the presentation of any account of the administration of the Fund. He has refused to communicate in any way with the Founder, whose absence from England (save at rare intervals) sickness and poverty have prevented him hitherto from taking legal steps to enforce his rights. (k) In March 1924 Mr. Jones learnt from Professor Norman Mudd (M.A. Canb, from 1912 to 1923, Lecturer in Mathematics at Grey University Bloemfontein S.A.) that Mr Crowley was lying seriously ill in Paris, having undergone two surgical operations, and in immediate danger of actual starvation. Mr. Jones evaded inquiry until forced by the intervention of Messrs. Parker Garrett and Co (St. Michaels Rectory Cornhill) at the urgent instigation of Mr. Austin Harrison, late Editor of the English Review. (1) Mr. Jones at last consented to send £10 through Maitre Goriaud 16 Place Vendome Paris. Dr. Jarvis [Dr. Charles Jarvis] of the British Hospital, Paris, and a French Physician Dr. Mallet, sent certificates to Mr. Jones stating that Mr. Crowley would be unable to work for two months, and urgently needed rest. (m) Mr. Crowley, though hardly able to walk, was turned out of his hotel on May 1. The British Consul General in Paris telegraphed Mr. Jones urging immediate relief. (n) Mr. Jones then sent no less than £85 to Maitre Goriaud to pay the debt due to the hotel. The proprietor, who had known Mr. Crowley for 15 years, agreed to accept 3 notes at future dates for a large part of the account, so as to allow his client to recover his health. (o) Despite the most urgent appeals, (1) from Me. Goriaud himself (2) from Mr. Mudd (3) from Mr. Crowley Mr. Jones has positively refused to allow a single penny of this £85 to be paid to Mr. Crowley. Nor has the account of the Hotel been otherwise settled. The cash, the notes, and the security (valuable property in baggage) are all withheld from Mr. Crowley, who is denied all redress and Mr. Jones pursues his policy of evasion. Apparently in the hope of covering his retreat on learning that Mr. Crowley's friends had arranged to supply him with food and lodging for a time, Mr. Jones has sent a sum of £2 weekly for the last five weeks, for the maintenance, medical attendance, and nursing. He sent nothing whatever so long as Mr. Crowley was in imminent danger of death. (p) Mr. Jones has a most important personal interest in the death of Mr. Crowley, his Master. (1) He supposes that in that event it would be more difficult to call him to account for his conduct in regard to the fund. (2) He supposes that in that event he would automatically succeed to the control of the Order, which he could at once turn to financial benefit by prostituting its principles: in any case the power thereby conferred is immense, and has been the real object of his whole life. (Mr. Crowley spent from £80,000 to £100,000 to attain his present position). (3) He may suppose that he would in that event be able to exploit the principle practical secret of Magic, he being a chemist by profession, and the secret concerning an electro-chemical formula. At present he is prevented by prudential considerations of discipline. (4) He may reasonably, though wrongly, fear the appearance of his Master's Memoirs, which might be delayed, and the contents modified, in the event of that master's death. (q) The combination of extreme cowardice with cunning is characteristic of the methods of Mr. Jones, thus making it prima facie not unlikely that he would adopt such tactics with such motive as alleged. Reference is made to the circumstances in which Mr. Jones was discharged in disgrace from the British Army, as the result of an intrigue against his superior officer. (4) Mr. Jones' well-wishers excuse his present course of action on two grounds (1) His father having committed suicide his mental and moral constitution may be feeble. (b) His constant practice of Ceremonial Magic may have damaged his brain. [The following has been deleted:] I appeal to Mr. Jones to vindicate his position without delay, as steps have been taken to make public the above facts.

Oath. The Battle of the Marne (June 23, 1924 e.v.)

They cast their ground-bait on the grey-green water.

Each hour or so (more fortunate than Peter)

They catch a sprat of half a millimetre

They never seem to sicken of the slaughter

To fish may fortify the virtue Hope:

But—is it fair to use a microscope?

Oath.—[Translation of above]

La chasse est ouverte a Microbes—en—Brie

Mais—est—ce Sport, on est—ce tuerie?

Oath.—To the Fishermen of Chelles-Gourmay.

Beware the fury of the two-ounce trout!

 Moreover: does your mother know you're out?

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