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The International Magian Society Not an Order but a Co-Operative Work
Dr. Charles H. Merz, Pres. Sandusky, Ohio
J. W. Norwood, Sec'y 813 Republic Bldg. Louisville, KY
Chief of Intelligence Bureau Department of Justice, Washington D.C.
June 9 1919.
Dear Sir:
In making an investigation for our association (see letter head) concerning one Aleister Crowley, 1 Washington Square, New York City, he makes a remarkable claim of being connected with the "Secret Service"—presumably of Great Britain. Below I quote from a letter written us in answer to queries made of him to one of his friends.
First let me preface the request for such information as you may feel disposed to give us concerning him, if he is on your books, by saying that our society is composed mainly of Freemasons interested in some modern researches connected with the welfare of the Masonic order, tho it has no official connections whatever with it. We are gathering information relative to certain propaganda—pro-German, Sinn-Fein, Bolshevist and I.W.W. etc., which we believe to be enimical to our country as well as to the order of Masons, and a good deal of which seems to be carried on by fakirs professing great love for both. In the course of such researches we had to look into activities of this man Crowley. Hence a letter from him as above mentioned in which he says—
This with reference to his connections with George Sylvester Viereck and to his "proclamation of Irish Independence" July 13, 1915—see New York Times of that date—when he was represented as proclaiming himself president of the Irish Republic, which he denies. Crowley does not seem to have done any great amount of actual harm, but we should like to complete our records in his case if you can favor us. His work has chiefly been carried on under the guise of various "occult orders" of his peculiar manufacture. We have written Scotland Yard a similar request.
Very truly,
J. W. Norwood
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