A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF L. RON HUBBARD1. PRO News 04-1970, 1-4.]
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HUBBARD, Lafayette Ronald, author, explorer; b. Tilden, Neb., Mar. 13, 1911; s. H.R. & Ledora May (Waterbury) B.S. in Civil Engineering, George Washington U.
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SCIENTOLOGY AND DIANETICS
L. Ron Hubbard describes Dianetics and Scientology in this light: “It was inevitable that a man who spent his youth in Asia and who studied at the mathematics and physical science of the West would become interested in the mind, and any such man combining what he knew would probably have discovered Dianetics and Scientology.”
“Dianetics is that branch of Scientology which deals with mental anatomy.”
“Scientology is an organized body of scientific research knowledge concerning life, life sources and the mind and includes practices that improve the intelligence, state and conduct of persons.”
That Dianetics and Scientology have contributed something is attested by the fact that by them we can raise the intelligence quotient of a person about one point per hour of processing (simple mental exercises) — a thing which was considered impossible a few years ago. Their stress is on ability and, with them, the general skill and efficiency of a person can be raised and the raise can be tested by very severe regimens and can be found to be stable.
There are many thousands of people using these subjects professionally in the world, and many others of the healing professions have used these skills more or less without credit.
Concerning sudden recoveries from illness, L. Ron Hubbard said, “I saw miracles in India and China done by holy men, but long association with them convinced me that they didn’t know entirely how they did it. I set out to find out from nuclear physics a knowledge of the physical universe, something entirely lacking in Asian philosophy. I made a few discoveries and we have been applying them. I believe any student given a similar background could have done the same thing. I just happened along at the right crossroads.”2
Notes
Hubbard, L. R. (1970). A Brief Biography of L. Ron Hubbard. [Hubbard biographical sketch ↩
Do not re-mimeo
Print for PE2
Use in the Magazine
2 copies to each Central Org
PE HANDOUT
The following releases should be attractively letter-pressed on small individual sheets and are each one a part of the Auto Eval Packet, HCO Policy Letter March 2, 1961.
IMPORTANT: This is “What is Scientology?”, the release required to be given PE Test people as per HCO Policy Letter of March 2, 1961, No. 3 of eight items.
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Newton, Sir James Jeans, Einstein, have all sought to find the exact laws of human behavior in order to help Mankind.
Developed by L. Ron Hubbard, C.E., Ph.D., a nuclear physicist, Scientology has demonstrably achieved this long-sought goal. Doctor Hubbard, educated in advanced physics and higher mathematics and also a student of Sigmund Freud and others, began his present researches thirty years ago at George Washington University. The dramatic result has been Scientology, the first major and complete breakthrough by the exact sciences into the field of the humanities. Although taken from the material sciences, Scientology is dedicated in the finest tradition of human dignity and freedom espoused by brilliant men in all periods of Man’s ascendancy over his relationship to the animal. The laws of this science proved to be startlingly simple when found, well within the grasp of the average person. It is a tenet of Scientology that this knowledge belongs to Man, not in the forbidding halls of learning. It is the science of the Man, the Woman and the Child in the street. It belongs to us, the People, not to any vested interest on Earth.
Scientology means the “study of knowledge”. Scio is knowing in the fullest sense of the word, and logos, study.
Scientology is today the only successfully validated psychotherapy in the world. Tens of thousands of completely documented cases exist in the files of the Hubbard Association of Scientologists International.
Scientology has many “firsts”. These include:
Scientology is a precision science. It is the first precision science in the field of the humanities. Yet it is sufficiently simple and rapid that where it requires twelve years to train a psychiatrist, eight weeks of heavy Scientology training can permit a person to achieve results. However, for a truly skilled Scientologist, the training period, for a doctorate in the subject, is usually not under five years and has been ten years.
Ample records exist to substantiate these firsts. Further, the results of Scientology are easily demonstrable claims that can be duplicated by competent practitioners at will using Scientology principles correctly.
The first axiomatic construction of the basic laws of thought and behavior in Man.
The first science to isolate the life unit that perceives and generates energy, a discovery comparable to the isolation of the nucleus in atomic physics.
The first science to prove that IQ and intelligence can be improved and are not inherent in a person.
The first science to discover and isolate the reactive or subconscious mind.
The first science to isolate and classify accurately the twenty-four parts of the human mind. Previous to Scientology only the brain, the body, Freud’s subconscious and Pavlov’s Stimulus-Response law were known. Scientology has clarified these four and has discovered an additional twenty parts, any one of them more important to Man in his efforts to bring peace and order to his environment and Earth.
The first science to determine accurately the honesty and potential character of people by invariable instrument means.
The first mental science to subject itself to the most severe validation tests.
The first science to establish a new state or condition for Man which exceeds earlier concepts of Man’s potential. This alone in Scientology remains expensive due to the skilled attention it requires but is usually a quarter the price of an analysis.
The first science to put the cost of psycho-therapy within the range of any person’s pocket book. A complete Freudian analysis cost three to five thousand pounds. Better results can be achieved in Scientology for ten pounds and, on a group basis, for shillings.
The first science to make whole classes of backward children averagely bright using only drills the teacher can do a few minutes each day.
The first science to determine the basic cause of disease.
The first science to contain exact technology to routinely alleviate physical illnesses with completely predictable success.
The first science of mind to prove conclusively that physical illness can stem from mental disturbance, a fact which Freud held only as a theory, and only seldom demonstrated.
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The Code of a Scientologist, under which Scientologists practice, is the most severe ethical code known to physical or mental groups or practices. In addition to other points, a practitioner must return a patient’s fees if therapy is not considered successful. Only an average of one case in all the thousands treated in any year over the whole world ever requests a return of fees and these are immediately refunded.
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The easiest and least expensive way to improve your life is to take a Personal Efficiency Course and then the HAS Co-Audit.
This is the lowest cost effective mental help on Earth.
It is very little trouble to put into effect.
You go five evenings the first week and only three evenings a week afterwards.
By giving help to another person like yourself and receiving help from him you improve your IQ and personality.
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The quickest way to change your graph, raise your IQ and alter your future is to see the Consultant and procure Individual Processing.
A highly skilled and experienced Scientologist will give you fast intensive processing daily for a week or as long as you require.
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It is more costly than the PE route but it is a thousand times faster.
Remember, only Scientology discovered IQ could be bettered, personality improved and one’s fate altered. And Individual Processing is the fastest, surest way.
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– L. Ron Hubbard
(Please note: The article “What is Scientology?” has been entirely re-written by Ron, and this one should be used in preference to the original one which was written in Johannesburg and issued from there–HCO Sec WW)
[Note: Originally issued on 12 April 1961. The 14 April 1961 correction added paragraph 9 on page 196.]
Notes
Hubbard, L. R. (1961, 14 April). PE Handout (Hubbard Communications Office Information Letter). The Technical Bulletins of Dianetics and Scientology (1991 ed., Vol. VI, pp. 90-95). Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, Inc. ↩
“PE” stands for “Personal Efficiency,” a Scientology course for beginners. ↩
HUBBARD ASSOCIATION OF SCIENTOLOGISTS INTERNATIONAL
806 North Third Street
Phoenix, Arizona
June 12, 1954
Better Business Bureau
834 North Central Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona
Gentlemen:
For your interest, the Hubbard Association of Scientologists, an Arizona Corporation, has brought about certain changes in Scientology, and of which we would like to acquaint you.
Scientology is described as a science of knowingness. It is actually a modern approach, using mathematics and physics, to the philosophic subject of epistemology. The goal of Scientology is to bring about greater capabilities in human beings such as increases in recognition, memory, and reaction time. Such a science would of course address various phenomena such as psychosomatic illness, aberration and behavior.
The subject of Scientology is largely the work of L. Ron Hubbard, author and scientist, who began his work in 1932 while a student of nuclear physics at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Hubbard was also trained in psycho-analysis in Washington, D.C. by Commander Tompson, (M.C.) U.S.N. who had studied personally with Freud and who instituted psycho-analysis in the U.S. Navy for use in flight surgery. Hubbard was also trained by Dr. William Alan White, then superintendent of St. Elizabeth’s, the government asylum at Washington.
Hubbard’s interest in the mind was from the standpoint of physical energy and, later, anthropology. A member of the Explorer’s Club in good standing for eighteen years, Hubbard has led several expeditions and has widely studied, in Asia, Alaska and Latin America barbaric cultures for what they might reveal concerning the motivations of humanities. In World War II he served with distinction as a naval officer and was selected to Naval Civil Affairs by reason of his knowledge of the Oriental psychology.
In 1947 Hubbard published a book for the Gerontological Society and the American Medical Association called “Scientology A New Science.” Politely received, the date yet remained unstudied and so unused and Hubbard eventually followed this original publications [sic] with an article in the Explorer Club professional journal. This article attracted the attention of many people, amongst them members of the Russian government. Hubbard saw a need to release his work in more detailed form and, received an offer from Hermitage House, Inc., one of the better publisher of psychiatric texts, he consented to write a formal book.
Here, if anywhere, Hubbard erred. Hermitage House insisted on a popularized version and a more popular name for the subject (Dianetics) and Hubbard, foseeing [sic] no more than a few thousand copy sale, agreed. Hermitage House, altering the manuscript and writing a new introduction (a fact which became the subject of a suit) unwisely chose to publish an article about “Dianetics” by Hubbard in a pulp magazine. Hubbard, as in the case of almost any nuclear physicist, often wrote, for amusement science fiction. Hermitage House desired to capitalize on this fact to gain a sale amongst those who were familiar with Hubbard’s name.
[page 2]
Page 2
The book, called “Dianetics: Modern Science of Mental Health” startled the publishing world, and Hubbard, by climbing high into the best-seller listing of the New York Times and staying there for months. Such instant popularity found Hubbard unprepared for the floods of mail and pleas for help.
Hubbard, interested only in research, financially independent without such royalties, was glad to listen to a proposal from on C. Parker Morgan and his publisher to let them form a Foundation to service this demand. Seven trustees, of which Hubbard was only one, formed on June 1, 1950 the Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation of Elizabeth, New Jersey. Hubbard gave the[?] book and its royalties and returned to his own pursuits.
This organization, however, pressed heavily upon him for lectures and disturbed his own routine. Yet the corporation insisted on growing, forming other corporations in Illinois, California and Hawaii, each with a duplicate directorate.
In November, 1950 Hubbard became convinced that the corporation was not sound and that it would not attain to its professed goal of helping people. He attempted to withdraw his name from it and was variously inveighed against. He had only one vote in seven. Forced to leave it in possession and continued use of his name, he retired in December to Palm Springs, California where he set up a modest research laboratory. Although he did not seek them, many people began to come to him in Palm Springs. This seriously impaired the business of the Foundation such [illegible word] that in Los Angeles for Hubbard charged nothing.
A.E. van Vogt, the principal mover in the Los Angeles Foundation and others were intensely provoked at Hubbard’s withdrawal. Hubbard’s wife, from whom he had been separated, also became incensed at him. For public appearance she had been a Foundation director. With the obvious coming failure of the Foundations and with it a failure of the income she drew from i[?] she threatened Hubbard with public scandal if he did not support the Foundations.
Hubbard, busy writing a new book, refused to lend any credence to these threats or those of the Elizabeth board and went to Cuba where he completed a 125,000 word book in the next many weeks. As their young child had always been under his, not her mother’s care, the child accompanied him.
True to her threats and those of the Foundation trust[?] a great deal of scandal was stirred up. A receivership was gai[?] in Los Angeles by this woman and the trustees to seize control [?] the Foundations and many statements were made to the press.
Hubbard made no statements of any kind during all this period and when he became aware that they had been made, ordere[?] his separated wife to him, had her sign a confession to perjury (copy enclosed) and applied for and received a divorce from her without alimony to her.
Meanwhile the Elizabeth Foundation over which Hubbard had never had power beyond his personality, sold itself to one Don G. Purcell, an oilman in Kansas.
Purcell moved the Foundation to Wichita, Kansas and Hubbard, having completed his book, went to Kansas to settle various affairs.
Considering that Purcell wished only to make money from Dianetics, Hubbard sought to reform the attitude of the Foundation To accomplish this he supported himself in Kansas by writing and lecturing and finally, after a few months, unable
[page 3]
Page 3
to bring about a good public presence on the part of the Foundation and Purcell, he resigned from all connections in early 1952 and refused Purcell and others any further permission to use his name or work.
Purcell’s answer was to file for bankruptcy within one month conceiving that the Foundations could not continue without Hubbard’s support. Purcell bought the Foundations from bankruptcy as his personal property shortly after and continued them in business, but, unable to use Hubbard’s name or additional work, the organization The Dianetics Foundation of Kansas came to exist only as a shell, quite inactive today.
After resigning in early 1952, Hubbard came to Phoenix to visit his parents, liked the city and with his wife Mary Sue whom he married early in 1952, settled here. He opened a quiet office which became that fall (1952) the Hubbard Association of Scientologists. He had reverted “Dianetics” back to its original name, Scientology.
This organization was founded by some five hundred people in various parts of the world who had long been interested in Hubbard’s work. Publishing a few books locally and issuing twice a month, the Journal of Scientology, the HAS has continued a quiet carrer [sic] in Arizona. It has opened up branch offices in Camden, New Jersey and London, England. Th[?] association exists to publish material related to behavior to train qualified people in Scientology.
The HAS is the first organization in the field of “Dianetics” and Scientology to be controlled by Hubbard. It pays its bills promptly as any Phoenix business firm with which it deals can attest. Although any organization dealing with behaviour can attract hangers-on, there has been no consequently of this in the HAS. Hubbard’s policy of quiet, orderly business and investigation is clearly manifested in the gneral [sic] good repute of the HAS in Phoenix.
In so far as possible the HAS has sought to associate itself with steady and reliable people. It does permit its name and the name Scientology to be used by autonomous organizations, Such, called associates or groups, exist in many ci[?] They use HAS materials and pay a membership fee but otherwise have no connection. Whey [sic] they err financially or seem to hurt HAS repute, their membership is cancelled. This has happened recently in Los Angeles. The HAS has no other control over such persons.
The addresses of the HAS are 806 North Third Street Phoenix, Arizona, 507 Market Street, Camden, New Jersey, 163 Holland Park Avenue, London, England. The Camden and London offices are run by committees.
The HAS, under the management of Hubbard, has a two year record of good repute and responsibility. It is aware, as is Hubbard, that the 1950 blatant use of Hubbard’s name by early Foundations has often reflected against HAS progress. It is aware of the mountains of publicity generated by the sudden and strange popularity of a book. The HAS is also awa[?] that it is the first organization controlled by Hubbard and t[?] it enjoys good public reputation as well as good credit. It is content to pay its way, has no great ambition to riches and builds solidly as it goes.
The HAS recently rented quarters at 401-A East Roosevelt and 616 North Third Street. The latter address was once occupied by a psychologist, Dr. Gordon Beckstead, who was in no way connected with the HAS.
Awakening recently to the fact that many of its interested people were ministers, the HAS has assisted them to form churches such as the Church of American Science and the Church of Scientology. Also, when friends of Hubbard in Europe
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pointed out to him that the home organization of psycho-analysis, the Freudian Institute of Vienna, was now in the Russian zone of Austria and desired removal, Hubbard helped finance the organization of the Freudian Foundation of America” to be offered to those in Vienna should they desire to avail themselves of it. In the latter and in the churches, the HAS has no further control or interest.
As Scientology is proving it can do much for disabled veterans and others such as they, the HAS may soon make Scientology available to the disabled as a public service.
The HAS business gross is about $10,000 a month. It has no profits or dividends. It finances the processing, with Scientology of indigent and disabled people.
There is no broadly stated medical opinion of Scientology, mainly because it does not in any way intend or pretend to encroach upon medicine. Its field in [sic] the study of Knowledge itself and its benefits are more closely allied to philosophy and religion than to medicine or psychology. If one “gets well” in the process of knowing more about himself or Mankind the benefit derived from knowledge gained, not treatment received.
Aside from offering public services, the firm two-year policy of the HAS will continue to be followed. To neither defend nor attack on the public stage but to keep [illegible words] house, financially and ethically sound.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors
Hubbard Association of Scientologists
The Golden Dawn
Official Publication of the Church of Scientology
A non-profit corporation incorporated in Arizona, New Jersey and California.
Copyright, 1954 by the Church of Scientology
Price 10 ¢ per copy 1
Issued by the authority of the Board of Trustees.
Editorial office 806 North Third Street, Phoenix, Arizona.
The use of materials and techniques of Scientology, the name Scientology, and the right to use the publications of Scientology by the Church of Scientology are by express and explicit permission of the trademark and copyright owner and may not otherwise be quoted, used or employed. The right to quote or use these may be procured only through the Church of Scientology from the trademark and copyright owner.2
The Golden Dawn
Published by the Church of Scientology
Issue 1-OA
An Invitation to Freedom
Man Can Save His Soul
For countless ages a goal of religion has been the salvage of the human soul.
This article republished with header and cross in Dianetics and Scientology Technical Bulletins, (1991 ed., 2-272.)
Man has tried by many practices to find the pathway to salvation.
He has held the imperishable hope that someday in some way he would be free.
Man has spoken of the second coming of Christ and of the Judgment Day.
America has kept wide the doorway for this salvation by retaining religious freedom.
And here, after these ages of grief and suffering, through terrible wars and catastrophe, the hope still lives–and with that hope, accomplishment.
Man can save his soul. Like the bright cool dawn after a night of prison and of thunder, man can taste that freedom sought so long.
There are those who will say that only after a lifetime of sacrifice and good doing can the soul be free–that God demands conditions in the freedom and that some have the power of making mankind slaves.
But these things too have answers. And all we tell you now is that we can be free.
Many can be free in a few days. The souls of some can be saved in hours. Those deeply steeped in materialism can be salvaged in months or years.
As Christ said, the innocent can first be saved. In a little time, in minutes, the child can be saved. But the rich and the mighty, the enslaver and destroyer would lag behind for years–but they too can be saved.
If the Christian in Rome had been given this news, that his salvation was imminent, he would have believed and rejoiced. But this is not Rome and Christ is two thousand years crucified–a long time–a time to forget, to disbelieve. Today perhaps a church or “man of God” might spit upon Christ himself if he came to call.
What you read here is factually, literally true. The salvation hoped for these past two thousand years is here. You are being told that in this paragraph. And it is true.
It has not come with blares of trumpets or the flare and flash of flame. It has come quietly into your letter box and you aren’t at all sure you should believe it.
And the salvation itself is not done by sudden drama or a walk on a gleaming cloud–it is done quietly, in a chair as part of a group of people like yourself.
And you don’t have to go to heaven or to hell if you don’t want to. You can be entirely free to go anywhere. And you can be immortal and yet have your body, your family, your friends.
We are extending to you the precious gift of freedom and immortality– factually, honestly.
You are a spirit. You are your own soul. You are not mortal. You can be free.
The arms of God are open to you.
To be well, to be happy, to be free, you have only to come to one or several of our group meetings. It may be you have lived with such an appetite that you will require much more time; however that may be, freedom is yours.
You will have to pay for your freedom, but only as much as you wish, for with that sum in this material world we can make another free.
It may be you will wish to linger and help others to be free. That will require that you study and work.
We embrace all denominations, faiths and colors. We work with the believer and the unbeliever alike. Part of your freedom is your right to belong to any church. Not only do we hold your right to worship to be sacred, we may also insist you do not change your faith or leave the congregation to which you belong.
Scientology is the science of knowing how to know. The mysteries of existence lie, in Scientology, before men’s eyes. The doctors of divinity trained in Scientology know how to know and they know, too, how to set you free from pain, from grief, from suffering, from the endless despair of this vale of tears.
We will not mislead you. We have as part of the Code of a Scientologist, “(3) To refuse to accept for processing and to refuse to accept money from any person or group I feel I cannot honestly help.” Scientology can free the human soul and deliver the body from pain.
Man can save his soul. We know how. If man does not want to be saved that is a decision man must make, each one for himself. You have been invited. You will be accepted. If you do not care to be accepted, that too is your freedom.
Heaven waits.
At least we have shut for some, the yawning jaws of hell.
L. RON HUBBARD
Founder
Hubbard, L. R., (1954). Invitation to Freedom. The Golden Dawn, 1-0A, 1-4.
