Scientology Research

You are here: Home / Archives for DMSMH

DMSMH

by

Article: Letters from the Birth of Dianetics (n.d.)

Those familiar with the life of L. Ron Hubbard as recounted in issues of the Ron Series will recall repeated references to the LRH trail of research through the latter 1940s. Generally touched upon are his 1945 endocrinological studies at an Oak Knoll naval hospital near San Francisco, his 1946 examination of narcosynthesis at a California Veterans Administration, his 1947 work with neurotics from the Hollywood film community and his 1948 treatment of the criminally insane in a Savannah, Georgia institution. Also routinely mentioned is Ron’s first formal description of results in a widely circulated “Original Thesis,” his presentation of discoveries to an American medical and psychiatric establishment, his rebuff from that establishment and, finally, his authoring of a broadly accessible Dianetics handbook in a beachfront rental in New Jersey. Never previously offered, however, is what appears here: the actual correspondence from which we draw so much of the color and detail found in the Ron Series.For example: from the literal road of discovery LRH traveled through these years, comes his most revealing letter to Russell Hays. An author, inventor and gentleman farmer, Hays had counted himself among Ron’s closest friends for more than two decades. Both shared an abiding fascination with primitive cultures, aeronautics and that terra incognita of the human mind — the subject of Ron’s letter here.

Next, and quite in addition to above-mentioned LRH letters to the American Medical and Psychiatric Associations, we offer Ron’s summary description of Dianetics to the Gerontological Society in Baltimore, Maryland. Of particular interest — and found nowhere else — is Ron’s reference to that Oak Knoll experimentation wherein former prisoners of war responded to hormonal therapy only after “the removal of early traumas” through Dianetic procedures.

Although much has been previously said regarding author-editor John W. Campbell’s publication of Ron’s “Evolution of a Science” in Astounding Science-Fiction, here is what Campbell himself had to say on the matter. Here, too, is J. W. Campbell on the forthcoming Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health and what he rightly foresaw as the backlash from a deeply flawed psychiatric community.

Finally, and for a rare LRH description of the actual Dianetics birthplace, comes a second telling note to Russell Hays from the “wilds” of Bay Head, New Jersey.1

Notes

  1. Letters from the Birth of Dianetics. (n.d.). traditionalhubbard.org. Retrieved 28 April 2010 from http://www.traditionalhubbard.org/page06.htm ↩

by

Transcript: The Scientology Wars (Dr. Jolyon West) (1992)

In his life, Ron Hubbard privately expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler more than once. Thus it is not surprising to see how many of Hitler’s tactics he adopted.

Other parallels also suggest themselves. The book Dianetics was Hubbard’s Mein Kampf. Like Hitler, Hubbard was scornful of established religions but made temporary connections with them for purposes of political advantage. Hitler’s alliances with religious leaders exploited common prejudices against Jews. Hubbard’s against psychiatrists. Hitler invoked fears of a common enemy. He called it communism. Hubbard, likewise, the IRS, and many respectable religions who are worried about their tax status. At the same time Hitler promoted fanaticism among his own followers and a mystique that owed more to Norse mythology than to Christianity. Just as Hubbard’s mystique owed more to science fiction cliches than to any established religion. In fact both men were athiests, and enemies of genuine religion.

Hubbard and Hitler were both intelligent, charismatic, energetic and equally capable of ruthlessness and charm. Both were intense, arrogant and profoundly narcissistic, capable of the boldness and decisiveness that often accompany great intensity of purpose and total lack of conscience. Their ability to exploit others was boundless.

For them the end always justified the means. And the end was self-aggrandizement and the intoxication of power. Both exhibited paranoid symptoms at times, but were not clinically psychotic most of the time. Far from it. And the clearcut diagnosis I believe in both cases was psychopathic personality.

Hubbard’s hostile obsession with psychs, that is psychologists and psychiatrists, matched Hitler’s hatred and persecution of the Jews. Like Hitler, Hubbard often accused his enemies of the very criminal practices and warlike preparations in which he himself was engaged.

Neither man could tolerate dissent or deviation from the party line. Both were past masters in the use of the big lie. And both had no compunction about inflicting suffering on others, with no mercy at all for deserters.1, 2, 3, 4

Notes

  1. Wikipedia: Louis Jolyon West ↩
  2. Source videos of this speech not available. Originally retrieved from xenutv.com ↩
  3. Audio files in rm format linked from this page. ↩
  4. Transcript of Dr. West’s speech at the CAN Conference, 1992. ↩

by

FBI: The Hubbard Association of Scientologists International (April 5, 1957)

During March, 1951, the Board of Medical Examiners, State of New Jersey, had a case against the HDRF scheduled for trial on the grounds that the organization was conducting a school, teaching a branch of medicine and surgery, without a license.

by

FBI: Communist Strategy “Brainwashing A Synthesis of the Russian Textbook on Psychopolitics” Internal Security (April 17, 1956)

Captioned booklet has been read and reviewed by the Central Research Section. Several copies of this booklet have been previously received at the Bureau from various individuals, including L. Ron Hubbard, author of “Dianetics, The Modern Science of Mental Health.”

by

FBI: Letter from Scientology executive John Galusha to FBI (1954)

FROM THE FILES OF THE FBI #1241

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

[page 4]

Page 4

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

[signed] John Galusha
by John Galusha, Secretary

Notes

  1. Galusha, J., (1954, 12 June). Letter to the FBI. Retrieved on 19 March 2010 from http://www.xenu.net/archive/FBI/fbi-124.html. ↩