The Rosicrucian Scandal

Matuers. He had an aversion to all such matters amounting to horror. Scorpio, K.C. What was the condition of his health? MarHers. He was a constant sufferer from spasmodic asthma in its most aggravated form. Scorpio, K.C. He took drugs habitually? Maruers. Yes, by the orders of his doctor. Scorpio, K.C. Never for pleasure? MarTuers. Never. Scorpio, K.C. How can you be sure? Matuers. When he left England, the change of climate cured at least temporarily his disease. and he instantly abandoned the practice. Scorpio, K.C. He left you on good terms? MatHeErs. Yes. Scorpio, K.C. And you have never quarrelled with him since? Matuers. Never. Scorpio. K.C. Then why do you detame him now and allow the vilest crimes to be imputed to him? Matuers. Anything to damage Crowley! Scorpio, K.C. Did you quarrel with him ever at the time? MatHERS. Yes. Scorpio, K.C. Let me read you the published account of your quarrel: seen, induced Mathers to put in force the Deadly and Hostile Current of Will, but, as in the case of the Jackdaw of Rheims, nobody seemed a penny the worse. One might have expected that Mathers having failed, Aleister Crowley would have abandoned him. No, for it seemed still possible that Mathers, really in touch with the Supreme Chiefs, had yet finally decided to say with Christ upon the Cross ; “ Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” even though this theory was some- what rudely shaken by Mathers spending the whole of one Sunday afternoon in rattling a lot of dried peas in a sieve under the impression that they were the revolted members : as subsequent events proved, they were only the ideas in his head. So we find Aleister Crowley still loyal, if a little sceptical, and searching within himself to discover a touchstone by which he might prove beyond doubt the authenticity of Mathers’ claim to represent the Masters. Now, there had been a good deal of talk of an adventure that happened to Mathers and Allan Bennett, who was guest in his house, in which a revolver figured prominently; but the story was only vague, and Allan Bennett, who could and would have told the truth about it, had departed for a distant colony. So on arriving in F Aleister Crowley lured Mathers into telling the story, which was as follows: That he and Allan Bennett had disagreed upon an obscure point in theology, thereby formulating the accursed Dyad, thereby enabling the Abramelin demons to assume material form : one in his own shape, another in that of Allan Bennett. Now, the demon that looked like Allan Bennett had a revolver, and threatened to shoot him (Mathers), while the demon that resem- hoot Allan Bennett. Fortunately, before the demons could fire, Mrs. Mathers came into the room, thus formulating the symbol of the blessed Trinity, of which her great purity of character would naturally fit her to be a prominent member. Now, the only probability about He (Crowley) had, as we have bled himself was equally anxious to 7