The Rosicrucian Scandal

this story, which Mathers related gn his magical honour as a 7° = 4° (the highest grade of the Rosicrucian order), was that Mathers saw double. Crowley, however, was not going to judge any isolated story by the general laws of probability, so, bowing gracefully, he and set out to find Allan Bennett, whom he eventually ran down at the house ofa holy Yogi in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo, to hear his account. Allan Bennett's account was les of belief. They had had, he s: id, an argument about the God Shiva, the Destroyer, whom Allan Bennett we use, if one repeated his name often enough, Shiva would one da © and destroy the Universe, and whom Mathers feared and hated because He would one day open His eye and destroy Mathers. Allan Bennett closed the argument by assuming the position Padm: ating the Mantra: “ Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, Shiv: Mathers, angrier than ever, sought the sideboard, but soon retur- ned, only to find Allan Bennett still muttering: Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, Shiva”. “Will you stop blaspheming ?” cried Mathers; but the holy man only said “Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, Shiva Shiva.” “If you don’t stop I will shoot you!” said Mathers, drawing a revolver from his pocket, and levelling it at Allan Bennett's bead; but Allan Bennett. being , and continued to mutter “Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, shipped be v open his concentrated, took no_ noti Shiva, Shiva, Shiva.” Whether overawed by the majesty of the saint, or interrupted by the entry of a third person, Allan Bennett no longer remembered, but Mathers never pulled the trigge It only after this interview, which did not take place till August 1901, that Aleister Crowley definitely decided against Mathers. Is this account accurate? MATHERS. “ My account is accurate.” Scorpio, K.C. You really ask his Lordship to believe this yarn about Abramelin demons ? Mavuers. Yes. Scorpio, K.C. With regard to Dr. Wynn Westcott, now: was he your colleague? Marners. Yes. Scorpio, K.C. Was his name printed on the MSS. of the Order of the Golden Dawn as the person to whom they should be returned in case of the owner’s death or disability? MATHERS. Yes. : Scorpio, K.C. And these MSS. contain practical instructions for raising devils, making yourself invisible, transforming men into animals, making gold, making rain, and all the other fabled arts of sorcerers? MATHERS. Yes. Scorpio, K.C. In shor you and Dr, Westcott were teaching the vilest practices of black magic? Matners. Yes. Scorpio, K.C. You quarrelled with Dr. Westcott? MATHERS. Yes. Scorpio, K.-C. You were jealous of his authority? Martuers. Divided authority : s no authority.