Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology Subject: Re: DENNIS ERLICH From: inForm@primenet.com (Rev. Dennis L Erlich) Date: 3 Apr 1996 11:03:01 -0700 A Curious Reader: >I,m curious Dennis, like most former Scientologists, what Hubbard was like up >close and personal so to speak. My impression of him overall is that he was >personable when it suited him, very clever and very much the conman. What was >your experience with him and was he what you envisioned when you got to know >him. I'm going to answer you in e-mail and on ars. This material has already been covered, but probably should be restated for the sake of those who tuned in late. Although I corresponded with El Tubbo by dispatch and folder all through 1973-1978, I only was in his presence once. This occurred a day after Rosa and I made the torturous bus-ride from LA to Daytona Beach in late 1975 when we were coming to Flag. The only reasons I had joined the C-org was so that I could get next to "source", learn the tek directly from him, and "read" the man who had done this amazing thing: created all the tek. I had met most of the major tek people in the "field" and found them merely unimpressive, somewhat bright, humans. Ron was obviously "something else". When we arrived in Daytona, we were given the "royal treatment". Room to ourselves. Unlimited free time to roam around (without money). We got to meet all the tek staff. I met Mayo for the first time (seemed unfriendly and cold). I'd already met Jeff Walker when he was on mission to LA Org. (obnoxious prick who knew more about tek than anyone I'd ever met) While roaming through the motels the C-org had rented as temporary quarters for delivery staff until the Ft. Harrison was ready for occupation, I noticed a weird looking guy lurking behind the outdoor elevator shaft. He had a strange hat on, long stringy hair, a weird beard and sunglasses. He was peeking from around the corner of the building, waiting to get into the elevator. The air around him had the weird stillness, the several uniformed staff standing between me and him were sullen and silent, and there was an odd sense of darkness during the day as I watched him trying to hide from view. (cowering?) He ducked around into the glass elevator, taking a couple of c-org staff with him, still obviously trying to be unobserved, and I went on with my business, thinking nothing much of it. Later that same day I asked who the guy was and found out it was Tubby, hisself. I said, "Naw! That didn't look anything like him. This guy had stringy hair and a weird beard." I was told that Tubbo could disguise himself, really turning into someone else (often a bum) and would do so to come among his "subjects" or venture out into the public. At that time the government was looking for him to serve him with subpoenas or arrest him. >Did you ever see any process behind his "research". He'd invent a new rundown off the top of his head. Then he'd put a pilot program together. Gather up the auditors to audit the new programming and some chumps to try the new dreck on. Then, if anyone lived through the experience, he say it was thoroughly researched. Human experimentation was his "thang". >Did Hubbard actually >come to believe his own bullshit? Yes. That was an essential part of it. He had to believe it, and he had to get others to believe it and agree with him. In this way he really believed he could CREATE reality. What was true for him, became reality. If enough others agreed, it would become real for the whole world. Was he right? Not if I can help it. >I,ve heard he was raving about body thetans >etc near the end. So we've been told. I believe it. >Do you know what ever became of Mary Sue and the rest of >the family. Poodleboy ripped the church off from Bill Franks and then moved Mary Sue and the kids out of the game with a carrot and a stick. The carrot: income for life (though not royalties from Tubbo's writing). The stick: stay out of the running of the cult, "... or else." >How did Miscavige gain control and why did Hubbard trust him? The CMO brats were right next to His Rotunditude during the late 70s. They were his personal servants. All communications to him were stopped by them and filtered. He got only *their* approved view of events in the orgs. As the 70s wore on, Tubby became less and less coherent; flashing in and out of reality. After the formation of Watchdog Committee, his input was eliminated completely. The command structure was simply changed by the poodle. >Who >was considered the most likely to succeed Hubbard around the time of his >death? It's not a matter of "most likely". "Source" had made clear choices for his successors. Bill Franks was appointed by Tubby to be Exec. Dir. International (For Life). This was tantamount to naming Billy the cult's administrative successor. David Mayo was appointed Senior C/S International: tek successor to "source". It was clear that Tubbo was getting ready to kick in the late 70s. >Please forgive so many questions. Nothing to forgive. Thanks for the interest. >I know you must be very busy so even >if you can point me to some answers i'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance. No problem. Can someone please point him to more details about these things? Rev. Dennis L Erlich * * the inFormer * *