Aleister Crowley in America

by Tobias Churton

  Bureau of Investigation agent Frank O’Donnell summarized the October 11, 1918, examination in his report on Crowley’s alleged “Radical Activities,” submitted July 30, 1919.

  Under questioning, Crowley stated that his full name is Aleister St. Edward Crowley; that he was born in Leamington, Warwickshire, England; that he is still a British Subject; never having sworn allegiance to any other country. He stated that by occupation he is an author, having written about forty books of poetry and a large number of treatises on mysticism and kindred subjects and that he has from time to time contributed to various newspapers and periodicals on a number of subjects. He stated that he had always resided in England up to the beginning of November, 1914 when he came to this country aboard the [actually RMS] Lusitania. He had had two addresses, one in London and one in Scotland but that the war had broken up his business as a result of which he stored his furniture and stock of books and came to this country. When he came he had intended remaining only a fortnight but that the original business deal which was the primary cause of his coming here had broken down and he had therefore started out to make a new career in this country. After detailing certain information concerning his business connections, bank accounts and agency representatives in England, Crowley stated that finding himself in financial difficulty here he had been able to keep afloat by selling certain articles of value which he had brought over with him and had then obtained employment on the staff of the publication known as Vanity Fair, writing at the same time for other magazines. Coming to the point of his financial and banking connections in this country, Crowley, however, admitted opening an account at the Harriman National Bank, this city, which he maintained only a short time. He afterwards opened an account at the 5th Avenue Bank. He was compelled to close this account by reason of what he terms certain trouble had with the bank through the foolishness of a man named Stewart [“Stuart X”; Henry Clifford Stuart] down in Washington. The reason for the bank requesting him to withdraw his account, Crowley stated, was to be found in the following incident. He had arranged into an arrangement with Stewart [sic] to advertise a book for him and Stewart had given the address of the bank, to which replies to the advertisement could be addressed. The bank people became annoyed at the large amount of mail resulting from this arrangement and decided not to be bothered with him. From that time until August 6th this year (1918) Crowley stated he had had no bank account. On the last named date he opened an account with the Title Guarantee and Trust Company under the name of Ordo Templi Orientis which is a fraternal organization and in which Crowley is interested. Crowley states that the order is a very old one and that he is Grandmaster of same, having been connected with it for the past seven or eight years. He states the order, while existing in various parts of the British Empire has been held in abeyance on account of war conditions and that he has just organized a branch in this country. He states the funds of the organization deposited with the Title Guarantee and Trust Company are the proceeds of the sale of property of his in Scotland. He states while the funds are really the property of the order, he has a right to draw on them for the organization’s purposes and that he feels responsible for them. The funds, he said, were transmitted from England through the New York law firm of Lord, Day and Lord, they being correspondents of Subject’s lawyer in Scotland. Since residing in this country, Crowley has made his abode at different times at the following addresses:

  The Hotel St. Regis, Hotel Wolcott, 40 West 36th Street, after which he moved to New Rochelle and then to Philadelphia, returning to this state he took an apartment on West 57th Street above the Alps Restaurant, leaving here he spent several months in California, followed by trips through Canada to Seattle, San Francisco and back to New York, when in January 1916 he took an apartment next door to the Harvard Club in this city. He next lived in an apartment on Broadway about 52nd Street and upon vacating which he spent several months in New Hampshire in the Adams Cottage, which was maintained by Evangeline Adams, the astrologer, returning again to New York he remained for two or three weeks at 115 East 26th Street, whereupon he went to New Orleans and resided for the winter at 3402 or 3403 Delphine Street, directly opposite the Delphine Theatre. After this he spent some time with cousins by the name of Bishop in Titusville, Florida, after which he returned again to New York, on this occasion moving into a studio conducted by a man named Leon Engers Kennedy, on 5th Avenue, the number of which he does not recall. About this time he became associated with the publication known as the International. Up to the past summer, he had resided at 64 West 9th Street. During the past sum-mer he lived on Esopus Island on the Hudson. During his stay at the last named address, he was visited by the following: Rowdie [sic] Minor, 134 West 15th Street; Mr Stansfield [sic] Jones, 136 West 11th Street and a Mrs. Madeline [sic] George, formerly of the hotels Seymour and Biltmore. At this time (October 1918) Crowley stated that he was negotiating with the Universal Book Stores at Detroit, Michigan, trying to arrange a contract with them by which they would take over his stock of books and certain future publications for sale in this country. He stated that he was supporting himself principally through the funds of the Ordo Templi Orientis, previously referred to, to which he feels he is entitled, inasmuch as he was personally responsible for having supplied about nine tenths of the total amount of the money on deposit.

  Questioned further about the order he stated that it was just like masonry and he admitted at the actual head of it was a German, Theodore [sic, should be Theodor] Reuss by name, whom he always thought might have some considerable official position in Germany. This man, he stated, had left England with the German Ambassador, since which time he had been in various places and at the present time (October 1918) he was alleged to be running the Continental Times, an American newspaper, in Berlin and was also running a branch of the Ordo Templi Orientis under another name in Switzerland, issuing manifestos which were pacifistic in tone. He admitted that the lodge of the order in England had been raided and that the nominal head of same, a woman, who called herself a psychic had been arrested as a fortune-teller. He stated no formal charges had been made directly against the order but that he had reason to believe that the people behind the raid, misunderstanding the motives of his association here with George Sylvester Veirick [sic] thought that in that way they could annoy him and break up the organization. Asked again if he knew where Theodor Reuss might be at the present time he stated that he had been told by Mr Haynes [sic, should be Raynes] of the Literary Digest [published on 4th Ave.] that Reuss had come to the Bronx, although he did not believe there was any foundation to the rumor, however he had reported the information, he said to this Department. Crowley admitted that he was very well acquainted with Reuss and that since his departure with the German Ambassador from London he had been corresponding with him. Reuss, he said, was an out and out German and he did not think he would hesitate a moment to use the order for the purpose of disseminating German propaganda if the opportunity offered itself to do so. Crowley then described his endeavors to become associated with the British Secret Service, detailing his dealings with Commodore Gaunt of the British Intelligence Office but admitted that he had never succeeded in obtaining any official recognition. Crowley denied that there was any action pending against him in London that would prevent him from returning to England at any time he wished. Upon asking who was associated with him in developing the Ordo Templi Orientis in this country, Crowley gave the names of Mr. Jones and Mr. Kennedy, previously referred to and added the name of Mrs. Waddell of 97 Elliott Avenue, Yonkers. Mr. Jones, he said, was at one time Treasurer of the order but had resigned this office.

  In conclusion Crowley stated that in negotiating with the Universal Book Stores in Detroit, he was dealing with a Mr. Ryerson and stated that a Mr. Gibson is secretary and treasurer of the Company. Messrs. Lord, Day and Lord, he stated were still his attorneys. Investigation will be continued.28

  In October, the means to publish Crowley’s planned Equinox, volume 3, issue 1—the
famous, and highly controversial “Blue Equinox”—arrived in Gotham. The instrument was Ancient & Accepted Rite Freemason 32nd-degree Albert Winslow Ryerson (1872–1931), referred to above, general manager of the Universal Book Stores, Detroit. Ryerson was accompanying his treasurer William Gibson (also mentioned in O’Donnell’s report) on a book-buying jaunt down the East Coast’s biggest cities. Being occult literature aficionados, they tried to locate Aleister Crowley. Visiting one of his past addresses, they were told that he’d gone and were left clue-less until a janitor spoke up to say that Crowley could sometimes be found at the Brevoort Hotel on 5th Avenue. Leaving a note there, they were contacted two days later by C. S. Jones. Jones screened their eligibility to meet the man they sought. Ryerson would later testify that the cloak-and-dagger stuff was necessary because

  Mr. Crowley was the accredited agent of the British Government in the employ of their Secret Service Department. That was one of the reasons why it was always so difficult to get in touch with him. German spies were continually after him, and he would never allow anyone to see him, unless he first knew who they were.29

  Crowley says in his Confessions that his latest ritual work had somehow come to the attention of the “Supreme Grand Council of the Scottish Rite in the Valley of Detroit, Michigan.” His account was that the council had deputed two princes of the Royal Secret (32nd degree) to interview him. Unimpressed by their rank, Crowley informed them he could only discuss O.T.O. matters with sovereign grand inspectors general (33rd-degree A&A Masons). What they could discuss, however, was his new issue of The Equinox. After three meetings, Ryerson did agree to accept a shipment of Crowley’s rare books from England. Thus, Crowley hoped to resolve the outstanding business he had hoped to settle with John Quinn in December 1914. Ryerson then also agreed to market The Equinox. That apparently settled, Crowley contacted New York’s DeVinne Press to print the vaunted work.

  And then, on Monday, November 11, 1918, a headline appeared in the New York Tribune.

  GERMANY HAS SURRENDERED

  WORLD WAR ENDED AT 6 A.M.

  PART THREE

  ESCAPE

  THIRTY-THREE

  Genius Row

  Painfully aware that he had still not written the promised “comment” on The Book of the Law, the Beast decided that a change of air might help. On November 12 he wrote to “sailor boy” Cecil Frederick Russell to say that he was going down to Atlantic City, New Jersey, and could, if Russell would care to take a day off and “run over” (presumably from Annapolis in Maryland) to see him, be found at the grand six-story Hotel Alamac right on the oceanfront, run very politely and efficiently by popular Rotarian Harry Latz.1 In the event, Russell couldn’t make it, and Crowley found no inspiration for his “Comment.” What he did find, however, was a new friend.

  Nineteen-year-old African American Helen Ruth Hollis was born on August 10, 1899, in Centreville, Maryland, to James Hollis, teamster and ice-plant worker, and wife, Adeline (née Taylor) Hollis. One of ten children, Helen left school after seventh grade and by 1920 was a boarding domestic “working out” in Atlantic City, New Jersey.*188

  It is highly likely that she and Crowley met during his first visit to Atlantic City in November 1918. She appears in early censuses with her family, and in the 1920 census twice, first in Atlantic City on January 2, 1920, as a lodger employed as a servant to a private family, and again on January 16 with her parents in Centreville, Maryland. By 1927 she was living in Philadelphia; a news item in the Baltimore Afro-American for September 24, 1927, reported that Miss Helen R. Hollis of Philadelphia visited her mother Adeline in Centreville. She may have been visiting to introduce her fiancé or husband as she married Cecil Watkins, a “chauffeur” for a grocery store, in or around 1927; he appears in the 1930 Baltimore census with his Maryland-born wife of three years, Helen, who adjusted her age to indicate a 1905–1906 birth. This is consistent with her entry in the 1940 census, where she appears in a Philadelphia boarding-house as a widowed domestic to a private home. Her 1949 Social Security SS-5 application gave her birth year as 1905. Helen died in Philadelphia on July 28, 1989, aged eighty-nine; her Social Security Death Index entry gives her correct birth year as 1899.*1892

  Young Helen undoubtedly took Crowley’s fancy and she would weave in and out of his Greenwich Village apartment in 1919.

  Shortly before Christmas 1918, Crowley received a reply to an invitation he had sent to John Quinn. The great man was now Jeanne Robert Foster’s discreet lover. While Jeanne still occupied her apartment at 300 West 49th Street, with husband Matlack continuing to live with Jeanne’s parents in Schenectady, Jeanne stayed deeply loyal to Quinn, joining him on European tours until his death in 1924. To the end of her days, the memory of Quinn was sacred to her; she hoped she might be reincarnated as part of a “group” including him, and their souls could love in the flesh once more. Judging by the following letter, there were clearly no hard feelings toward Crowley on John Quinn’s part, despite W. B. Yeats’s persistent efforts to blacken Crowley in his patron’s mind.

  December 20, 1918

  My dear Crowley,

  I received yours of December 17th.

  Thanks for your wishes about my health.

  I am getting along well, I hope, but I am going out very little and declining invitations generally.

  I am leaving on Sunday, for a week or ten days, for Illionois, to visit a dear old Uncle of mine, seventy-six years of age, a Catholic Priest out there, whom I am very fond of.

  Perhaps some time later in the winter it might be possible for me to have a look at your pictures.

  Trusting the New Year will be a satisfactory one,

  I am

  Sincerely yours,

  John Quinn3

  4319 Spring [Greenwich Village phone exchange; date: about April 1919].

  My dear Quinn,

  Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.

  I have now got my pictures more or less ready to show you—any day will suit me as long as I know beforehand.

  Love is the law, love under will.

  Aleister Crowley4

  The above letters indicate clearly one of Crowley’s greatest postwar interests: becoming a painter. His artistic odyssey kicked off properly in early 1919 in the encouraging atmosphere of Greenwich Village. One wonders if Crowley did not feel competitive with Leon Engers Kennedy at this time; announcements about their paintings closely coincide. The Atlanta Constitution reviewed Engers’s Psychochromes on January 5: “Have You Had Your Soul Painted Yet? The Newest After-the-War Art and Its Astonishing Translations of Life.”

  Quinn was of course the astute collector, connoisseur, and patron of modern art, so it is a shame that we do not know what he thought of Crowley’s paintings, though one suspects it would have been hard for him to surmount his prejudice given his expressed denigration (to W. B. Yeats at least) of Crowley as a minor poet (whose work he had nonetheless shelled out $500 for). It was big of Crowley to make an overture to Quinn again in view of Quinn’s unwillingness to help with Crowley’s 1917 affidavit and, if Crowley knew, Quinn’s great love for Jeanne Foster, who seemed at last to have found her ideal object of devotion, despite marriage to Matlack, Quinn’s age, declining health, and impotence; Quinn would undergo an operation for cancer in February 1919.

  Fig. 33.1. Photo taken in Paris, 1923, by Jeanne Robert Foster; left to right: Erik Satie (composer); John Quinn; Constantin Brancusi (sculptor); Henri-Pierre Roché (art collector, dealer of avant garde art; author of Jules et Jim, 1952)

  On January 2, 1919, Crowley wrote to Russell at his lodgings at 33rd Street and 7th Avenue near Penn Street station (now Muhammad Ali Way). Crowley seemed keen to teach Russell, but precisely what is unclear.

  You certainly have the most extraordinary ability to get the meaning of what you read. I think the epitome you give is admirable. The question now arises, what about the practical side of all this?

  I should like to see you Friday or Saturday for lunch. The Brevoor
t seems to be having labor troubles, but we could walk up to Luchow’s. Will you ring me up as soon as you get this, and let me know whether either of these days suit?5

  Ensconced in his apartment at 1 University Place, Crowley probably considered his casual romance of the time centered on Helen Hollis, to whose family home in Centerville, Maryland (across the Chester River, east of Annapolis), he wrote on January 6: “I was so glad to get your letter this morning . . . perhaps you will be in these parts before very long.”6

  He probably thought of getting Helen to sit for him as he had paint on the brain. In the event, Crowley’s romantic life took an entirely unexpected swing, and with it, his art. Within days of writing to Helen Hollis, Marianne (or Marian) Hirsig turned up at his apartment with younger sister, Leah, then living at a five-story apartment at 1199 Boston Road, on the corner of East 168th Street (still standing), between Harlem and West Bronx. The Hirsigs’ ostensible reason for coming was to seek advice about accommodation as Leah wanted to quit her job as music teacher at Public School No. 40 for a law course at New York University. Again, Crowley found Leah intriguing and began to remove her clothes as Leah warmed to him like a cat by the fire. Before they left, Crowley suggested that Leah pose for him or even join him at University Place as a lodger if all else failed.

  To Crowley’s surprise, Leah turned up on January 11 and sat for him. He tried a pencil sketch of her nude but found the apparent simplicity of the human form a near impossible challenge. However, after having cast his sketch aside, looking at it again later but turned horizontal, he seized on another possibility, and putting two and three together got hold of his unpainted “bedroom” screen and conceived a triptych with an image of Leah, distorted as a “Dead Soul” surrounded by other “dead souls” and images inspired by Robert Winthrop Chanler’s screens and Leah’s expressed wish to be painted as a “dead soul.” In the process of painting, Crowley found himself cohabiting with the lady he would call the “Ape of Thoth,” or Hermetic mouthpiece.