Question:
I had an aunt who first read Dianetics and became convinced it was the answer to much of what ailed mankind. Here was a man of science who had carefully studied the problems that affected human relationships and had discovered the root of what made unhappy people resort to violence. If we would apply his principals the world would be populated by happy people living in harmony. Peace and plenty would prevail. All we had to do was listen to what he had to say. As it happened the summer of my tenth birthday was unusually hot. I tried to spend as much of it as possible at the community pool, a relic of the 1950's that has long since been cemented over and turned into a parking lot. So it was not with any great feeling of joy at the prospect of improving human relations that I was tucked into my Sunday clothes and taken off to a meeting hall somewhere in the downtown area of Los Angeles. I couldn’t tell you were, but I can tell you that it was a long hot drive made in a 1952 Chevrolet without air conditioning. This was at a time well before most of the Los Angeles Freeway system had been completed and since we lived out on the fringes of the county in what was still considered dairy cow territory, it made the drive seem interminable. As I remember it, we arrived about mid afternoon and the sun beat down on the small crowd gathered outside the front door of an aging facility that was locked up tighter then a drum. No one had the key to the front door and the guest of honor had not yet arrived. Eventually, a rather cadaverous looking gentleman turned up with key in hand. He told us we could go in, but that we were not to touch anything although we could sit down. I remember this in particular because he told the parents he would not have some pack of children leaving greasy fingerprints scattered over his walls and floors. He had no sooner completed his pronouncement when into the room strode a tall, moon faced man with bright red hair. He took immediate command and his first command was to get rid of the children. He rounded us all up, I don’t believe there were more than five or six amongst the group of twenty to thirty adults who had turned out to he Mr. Hubbard, and began his talk by intoning his knowledge of children based upon his research. He told us that we were almost as old as our parents because we were nothing less than ancient beings inside little bodies. I don’t remember all of his words, but it is hard to forget someone proclaiming that although your just a kid, you are in reality an ancient being in a brand new body. I can see the reddish complexion in his cheeks, and the little blue veins standing out around his eyes and across his nose. As the years would unfold the ruddy complexion diminished and the veins would become more pronounced, but at that moment what I remember most was that he perspired greatly. That his shirt was already damp around the collar and armpits. Hubbard was prone to the use of cologne which he applied liberally and I thought he smelled bad.

Answer: Thanks so much for this wonderful recollection of your memories. This is a rich piece of history that helps to illuminate the beginning of Hubbard's cult of scientology. Unhappiness, disappointment and stupidity are certainly key points to the myriad of emtions that I felt both during and after having participated in the scam. This is despite that, even you as a child knew there was something not right with it and I all along, kept noticing red flags and wondering why the rest of the story behind those red flags never seemed to reveal themselves. At least not until I found by chance, Arnie's site on the internet. I'm grateful that we can communicate this to each other including those who are just lurking on ARS. I hope you aren't leaving for long. Take care of yourself.