A Genealogy of the Extraterrestrial in American Culture

in cases of contact with Others. Ballard’s contacts also usher in an era in which such contacts
are increasingly with creatures from other planets—an ongoing embodiment of the Other’s
home.
By the late 1930’s, Guy and Edna’s ongoing channeling of St. Germain (the predominant
mode of communication was still via occult means—at this point embodied communication was
an emergent mode) drew a following, estimates of which range from one to three million. 184
The
Ballards made a fine living off the adherents to their faith, selling salvational futures, rather than
shares of non-operative oil wells, which had been Guy’s forte prior to the founding of the Great I
Am. 185
Bryan describes the process of tithing at an open public meeting:
Specific references are now being made to the “I AM Love Gift Boxes” located at the
rear of the auditorium. You find later that they are very conveniently and advantageously
placed for the reception of the little “Love Gift” envelope you hold in your hand.
“Dear ones!” says the announcer earnestly. “Blessed Mr. and Mrs. Ballard do
not need these offerings; they are merely for you beloved students to ‘open up channels’
for blessings from the great Ascended Masters.”
The eyes of the announcer again look heavenward as though showers of blessings
had already accompanied this reference to the unseen “Masters.”
“Unless you give freely,” he adds, still very earnestly, “you cannot receive.” Then
very emphatically, “That is the Ascended Master’s law of life!” 186
Thus Bryan reveals the exceptional potential for fund raising implicit in harmonialism. As
previously stated, if you were in harmony with the universe then all good things flowed toward
you. It was the cultivation of sensitivity and occult knowledge (which was provided by some
privileged medium, in this case the Ballards) along with the practice of openness that placed one
in harmony. The openness in this case was cultivated by giving—specifically cash. The Ballards
apparently discouraged the use of copper pennies in tithing, copper being offensive to the
184 Rosemary Ellen Guiley, “The ‘I AM’ Religious Activity.” in Harper’s Encyclopedia of Mystical and Paranormal
Experience (New York: Harper Collins, 1991); Texe Marrs, “I AM,” in Texe Marrs Book of New Age Cults and
Religions (Austin, Texas: Living Truth Ministries, 1990).
185 Guy did, however, continue to sell shares in a gold mine during his years as “accredited messenger,” as well as
borrowing against the caches of gold that St. Germain promised to reveal.
186 Bryan, 8-9.
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