Bare-Faced Messiah (PDF) - Apologetics Index

Hubbard's blossoming omnipotence was bolstered by the stately fashion in which he now
travelled, always first-class, usually accompanied by a faithful courtier and greeted at every
destination by an awed welcoming party of admirers. In October and November 1960 he visited
South Africa to lecture Scientologists in Cape Town and Johannesburg; in December he flew to
Washington DC, spent Christmas and the New Year there, returned to Johannesburg to deliver
more lectures in mid-January, and arrived back at Saint Hill Manor towards the end of February
1961.
In March, Hubbard announced the launch of the 'Saint Hill Special Briefing Course' for those
auditors who wished to train personally under his auspices. The cost of the 'SHSBC' was £250 per
person and the first student to enrol was Reg Sharpe, a retired businessman who had become so
enamoured with Scientology that he bought a house in the little village of Saint Hill, adjoining the
estate, in order to be close to Ron. For the first couple of weeks there were only two students on the
course, but more soon began to arrive from around the world, lured by the promise that 'Ron,
personally, would discover and assess with the aid of an E-meter' each student's goal 'for this
lifetime'.
Mary Sue, who was the course supervisor, also held out the prospect of material rewards: 'I want
you to make money. If any one of you cannot conceive of an auditor driving around in a gold-plated
Cadillac or Rolls you had better reorientate yourselves. I like the idea.[9]
As the numbers on the Briefing Course increased, accommodation became a problem. The
greenhouses where Ron had conducted his pioneering horticultural experiments were demolished
to make way for a 'chapel' which in reality was used as a lecture hall. Other buildings went up
around the manor without a moment's thought for obtaining planning permission - Hubbard's
strongly held opinion was that what he did on his own land was his own business. It was a view
the local authority was disinclined to share when someone pointed out what was going on at Saint
Hill and Hubbard was eventually prevailed upon to employ an architect and apply for planning
approval like everyone else.