Bare-Faced Messiah (PDF) - Apologetics Index

lackhearted politicians, no matter how much power they seem to ally themselves with, can stop
our thoughts or our communications . . . We will be here teaching and listening when our
opponents' names are merely mis-spelled references in a history book of tyranny.'
Despite his apparent confidence, Hubbard recognized that Scientologists needed a boost to their
morale in the face of the concerted attacks from the media following the Anderson report. In
February 1966, rumours began to circulate among Scientologists that one of their number had at
last achieved the fabled state of being 'clear' (Sonya Bianca's performance at The Shrine in Los
Angeles having been long forgotten). To become 'clear' was still the goal of every Scientologist, but
it was proving an extraordinarily elusive one. New levels of processing were continually introduced
at Saint Hill, each with the promise that it would result in 'clearing', only to be replaced by another
level and yet more promises.
Among the students completing the Level VII course in February 1966 was John McMaster, a South
African in his mid-thirties who worked on the staff at Saint Hill as director of the Hubbard Guidance
Center. McMaster had been a medical student in Durban when he first came across Scientology in
1959. He had had part of his stomach removed because of cancer and was in more or less
continuous pain until his first auditing session, after which the pain disappeared. Totally converted,
he arrived at Saint Hill to take the Briefing Course in 1963 and was subsequently invited by
Hubbard to join the staff.
After he had graduated as a Level VII auditor, McMaster was sent to Los Angeles by Hubbard to
spread the news of the latest 'technology' being taught at Saint Hill. He had only been there a
couple of days when he received a cable: 'Congratulations, world's first clear'. He was ordered to
return to Saint Hill immediately for a final check on an E-meter by the 'qualifications secretary'. On 8
March he passed the check without a quiver on the needle of the E-meter, proving that he had
completely erased the memory bank of his reactive mind. He was clear!
'It's with greatest joy and happiness,' the qualifications secretary advised Hubbard, 'I have to report
to you that John McMaster has passed the Clear check and no doubt exists that he has erased his
bank completely . . . Thank you for the honour and privilege of checking out the first Clear.'[11]
The excitement this event caused within Scientology was further heightened when the gratifying
word was spread that McMaster possessed all the attributes prophesied by Ron sixteen years
earlier in Dianetics, The Modern Science of Mental Health. Indeed, it was said that the world's first
clear was actually glowing!
The Auditor, the journal of Scientology, trumpeted the joyous event in its next issue and quoted
McMaster: 'It is a great privilege to have been able to follow the stepping stones paved in the wake
of Time by such a man as L. Ron Hubbard, for although I have worked for it, I could never have
realized it without the great gift he has given, not only to me, but all Mankind.' To celebrate the great
occasion, Hubbard proclaimed another 'general amnesty'.
On the same day McMaster was checked out as 'clear', a curious advertisement appeared in the
personal column of The Times: 'I, L. Ron Hubbard, of Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead, Sussex,
having reviewed the damage being done in our society with nuclear physics and psychiatry by
persons calling themselves "Doctor" do hereby resign in protest my university degree as a Doctor
of philosophy (Ph.D.), anticipating an early public outcry against anyone called Doctor; and although
not in any way connected with the bombs of "psychiatrics treatment" or treatment of the sick, and
interested only and always in philosophy and the total freedom of the human spirit I wish no
association of any kind with these persons and do so publicly declare, and request my friends and