Bare-Faced Messiah (PDF) - Apologetics Index

insisted they should remain unfurled. Some six hundred Scientologists, including Mary Sue and the
children, were gathered in the terminal by the time Hubbard's flight landed. They had to wait while
he sorted out a problem about his vaccinations with immigration officers and two hours passed
before he emerged from Customs, wearing a lightweight suit and sun-hat, looking tired, but
smiling broadly. 'I'm glad to be back,' he shouted as police forced a path through his cheering
supporters to a yellow Pontiac convertible parked in front of the terminal. He sat on the back, waving
presidential style, as the car was slowly driven away.
No one could have asked for a more enthusiastic welcome, although Hubbard was disappointed
that Fleet Street had failed to turn out. Only one reporter was at the airport and he only seemed to
want to ask about the events in Australia, to which query Hubbard snapped, 'That's past history.'
Pam and Ray Kemp were among the first visitors to Saint Hill after Hubbard's return from
Rhodesia. 'He told me everything that had happened,' said Ray Kemp. 'It seems there was a chief
of police who was very bullying to the blacks and Ian Smith was very wimpish. Smith couldn't make
decisions about anything and would rely on the chief of police to tell him what to do. Ron was at
dinner one night with Smith and he warned him that if he continued to be wimpish and not put his
foot down the probability was that he would be assassinated. About two days later there was an
assassination attempt, although I don't remember whether it was on Smith or the chief of police.
The bullet went through his mouth and out the side. Ron somehow got the blame because of what
he had said. That was why he was asked to leave.'[18]
Ken Urquhart got a slightly different version: 'He inferred the problem was that he knew what to do
about the blacks and be became very popular with them. That's why the government kicked him out.
I heard him tell Mary Sue that he had lost £200,000 in investment in Rhodesia.'
Back in the familiar surroundings of Saint Hill Manor, Hubbard had plenty of time to review
Scientology's current situation and prospects. It was a far from rosy picture. Apart from the
problems in Australia and Rhodesia, trouble was also brewing in the United States, where the
Internal Revenue Service was challenging the Church of Scientology's tax-exempt status. In Britain
there was another rash of hysterical headlines when the police found a girl wandering the streets
of East Grinstead in a distressed condition in the early hours of the morning. It transpired she was
a schizophrenic who had been institutionalized before being recruited as a Scientologist.
There were further demands in Parliament for an inquiry into Scientology, to which the Minister of
Health tartly replied: 'I do not think any further inquiry is necessary to establish that the activities of
this organization are potentially harmful. I have no doubt that Scientology is totally valueless in
promoting health . . .'
Scientology even seemed to be wearing out its welcome in East Grinstead, where the locals were
complaining they were being overwhelmed. As if it was not bad enough having strange Americans
walking round the streets wearing badges saying 'Don't speak to me, I'm being processed',
Scientologists were snapping up all available rented accommodation, crowding the pubs and
straining everyone's patience.
'There was a lot of resentment and alarm in the town,' said Alan Larcombe of the East Grinstead
Courier. 'People felt that Scientology could not be allowed to continue expanding. There was a
feeling they were trying to take over - an estate agent, dentist, hairdresser, jeweller's, finance
company and a couple of doctors were all Scientology run. People didn't like it. They felt that if you
had problems you ought to go and have a chat with your vicar.'