
Scientology has had a stranglehold on downtown Clearwater, Florida for many years, after they first surreptitiously moved in with a sneaky 1975 purchase of a couple of buildings under a fake name.
More recently, in 2013 we watched them open up their biggest construction yet, an addition to what they call the “Flag Land Base” with the Flag Building, also known more colloquially as the Super Power Building, the red-roofed thing you can see on the left in the rendering above.
The other edifice there, on the right, is another project that the church has been raising money for seemingly forever, and that’s the planned “L. Ron Hubbard Hall,” a huge venue named after Scientology’s founder that we assume will someday become the location for maybe all of the organization’s big international events.
Thanks to one of our readers, we have the latest come-on being sent to Scientologists to get them to fork over cash for this project. But one thing in it really caught our eye.
Lauri Webster, who wrote this fundraising letter, refers to the project as “LRH Hall and museum.”
We seem to recall that the idea of a Hubbard museum in Clearwater was being used by the church as leverage to get concessions out of the city. It was supposed to be located in another area a few miles away, we remember.
Is this a new concept, that the new Hall will also be combined with the new Ron museum? What a magnet for Scientologists around the world that would be.
Get those wallets out, pilgrims!
Dear [redacted],
As you know, for some years now, The Church of Scientology Religious Trust has been working to fund the creation of the L. Ron Hubbard Hall.
The Church of Scientology Religious Trust is the group that funded the Flag Building, thus releasing Super Power, Cause Resurgence Rundown and launching a whole new world for Scientology.
Over 11,000 Scientologists from 85 countries have now joined the drive to support the building that will represent LRH to the world.
The creation of LRH Hall and museum will be from the combined power of many Scientologists to bring this new facility into existence and thus connect the world to Ron. Just imagine what we can achieve, by uniting everyone together with news and international events emanating from this magnificent facility once opened.
There can be no greater gift that you can make that will give all Mankind a chance to know LRH as you do.
Thus, I am asking you to assist in building the new L. Ron Hubbard Hall in our Founder’s honor by making a generous gift.
By making a gift of $25, $50 or more, you are making possible that all mankind will be introduced to Source!
Let’s make this a better world starting right here and right now, what do you say?
And I thank you in advance for your help.
ARC,
Lauri Webster
P.S. Please read the included words from a couple who have chosen to connect the world to Ron!
Bonus items from our tipsters
Meanwhile, speaking of fundraising. Imagine turning over $4.6 million (“46X Humanitarian”) and there’s still no Ideal Org in St. Louis…
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Source Code: Actual things founder L. Ron Hubbard said on this date in history
Avast, Ye Mateys: Snapshots from Scientology’s years at sea
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What could an honest 'museum' show about Lron? His attempt to salt Polly's family farm with gold? His Caribbean expedition that did nothing but waste time and money. His college years (both of them) and his actual report cards. His glorious Naval career? His attempt (partially successful) to get veterans benefits for his mental problems. And of course, his 'I didn't have a second wife' years. The clampire has been called many things, but Scampire seems so appropriate.
"Move up in status today" Why not just sell indulgences or hand out big certificates with a 'you are a superman' legend? Those poor bastards don't even get a nice tee shirt to brag about.
Claire, her earlier spouse, David Rousseau, were the duo team with Hubbard for a short time, I hope in or possibly in Janis Gillham Grady's third book, or her second book, the significance of Claire's upclose dedication to being in the top entourage around Hubbard, she and David were kind of like the Mike and Kima Douglas duo earlier to Hubbard, or like Annie and Pat Broeker were to Hubbard, at the end of Hubbard's life.
Claire watching, IS historically major coverage, something NOT many observers of the whole Hubbard Scientology saga appreciate.
This is a huge snippet of the history of the final decade of entourage persons around Hubbard, and those still alive today, what those former "top" entourage persons' actions and loyalties are today.
Claire kind of is even "higher" in the Hubbard entourage history than is Miscavige. She did duty Miscavige never even did.
To appreciate this pecking order of people who served LRH, she was upclose allowed to be around Hubbard which only those other similar duo pairs, were.
She'd be someone who I hope has told others' stories about her time with David when they were around Hubbard.
Likely Rudy has heard the watered down stories Claire lived.
So if they ever got out, their stories would be interesting to confirm how really odd life with Hubbard was.
EXCELLENT focus on the Rudy and Claire pair, and attention on them, always has this importance.
Janis I hope explains in her books, why the Claire and David pair came to an end, what circumstances resulted in them as a pair, being replaced by the final pair, Annie and Pat.
NOTEWORTHY today's article!!!
On the scale of "LRH facetime cred", Claire's got top clique cred very few ever got.