THE NEWS CHRONICLE

London, England

2 April 1948

(page 1)

"The Great Wild Beast"

Council Discuss a Funeral

The rites practiced at the cremation here last December of Aleister Crowley, who called himself “The Great Wild Beast,” were denounced at a town council meeting today.

Councillor Tom Cullen declared: “Whether agnostic, atheist or Christian, we do not like to see consecrated ground so desecrated.”

Councillor H. J. Robin, chairman of the committee responsible for the crematorium, said: “We have taken steps to prevent such an incident happening again.”

“Pan, Pan”

During the cremation service a man recited extracts from Crowley’s own “Magick in Theory and Practice.” They included a hymn to Pan, Collects from the Gnostic Mass and an anthem.

There was also an excerpt from Crowley’s “Book of the Law” (which he claimed to have written at a spirit’s dictation): “There is no law beyond ‘Do what thou wilt.’ ”

The mourners murmured, “Pan, Pan.” A tall woman sobbed.

[Crowley, born of a Plymouth Brethren family at Leamington, was accused during his 72 years of life of black magic, raising devils, strange rituals and drug-taking. He claimed to be able to make himself invisible.]