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APOLLO GURDJIEFF-OUSPENSKY CENTRES bookmarks RENAISSANCE Vineyard-Winery OREGON HOUSE, CA. Alex Horn Founder of "The Theater of All Possibilities" The information posted here is unsubstantiated by direct documentation, it is based on reports and hearsay. It is not intended or presented as absolute fact. Much of it comes second hand from people who talked to those who said they were once members of Alex Horn's "Fourth Way school". The events described take place in the San Francisco Bay area in the late 60's and early 70's, around the time when Alex Horn picked up Robert Burton hitchhiking along the side of the road. Horn's connection to the Gurdjieff Work: It is reported that both Alex Horn and his wife, actress Sharon Gans, were members of Bennett's group. It is reported that Horn went to several public Gurdjieff Foundation meetings, he may have met Lord Pentland once. The following is a short composite image of "The Theater of All Possibilities," Alex Horn's 'Fourth Way School'. This is the school Robert Burton claims to have awakened (become man number five) in after slightly more than year's study. Everything spoken of below is alleged to have happened by people who either claimed to have been in Horn's school, or claim to have contact with people who claimed to have been in Horn's school. The stories are simply being presented here as 'alleged reports'. There are possibly legal records on file detailing these claims, as there were reportedly lawsuits filed against Horn by former members (San Francisco area late 1960s - early 1970s). At one point during the history of this school, it was reported, male applicants wishing to attend a first meeting were required to actually wrestle their way through a guard at the door whose task it was to keep everyone out. Once past this obstacle one might very well be physically assaulted during the meeting. It was reported by someone who went to one of these first meetings that he was punched in the stomach by Horn himself, who then told him that his main problem was that he was a nice guy. The source of some of these stories is the idle gossip that emerges the morning after from the circle of naive young men sequestered around the person of Robert Burton, these stories are supposedly from Burton himself. The 'teaching payments', the required monthly payment of money, was several thousand dollars in Horn's school. If two students had a disagreement they physically fought it out on the spot. To help them awaken, Horn physically beat many of his students to such an extent that some of them were hospitalized. The resulting law suits required that Horn eventually leave the country. Students would be relaxing around the pool, if someone seemed to be "asleep," that is if someone was not remembering himself, he would receive a punch in the stomach. Students would live together in a 'teaching house', when dinner was called any person late to the table would be beaten by the other diners. There was once a party thrown at the vineyard owned by Horn, the students were told that the beer would be on one side of the vineyard and that Horn would be "teaching" on the other side. During the festivities word was sent to the beer side of the party that the students enjoying themselves there were all out of the school. There would be a Saturday night poker game, over the course of the evening as the players were eliminated due to their losses, the 'pot' would grow to several thousand dollars. When the game finally got down to the last two players, Horn would produce a gun and insist that the last two students play Russian roulette for the pot. Unknown to the students the gun would be loaded with blanks. When Horn found out that Robert Burton was a homosexual and had never had sex with a woman, he insisted that Burton and one of the women have sex. Burton met Alex Horn while hitchhiking, he was invited to a meeting and stayed in Horn's school only eighteen months or so. During that time Burton was reportedly literally stabbed in the back by a fellow student. Some say Burton had to leave Horn's school because Horn gave him a task he could not fulfill, most who tell this story refer to Burton's homosexuality. Burton has drawn heavily from Alex Horn's "teaching." Burton's Fellowship of Friends is in large part a copy of Horn's originality. Horn had a vineyard: Burton has an even bigger vineyard. Horn collected art objects: Burton collects art, even deals art. Horn indicated that certain famous personages in history were 'conscious': Burton builds a whole mythology around historical "conscious" figures. Horn would examine the newspaper looking for 'omens' from C Influence: Burton interprets world events and uses these interpretations to make predictions. 1970 Robert Earl Burton, born in Little Rock, Arkansas, the son of a butcher, now 6' 4" tall, over 200 pounds, former grade school teacher, former tennis coach, former member of Alex Horn's "Theater of All Possibilities," is now homeless, alternating between living in a van and house sitting. Psychologically a broken machine after being beaten, stabbed and forced to have sex with a woman, Burton is convinced he is "conscious" and is receiving "shocks," omens, from "higher powers," from C Influence. Like a Hitler homeless in Vienna and fixated on the greatness of Germany and a hatred of the wealthy Jews he sees as he wanders the streets, Burton as well fixates and crystallizes in an unalterable belief in three popular 'urban legends' of the 1970s: 1. There will be another Great Depression (1984), 2. The state of California will fall into the Pacific Ocean (1998), 3. There will be World War Three, a nuclear holocaust (2006). Burton is convinced that he is a "prophet" and begins to seek "students." Though probably delusional, Burton is not stupid, he begins to read everything written on the subject of the Fourth Way. From the literature Burton begins to devise "angles", phrases of 'teaching', that he uses to project at his students through an external demeanor that he calls "intentionality." He soon discovers that this is a very effective method of persuasion. Later Burton even employs professional writers to formulate his "angles." However, in the very beginning Burton can't help from exposing his delusional mental condition, witness this 'angle': Burton: This group will produce three angels, and they will be burned on the cross and will survive. Q. The others are the chaff? Burton: They move to another role, if we take Jesus' words, "Every hair is counted." Remember, those three I spoke of will be literally and worse burned on the cross. Convinced that his "conscious role" is to create an "ark for humanity" in order survive Armageddon, Burton begins his campaign to create a Fourth Way school. EARLY TEACHING After his exposure to the writings of Rodney Collin, Burton began to see the world from a "cosmic scale." Here is an example of Burton's early teaching to a handful of students: "The formation that a human's scale of vision sees as coral may be in reality the earth's set of teeth. Coral is found near shorelines and what we see as waves is, alarmingly, the earth's tongue rolling upon the shoreline. The shoreline, then, would somehow be the earth's lips. As one observes this phenomenon one can easily visualize the waves as a tongue licking the earth's shorey lips. Storms, which are a strong negative force, are created out of hunger by the earth. The variety of organic death they leave in their wake is washed back into the earth's main bloodstream, the ocean." "As one awakens one sees the earth, humans and organic life on earth objectively, and finds one's visual properties are of the scale of an electron microscope. What we take for trees and rivers are, surprisingly, the earth's hair and blood veins. What appears to us as a cloud formation is most probably the earth perspiring. On hot summer days clouds form over mountains, and fog sometimes rolls onto the land masses. Similarly, on hot days beads of moisture emerge from our body or cosmos. We call this noteworthy event perspiration." The Prophet Below is a description circulated by one of Burton's students as he witnesses Burton recognizing indications of a prophecy: "In 1971, Teacher and a student were riding in a relatively new Dodge Dart along Highway 1 near Carmel. Teacher was 32 years old at the time. They were listening to a baseball game on the car radio. As the odometer of the car hit the mileage number "1954", they passed a mailbox which had the name Thompson on it. Teacher indicated that this was a shock, as in 1954, Bobby Thompson of the New York Giants had hit a famous home run in a playoff game (which Teacher had apparently heard on the radio). 44 miles later as the odometer hit 1998, the mailbox on the side of the road showed the number 41211. Teacher indicated that THIS was also a shock which meant that California was going to fall into the Pacific Ocean in 1998 on April 12th at 11 am." UNION '76 Burton believed that the oil company that used the advertising logo "UNION '76" was a sign from C Influence that he, Burton, would "crystallize into a man number six" in 1976. There was an elaborate 'crystallization party' in honor of the event. Actually Burton predicted the exact day that "lightening bolts" would crystallize him as a man number six, however, according to Burton he did not crystallize until three days later, so the party had to be postponed. Remembrances from a follower: "I drove onto the property on the night of that third day, the stars were brighter than I had ever seen them. I knew then that the Teacher had crystallized." C Influence In an attempt to "refine" the essence of a man born an Arkansas butcher's son, Burton begins to rifle through fine literature. Taking a cue from passages in books by Rodney Collin, Burton assembles a list of 44 characters from literature, art, the bible and history. He tells his students that these 44 "beings" exist in a Fourth Way school on the astral plane and spend their time watching his students go about their lives. He also tells his students that these 44 manipulate events in order to "shock" students into consciousness, members of Burton's school are always on the lookout for the number 44 to guide them in their lives. The number 44 is their guiding "sign" in the way that Christians revere the sign of the fish. Burton's 44 conscious beings: Hans Christian Andersen, Fra Angelico, Aristotle, Marcus Aurelius, Meher Baba, Johann Bach, William Blake, Gautama Buddha, Lewis Carroll, Miguel Cervantes, Geoffrey Chaucer, Jesus, Rodney Collin, Leonardo da Vinci, Dante Alighieri, Elizabeth I, Epictetus, Ezekiel, Benjamin Franklin, Johann Goethe, George Gurdjieff, Hafiz, Homer, Horace, Joseph, son of Jacob, Omar Khayyam, Lao Tsu, Abraham Lincoln, John Milton, Michel Montaigne, Moses, Peter Ouspensky, Paul, Peter, Francesco Petrarca, Plato, Rembrandt, Rilke, Shakespeare, Socrates, Solon, Virgil, Vivaldi, Walt Whitman. A quote from Burton about one of these 44: "With Leonardo di Vinci, I feel like I have been in a fifteen round fight and went down to the count in each round." Burton insists that he has a direct relationship with these long dead characters, that they directly interact with him to direct his personal work. Based on this belief Burton and his followers believe that Burton is the only "representative of higher school," of Conscious Influence, on Earth. Burton and his followers believe that C Influence, this cadre of 44 astral characters, will create a nuclear holocaust, Armageddon, in 2006 and that everyone but Burton and company will be destroyed. Burton on Armageddon: [Florence, Italy, Nov. 2, 1982] "Revelations: "...the seventh angel..." After the seventh conscious being appears, Armageddon will come." (Burton believes that his teaching will produce seven conscious men.) [Nov. 3, 1982] "C-Influence will ensure that all that is left of culture will be taken to Renaissance [the Fellowship compound] for posterity." "Florence, Venice, Siena will probably not be bombed. C-Influence has indicated to me that Naples (home of NATO), Rome, and Milan will be bombed. Neutron bombs may be used. (Neutron bombs destroy only humans.) " [Nov. 4, 1982] "We are founding a new civilization." "Armageddon has wrung a school out of the gods." "The only error in Christ's teaching was the statement "my yoke is mild." [Nov. 9, 1982] "My role is to predict the fall of California and Armageddon." "People must come to us for souls." "Don't put money into banks after Dec. 1983." "The depression will work to our advantage, we will go through it unscathed. We are very well prepared for the coming depression in 1984." "California is the artichoke capitol of the world…It means it will choke in 1998." "Haley's Comet is going to ruin it all, this whole decade is not a good decade." [Nov. 11] "We are a very high school on earth, Rembrandt and Goethe are in a higher school. There are angels at this table right now." "The 44th president of the US will be in office at the occurrence of Armageddon, 2006." [Nov. 14, 1982] "After the year 2006, Genoa may be the port where art is taken by ship to the East Coast - from there by existing highways to Renaissance [now called Apollo]." [Nov. 12] "We are the greatest school since Christ's." Obviously some of Burton's predictions failed to materialize. It does not matter to Burton and his 2000 maniacs, it is simply "C Influence testing our faith." CULT CONTROL Soon Burton began demanding 10 percent of his students monthly income, plus other various payments. He began to exercise a personal control over the incidental actions of his quickly growing number of followers. Crystallizing a cult, total control: Men must wear suits and ties to meetings. Men must never wear jeans, tee shirts, tennis shoes or go without a shirt. Women must wear dresses they can never wear pants. No Bare arms. It is suggested that the women wear pearls, cameos or diamonds. Students must eat with the fork in the left hand turned upside down, European style. There should be poetry readings before meals. Students must not drink soft drinks. No elbows on tables. No nose blowing while dining. Cookies should be referred to as biscuits. In the teaching houses there should only be two students per room. There should only be three pictures per wall, and these should be fine prints of old master's reproductions. Original works of old masters would be preferred. There should be no sex before marriage. Minority students of the same race should never marry. There should be a year between relationships. Homosexuality is false personality, there should be no homosexual activity between students. No children until five years after marriage. Students should not own sports cars, Mercedes Benz are the preferred brand of car. Students should never ride bicycles. Students should wear only contact lenses, no glasses. Students should never listen to popular music or rock-n-roll. Classical music and opera are preferred. Students should avoid "modern art." Art should be appreciated only up through the 'Impressionists'. Students should check with the designated 'school expert' before purchasing any object of art (fine impressions). Students shall not watch television, movies or listen to the radio. Students should avoid reading newspapers and magazines. Students should read only classical works and 'the work books'. Students should concentrate on reading the school journals. It would be fine to continue reading the bible. Students must stop smoking after 18 months in the school, the first offense will result in a , 500.00 fine. The student could be removed from the school for smoking. Students should take no drugs. Drugs are a removable offense. Students shall not indulge in 'humor'. No laughing, no witticism. Students will not be in possession of firearms. Students shall not engage in sports. Students shall change ethnic names to English names. Students shall never say the words "yeah," and "you know." Students shall not use contractions in their speech. Students shall avoid placing hands on hips, crossing their arms, or crossing their legs. The list continues. Though these restrictions changed over time, many became permanent by default. Those daring to ignore them, even after they were "rescinded by the Teacher," were looked upon as abnormal. MONEY Originally the monthly dues Burton demanded were .00, by the late 1990s the dues were running at a minimum of .00 per month including all the various 'annual' dues. Burton demands 10% of his members gross monthly income plus various other fees that add up to several thousand dollars per year. Many of Burton's followers are highly paid professionals, those making large salaries in life are given special status and Burton himself makes an extra effort to give them his attention. Burton often approaches those followers who own substantial wealth to collect incidental cash for various 'projects'. There are 2000 members of the Fellowship of Friends, a few dozen of them are "on salary," that is they either work on the Fellowship property at Oregon House, California for minimum wage less "teaching payments" (which are taken out of the laborers' checks), or they are part of Burton's personal 'circle'. It has been reported that aside from the six figure salary Burton pays himself as head minister of the Fellowship, that another source of cash is the half a dozen young men he travels with, each of whom is paid , 000 per month for their 'services'. It is reported that they turn their checks over to Burton's personal secretary, who is always a male student having 'close' relations with Burton himself, who then 'manages' the collected sum. On top of this and likely many under the table sources, Burton outright asks his followers for volunteer donations to purchase expensive cars and other personal extravagances. Burton himself has admitted that one of his main weaknesses in life his is own greed. The followers could care less, they will pay Burton whatever they can, everything if necessary, to be in proximity to what they believe is a 'conscious being'. The Fellowship of Friends and the Renaissance Vineyard and Winery Corporation together are one of the main economic forces in Yuba County, they own thousands of acres, including a thousand acre producing vineyard, an inventory of wine worth millions, livestock, orchards, equipment, buildings, art collections and they have established political connections through donations to local judges and politicians. Though incorporated and legally tax-exempt as a church, Burton rules these assets as if they were his personal property, down to who is employed by the corporation to do what. Burton spends his life traveling around the world conducting 'school business' from various parts of the globe, shopping in Europe, touring museums, dining in the finest restaurants, living in the finest hotels, while his followers pay him what would otherwise be their house or car payments, or their children's college funds so they can be part of a conscious teaching. There is a whole 'culture' of hangers on around Burton vying for his good graces so they can 'be on salary' and travel themselves, living off the wealth of the 'school'. SEX From the earliest days in the Fellowship of Friends it was taught that homosexuality was "a feature of false personality," punishable by removal from the 'school'. Things change. It is possible to see men dressed in the cliché gay uniform of the tropical shirt holding hands and standing around hugging one another in the public settings of the Fellowship of Friends--an 'improvement'? Burton himself is reported to brag that "one hundred boys would not be enough" for his appetite. Unfortunately for Fellowship male members (pun?) he is seldom interested in other homosexuals. As an incentive to remain his followers, Burton promised that members could 'self-regulate' their own sex lives after 1998 if California failed to fall into the ocean. ********************** Date: 11-15-94 (01:54) Number: 44873 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- LETTER RECEIVED RECENTLY; FWD COPY TO YOU F.Y.I. November 1994 Dear friend, In an attempt to prevent me from talking to others about my experiences with him, Robert has forbidden me to come to Renaissance (or Apollo). I write this letter for those who are interested. When I came to Renaissance in the spring of 1986 I had been in the school for one year. In the center I had been told numerous stories by the center directors as to how a great, almost saintly person the Teacher was. Having come to the Fellowship needy of emotional and spiritual support I was willing to believe these reports at face value. After a few weeks of living at Renaissance, following a heavy drinking 'symposium', Robert took me inside of one of the Academy rooms and wanted to have sex with me. When I told him that I did not want this because I had no homosexual feelings, nor did I want to see myself assume those practices, Robert dismissed my arguments by saying that I should externally consider him as my teacher. Partly out of fear for this 'all powerful' being, partly not to want to feel guilty or judged, but largely because of the energy with which Robert approached me, I was left with the feeling I had no choice. While Robert went about his business of trying to stimulate an orgasm from me which he was going to receive orally I pointed out to him that I was covering my face with my hands out of shame. Robert retorted that this was a good opportunity for work for me. This was the beginning of my functioning as a sexual servant which lasted for several years. In order to bear my plight I kept on telling myself that it was my play to transform this kind of suffering and that learning selfless servitude might eventually benefit my soul. I also tried to stimulate in me the belief that since Robert was conscious, being in his presence had to basically be a good thing. Robert tried to assure me that what was going on between us was the wish of C-Influence, and that the worst thing I could do was to resist their plans. He also explained his attraction to men not as homosexuality but as the result of his being an angel and a cosmos above men, just like men's attraction to women stemmed, he would add, from men being in a cosmos above women. It was when I eventually met a woman (soon to become my wife) who cared enough to point out to me that it was up to me to take responsibility for my life, that I found the third force needed to let Robert know that I did not want to continue serving him in this fashion. He got very upset over this and from one day to the other what he had called 'love' turned into hostility, resentment, and a total ignoring of us as his students. It was here that it became really clear to me that I had never been a 'friend' or a 'student' but had been used for one sole purpose: Robert's sexual gratification. There had been no love, let alone conscious love. In the five years that followed we have never been allowed to have dinner with our 'Teacher', nor were we given consideration when we asked for help during great medical expenses while working on salary at Renaissance. During this period Robert did, however, call me numerous times on the phone asking me if I would again 'come in his mouth' (his words), for which he would, among other things, offer to pay my voice lessons, knowing that these were important to me and that I had a hard time finding funding for them. Needless to say, at this point I never as much responded to his requests or 'offers'. Much effort has been directed towards covering up information such as which is disclosed in this letter. There has also been a collective buffering among Fellowship members as regards Robert's practices. How can people who pride themselves in having evolved levels of being tolerate this? I am convinced that many of the prevailing attitudes in the Fellowship are based on religious faith, such as those regarding unverifiable issues like Robert's consciousness; the Fellowship being an arc [sic] for a new civilization; the division of humanity into 'students' and 'life people', and the alleged spiritual superiority of Fellowship members over non-members. I hope that you will have the courage to challenge your attitudes and see them for what they are. For the sake of your evolution. Your friend, s/WP* (*name withheld by request) _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ [Following was first distributed in October 1994. All addresses hereon have changed since then, and this piece not updated with new address information.] Hello all, Oregon House, CA 95962 [A hand-written letter of introduction was attached atop a small pile of papers, below:] I don't know if you can remember me. Richard Buzbee is my legal name. I came from the Dallas, Texas center with my son back in 1977. Reddish face, blonde hair and carrying around a lot of fear back then, most of which I unloaded over time. Here [enclosed] is a letter and two chapters that I sent out to all people in the Fellowship that I knew. I was removed from the school for sending it out, of course, and am now watching to see the response, and to proceed to the next step which should make itself clear hopefully. A group of students here at Renaissance is forming and want to take steps to remove Robert. An obvious step is the legal one but I would like to see what can be done by the group themselves. If you have some ideas then please contact me. I have read several books -"The Wrong Way Home," "Captive Hearts - Captive Minds," "Combatting Cult Mind Control," but the best by far seems to be "The Guru Papers." It has led me into the light and helped me to take back my dignity as a human being - not a "chosen" human being, not special, not lucky - just a human being trying to make my way through this experience of life on planet earth. So from one human being to another, I send you these things because I thought you would be interested. R. [The following letter enclosed with the above hand-written message, and, as R wrote, was sent to everyone he knew in FOF:] Dear Friend, I am writing to you and several others because I value your friendship and regard you as someone with whom I can be honest and open. I decided to write to you because there have been some stories spreading through the school about myself and Robert, and I would like to clarify the situation. Also, I'm afraid that what happened to me is already being covered up and may soon disappear, like many things that have happened to others before. I was asked by Robert to buy a gun and become night guard at his house. I accepted because I considered this to be an opportunity to learn from him, and to protect him from harm. I went with complete trust in Robert and a desire to serve. After accepting the position, I was informed that one of the duties required of all guards was to give Robert massages when he asked for them. One morning, as I massaged Robert's back, without saying a word he sat me at the head of his bed on my knees. He then pulled down my pants, began sucking my penis, and asked me to come in his mouth. This was all done without my consent, very impersonally, without concern for me as a human being (married with a family), and without concern for me as a student wishing guidance to evolve. I felt betrayed and used by the man who I thought was my spiritual father. I quit the job and went off salary. You might imagine that having sex with Robert is different from having sex with other people, that Robert somehow uses sex for teaching, or that it would make you more emotional, closer to the miraculous. But it wasn't emotional, and involved no teaching. While Robert was using me for sex, I was nothing more than an object, something to be used to satisfy his own sexual desires. Afterward, when I began discussing this experience with some of my closest friends, I discovered that many of them had been used by Robert for sex in a similar way. However, the greatest shock came from my son Troy, who told me that Roert had been actively pursuing him for sex from the time he entered the school--at age seventeen. While he was growing up, I taught Troy that Robert was like a God, someone he could trust fully in every regard. I thus unknowingly set him up to be used by Robert for sex. Robert had told Troy (and many others with whom I have subsequently spoken), that C Influence wanted Troy to have sex with him. Robert also offered money and privileges in exchange for sex. During sex, Robert uses no protection against AIDS, herpes, or any other sexually transmitted disease, despite the fact that he has sex with many partners. On many of the nights I was a guard at his house, there was a succession of male students coming and going from his room. If Robert removes me from the Fellowship because I have distributed this letter, I want you to know that I will still consider myself a member, and will support the school in any way I can. This our school- -we have built it and paid for it. As a group, we have accumulated so much being; some people have been working on themselves for twenty years or more. To walk away from the school after learning about Robert's actions is to say that the school is his, and that we are powerless. But this is not true. We just need to trust ourselves and have the courage to come together and say no to actions that harm us. We not only have the right to do this, we also have the responsibility to bring the facts about Robert's activities into the open, where they can be fairly considered by all of his students. Since this experience with Robert, I have been given several books by other people who have had similar experiences with him, and who were trying to understand the reasons for it. With this letter, I am enclosing chapters from two books that speak directly to our situation in the Fellowship. [Chapters not included here.] Please feel free to share my letter and these chapters with other students. I would be interested in receiving a note or letter from you as to your thoughts and suggestions about what I've written here. Perhaps a plan of action will evolve through our efforts together. I sincerely hope this letter will encourage others to speak openly about Robert, the school, and their experiences. If the school is healthy, it should stand up under any honest inquiry. In friendship, R L (a.k.a. R B) October 1994 ============================================================= [As I understand it, R B was given "medical leave" to seek help from a psychiatrist. Typical FOF effort is to attempt to discredit what he had written in his letter by casting doubts on his mental condition. He did NOT need a psychiatrist.] _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ Un-retouched nor edited, except to add paragraph separations for easier reading, copy of email msg received to the list maintained for former members of the Fellowship of Friends. Date: Sat, 15 Nov 1997 17:44:13 From: Subject: Greetings!! Greetings All!! Was pointed towards this list via S. after reading the 10/12/97 S.F. Chronicle article and making a contact with her. I've been sitting back for a few days, going though most of the posts, trying to get a feel for what's going on here. Quite a lively list!! I quickly had to set up it's own folder just to keep my inbox down to a comprehensible size! Despite the commotion going down with the 'hot topic o' the day', I pick up an overall feeling of general cyber- commeraderie and kindness---things most woefully lacking from many, if not most, electronic gatherings of people I run across on daNet. I'm getting a hoot out of seeing names and reading posts from people-- of which some have very clear faces--others are a little foggy--but most I have no clue as to who they be!! Old dusty memories and a big mixed bag of feelings have gotten rattled around inside here. Amazing!! Really!! Anyhoo, my FOF story, in a microscopic nutshell, be as follows: 1) Joined in Portland 4/74... 2) Moved to the Bay Area in 1976---To the Kensington House---does anyone remember that nutty place??-- where I shared a little bedroom with four other men--sleeping on the floor--I think 17-18 people lived in this house at a time!! I worked as a grunt for Anthony 'Somebody's' 'Fourth Way Lawn and Garden Service'. I remember customers would ask me what the other three ways of gardening were!!!. I can't remember exactly how I responded but can imagine what a fairly new "good" student back then might say. Had to be 'intentionally insincere' with those life people ya know. What I wouldn't give to roll that old film a little more clearly today!! haha 3) Late '76 'til sometime in '78 was sent out to Cincinnati where, after meetings, we'd go to discos instead of coffee shops. Lotsa of sex and partying coupled (pun most intended) with lotsa crazy stupid guilt. Meanwhile, while I'm trying to reconcile my raging hormonal youthful lust for life with FOF ideas and 'suggestions' re: sex and relationships, the person that I had transferred my deepest trust on to is raping young men back in Calif.. Huh?????!!!! 4) Moved back to Renaissance in '78--or was it called Renaissance yet??-- worked at the lodge as 'assistant maitre'd' for a little while. More memories bubbling up to the surface----I remember the FOF had bought out a Selix store's surplus of used tuxedoes--which seems like it was the general working uniform of the day back then--and all these men crowded into the 'barn' getting fitted into these penguin suits (I remember fighting with Bruce Levy over a pair of pants. We were the same pip-squeak size and there was little for us to choose from) which we had to buy for the amazingly low, low price of {{{{.00}}} which was not so amazingly low- as I remember- I think I was getting around ./month on salary!!! Eventually ended up working in the vineyard driving tractors. One day, while I playing tractor jockey and mowing terraces, the mower hit a rock and started a fire that burned down more than 10 acres!! Now there's a gem I haven't thought about in a decade or so! Interesting process, typing out this stuff. 5) Some time in '79 , as I was courting H D (who, BTW, is alive & well; remarried and living in Sonoma Co.) Robert asked me to move into the Blake cottage. Well, this was like hitting the big time for me. I felt as though I must be doing something right to be singled out for this honor. Little did I know. I was absolutely and completely clueless. I remember a day or so before I moved in Don Biagi said to me "living in the Blake cottage is very different than what you might think"---And I just let that one sail way over my head. Little did I realize--Don Knew!! Anyway, two days after I moved in RB made his move on me. **Recalling this particular episode in my life has the flavor of a weird distorted acid-trip** I remember that even when he told me to take off all my clothes no alarm-bells went off. But when he touched me-- every thing went off like a nuclear explosion. Every alarm, every siren, every cautionary sentinel of my being was set off shrieking and screaming. "Warning, Will Robinson. Danger! Danger!!" I remember--now for the first time since then---that I felt like I was going to pass out. Like I was getting swallowed up by something way too monstrously big for me to handle. All the trust and love that I had transferred onto this guy-- the person that was--to me, at the time---my ultimate caretaker, the caretaker of my very soul---was blown completely and utterly away in the fraction of the few moments it took me to comprehend what was coming down. Incredibly, somehow, I was able to say to him that I did not feel comfortable with what he was doing. And just as incredibly, he did not push the issue with me. He did not use his "C-influence wishes this" bullshit line on me---but let me go back to my room to be alone with my horror. Two days later he called me into his room saying--and I will never forget exactly what and how he said this--"Goodness, I think it would be a good idea if you moved out of the Blake cottage". I had no great compulsion to argue the request---I ran!!!! The entire length of my residency there = 5 days. I remember a few days after I moved out a couple of high profile 'good' squeaky clean students said things to me inferring that I did not have the *Being* it takes to be around the Teacher on such an intimate basis, as though it was some character flaw of mine that got me thrown out!! In some ways they were very correct. I kept my mouth shut. And if I continue to hold onto any regrets, its that I didn't say anything about my experience until several years later. ****************************************** Fellowship Of Friends-A Cult In Oregon House, California. Another lawsuit filed against F.O.F/Renaissance Vineyard & Winery, Robert Burton, Girard Haven, Abraham Goldman, Helga Ruth Mueller, and Clair Bowen--directors of Fellowship of Friends, Inc. The lawsuit brought by Troy Buzbee and filed on April 29, 1996 in the County of Yuba. Complaint for Damages is in Case # 060209 1. Fraud 2. Intentional infliction of emotional distress 3. Negligent infliction of emotional distress 4. Breach of fiduciary duty 5. Negligent supervision 6. Sexual misconduct with a minor 7. Sexual harassment 8. Wrongful discharge 9. Negligence 10. Failure to pay minimum wage 11. Battery Fellowship Of Friends Cult - By Michelle M. Milligan "Within the pages of the case are facts and details concerning sexual and perverted acts practiced by Burton, his philosophies and ideologies expected of the members." According to the case, Robert Burton, "The Teacher", as referred to by members, began the corporation Fellowship of Friends in 1971. The "Fourth Way philosophy is taught and practiced by the Fellowship of Friends. The location of The Fellowship of Friends herein referred to as the F.O.F. is in Oregon House, however the F.O.F. refers to their location rather as "The Renaissance". Troy Buzbee's father became a member of the F.O.F. in 1976. Richard Buzbee's son Troy was only seven years of age. Richard Buzbee was told that if he paid his teaching payments each month and followed the tasks and suggestions of the teacher, Robert Burton that he would enter "the way," become "conscious" and "immortal." He was told that Burton was a "conscious being" and that he was "celibate." He was told that he could trust Burton completely with his body and soul. From 1976 through May 1994 Troy's father was a member of the Fellowship of Friends. As Plaintiff Troy Buzbee grew up he regarded Robert Burton as a God. According to the case distinction between Burton and Troy's father were not clear to him at times. Troy Buzbee became a member on October 10, 1966 when he was 17 years of age, virgin. After Defendant Burton and Defendant corporation Fellowship Of Friends, INC's factual representations and undue influence caused Troy Buzbee to lose his ability to think independently, he became increasingly subject to the domination, control and undue influence practiced, implemented, and used by said Defendants. In direct consequence of such deception, coercive persuasion, brainwashing and undue influence, Defendant Burton used Troy Buzbee, among hundreds of other young men, for the partial gratification of his satyriasis, an uncontrollable compulsion to engage in sexual conduct with scores, if not hundreds, of men. In addition thereof, Defendant Burton exploited Troy Buzbee for the provision of cheap labor, well under the minimum wage. Said exploitation continued off and on until the time when Troy Buzbee terminated his membership with Fellowship of Friends, Inc., in August 1994. Commencing in December 1986, Burton, would have "teaching dinners" during which he would ply Troy with alcoholic beverages. After one particular such meal in December 1986, Burton instructed Troy to come to Burton's room and to shut and lock the door. Burton told Troy that Burton was "an angel in a man's body", and the gods wished for Troy to be close to Burton. Defendant Burton then held in an embrace. Defendant Burton said, "influence C wishes you to be close with me. "He repeatedly assured Troy that his "soul was not (his) body, and that the angels wished for (Troy) to be with (Burton)." Burton explicitly told Troy that the "angels" wanted Troy to disrobe, and the "angels" wanted Troy to submit to Burton's sexual advances because Burton himself was an "angel", a goddess in a man's body." Burton said to Troy, "I promise you I am an angel in a man's body." "You have to remember that I did not write the play about Robert Burton." Burton would kiss Troy on the forehead which he said represented the seat of the soul and then instruct Troy to "separate" from his body and just "let go". Burton reminded Troy that Troy's body would soon decay while his soul was immortal. Burton told Troy that he would talk to him after he died using the same soft voice he used at the time. Burton explained that for him the interaction with Troy went beyond conventional sex and into "supersex", which was a method characterological evolution. Defendant Burton stated, "My sexuality is on the level of Super-Sex." From December '86-- April '94, Troy submitted to Burton's demands, which were: Drop out of college, provide Burton with sexual favors and provide hour long massages after Burton had been sexually serviced. Burton used money from the corporation to pay other members for performing specific sexual acts. In denominations of or . The case mentions one case of "specific sexual acts" performed on Burton by Karl Feldman, Troy Buzbee's best friend. Burton spoke openly about his sexuality in the form of jokes at the all-male dinners that he would often lavishly host at all-male, all-you-can- drink "symposiums." He would boast that "one hundred boys would not be enough(for his sexual appetite)."Troy worked at the gatehouse on F.O.F. property. Burton directed certain members who are "guards" to arm themselves with firearm-type weapons. Burton then had him become his "personal" guard. During the next four years Troy observed numerous men in Burton's room in a single night. Troy was asked to massage Burton after his lovers left. According to the case, Burton suffers from sexually transmitted diseases. He made no effort to tell Troy. As a consequence, Troy acquired viral herpes. In addition, Troy suffered from stomach ulcers. Renaissance Vineyard & Winery, Inc. was built as a bomb- shelter in obeisance to Defendant Burton's prophecies regarding massive and wide-spread disaster and chaos in the near future. Defendant Burton uses Renaissance Vineyard & Winery, Inc as his alter ego in the same way he uses Defendant Fellowship Of Friends, Inc. According to the case..... At all times mentioned herein Defendants Girard Haven, Abraham Goldman (also an attorney), Helga Ruth Mueller, and Clair Bowen were members of the board of directors of the Defendant corporation, Fellowship Of Friends, INC. At all times mentioned herein all of the Defendants were acting as the agents and servants of each other and in doing the acts complained of acted within the scope of their agency and employment and at the direction and with the knowledge and ratification of the other Defendants. The Defendant Burton at all times mentioned herein, dominated, influenced, and controlled, and does now dominate, influence and control the Defendant corporations and the directors and officers thereof, as well as the business, property and affairs of the Defendant corporations. At all times mentioned herein, there existed and does now exist, a unity of interest and ownership between the Defendant Burton and the Defendant corporations; the individuality and separateness of said Defendant and Defendant corporations has ceased; and despite knowledge of these facts, Defendant corporations and its officers and directors have had notice of acquiesced in and agreed, consented to, and ratified the conduct of Defendant Burton as herein alleged, At all times since its corporation to the present time, the Defendant corporations have been and are now a mere shell and naked framework which the Defendant Burton has used and does now use as a conduit for the conduct of his personal business, property and affairs. Defendant corporations are subject to a unity of control, and its corporate structure was created as an attempt to avoid payment of taxes and civil judgments and to confuse courts and those seeking redress for these Defendant's acts. Due to the unity of personnel, commingling of assets, and commonality of business objectives, these Defendant's attempts at separation of Defendant corporations and Defendant Burton should be disregarded. Defendant Robert Burton directs, controls and operates Defendant corporations and uses them to enforce his orders and carry out his attacks on groups, agencies or individuals, including the acts against Troy alleged herein, to the extent there is no separate identity between Burton and said Defendant corporations and any claim of such separate identity should be disregarded. The Defendant corporations were created and are being continued and maintained pursuant to a fraudulent plant, scheme and device, created and operated by the Defendant Burton, whereby the benefits and product of the income and revenue of the Defendant corporations are diverted to the use and enjoyment of the Defendant Burton through the Defendant corporations to himself while concealing the truth of his financial relationship with Defendant corporations. Prior to the formation of F.O.F. and Renaissance Vineyard & Winery, Burton formed a conspiracy in concert between the corporations for the express purpose and intent of developing and implementing a plan and scheme which would permit Burton and co-conspirators to: a. use, abuse and exploit the fiduciary relationship between the Defendant Burton and the Defendant corporation Fellowship Of Friends, INC,, on one hand and the members of and contributors to the Defendant corporation Fellowship Of Friends, INC,, on the other hand for their own personal unlawful gain; and b. to use, abuse and exploit the fiduciary relationship between the Defendant Burton, as 'founding minister', and selective members of the Defendant corporation Fellowship Of Friends, INC., for the express purpose and intent of performing unlawful and perverted sexual acts upon the persons of said members, including Troy, and by causing certain of the members, including Troy, to work for Defendant corporation Renaissance Vineyard & Winery, INC., and Defendant corporation Fellowship Of Friends, INC. That all times pertinent hereto, the Defendant corporation Fellowship Of Friends, INC., and the Defendant Renaissance Vineyard and Winery, INC, were formed and operated by Burton and said other Defendants for their sole and exclusive aggrandizement and to create an ambiance of neo-religious import which was and is currently being used by Burton and the other Defendants to manipulate, unduly influence, and control the minds, bodies, and the assets of the members of the Defendant corporations for the sole and exclusive purpose of 1) satisfying Burton's satyriasis-his voracious appetite for perverted sexual pleasure and elegant life-style; and 2) diverting the contributions and donations of the membership to their own use and purposes. Members of the Fellowship are required to donate ever-increasing sums of money as they become further and further vested as members of the Fellowship with the caveat that when donations required of them are not timely and completely made their membership is either revoked or they become indentured servants of the Defendant corporation in residence at its principal place of business for nominal compensation and required to perform degrading menial tasks of a full-time basis at the whim and caprice of the Defendant Burton and other authorized representatives of the corporate Defendant Fellowship Of Friends, INC., and Defendant Renaissance Vineyard And Winery, INC. All donations made by members of the Fellowship are devoted either to the continuing worldwide recruitment of new and replacement members with fresh money to contribute to "the cause," or the acquisition of assets, including but not limited to, Defendant Renaissance Vineyard and Winery, INC,, which are ostensibly being acquired for the use and benefit of the membership but which are in reality being acquired for the personal benefit and aggrandizement of Defendant Burton and some or all of the other individual Defendants named herein. Meanwhile, Defendant Burton annexes free and unfettered use and enjoyment in and to the assets of the Defendant corporation Fellowship Of Friends, INC., Defendant corporation Renaissance Vineyard And Winery, INC., and the benefits to be derived there from, including, but not limited to, the provision money for bribes to young male members to prostitute themselves in an intensification of Defendant Burton's compulsion and demand for sexual servicing of his long-standing state of satyriasis. The entire, purpose, scope and extent of the aforesaid plan and scheme as implemented by said Defendants is to effectively deny the members of the Defendant corporation Fellowship Of Friends, INC., not only the right to participate in its rituals and teachings on an ongoing basis but also, and of equal importance, to deny members of said Defendant corporation, including Plaintiff, of their just right to participate as beneficiaries entitled to use and enjoy the property of said Defendant corporation. Troy suffered from fright, horror, grief, shame, anger, humiliation, embarrassment, chagrin, disappointment, worry, self-loathing, self- betrayal and self distrust. Haven, Goldman Mueller, Bowen knew of all these afore-mentioned practices of Burton. They have agreed and abetted Burton in his efforts. They knew of Burton's diseases and said nothing. At all times pertinent hereto, Defendant Burton, and the other Defendants, caused Troy's mental and emotional centers to become deceptively and coercively inculcated with the following tenets: a. Defendant Burton communicated with "C-influence" which was provided by "44 angels" which were each individually named including, but not limited to, Jesus, "Benjamin Franklin," "Lincoln" and "Bach," and that Burton was the Fellowship's only connection with said "angels." b. Defendant was and is the most important person on the planet since Christ. Defendant Burton claims a numerology of consciousness where he has already advanced to a man number 7.3, with Christ being a man number 8. Burton is above man-made laws, a moral law unto himself. c. "C-influence" brought Troy to the Fellowship and Defendant Burton, and that Troy's interactions with Defendant Burton would be the most important relationship that Troy could ever have. d. Defendant Burton is assisted by "C-influence" to guide the spiritual evolution of the member "students" with "shocks" designed to help them "awaken". e. The members of the Fellowship are special, and set apart by higher forces for survival. Members of Defendant Burton's "inner circle" must associate only among Fellowship members must disregard non- members, and demonize ex-members who are critical of Burton whom "the gods" will "destroy." Such ex-members' opportunities for growth and development are terminated failing to submit to Burton. f. Defendant Burton possesses gift of prophecy that is infallible. g. In 1998 California will "fall" in huge earthquake whereupon people will die in massive numbers. h. In 2006 there will be an Armageddon, where all humans everywhere except for members of the Fellowship will be expunged by higher forces. i. Members of the Fellowship will inherit the world's material goods and act as the "Ark" for a new civilization based on that of the Greeks of about 450 B.C., and are thus presently preparing themselves to bear the torch of civilization now and in the future. j. By following Defendant Burton's directives so as to gain "being" (depth of character) through separating from suffering and immersing themselves in culture, mostly Western art, classical music, opera and ballet, Fellowship members, including Troy, are preparing themselves for being the "Ark". k. Everything the members of the Fellowship, including Troy, had learned since birth was "false" and caused him to exist in a kind of "waking sleep." The Defendant Burton informed Troy that in order to "awaken", he had to replace what was "false" with what was "true" which was defined as the system of ideas as The Fourth Way, including all the "new" knowledge that Burton had added to that system. l. Defendant Burton stated, and states, to the general Fellowship and to Troy, that without "C-influence" Troy could not "awaken". m. Defendant Burton stated, and states, to the general Fellowship and to Troy, that to "awaken" was the only way to avoid having the purpose of his life be to provide "food for the moon." n. Defendant Burton stated, and states, that Troy's people outside the group as "life-people," he said were "tragedies." Burton said Troy's own mother was such a "life-person" and that the Fellowship was Troy's "real" family and Burton was his "Father." o. Defendant Burton stated, and states, to the general Fellowship and to Troy, that any challenge to the extent of Burton's excesses of greed and satyriasis to be a lack of understanding of his practice of "crazy wisdom" which he asserts that he must force himself to perform is forcing himself to live that way for the good of the members as a "lesson." DRUGS Burton is reportedly a heavy drinker sipping up a couple .00 per bottle labels of fine wine everyday. On weekends Burton would host "homosexual symposiums" (no women allowed) where a dozen or so of his conquests would get together and drink themselves into rowdy drunkenness. Beyond the booze, it was revealed by one of Burton's close 'friends' that Burton has or had a medicine chest filled with a variety of tranquilizers, from which allegedly Burton self-medicates. GUNS Ex-boyfriends have threatened Burton's life several times, he travels with an armed bodyguard. On one occasion, it was reported, a young man from Bakersfield showed up at the Fellowship dining lodge armed with a 22 rifle looking for Burton. He was tackled, disarmed and put on a bus. The police were not contacted. At one time guns were not allowed, but now almost every male member of the Fellowship living in Oregon House has a gun. There is an informal militia armed with shotguns, rifles and 44 magnum handguns in order to protect the 'Teacher' from the disgruntled ex-members who regret their sexual encounters with Burton. SEVEN CONSCIOUS BEINGS Burton has predicted that he will produce "seven conscious beings." Burton has claimed three "men number five" students over the past 30 years. The first one was Donald MacDonald who left Burton's 'teaching' when he discovered that Burton's vineyard workers were living on peanutbutter and jelly sandwiches while working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. Burton was being served fine cuisine. The second man number five was Miles Barth who left after conferring with the psychiatrist of one of the boys Burton had 'relations' with. Miles reported that Burton's first reaction when hearing that his student of 17 years was leaving was: "This will be bad for the money." Later Miles is reported to have said that in fact he was never "conscious" and the whole thing was a scam cooked up by Burton. The third man number five was a formatory yes-man named Girard Haven. It is reported that Girard is presently sitting in a wheelchair, wearing a diaper and drooling on himself after suffering a massive stroke. DOOMSDAY CULT In spite of the Fourth Way trappings, the particular method of manipulation Burton learned from Alex Horn, the Fellowship of Friends is simply another doomsday cult. The 'winery' Burton has built on the Fellowship property has two-foot thick concrete walls and is half-buried in a granite hillside, the main intention was that the structure serve as a fallout shelter. "Apollo," the Fellowship compound, is only 12 miles from Beal Air Force Base, certainly a target in any strategic nuclear war. Most likely when the year 2006 comes and goes and all the 'life-people' (non-Fellowship members) are still alive, Burton will direct his people to kill themselves. Without a doubt the followers of Burton are capable of doing anything if directly ordered to by Burton himself. Burton has many psychological quirks in common with the leader of the Heavens Gate cult led by Marshall Applewhite. Sometimes people have what Mr. Ouspensky called false Magnetic Centre—and sometimes they have multiple Magnetic Centre—that is, they have many small, weak Magnetic Centres. As a result, they run after every variety of magical and pseudo-occult practice, every kind of mystical cult, *or even join end-of-the-world societies*... Maurice Nicoll, Psychological Commentaries