Golden rubbish

William Dudley Pelley was a Hollywood script writer and author who subsequently became one of America's most wanted Nazis. Pelley's stardom began in 1928, when The American Magazine published his (non-political) article "Seven minutes in eternity". The pamphlet at this product page, titled "Seven minutes in eternity with the aftermath", was published three years later. There is no explicit Nazi message in this pamphlet either, but the tone is darker and more apocalyptic. Despite constant protestations to the contrary, Pelley comes across as a man with a Messiah complex, a typical "misunderstood genius" of the usual kind.

In the 1928 article, Pelley describes a near-death experience (or perhaps astral travel, since it's unclear how "near death" he really was) and his subsequent conversion to Christianity. His version of Christianity is heterodox and probably inspired by Spiritualism. Pelley believes in reincarnation, and references Emerson's "Over-Soul". In the aftermath section, Pelley claims to have received the ability to communicate with a host of spirit-beings. To confound his critics, he channels a message from an Atlantean spirit in a very old dialect of Sanskrit. Later, he meets Jesus Christ himself, who recites a verbose "Foundation Message" in the usual style: "I say unto you, beloved: Pitch your tents among the righteous, make your peace with the forsaken, raise up standards to the truth", etc. Another voice, known simply as The Voice, tells Pelley: "You belong to a Union of Spiritual Mentors and Counsellors in the Higher Realms of Life whose mission it is to guide humanity in times of this stress." The author, who gravely insists that he doesn't have a Messiah complex or mental illness, claims to have been selected before his birth to usher in a New Order according to a Plan. "The time is now at hand". Of course. On a more comic note, one of Pelley's books containing his messages from beyond is titled "Golden Rubbish" and is written in the form of a novel! The budding prophet admits that it didn't sell very well...

Pelley claims to have received prophetic foreknowledge of the Great Depression, and claims that something very important will happen in 1936. Apparently, it did: Pelley ran for president, but only got 2,000 votes. However, his Nazi organization "Silver Legion of America" (better known as the Silver Shirts) became quite notorious. The career of Pelley reminds me of other cultists who claim to have encountered spirits, or perhaps even had genuine spiritual experiences. In the end, the spirits or "Jesus" just fed their egos, with the inevitable results.

As I had expected more forthrightly fascist stuff in this little book (only 84 pages), I was somewhat disappointed by the stale contents, and only give it two stars. This golden rubbish is for die-hard cult-watchers only.