Beatles, Sgt Pepper's Masonic Initiation Clues

"All antiquity believed ...in a Mediator or Redeemer, by means of whom the Evil Principle was to be overcome and the Supreme Deity reconciled to His creatures. The belief was general that he was to be born of a virgin and suffer a painful death. The Hindus called him Krishna; the Chinese, Kioun-tse; the Persians, Sosiosch; the Scandinavians, Balder; the Christians, Jesus; the Masons, Hiram"

It is my belief that the Sgt. Pepper cover is a coded reference to a Masonic initiation ceremony and there does seem to be a lot of evidence to back this up.

If you take your copy of Sgt Pepper and scan down the lyrics to the opening track, ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’, you will find that the opening letters, capitalised, to the last four lines begin with the letters, S.T.A.B.

Go now, to the third track ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’, and beginning with the line ‘A girl with kaleidoscope eyes’ and you will find the lines begin with the letters A.C.T. Stab Act.

This ‘Stab Act’ could possibly be interpreted as a reference to Hiram Abif and, therefore, relate to the Third Degree of Masonry. The following text comes from here; http://www.christian-restoration.com/fmasonry/hiram.htm

 

The Blue Lodge (degrees 1 - 3) are centred upon the legend of Hiram Abiff. This legend loosely has its historical basis in 1st Kings 7 and 2nd Chronicles 2.  King Hiram of Tyre sent a skilled man, also called Hiram, to Israel to help King Solomon build the Temple of the Lord.

Hiram Abiff, "a widow's son" from Tyre, skilful in the working of all kinds of metals, was employed to help build King Solomon's Temple.

The legend tells us that one day, whilst worshipping the Grand Architect of the Universe (GAOTU) within the Holy of Holies, Hiram was attacked by three ruffians, (called 'Jubela', 'Jubelo' & 'Jubelum' and known collectively as 'The Juwes') who demanded the "Master's word", that is, the secret name of God.

The first ruffian, named Jubela, struck Hiram across the throat with a 24 inch gauge. The second ruffian, named Jubelo, struck Hiram's breast, over the heart, with a square.   The third ruffian, named Jubelum, struck Hiram upon the forehead with a gavel, whereupon Hiram fell dead. His blood, therefore, was shed within the temple.

Hiram, having been killed, was carried out the East gate of the Temple and buried outside Jerusalem on Mount Moriah.

Early the following morning, King Solomon visited the temple and found the workmen in confusion because no plans had been made for the day's work. Fearing evil had befallen Hiram, King Solomon sent out twelve Fellowcraft Masons to look for Hiram. King Solomon himself accompanied the three who journeyed towards the East.

Having finally located the grave of Hiram, Solomon and his fellow Masons exhumed the body. A search was made for the Master's word (the Name of God), but all that was found was the letter "G".  Finding the word lost, a lament went up: "O Lord, my God, is there no help for the widow's son?".

They first took hold of Hiram's body with the "Boaz" grip of the first degree. This failed to achieve its purpose.

They then re-positioned their hold upon Hiram's body using the "Jachin" grip of the second degree. This also failed to accomplish its purpose.

Solomon finally raised Hiram from the dead by using the third degree grip of the Master Mason, the five points of fellowship (explained shortly), and by uttering in Hiram's ear the phrase "Ma-Ha-Bone".

    These first three degrees are based upon the legend. The Scottish and York Rites base themselves largely upon the Hiramic legend that follows after Hiram Abiff's 'resurrection'.

Hiram Abiff has been raised from the dead.  However, he soon leaves the legend, for he has been ushered into a more glorious existence.

Solomon is left to continue building the Temple. Many decisions have to be made. Solomon first selects seven expert masons to guard the Temple, before holding a requiem for the departed Hiram Abiff. Solomon then appoints seven judges to hand out justice to the workmen building the Temple.

Five superintendents are installed to oversee the continuing building of the Temple. Solomon then focuses upon apprehending the assassins of Hiram Abiff. He appoints nine Masters, who begin the search for the assassins. The first assassin is discovered asleep. He is stabbed in the heart and head, then decapitated.

It is upon this tale that the basis for the Masonic initiation ceremony is formed. Within these ceremonies the candidates – those being initiated – will find themselves being held down and turned around and being asked for a secret password.

So, to return to Sgt. Pepper, if we go to track four – immediately after the STAB ACT clue – we find the song ‘Getting Better’ which includes some intriguing lyrics; in the first verse:

It's getting better all the time

I used to get mad at my school (No, I can't complain)

The teachers who taught me weren't cool( No, I can't complain)

You're holding me down (Oh Oh)

Turning me round(Oh Oh)

Filling me up with your rules(Oooh)

And in the second verse:

Me used to be angry young man

Me hiding me head in the sand

You gave me the word, I finally heard

I'm doing the best that I can

Viewing the lyrics from the perspective of a Masonic initiation one could argue that they talk about the initiation itself and then the effects of that initiation on the candidate.

Holding me down. Restrained so that you will know the true meaning of freedom.

Turning me round. Blindfolded and turned round  so you don't know your direction or path. Ritual teaching one to know their direction and point of view. 

You gave me the word. The replacement terms given to the candidate in place of the lost name of God.

 

Aleister Crowley and the RAOB

One of the long-standing mysteries arising from the cover of the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band LP is the inclusion of the enigmatic Legionnaire from the Order of the Buffalos, or the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB) character.

I have postulated that the character may have been included as a nod to John Lennon’s Uncle Charlie who was a member of Liverpool Dingle Lodge 4303 of the RAOB, however, a comment on my YouTube channel states that there is no such title as Legionnaire from the Order of the Buffalos in the RAOB.

I contacted the RAOB and asked if they were aware of the connection and could they shed any light on why it may have been included? They did reply, but claimed it was merely a reference to the Loyal Order of Water Buffalos that appeared in the cartoon series ’The Flintstones’.

The character is, I believe, a Masonic clue. In this photo we are not hampered by the inclusion of Diana Dors and we can see what appears to be an apron, presumably Masonic, and possibly a key in his hand?

 

Alternately Iamaphoney has speculated, in his Rotten Apple series, that the character may represent an Aleister Crowley double, or doppelganger, which, whilst possible, could also be disinformation. 

However, the character is wearing a fez and this recently led me to consider if this may be a reference to a Crowley poem that appears in his ‘Winged Beetle’ book entitled ‘The Jew of Fez’.

The poem essentially refers to someone born into the Jewish faith but who adopts different religious beliefs before, finally, reverting back to his original beliefs.

The poem is interesting because it is dedicated to Winston Churchill, who at the time of the poems publication was serving in government as Home Secretary, and is believed to refer to Churchill’s decision to swap political allegiances and ‘cross the floor’. Churchill moved from the Conservative to the Liberal party. The poem also seems to further predict Churchill’s later return to the ranks of the Tories. 

The dedication is curious in that, on the surface at least, there is little to connect the two men apart from some mutual friends. Perhaps of greater note, though not surprise, however, is that both Crowley and Churchill were prominent Freemasons. Churchill indeed following in the very shadowy footsteps of his father, Randolph Spencer Churchill.

Churchill would expand his secret society credentials by also joining the Ancient and Archaeological Order of Druids whilst Crowley would traverse from Golden Dawn through to A:.A:. (Argenteum Astrum or Silver Star or even, Atlantean Adepts) to the OTO.

Crowley parodying Churchill

Could it be that the poem was a warning to Churchill that he had nailed his colours to the wrong mast with the Druids and that this was a subtle attempt by Crowley to lure Churchill towards the A:.A:.? 

Were the Beatles aware of this and did they include the ‘legionnaire’ as an obscure clue to those ‘in the know’ to remain in the OTO?

Certainly, Iamaphoney repeatedly uses the 'Winged Beetle' book in reference to Paul McCartney (the Winged Beatle) and Aleister Crowley. Is he asking us to pay more attention to the 'double'? 

Iamaphoney, Neil Aspinall and Apple

In the Beatles Book of Revelations I revealed a possible connection between Iamaphoney and Neil Aspinall which, I believe, warrants closer examination.

Neil Aspinall, before his death in 2008, ran Apple Corps Ltd and, as such, managed all Beatle related matters. Though it would appear he did this under an assumed title. A look at the board of directors for Apple will reveal that the company secretary is listed as 'Standby Films Ltd'. Standby Films was a company run by Neil Aspinall - though its only known output was a film about Jimi Hendrix entitled 'Band of Gypsies'.

Now, I am no expert on corporations, or finance for that matter, but other than as a straight tax dodge I can see little reason why this may have been the case. Perhaps someone can suggest a reason?

One implication, however, is that this allows for funds for unofficially endorsed Beatle projects to be released. It has long been suggested on the PID forums that Neil Aspinall was behind the Iamaphoney project and a little exploration shows that this maybe the case.

The document above is from the official accounts for Standby Films for 2007 and shows considerable sums - around £200,000 - being paid to an unknown creditor for the years 2006 and 2007. So, the obvious question is who received this money?

According to the Bill Harry website in 1994 Apple paid Standby £408,000, from which Neil paid himself a salary of £62,000. As a tax dodge maybe Aspinall would have his Apple fees paid directly to Standby, however, this does leave the tantalising prospect that some of this money could be funding for the Iamaphoney project?

Standby Films was begun in 1970 which, and I am sure this is not coincidental, was the same time that Aspinall began work on a project entitled 'The Long and Winding Road'. According to Wikipedia; "Long-time friend and Apple Corps manager Neil Aspinall had compiled footage from various sources around the world of concert, interview and television appearances. From this archival footage, Aspinall assembled a 90 minute feature film which was tentatively titled The Long and Winding Road and was completed in 1971". This project would eventually be revisited and would see the light of day as Anthology.

Given that, at this time, Standby Films exists and that we know that Aspinall is archiving Beatles footage it is quite possible that this archive was then bequeathed to Iamaphoney for the purposes of launching his project. 

So, can we link the output - such as it was - to Apple? Well a quick Whois check on the Standby Films website shows that the contact email traces back to Aspinall and Apple. It looks like an Apple fronted organisation.

Not conclusive I accept, however, someone is still going to the trouble of maintaining the web address for Standby Films even though the site is dormant. To add further intrigue to the melting pot a quick look at the LinkedIn page for Billy Martin; www.linkedin.com/in/iamaphoney/ reveals a spell of employment, in London, as a Director and Researcher at Stand Up Films.

UPDATE: May 3, 2013 I contacted Billy Martin on LinkedIn and asked if Stand Up films was connected to Standby Films and the intriguing answer I received was this.

To add even more intrigue to this tantalising reply, Billy Martin has now changed the name of his 'previous employer' to Bystand films!

A quick google search for Stand Up Films produces nothing, and quite possibly the entire profile is phoney. The LinkedIn profile does also seem to connect to both Martin Heurlin and Martin Lind who have long been connected to Iamaphoney, so, this would seem to strengthen that connection, but, the question remains who is ultimately funding this project and for what purpose? The Stand Up Films connection seems yet another link in the chain back to Apple and, at least originally, Aspinall.

Martin Heurlin's LinkedIn profile lists some curiously blanked out, viral, projects.

I have no idea what 'Organise Paul's Secret' is, however, I would guess that the two blanked out viral projects are The Winged Beatle and The Right Album!

UPDATE: June 4, 2013:  Martin Heurlin's wikipedia entry has been edited within the last week and it also now lists the mysterious XXXXX projects.

Since Aspinall's death in 2008 it would appear that the project has passed over to Paul McCartney himself.

The above image is a composite of a couple of screen grabs from the Whois register for CosmanIAvision.com (Not the capitalisation of the CIA letters) which is where the Iamaphoney project is currently hosted. 

You will note that the website title is listed as 'HOME - Paul McCartney', though clicking on this link will take you to the Iamaphoney website, its use is certainly intriguing! A similar check for Iamaphoney.com shows the same address, 1541 Ocean Avenue, which is in Santa Monica, and, is also a postal address for Ringo Starr.

The Cosmania name itself comes from a mysterious reference on McCartney's album 'Memory Almost Full' album where McCartney seems to refer to himself as 'the king of cosmania' which, in turn, Iamaphoney claimed was an anagram of  'son of the magickian'.

Is McCartney now funding Iamaphoney? I cannot be certain, however, that none of Iamaphoney's YouTube material has been hit with a copyright infringement by Apple seems a little too good to be true and, that the purported reason for the delay in his RevelAtion film seems to be because of a 'cease and desist' order from EMI rather than Apple is also strange.

McCartney's MPL Communications Ltd setup is a hugely complicated beast and funds could be coming from anywhere, though MPL Pictures looks a good bet as a possible funding source.

As you can see from the above diagram MPL is a multi-armed monster, one that needs far more research.

I have speculated in the past that PID is a marketing ploy and this theory has been derided in certain quarters; this is fair enough. I still maintain that this is ultimately a guerilla marketing campaign, however, I will concede that there may well be a lot more to it than mere marketing.

The Beatles don't need much help shifting stock but Iamaphoney as some bizarre McCartney side project is possible. As ever, I don't propose any of this as gospel, it may be miles off the mark, but, I put it out there to prompt discussion and debate and, hopefully, it might bring us nearer to solving the riddle.

Indeed, if someone from the Iamaphoney camp would like to contact me and give me the full facts I would be happy to rectify any assumptions or mistakes I may have made.

For more like this please read my books 'The Sgt. Pepper Code' and 'The Beatles Book of Revalations'.   

The Beatles Book of Revelations

I am pleased to announce the release of my latest book, The Beatles Book of Revelations, which takes an in-depth look at all the Beatles related conspiracies including Paul is Dead, the Aquarian Conspiracy, the deaths of John Lennon and Brian Epstein, the Beatles LSD and the CIA, the Redlands Bust, Manson and much, much more.

No other band collects conspiracy theories like the Beatles. Did Paul McCartney die in 1966? Were the Beatles a product of the sinister Tavistock Institute and sent to brainwash a generation? Was John Lennon murdered? Was Brian Epstein murdered? Were the Beatles Aleister Crowley worshipping Satanists? What was the connection between the Beatles and Charles Manson? Who was the wicked dentist and who really controls the Beatles millions?

The Beatles Book of Revelations explores all these questions plus much, much more. Take a trip down the rabbit hole and discover for yourself the shocking truth.