Over 25 Years of Plus Ultra by Lawrence Gerald

[Lawrence Gerald]

 

                                       

 

“There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true.
The other is to refuse to accept what is true.”——Soren Kierkegaard


My own advancement of learning about Francis Bacon began unexpectedly with a conversation in 1983 with a street vendor in Berkeley, CA named DW Cooper.

Up until then I knew very little about Francis Bacon and by the Spring of 1989, the philosopher and Bell Helicopter inventor, Arthur Young, invited Cooper and I to host an informal course on Francis Bacon at his Institute for Consciousness Studies in Berkeley, CA. On Sundays Arthur and his wife Ruth hosted an informal group  class on reading Shakespeare plays together and then on Mondays Cooper and I would take one aspect from Bacon’s writings and with printed handouts and have a discussion group.  The subject of the Shakespeare Authorship  began to heat up when in 1989 PBS aired a documentary and Arthur invited  Peter Dawkins and his wife Sarah to visit from England and give a formal talk on Francis Bacon. Peter's knowledge and in depth writing and the creative events that he offers are outstanding. He has been a life long mentor.

 

 After learning more about Bacon I was motivated to do something after all the slander and misunderstanding that generations got wrong about Francis Bacon (The Four Idols)  and the many roles he played throughout his life. There's no one in history quite like him from his exquisite mind and polymathic interests producing a prodigious output that  spans from being a Philosopher and concealed poet to public servant all for the benefit and relief of man's estate.

 

In the early 90's my interest in the subject of FB grew into a passion and things began to take off.

I got interested in computers and started making digital art for the first time. Then a mutual friend arranged for me to give a public presentation at a Yacht club in Brooklyn. A local newspaper reporter showed up and published an article about the event that included a funny illustration. 

 

 

After the event a friend drove me and a few other friends back to Manhattan and I remember as we drove along the East Side river the distinct smell of bacon! We all laughed.

 

In October of 1990 I was living in NYC and took off  on my first of six journeys to England. I was staying in a London Hotel  (pre-internet days) with the aim of wanting to make contact with members of the Francis Bacon Society. I was not having much success. I was at a bit of a crossroads and was thinking of ending my trip early and coming back to NYC. Then one Monday morning I had a very clear dream and saw an image of the Goddess Athena shaking her lance. It was the only time that I had this dream and when I awoke I was feeling much better about my uncertainties. It was the start  of the many synchronicities that I would encounter along this journey. A couple of hours after the dream I received a phone call  from the Treasurer of the Bacon Society, T.D. Bokenham aka "Bokey" and we made arrangements to meet at a restaurant in Earl's Court the next day. This would be  the first of several meetings with Bokey who specialized in Bacon ciphers. Along with purchasing my first copies of Baconianas and other books he had for sale we had wonderful conversations. We would stay in touch over the years  via correspondence.

 

Bokey also introduced me to Francis Carr the art historian and writer who invited me to go on field trips to St. Albans and Gorhambury, Twickenham, and Hampton Court. Carr had been working on this notion that Bacon was the author of Don Quixote which at first I thought was bonkers and then after getting past my initial bias saw how much it made sense and fit like a glove.

 

Carr was a funny guy and  and shared some amazing stories from his days as a soldier during WWII when stationed in Italy. We laughed alot and I greatly appreciated the fun times we shared. He had a long time  dedication to the Bacon cause and at one point in the early 1960's had a court case against Stratford upon Avon for defrauding the public. The case was drawn to a legal standstill.

 

I remember attending one of Peter Dawkins' public  talks on Bacon at the St James's Church in Piccadilly. It was there that Peter introduced me to Mark Rylance and we made  arrangements for an in depth interview in his flat a few days later. It was during this time that Mark was about to become the first Director of the new Shakespeare Globe Theatre at Bankside and he preferred that I delay making our interview public until some time passed. I understood and agreed to this as he didn't want to be seen as a Shakespeare heretic at the beginning of his new position. At this time the Shakespeare Controversy was somewhat of a stigma, again pre internet days.

 

Since the launch of sirbacon in 1997, there have have been many exceptional contributors that I am grateful to that continue passing on the lamp of tradition along with the many dedicated members of the Francis Bacon Society since 1886 to present time.

 

We all have a connection and admiration and feel the need to bring clarity and reveal the unusual  life circumstances and enthralling genius of Sir Francis Bacon and his prodigious and generous output.  And  like a supernova that that once existed his light will continue to shine, inspire, cause wonder, and debate for generations to come.

 

Plus Ultra

Lawrence Gerald

October 2022

[Light-of-Truth]

38 minutes ago, Lawrence Gerald said:

My own advancement of learning about Francis Bacon began unexpectedly with a conversation in 1983 with a street vendor in Berkeley, CA named DW Cooper.


Amazing tale of the Baconian OG around here!!

Hey, thank you for taking me to meet DW Copper at his really cool home back in 1998. I never realized he introduced you to Bacon, but will always remember him and his place. A memory for me. 🙂

Congratulations on the 25 years of SirBacon.org and the 39 years of having Bacon and his muse in your life!!

[Eric Roberts]

3 hours ago, Light-of-Truth said:

Amazing tale of the Baconian OG around here!!

Hey, thank you for taking me to meet DW Copper at his really cool home back in 1998. I never realized he introduced you to Bacon, but will always remember him and his place. A memory for me. 🙂

Congratulations on the 25 years of SirBacon.org and the 39 years of having Bacon and his muse in your life!!

Thanks Rob. Unfortunately though his Invisible College blog seems to have disappeared...

 

[Light-of-Truth]

Yes, it is gone. I wasn't involved in that project.

Where was the link and I'd point it to the B'Hive?

[Eric Roberts]

2 hours ago, Light-of-Truth said:

Yes, it is gone. I wasn't involved in that project.

Where was the link and I'd point it to the B'Hive?

https://sirbacon.org/tributedwc.htm

The link is in the last paragraph.

[A Phoenix]

Hi Lawrence,

Love the quote from Soren Kierkegaard-it beautifully and succinctly sums up the essence of the Shakespeare Authorship Controversy!

[Light-of-Truth]

3 hours ago, Eric Roberts said:

https://sirbacon.org/tributedwc.htm

The link is in the last paragraph.

I removed the link and may add a link to the B'Hive when I have some more time. It is a tribute page for DW Cooper, so I'll touch base with Lawrence to make sure that a link to B'Hive would be appropriate.

[Allisnum2er]

Hi Lawrence,

This is a great Photograph of a splendid Medal , with the perfect quote, and an incredible story of 39 years dedicated to the Truth. Thank you for all !

[Lawrence Gerald]

Yes a splendid Medal (also your Avatar) to the man who knew how to COIN a Phrase!

[Eric Roberts]

https://sirbacon.org/markrylance.htm

Absolutely brilliant (priceless) interview by Lawrence Gerald with Mark Rylance. I'm sure most of you will have read it, but for any who haven't, I think you'll find it, like me, revelatory. I doubt if Mr Rylance has spoken so freely 'on the record' about his deep knowledge and conviction in the truth that Shake-speare was Lord Bacon's mask since this conversation with Lawrence. 

Edited October 29, 2022 by Eric Roberts