Frank Bennett (occultist)

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Frank Bennett was an Australian disciple of occultist Aleister Crowley.

He was a member of Crowley's A∴A∴ and took the magical name of Frater Progradior, 'I advance'.

Bennett, a Lancashire bricklayer who had emigrated to Australia sometime before 1914. He had gotten in touch with Crowley in 1909 through The Equinox, wanting information on the Abramelin operation. He became a member of Ordo Templi Orientis and served as its head in Australia.

Aged 55, he traveled to Crowley's Abbey of Thelema in July 1921. Crowley set about making him one of his magical students. Bennett was so apt that Crowley considered him a brilliant success and one of his star pupils. Bennett underwent his initiation principally by means of Crowley's Liber Samekh, a ritual for attaining the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel.

On his return to Australia he continued to spread Crowley's teachings (the Law of Thelema), and continued to correspond with Crowley and his Scarlet Woman, Alostrael (Leah Hirsig).

Bennett's magical record has now been published, and he is the subject of a full-length biography (see below).

[edit] Bibliography

• The Magical Record of Frater Progradior and other writings by Frank Bennett. Edited by Keith Richmond. UK: Neptune Press, 2005.

[edit] References

• Keith Richmond. Progradior & The Beast: Frank Bennett and Aleister Crowley. UK: Neptune Press, 2005.
• John Symonds. The King of the Shadow Realm: Aleister Crowley: His Life and Magic. UK: Duckworth, 1989, pp 285-95.