Blackburn Cult facts for kids

The Blackburn Cult, also known as the Divine Order of the Royal Arms of the Great Eleven or the Great Eleven Club, was a new religious movement that began in 1922. It was started by an American woman named May Otis Blackburn. She founded the group in Bunker Hill in Downtown Los Angeles, California. Later, the group created a special retreat in the Southern California Simi Valley.

May Otis Blackburn claimed she received special messages directly from angels. She and her daughter, Ruth Wieland Rizzio, believed that the archangel Gabriel had given them a mission. Their task was to write books that would explain the secrets of Heaven and Earth, and the mysteries of life and death.

Newspaper stories from that time mentioned some unusual practices of the group. They reported on strange rituals and attempts to bring a 16-year-old girl back to life. The group also faced accusations related to the well-being of some of its members.

Legal Challenges and the Group's End

In 1929, the leaders of the group faced legal problems in Los Angeles. They were investigated because several members had disappeared. May Otis Blackburn was involved in a financial dispute. These legal issues became very public.

According to Time magazine, the Blackburn Cult was also called "The Great Eleven." May Otis Blackburn was sometimes referred to as the "Heel of God." The group eventually ended after May Otis Blackburn was involved in a financial disagreement with Clifford Dabney.

The Group in Plays and Stories

Portrayed in Theatrical Shows

In October 2007, actors played May Otis Blackburn and Ruth Rizzio in a "Ghost Tour" event. This event took place in Strathearn Park in Simi Valley, California. The actress who played Blackburn said she found the character "fun and flamboyant." The "Ghost Tour" at Robert P. Strathearn Historical Park had also featured Blackburn in 1999.

Featured in Fictional Books

In 2008, R.J. Baudé, whose parent was the last surviving member of the Great Eleven, wrote a novel about the group. It was called The Blackburn Chronicles: A Tale of Murder, Money and Madness. This book was based on real events.

Another novel about the group was The Kept Girl, written by Kim Cooper. It was published in 2014. This story also included characters like Raymond Chandler and the fictional detective Philip Marlowe.

Historical Accounts

In 2014, S. Fort wrote a detailed history of the Divine Order of the Royal Arms of the Great Eleven. This book explained how the group started and how it eventually ended.