my first was at Gunnison .. I was a recent PFAL grad and went to hear the "great Man"(sarcasm) speak there. he was expounding on the fact that the word divides family and we should not allow our family to stand in the way of our walk with GAWD!
after which I wanted to go up and say hello to him and shake his hand but was deterred by the Corps person I was with.. how rude of me to intrude on the time of such an important man of God. Stupidly I listened to them and did not go over to say hello.
Next I was at ROA getting ready to go WOW . I ran in to him twice there once when I was wandering in the woods and he was wandering through there.. Corps was clearing everyone out.. like we were all terrorists lying in wait to assassinate him. I had just needed some time to sort out what I was doing .. alone .. unfortunately the way woods was the only place not spilling over with people.
I thought VP was being a bit arrogant. And the poor Corps who was guarding it when I came walking out was scared stiff.. how did they miss me, where had I been.. Did anyone else see me back there...Now I suspect he was afraid he would get dressed down if anyone knew they had missed me clearing out the way woods. By the way it really was just a walk thru the woods he was there and Loy boy and a couple of Way guards. Really they were just talking and wandering thru no big deal really but you would have thought he was some head of state with a price on his head they way everyone carried on.
My third encounter was at that same ROA... I was working (I volunteered ) and was manning the gate the one that ran between tent city and the food court.... any way I was told to keep an eye out for his cart and open the gate and don't fall down he would run you over. well yep I tripped and he actually (at least it seemed it to me.. sped up)I recovered and got the gate open just in time.. but I never forgot it.
Not probably what you were looking for but those are my encounters
I met him a few times at "meet and greet" type things.
The first time I met him, I was very nervous that he would see some sort of devil spirit in me or something.
So, anyway, he shakes my hand as he looks down at my name tag and mispronounces my name. Then, he proceeds to rattle on and on about how we needed to get more committed and really push the PLAF class. Asked me if I was signed up yet to go WOW. By the end of the very one sided conversation, he had to look at my name tag again to remember my name. I was not impressed with his "spiritual awareness".
edit:
I don't personally count stuff like the AC because those were group settings, not one on one.
He came to the city where I was a WOW. Since I lived with the WC person in charge of the branch of WOW's I got to spend some personal time with him, at his request, on two occasions. One was when HA fixed breakfast in the little camper they drove around in then. I dropped someting on the way back to our apartment and he picked it up and whacked me on the butt with it. I was not blessed.
The second time was, in retrospect, a narrow escape.
I was in the lobby of the local museum of art where he was teaching in the auditorium. He was walking through the lobby. I can't remember if I walked up to him, or the other way around, but I do remember that he took my offered hand, held it too long, and looked at me like all he wanted to do was get in my pants.
The next time I met him was at an impromptu meeting at our local limb when he was going through on the Harley and motor coach. For whatever reason I was invited. There were about 50 of us in there and I was sitting in the back with JAL's dad being all snarky. I recall the reverence towards him by the others, but I figured if he was going to sit up there practically chain smoking and drinking, then we weren't really having a god meeting, it was just a get-together. He was co-mingling pretty well there before and after, but there's nothing that particularly stood out in my mind other than some people feeling the need to monopolize his time.
I grew up headquarters and knew Wierwille. I always found Mrs. Wierwille to be loving and caring. She had a Christmas party every year in the basement of the house. Anyone remember that??? She always served the same ice cream squares, lol.
I was probably 9 or 10 years old when Wierwille taught me how to shoot a gun. He and another person (I can’t remember who) were shooting at targets over the pond and I was watching. He asked me if I wanted to try, so he put the shotgun in my hands and told me to be ready for a kickback. I shot and it knocked me on my butt. It was a long time before I picked up a gun after that. Strange!!!
I shook his hand and said hi a couple of times. I don't think he knew or cared who I was. And to be honest, I treated him with all the fear and respect that I would have for a rattlesnake. I watched him destroy a person's TWI life and career in an instant and I knew that I was surely no better a person than that victim.
Looking back, it's amazing we could be duped by such a conman. To call bullsh1t on his kind today would be a honor and a duty to me.
And yes, Mrs. W. was never anything but nice to me or to anyone else I saw her with.
Holly, Mrs. was always nice and gracious when I met her as well.
I was assigned to be Mrs. W's escort at Word in Business two consecutive years. For five days, from 7am-10pm my responsibilities included a wide-range of demanding vigilance [15-hours a day]. This corps-assigned work responsibility required extreme patience, protocol, precision and persistence......with very little personal time throughout the week.
When she took a bathroom break....I needed to take a bathroom break (so as NOT to expect her to wait for me). It was a grueling week of work.......both years at WIB.
Yes, Mrs. W usually gets a free pass around GS......but from someone who spent, at least, 10 full days with her, (and staying in her home a time or two) she soaked in the spotlight just like her hubby. On so many occasions, the "spiritual protocol" overwhelmed the common sense of the moment. She enjoyed people.....yes. But she ALSO enjoyed the spotlight as "twi's first lady."
On a couple of occasions, my actions were not as responsive to her liking......and her glares were cold and riveting. She held her own in wielding "power" and Don Wierwille was close by to watch my servitude as well.
And......the "gift table" in her WIB suite was loaded with fine items (both years).
I had a couple of experiences with him. One was actually before I got involved and a friend and I were going to a meeting that The Way was holding. We didn't even know him at that time and we were entering the back door and he was right behind us and said, "Someone got a new coat" and it was my friend who did. Once inside, we were like, how did he know that? And who is he? And then we saw him on stage.
Another instance was I was living with corps and he came to town. The limb leader, branch leader and VP came to our house for dinner. I waited on table being the only non corps. He wanted more coffee and so I went to pick up his cup and he smacked me on the bottom. I remember thinking at the time, now why did he do that? Rather inappropriate wouldn't you say? But, he was the MOG so I let it go. Later we went on his motor coach to watch a movie with him. His guard dog was on the coach and I didn't realize that you don't like bend over to pet him. I loved dogs and started to go near him and the dog just went ballistic...and back me off....I slowly got up and went to the back, shaking as I did. Right then, I was ready to leave. During the movie, he changed into his PJ's which really was embarrassing to me. I was rather shocked! I was so glad when the movie was over and I could leave. The corps stayed...but I was thankful to go back to the house!!!
I really only had one personal experience with him and it was very positive and he gave me advice regarding my study of the bible that I found very helpful and I have applied consistently, both while I was in and after I left. It was 1976 and he told me. "Don't ever take anyone's word for what the Word of God says." Then after a long pause he added. "not even mine."
I don't think I ever met him personally, but we did exchange correspondence. I sent him a letter about my concerns that "Uncle Harry Day" was too much like a Catholic Holy Day. He responded politely, attempting to assuage my concerns without admitting any wrong doctrine or practice. I doubt it's coincidental, however, that after that the day was renamed "Burn the Chaff Day."
My personal experience with VPW? Two very, very different people.
While in residence in 1975, I discovered my sister had suddenly been sent home from the WOW field. My parents had to go pick her up. She was silent the entire trip home from S.Carolina to Indiana. Cried for weeks, would not eat, could not sleep. Parents called me wondering what happened, and what to do for her-- she wouldn't tell them what happened. I figured I'd ask VP personally, since he would be at Emporia, and had just visited my sister prior to her being sent home. The conversation between "Me & VP"? Very terse, curt. I asked him what happened to her on the field, since she was so vibrant and happy when my parents had visited several weeks before. "She just couldn't handle the WOW field" was the sharp reply. Very intimidating. I found out what actually happened to her only after leaving TWI several decades later. VPW had behaved in a very sexually inappropriate way towards my 17 year old virgin sister. No wonder VP didn't want to talk about it.
Fast forward to 1981. Marital problems and problems with state leadership in IL. I had been approaching state leadership about problems my husband had with drinking. At the time, Geek wasn't owning up to his problem and was saying I had an "aversion" to alcohol. State leadership took his side. Long story short, at what was supposed to be a Thanksgiving dinner for the Corps in IL, I was singled out by the Limb leader and area leaders and and blamed for "ruining" Geek's ministry. Geek was embarassed cuz I stared at him the whoie time, and he knew the truth. I got up in the middle of the meeting, told them "F*** you. I don't want anything to do with you or your ministry" and I walked out. Geek walked out with me and apologized all the way home. We ceased going to any local or state functions for TWI, and sent our ABS straight to HQ, bypassing the state.
We went to HQ a couple months later for a research meeting and while there I made an appointment with VPW to discuss our problems with each other and with the State leadership in IL. While recounting the Thanksgiving incident and describing all the things the Limb leader was accusing me of in this Thanksgiving "ambush", before I could finish, VPW said "Aw, honey, I woulda said 'F*** you' and walked out!" I burst into tears. VPW looked at Geek and said, "What's the matter with her?" With great pride, Geek said, "Sir, that's exactly what she did!" VPW laughed and said "That's my girl!" After kicking Geek's behind and giving him some directives, VPW built us a fire in his study, told us to stay there as long as we wanted, and was off to a meeting. Then, VPW called the limb coordinator of IL and told him to meet him in Rome City. The limb coordinator got a good @$$ kicking there, and nearly lost his job.
Those two incidents comprise the most important personal contact I ever had with VPW and illustrate how he could be cruel and cold on one hand, and warm and responsive on the other. I think it is also why you get polarized views regarding VPW. Some people only saw the "warm fuzzy" side to VPW (I'm talking emotionally here) and so vehemently defend him. Other people only saw the cruel side, and vehemently condemn him.
I saw both. He could be patient, loving, understanding, and kind, when he wanted to be.
But he could also be calculating and cold. He used people for his own pleasure, not considering the damage that he might be doing to them, and the repurcussions to those women for the rest of their lives.
You will find many incidents of both nice and nasty when it comes to VPW. He could help repair marriages and mend hearts. He could also dash them to pieces, and did, frequently.
your post nicely covers one of the things that changed for me since I got to the GSC.
I heard a long time ago many credible stories about Wierwille defending folks from oppressive, jerkwater leadership, family, or community based influences. And if that had been the whole story I think it is a fair statement to say that I would be happy still to feel a little love and/or loyalty for the man.
But since I came to the GSC another side of Wierwille has been portaid with even more credible testimony than that which served to secure a measure of love for the man. And for the sake of brevity I will use the same "father in the word" analogy that Wierwille used to cause people to become willingly subject to him.
It turns out the the supposed "father in the Word" took some of his young daughters and raped them after he drugged them and ripped their clothes off. And that testimony is just as credible and more so than that which I heard from the first.
And because some of his sons had the bonds of real marriage and fatherhood with these now raped daughters he relished destroying his sons' lives' if they showed any indication of rejecting his so-called "fatherly guidance."
And he only allowed the sons and daughters close to him that participated or at least enabled the systematic rape and/or abuse of his own daughters, causing his own sons and daughters to have blood on their hands too.
I don't think highly of the man so much anymore. (Insert your own sarcasm) His love and support only served to hide his lewdness from the rest of us.
Wierwille could be nice to people when it suited him, publicity wise. I once sent him some hymns revised to Way doctrine like Church's One Foundation. He replied through Dorothy, "thank you for your concern. Maybe in future edition of Sing Along The Way, wemay use them". Unfortunately, they never did. He once visited Burlington, NC and I spoke to him, saying that for their next vacation to visit the Blue Ridge. He thanked me and that was it. In 1979 at ROA, I was singing in The Way Chorale Internationale and he stopped by to say we were better than the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. If only I had know the truth I now know.
I first met Wierwille in 1975 in Buffalo, NY...until the time of his death, I probably had about a dozen different occasions that I spent with him, either one on one or in a small group of people...
...he attended my wedding as a guest, I sat and ate dinner with him 2 or 3 times, and had several one on one conversations...the times that I heard him teach to a crowd number in the dozens...
It wasn't until after his death and I had left twi that I learned the ugly side of VPW...sure, I had seen him harsh and witnessed him really reaming out people...but the plagiarism, the sex, the lies, the severe abuse...learned about it all after I left.
I didn't leave twi because of Wierwille, I left because of Martindale...I "perceived" rather quickly that king okie was a half wit leading us into a swamp...
...My personal opinion of Wierwille based on my experiences with him, both public and private, was that he was an extremely insecure man (always had to be the center of attention), an immoral man and a very charismatic man...a bad combination!
Recommended Posts
frank123lol
Not much,In private once I asked a question,he replied "Hell.I dont know"
So for years,I probably said hell I dont know.
Other than that i shook his hand a couple of times.
I did ask one time in a letter, to talk to him personaly,He never replied,too busy I guess.
Shows how old I am as hes been dead for over 24 years.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
leafytwiglet
I have three encounters.
my first was at Gunnison .. I was a recent PFAL grad and went to hear the "great Man"(sarcasm) speak there. he was expounding on the fact that the word divides family and we should not allow our family to stand in the way of our walk with GAWD!
after which I wanted to go up and say hello to him and shake his hand but was deterred by the Corps person I was with.. how rude of me to intrude on the time of such an important man of God. Stupidly I listened to them and did not go over to say hello.
Next I was at ROA getting ready to go WOW . I ran in to him twice there once when I was wandering in the woods and he was wandering through there.. Corps was clearing everyone out.. like we were all terrorists lying in wait to assassinate him. I had just needed some time to sort out what I was doing .. alone .. unfortunately the way woods was the only place not spilling over with people.
I thought VP was being a bit arrogant. And the poor Corps who was guarding it when I came walking out was scared stiff.. how did they miss me, where had I been.. Did anyone else see me back there...Now I suspect he was afraid he would get dressed down if anyone knew they had missed me clearing out the way woods. By the way it really was just a walk thru the woods he was there and Loy boy and a couple of Way guards. Really they were just talking and wandering thru no big deal really but you would have thought he was some head of state with a price on his head they way everyone carried on.
My third encounter was at that same ROA... I was working (I volunteered ) and was manning the gate the one that ran between tent city and the food court.... any way I was told to keep an eye out for his cart and open the gate and don't fall down he would run you over. well yep I tripped and he actually (at least it seemed it to me.. sped up)I recovered and got the gate open just in time.. but I never forgot it.
Not probably what you were looking for but those are my encounters
Link to comment
Share on other sites
waysider
I never knew him personally.
I met him a few times at "meet and greet" type things.
The first time I met him, I was very nervous that he would see some sort of devil spirit in me or something.
So, anyway, he shakes my hand as he looks down at my name tag and mispronounces my name. Then, he proceeds to rattle on and on about how we needed to get more committed and really push the PLAF class. Asked me if I was signed up yet to go WOW. By the end of the very one sided conversation, he had to look at my name tag again to remember my name. I was not impressed with his "spiritual awareness".
edit:
I don't personally count stuff like the AC because those were group settings, not one on one.
Edited by waysiderLink to comment
Share on other sites
rascal
Met him once. He was cold, very very cold. Course I figured it was because I was such a spiritual worm :)
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Watered Garden
He came to the city where I was a WOW. Since I lived with the WC person in charge of the branch of WOW's I got to spend some personal time with him, at his request, on two occasions. One was when HA fixed breakfast in the little camper they drove around in then. I dropped someting on the way back to our apartment and he picked it up and whacked me on the butt with it. I was not blessed.
The second time was, in retrospect, a narrow escape.
Later.
WG
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Tzaia
I was in the lobby of the local museum of art where he was teaching in the auditorium. He was walking through the lobby. I can't remember if I walked up to him, or the other way around, but I do remember that he took my offered hand, held it too long, and looked at me like all he wanted to do was get in my pants.
The next time I met him was at an impromptu meeting at our local limb when he was going through on the Harley and motor coach. For whatever reason I was invited. There were about 50 of us in there and I was sitting in the back with JAL's dad being all snarky. I recall the reverence towards him by the others, but I figured if he was going to sit up there practically chain smoking and drinking, then we weren't really having a god meeting, it was just a get-together. He was co-mingling pretty well there before and after, but there's nothing that particularly stood out in my mind other than some people feeling the need to monopolize his time.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
hollyc
I grew up headquarters and knew Wierwille. I always found Mrs. Wierwille to be loving and caring. She had a Christmas party every year in the basement of the house. Anyone remember that??? She always served the same ice cream squares, lol.
I was probably 9 or 10 years old when Wierwille taught me how to shoot a gun. He and another person (I can’t remember who) were shooting at targets over the pond and I was watching. He asked me if I wanted to try, so he put the shotgun in my hands and told me to be ready for a kickback. I shot and it knocked me on my butt. It was a long time before I picked up a gun after that. Strange!!!
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Bolshevik
I have none.
I do have a picture of Mrs. B holding hands with the cyclops. She was too young to remember anything.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
rascal
Holly, Mrs. was always nice and gracious when I met her as well.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Jim
I shook his hand and said hi a couple of times. I don't think he knew or cared who I was. And to be honest, I treated him with all the fear and respect that I would have for a rattlesnake. I watched him destroy a person's TWI life and career in an instant and I knew that I was surely no better a person than that victim.
Looking back, it's amazing we could be duped by such a conman. To call bullsh1t on his kind today would be a honor and a duty to me.
And yes, Mrs. W. was never anything but nice to me or to anyone else I saw her with.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
skyrider
I was assigned to be Mrs. W's escort at Word in Business two consecutive years. For five days, from 7am-10pm my responsibilities included a wide-range of demanding vigilance [15-hours a day]. This corps-assigned work responsibility required extreme patience, protocol, precision and persistence......with very little personal time throughout the week.
When she took a bathroom break....I needed to take a bathroom break (so as NOT to expect her to wait for me). It was a grueling week of work.......both years at WIB.
Yes, Mrs. W usually gets a free pass around GS......but from someone who spent, at least, 10 full days with her, (and staying in her home a time or two) she soaked in the spotlight just like her hubby. On so many occasions, the "spiritual protocol" overwhelmed the common sense of the moment. She enjoyed people.....yes. But she ALSO enjoyed the spotlight as "twi's first lady."
On a couple of occasions, my actions were not as responsive to her liking......and her glares were cold and riveting. She held her own in wielding "power" and Don Wierwille was close by to watch my servitude as well.
And......the "gift table" in her WIB suite was loaded with fine items (both years).
Link to comment
Share on other sites
newlife
I had a couple of experiences with him. One was actually before I got involved and a friend and I were going to a meeting that The Way was holding. We didn't even know him at that time and we were entering the back door and he was right behind us and said, "Someone got a new coat" and it was my friend who did. Once inside, we were like, how did he know that? And who is he? And then we saw him on stage.
Another instance was I was living with corps and he came to town. The limb leader, branch leader and VP came to our house for dinner. I waited on table being the only non corps. He wanted more coffee and so I went to pick up his cup and he smacked me on the bottom. I remember thinking at the time, now why did he do that? Rather inappropriate wouldn't you say? But, he was the MOG so I let it go. Later we went on his motor coach to watch a movie with him. His guard dog was on the coach and I didn't realize that you don't like bend over to pet him. I loved dogs and started to go near him and the dog just went ballistic...and back me off....I slowly got up and went to the back, shaking as I did. Right then, I was ready to leave. During the movie, he changed into his PJ's which really was embarrassing to me. I was rather shocked! I was so glad when the movie was over and I could leave. The corps stayed...but I was thankful to go back to the house!!!
That was enough experience for me!
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Keith
I really only had one personal experience with him and it was very positive and he gave me advice regarding my study of the bible that I found very helpful and I have applied consistently, both while I was in and after I left. It was 1976 and he told me. "Don't ever take anyone's word for what the Word of God says." Then after a long pause he added. "not even mine."
Link to comment
Share on other sites
GeorgeStGeorge
I don't think I ever met him personally, but we did exchange correspondence. I sent him a letter about my concerns that "Uncle Harry Day" was too much like a Catholic Holy Day. He responded politely, attempting to assuage my concerns without admitting any wrong doctrine or practice. I doubt it's coincidental, however, that after that the day was renamed "Burn the Chaff Day."
George
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Catcup
My personal experience with VPW? Two very, very different people.
While in residence in 1975, I discovered my sister had suddenly been sent home from the WOW field. My parents had to go pick her up. She was silent the entire trip home from S.Carolina to Indiana. Cried for weeks, would not eat, could not sleep. Parents called me wondering what happened, and what to do for her-- she wouldn't tell them what happened. I figured I'd ask VP personally, since he would be at Emporia, and had just visited my sister prior to her being sent home. The conversation between "Me & VP"? Very terse, curt. I asked him what happened to her on the field, since she was so vibrant and happy when my parents had visited several weeks before. "She just couldn't handle the WOW field" was the sharp reply. Very intimidating. I found out what actually happened to her only after leaving TWI several decades later. VPW had behaved in a very sexually inappropriate way towards my 17 year old virgin sister. No wonder VP didn't want to talk about it.
Fast forward to 1981. Marital problems and problems with state leadership in IL. I had been approaching state leadership about problems my husband had with drinking. At the time, Geek wasn't owning up to his problem and was saying I had an "aversion" to alcohol. State leadership took his side. Long story short, at what was supposed to be a Thanksgiving dinner for the Corps in IL, I was singled out by the Limb leader and area leaders and and blamed for "ruining" Geek's ministry. Geek was embarassed cuz I stared at him the whoie time, and he knew the truth. I got up in the middle of the meeting, told them "F*** you. I don't want anything to do with you or your ministry" and I walked out. Geek walked out with me and apologized all the way home. We ceased going to any local or state functions for TWI, and sent our ABS straight to HQ, bypassing the state.
We went to HQ a couple months later for a research meeting and while there I made an appointment with VPW to discuss our problems with each other and with the State leadership in IL. While recounting the Thanksgiving incident and describing all the things the Limb leader was accusing me of in this Thanksgiving "ambush", before I could finish, VPW said "Aw, honey, I woulda said 'F*** you' and walked out!" I burst into tears. VPW looked at Geek and said, "What's the matter with her?" With great pride, Geek said, "Sir, that's exactly what she did!" VPW laughed and said "That's my girl!" After kicking Geek's behind and giving him some directives, VPW built us a fire in his study, told us to stay there as long as we wanted, and was off to a meeting. Then, VPW called the limb coordinator of IL and told him to meet him in Rome City. The limb coordinator got a good @$$ kicking there, and nearly lost his job.
Those two incidents comprise the most important personal contact I ever had with VPW and illustrate how he could be cruel and cold on one hand, and warm and responsive on the other. I think it is also why you get polarized views regarding VPW. Some people only saw the "warm fuzzy" side to VPW (I'm talking emotionally here) and so vehemently defend him. Other people only saw the cruel side, and vehemently condemn him.
I saw both. He could be patient, loving, understanding, and kind, when he wanted to be.
But he could also be calculating and cold. He used people for his own pleasure, not considering the damage that he might be doing to them, and the repurcussions to those women for the rest of their lives.
You will find many incidents of both nice and nasty when it comes to VPW. He could help repair marriages and mend hearts. He could also dash them to pieces, and did, frequently.
Edited by CatcupLink to comment
Share on other sites
JeffSjo
Dear Catcup,
your post nicely covers one of the things that changed for me since I got to the GSC.
I heard a long time ago many credible stories about Wierwille defending folks from oppressive, jerkwater leadership, family, or community based influences. And if that had been the whole story I think it is a fair statement to say that I would be happy still to feel a little love and/or loyalty for the man.
But since I came to the GSC another side of Wierwille has been portaid with even more credible testimony than that which served to secure a measure of love for the man. And for the sake of brevity I will use the same "father in the word" analogy that Wierwille used to cause people to become willingly subject to him.
It turns out the the supposed "father in the Word" took some of his young daughters and raped them after he drugged them and ripped their clothes off. And that testimony is just as credible and more so than that which I heard from the first.
And because some of his sons had the bonds of real marriage and fatherhood with these now raped daughters he relished destroying his sons' lives' if they showed any indication of rejecting his so-called "fatherly guidance."
And he only allowed the sons and daughters close to him that participated or at least enabled the systematic rape and/or abuse of his own daughters, causing his own sons and daughters to have blood on their hands too.
I don't think highly of the man so much anymore. (Insert your own sarcasm) His love and support only served to hide his lewdness from the rest of us.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Thomas Loy Bumgarner
Wierwille could be nice to people when it suited him, publicity wise. I once sent him some hymns revised to Way doctrine like Church's One Foundation. He replied through Dorothy, "thank you for your concern. Maybe in future edition of Sing Along The Way, wemay use them". Unfortunately, they never did. He once visited Burlington, NC and I spoke to him, saying that for their next vacation to visit the Blue Ridge. He thanked me and that was it. In 1979 at ROA, I was singing in The Way Chorale Internationale and he stopped by to say we were better than the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. If only I had know the truth I now know.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
GrouchoMarxJr
I first met Wierwille in 1975 in Buffalo, NY...until the time of his death, I probably had about a dozen different occasions that I spent with him, either one on one or in a small group of people...
...he attended my wedding as a guest, I sat and ate dinner with him 2 or 3 times, and had several one on one conversations...the times that I heard him teach to a crowd number in the dozens...
It wasn't until after his death and I had left twi that I learned the ugly side of VPW...sure, I had seen him harsh and witnessed him really reaming out people...but the plagiarism, the sex, the lies, the severe abuse...learned about it all after I left.
I didn't leave twi because of Wierwille, I left because of Martindale...I "perceived" rather quickly that king okie was a half wit leading us into a swamp...
...My personal opinion of Wierwille based on my experiences with him, both public and private, was that he was an extremely insecure man (always had to be the center of attention), an immoral man and a very charismatic man...a bad combination!
Edited by GrouchoMarxJrLink to comment
Share on other sites
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.