David Miscavige Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center’s Address from the Grand Opening of The Founding Church of Scientology Washington, D.C.

October 21st, 1995 marked the grand opening of the Founding Church of Scientology Washington, D.C.’s new home in the magnificently restored landmark, Fraser Mansion.

The celebration began with the official ribbon cutting ceremony. It was appropriate that the Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center, as the highest ecclesiastical official of the Scientology religion, opened and dedicated the new Founding Church to L. Ron Hubbard.

David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center It was November of 1923, when L. Ron Hubbard first moved to Washington, at the age of twelve. A few months later, he was not only America’s youngest Eagle Scout, but was shaking hands with none other than President Calvin Coolidge on the steps of the White House. It is also here that L. Ron Hubbard took his first steps into Terra Incognita with his good friend — Commander Snake Thompson.

The fact is, Washington, D.C. was the location of many significant events in L. Ron Hubbard’s life. It was from here that he organized his first expedition into the Caribbean. It was from here that L. Ron Hubbard published his first short story. But even more importantly, it was here that L. Ron Hubbard first calculated the capacity of human memory, establishing in scientific terms that the brain simply did not have enough cells to retain all human memory — and that there had to be more to the mind.

All that was just the beginning of a long and illustrious association with the United States capitol. This city was not only very dear to L. Ron Hubbard’s heart, it has an integral place in the history of our religion. In addition to early research he conducted while attending George Washington University, it was also here that L. Ron Hubbard tested his Dianetics techniques on numerous cases, and lectured at Saint Elizabeth’s hospital.

In fact, it was just a few blocks away from Fraser Mansion — on Dupont Circle — where L. Ron Hubbard wrote the very first manuscript of his discoveries: Dianetics: The Original Thesis, known today as The Dynamics of Life.