Editing Cosmic Circle of Fellowship

{{Short description|UFO religion}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox religion
| name               = Cosmic Circle of Fellowship
| image              = Cosmic Circle of Fellowship symbol.png
| imageupright       = 1.3
| alt                = Circle in a cube symbol with the words alpha and omega contained within
| caption            = Symbol used on CCF advertisements
| abbreviation       = CCF
| type               = [[New religious movement]]
| main_classification = [[UFO religion]]
| founder            = [[William R. Ferguson]], Edward A. Surine and Edna I. Valverde
| founded_date       = 1954
| founded_place      = [[Chicago]], Illinois, US
| members            = 41 (in 2002)
}}

The '''Cosmic Circle of Fellowship''' (CCF) was an American [[UFO religion]]. The Circle was founded in [[Chicago]] in 1954 by [[postman]] and [[UFO contactee]] [[William R. Ferguson]], in addition to Edward A. Surine and Edna I. Valverde. Ferguson had previously spent a year in prison for medical fraud, and claimed he was in contact with a being named Khauga from Mars. He wrote a book on these claims, later published by the CCF. Following his release from prison, Ferguson founded the CCF in 1954 in Chicago, after he said he had received a vision from aliens that UFOs were beneficial and desired to help the Earth. Afterwards several circles were founded in other cities across the United States.  

The group's beliefs involved worshiping these higher beings, including Khauga but also other claimed [[Extraterrestrial life|extraterrestrial]] entities. Members engaged in trance-channeling, through which they aimed to get the higher beings to speak through them. They also incorporated elements of [[Christian]] religiosity, also believing they received messages from [[Jesus]]. The messages believed to be received from these beings were then studied. Following Ferguson's death in 1967, the CCF continued to publish his works. 

== Background ==
[[William R. Ferguson]] was a former postman and ex-[[taxi]] driver. In 1938 he claimed that he had relaxed so deeply that he had been transported to another dimension.{{sfn|Clark|2001|pp=357–358}} Ferguson reported several UFO or alien encounters, all of which occurred during mediation sessions, and later claimed to be visited by a being named Khauga from Mars.{{sfn|Clark|2000|p=143}}{{sfn|Clark|2001|p=358}}{{sfn|Bartholomew|Basterfield|Howard|1991|p=218}} In 1954, he published this narrative in a book published by the CCF, ''My Trip to Mars''.{{sfn|Clark|2000|p=143}} 

In the 1940s, Ferguson manufactured and created a [[Quackery|quack]] medical device called the Zerret Applicator, which he marketed as a [[cure-all]]. He was convicted of [[fraud]], was found guilty, and spent a year in prison.{{sfn|Hogan|2016|p=295}}<ref name="Browning1959">{{Cite news |last=Browning |first=Norma Lee |date=1959-06-14 |title=Quackery — $500,000,000 Racket: The Snake Oil Salesman Was a Piker Compared with the Grafters Fleecing the Gullible Today |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-quackery-500000000/172539749/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |work=[[Chicago Sunday Tribune]] |pages=35 |language=en-US |issn=1085-6706}}</ref>

== Founding and activities ==
[[File:The Space Age Religion, Cosmic Circle of Fellowship advertisement (cropped).png|alt=Black and white text advertisement reading: Streamlined like a rocket, its propellant is truth— The Space Age Religion. The Cosmic Circle of Fellowship, Inc., offers Instructions in Cosmic Knowledge. Get the New Revelation — $2.50 postpaid. Literal decoding of the Bible Revelation.|thumb|1961 advertisement for the CCF, printed in a UFO publication]]
In 1954, Ferguson founded the Cosmic Circle of Fellowship in Chicago that year, alongside Edward A. Surine and Edna I. Valverde (also Edna Vel Verde).{{sfn|Clark|2001|p=358}}<ref name="Ledig1992">{{Cite news |last=Ledig |first=Sean C. |date=1992-07-25 |title=Religious groups see flying saucers in a spiritual light |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-religious-groups-see-f/172409943/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |newspaper=[[The Tampa Tribune]] |page=4 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |issn=1042-3761}}</ref> The group was [[Incorporation (business)|incorporated]] in [[Illinois]] in 1955.{{sfn|Clark|2001|p=358}}<ref name="SanFranciscoExaminer1960">{{Cite news |date=1960-11-12 |title=Cosmic Circle to Meet Fridays |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-cosmic-circle/172407746/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |newspaper=[[San Francisco Examiner]] |page=12 |language=en-US |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |issn=2574-593X}}</ref>{{sfn|Melton|2009|p=783}} Initially founded in Chicago,{{sfn|Melton|2009|p=783}} Ferguson began traveling throughout the United States in 1958, founding other "circles" in other cities, including in [[San Francisco]], [[New York City]], [[Washington, D.C.]], and [[Philadelphia]].{{sfn|Clark|2001|p=358}}{{sfn|Melton|2009|p=783}} There was also one in [[Siouxland]].<ref name="TheSiouxCityJournal1966">{{Cite news |date=1966-10-19 |title='Story of Creation' Will Be Subject |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-story-of-creatio/172407765/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |newspaper=[[The Sioux City Journal]] |page=B16 |language=en-US |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |issue=60 |issn=2689-5536}}</ref> Ferguson was the group's national president.<ref name="SanFranciscoExaminer1960" /><ref name="TheSiouxCityJournal1966" /> Ferguson lectured for the CCF throughout the U.S. lecturing on such topics as [[Flying saucer|flying saucers]], [[vibrational healing]], [[outer space]], also mentioning celestial beings and Jesus.<ref name="Browning1959" /> At one meeting Ferguson sold "joy cups" supposed to treat ailments through combating negative energies, which he said had been transported from Mars.<ref name="Browning1959" /> The CCF was associated with a group called the Cosmic Study Center, a Maryland organization led by a Cloe Diroll.{{sfn|Melton|2009|p=783}}

The Circle's second annual "Interplanetary Space Conference" began September 13, 1957 in [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref name="SundayCall-Chronicle1957">{{Cite news |date=1957-09-15 |title=Coincidence? Saucers in Poconos Tied to Conference? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-coincidence-saucers-in/172409381/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |newspaper=[[Sunday Call-Chronicle]] |location=Allentown |page=19 |language=en-US |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |issue=1884 |issn=2641-3825}}</ref> A speaker at this conference was [[Wayne Aho]], who played audio which he claimed was "conversations of Venutians", who "described life on their planet and told of inter-planetary experiences"; this audience included some people from [[the Pentagon]], who the [[Allentown, Pennsylvania]]-based ''[[Sunday Call-Chronicle]]'' noted as "seem[ing] skeptical of the whole thing". The ''Sunday Call-Chronicle'' connected this meeting to the supposed sighting of several flying saucers in [[Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania]] that had occurred the same day, though said it may be "merely a coincidence".<ref name="SundayCall-Chronicle1957" /> As of 1960, the [[San Francisco]] chapter met on Fridays in the Bellevue Hotel in San Francisco, California.''<ref name="SanFranciscoExaminer1960" />'' 

Ferguson died in 1967. After his death the [[Chicago]] circle continued to publish his writings.{{sfn|Clark|2001|p=358}}{{sfn|Lewis|2000|p=92}} This was later done under the name Cosmic Study Center, with many of the books being published by Cloe Diroll.{{sfn|Melton|Eberhart|1995|p=253}} Ferguson's techniques of relaxation remained the main method to "consciousness-expansion".{{sfn|Lewis|2000|p=92}} Following Ferguson's death, Nancy K. Konkle of San Rafael was the spokesman for the group; she described the movement as "an order of celestial and immortal beings organized 12,000 years ago on Saturn in order to emancipate earth people."<ref name="DailyIndependentJournal1972">{{Cite news |date=1972-04-14 |title=Fellowship Plans Sunrise Function |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-independent-journal-fellowship-pla/172409567/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |newspaper=[[Daily Independent Journal]] |location=San Rafael |page=4 |language=en-US |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |volume=112 |issue=20 |issn=0891-5164}}</ref> In 1972, they planned to hold an "experience in expansion" at sunrise on April 16 at [[Mount Tamalpais]], with another meeting later that day.<ref name="DailyIndependentJournal1972" /> The group had roughly 20 members in 1992, who communicated through newsletters throughout the United States.<ref name="Ledig1992" /> In 2002 they claimed 41 Chicago-area members.{{sfn|Melton|2009|p=783}}

== Beliefs and practices ==
The Cosmic Circle of Fellowship was a [[UFO religion]].{{sfn|Saliba|1995|p=45}}{{sfn|Schutz|1980|p=340}} Religious scholars [[J. Gordon Melton]] and George M. Eberhart listed the group as one of the "major contactee groups" in 1995, while Michael K. Schutz classified them as a "UFO-oriented religious cult".{{sfn|Melton|Eberhart|1995|p=253}}{{sfn|Schutz|1980|p=340}} In an article on the group's meetings, the ''[[San Francisco Examiner]]'' called the Cosmic Circle of Fellowship "the space-age religion".<ref name="SanFranciscoExaminer1960" /> Ferguson claimed the group's teachings were based "upon the revelation of the Blessed Jesus" and that they were "in harmony with the laws of the Expressed Creation".<ref name="SanFranciscoExaminer1960" /> A key belief of the CCF, shared with many other UFO movements, is that benevolent [[Extraterrestrial life|extraterrestrial]] beings communicate with the group members and leader directly and often.{{sfn|Schutz|1980|p=340}} They also incorporated Christian elements, and were described by scholar [[Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi]] as a "UFO-Christian" religion.{{sfn|Beit-Hallahmi|1993|p=141}}{{sfn|Schutz|1980|p=340}} 

The entity Khauga, a "Celestial Being" who Ferguson had claimed contact with, was worshiped as a figure called the Comforter, the leader of a group called the "Universal Brotherhood of the Sons of the Father", which was said to have members from various [[solar systems]].{{sfn|Clark|2000|p=143}}{{sfn|Melton|2009|p=783}}{{sfn|Lewis|2000|p=92}} This brotherhood was preparing the [[Earth]] for the [[Second Coming]] of Christ. The beliefs of the group were that there was a Father of Creation, a being of pure intelligent energy, and a Mother of Creation, who was made of pure universal substance; things were created when the father's rays of life impregnated the Mother's substance. When the [[New Age]] arrived, they believed that materialism and evil would be overthrown, with humanity being lifted into "fourth-dimensional consciousness".{{sfn|Melton|2009|p=783}}{{sfn|Lewis|2000|p=92}} Various other beings who were said to communicate with CCF members included Melchizedek and Zestra, viewed as the male and female rulers of the [[Solar System]] who lived inside the sun.{{sfn|Schutz|1980|p=340}} The CCF viewed themselves as linked to both mainstream Christianity and science, as they believed they also received messages from [[Jesus]], who they believed had been brought to earth by a flying saucer (that was the [[Star of Bethlehem]]). Their connection to science was from Khauga, who was the "Chief Uniphysicist of the Solar System".{{sfn|Schutz|1980|p=340}} Valverde argued that the [[Bible]]'s descriptions of Jesus indicated that he was an alien.<ref name="Ledig1992" /> In a leaflet that proclaimed the group's "permanent celestial message", they described themself thus:{{sfn|Saliba|1995|p=45}}

{{Blockquote|text=The Cosmic Circle of Fellowship is a religious organization of the sovereign State of Illinois, under the complete guidance of Celestial and Immortal Beings from Outer Space. The messenger of these space beings is William Ferguson of the Planet Earth, and other Priests and Priestesses, who have been and will be, elevated to the Priesthood of the Cosmic Circle of Fellowship.
We teach the New Age Truth, given to us by the Spirit of
Truth from the Holy Triune.
We worship only the Alpha and the Omega, who are the First Cause, (Everliving). We adore many Celestials and Immortals, who are working with us and guiding us. We invite all people of the Planet Earth to join us in fellowship and the worship of Alpha and Omega.}}

To join the group, prospective members had to pass through 13 weekly lectures, which was called the "College of Cosmic Knowledge"; if after attending these lectures they were viewed as worthy, they were then "Elevated to the Priesthood of Melchizedek and Zestra", and were told about the secret and more direct meetings.{{sfn|Schutz|1980|p=340}} There were partially secret meetings every week that involved listening and studying to the past message, and simultaneously listening to and receiving a new message.{{sfn|Schutz|1980|p=340}} The more secret meetings involved receiving messages from this beings through "trance-channeling", in which the higher being would speak through the individual undergoing the trance.{{sfn|Schutz|1980|p=340}} Ferguson would supposedly [[Channeling (New Age)|channel]] from Khauga.{{sfn|Hogan|2016|p=296}} Messages received in these trances tended to be of a "quasi-religious" type, with subjects typically relating to how to live a better life, preparing for the Great Cosmic Plan for improvement of the Earth, and how to properly worship these higher beings. These messages were all recorded through tape, [[mimeographed]], and transcribed.{{sfn|Schutz|1980|p=340}} 

== Publications ==
{{refbegin|colwidth=25em}}
* {{Cite book |last=Ferguson |first=William |author-link=William R. Ferguson |title=My Trip to Mars |publisher=The Cosmic Circle of Fellowship |year=1954 |publication-place=Chicago |language=en-US}}
* {{Cite book |last=Ferguson |first=William |author-link=William R. Ferguson |title=A Message from Outer Space |publisher=Golden Age Press |year=1955 |location=Oak Park |language=en-US}}
* {{Cite book |last=Ferguson |first=William |author-link=William R. Ferguson |title=Five Hours with the Oligarchs of Venus |publisher=The Cosmic Circle of Fellowship |year=1955 |location=Chicago |language=en-US}}
* {{Cite book |last=Ferguson |first=William |author-link=William R. Ferguson |title=The New Revelation by the Revelator Himself |year=1959 |language=en-US}}
* {{Cite book |title=Regarding the Space Phenomena |publisher=The Cosmic Circle of Fellowship |year=1958 |publication-place=Chicago |language=en-US}}
* {{Cite book |last=Diroll |first=Cloe |title=Science of Cosmic Creation |publisher=Miracle Hour |year=1963 |location=Washington, D.C. |language=en-US}}
* {{Cite book |title=UFOs Unveiled |language=en-US|publisher=Cosmic Study Center|year=1974|location=Potomac|last=Diroll|first=Cloe}}
* {{Cite book |title=The Comforter Speaks |language=en-US|publisher=Cosmic Study Center|year=1977|location=Potomac|last=Diroll|first=Cloe}}
* {{Cite book |title=Overall View of Biblical Prophecies of tile Book of Revelation and Decoded in "The New Revelation by the Revelator Himself. |language=en-US|publisher=Cosmic Study Center|year=1983|location=Potomac|last=Diroll|first=Cloe}}
* {{Cite book |title=True Art of Creation Revealed to William Ferguson: Blends Scientific and Religious Perspectives |language=en-US|publisher=Cosmic Study Center|year=1983|location=Potomac|last=Diroll|first=Cloe}}
* {{Cite book |title=Alpha and Omega: Revealed to William Ferguson |language=en-US|publisher=Cosmic Study Center|year=1984|location=Potomac|last=Diroll|first=Cloe}}
{{refend}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

=== Works cited ===
{{refbegin|25em}}
* {{Cite journal |last1=Bartholomew |first1=Robert E. |last2=Basterfield |first2=Keith |last3=Howard |first3=George S. |date=June 1991 |title=UFO abductees and contactees: Psychopathology or fantasy proneness? |journal=[[Professional Psychology: Research and Practice]] |language=en |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=215–222 |doi=10.1037/0735-7028.22.3.215 |issn=1939-1323}}
* {{Cite book |last=Beit-Hallahmi |first=Benjamin |author-link=Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi |title=The Annotated Dictionary of Modern Religious Movements |publisher=[[Grolier Educational Corporation]] |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-7172-7273-0 |location=Danbury |page=141 |language=en |chapter=Cosmic Circle of Fellowship}}
* {{Cite book |last=Clark |first=Jerome |author-link=Jerome Clark |title=Extraordinary Encounters: An Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrials and Otherworldy Beings |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |year=2000 |isbn=978-1-57607-249-3 |location=Santa Barbara |page=143 |language=en |chapter=Khauga}}
* {{Cite book |last=Clark |first=Jerome |author-link=Jerome Clark |title=Odd Gods: New Religions and the Cult Controversy |publisher=[[Prometheus Books]] |year=2001 |isbn=978-1-57392-842-7 |editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |location=Amherst |pages=353–358 |language=en |chapter=The UFO Contactee Movement}}
* {{Cite book |last=Hogan |first=David J. |title=UFO FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Roswell, Aliens, Whirling Discs, and Flying Saucers |publisher=Backbeat Books |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-4803-9385-1 |location=Milwaukee |pages=295–314 |language=en |chapter=UFOs, Channeling, Quasi-Religion, and Cults: "Salvation Will Come from the Cosmos! I Have Been Chosen, So Pledge Your Lives to Me!"}}
* {{Cite encyclopedia |year=2000 |title=Cosmic Circle of Fellowship |encyclopedia=UFOs and Popular Culture: An Encyclopedia of Contemporary Myth |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |location=Santa Barbara |editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |pages=91–92 |language=en |isbn=978-1-57607-265-3}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Melton |first1=J. Gordon |author-link1=J. Gordon Melton |title=The Gods Have Landed: New Religions from Other Worlds |last2=Eberhart |first2=George M. |publisher=[[State University of New York Press]] |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-7914-2329-5 |editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |pages=251–332 |language=en |chapter=The Flying Saucer Contactee Movement, 1950-1994: A Bibliography}}
* {{Cite book |last=Melton |first=J. Gordon |author-link=J. Gordon Melton |title=Melton's Encyclopedia of American Religions |publisher=[[Gale Cengage Learning]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-7876-9696-2 |edition=8th |place=Detroit |page=783 |language=en |chapter=Cosmic Circle of Fellowship}}
* {{Cite book |last=Saliba |first=John A. |author-link=John A. Saliba |title=The Gods Have Landed: New Religions from Other Worlds |publisher=[[State University of New York Press]] |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-7914-2329-5 |editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |location=Albany |pages=15–64 |language=en |chapter=Religious dimensions of UFO phenomena}}
* {{Cite encyclopedia |year=1980 |title=sociological aspects of UFOs |encyclopedia=The Encyclopedia of UFOs |publisher=Dolphin Books |location=Garden City |last=Schutz |first=Michael K. |editor-last=Story |editor-first=Ronald D. |pages=339–341 |language=en |isbn=978-0-385-11681-7}}
{{refend}}

== Further reading ==
{{Commons}}
* {{Cite thesis |last=Schutz |first=Michael K. |title=Organizational Goals and Support-Seeking Behavior: A Comparative Study of Social Movement Organizations in the UFO (Flying Saucer Fields) |date=1973 |degree=PhD |publisher=[[Northwestern University]] |language=en}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cosmic Circle Of Fellowship}}
[[Category:Esoteric Christianity]]
[[Category:New religious movements established in the 1950s]]
[[Category:Religious belief systems founded in the United States]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1954]]
[[Category:Religious organizations based in Chicago]]
[[Category:UFO religions]]