April 30, 1967

-- by Gerald M. Minnery 

A poetry reading session and concert scheduled for May 14 at Masonic Auditorium to raise defense funds for poet D. A. Levy and James Russell Lowell has been canceled by the Masonic Temple Associations.

Levy, 24, is awaiting trial on charges of publishing and disseminating obscene literature. He was secretly indicted by the Cuyahoga Grand Jury Nov. 28.

LOWELL, 34, has been charged with selling obscene, material and is also awaiting trial. Lowell is owner of the Asphodel Book Store, 306 Superior Avenue N.W.

Both are free on $1000 bond.

Earl H. Bergman, president of the Masonic association which controls the leasing of the auditorium, said last night that Dean Michaels, superintendent, thought he had signed a contract with a group planning to honor a war hero from Vietnam.

The contract for use of the auditorium at 3615 Euclid Avenue was with "The Committee for the Defense for James Russell Lowell."

ALLEN GINSBURG, the beatnik poet, and a folk-rock singing group was scheduled to appear at the fund-raising affair.

Jasper Wood, an art dealer who is founder of the Citizens for Freedom of the Mind, and chairman of the group backing Lowell and Levy, said that about $4000 more was needed too complete.

Wood said that he had discussed details of the program with Michaels when the contracts were signed two weeks age.

"THEN I GET a call from William R. Pringle (foreman of the Grand Jury that indicted Levy and commander-in-chief of the Lake Erie Consistory of the Masons) and he told me that the contract was canceled," Wood said.

Pringle told The Plain Dealer last night that he had received many calls from "influential Masons" objecting to presentation of the program in the auditorium.

Pringle said hay he acted on his own because Bergmann was out of town. "Bergmannn affirmed my actions when he returned," Pringle said.