The couple resided in
Chicago,
Illinois. Ballard began working at the Philosopher's Nook, an
occult bookstore. She also served as an editor of
American Occultists. Ballard called Saint Germain an "ascended master." Guy wrote back to Ballard, telling her about his interaction(s) with St. Germain. In 1931, the couple founded the Saint Germain Foundation and Saint Germain Press in Chicago. The called the umbrella over the two organizations the I AM Movement. In 1939, Guy Ballard died and their son Donald became the leader of the I AM Movement. Prior to his father's death, Donald also served as a messenger per the wishes of St. Germain. However, both he and Elizabeth did not serve as primary messenger. Shortly thereafter, Elizabeth, Donald and other staff members were charged with mail fraud, with the charge being that the Movement was attempting to defraud mail recipients into joining a religion that was known to be false. Ballard was convicted twice, and the second time after a ruling was overturned. The case went to the US Supreme Court and was ruled as
United States v. Ballard. Ballard, 322 U.S. 78 (1944) "Whether a religious belief is true or false is irrelevant to a judicial determination, as long as the belief is sincerely held." In other words, Ballard was found not guilty. Ballard eventually began serving as a messenger for St. Germain and other masters in the fifties and in the sixties she hosted a radio show. ==Later life and legacy==