Roots of the Hellfire club

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Hello
I am presently reading a book called "The Secret History of the Hell-Fire Clubs: From Rabelais and John Dee to Anton LaVey and Timothy Leary" by Geoffrey Ashe.

So I thought I would start a thread giving some basic information from this book. To give people pointers, what to read up on if interested without the great detail that the author has gone into. Thought some may find it interesting.

Nonetheless, the book first starts giving the reader a picture of the time that started some people on what the author calls the "anti-morality" movement.

He explains that in the passage of time before various anti-morality clubs developed, was a time that many civilisations were in a moral crisis, with many countries turning from the Catholic and Protestant Church, which were dominant institutions of power.

Around this time, there were fair developments in science which also had an impact on people's religious, political and philosophical view points.

And during the early part of the early 17th hundreds, we also have the revolutionary Enlightenment period.
This information gives the reader a basic overview as to why various people decided to develop their movements, or should i say, were able to (without getting killed).

In addition, the book also references a revolutionary french monk, who was born much earlier, who was a visionary revolutionary years if not centuries ahead of his time. A man that the legendary Aleister Crowley also was influence by and referenced when building his own Themele Abbey.

This man I speak of was called François Rabelais, a french monk who realised he didn't like the order or hierarchy of the monastic life, so, dreamt of creating his own hedonistic utopia in an Abbey which he named Themele.
François Rabelais

Later, on, many years after.
When Aristocratic Private Clubs developed, some referenced Rabelias's ideals.
And during the 17th century, such private aristocratic clubs were very popular among the privileged aristocratic class.

During such a time, one aristocratic man also became well known among the wealthy aristocrats who frequented such elite private clubs, a man named Duke Philip Wharton, 1st Duke of Wharton.

Never heard of Wharton.

Any relation to the person who founded "The Wharton School of Finance"?

Trump's alma mater.

Hey bro.
I just read up on a page the explained the linage of some of the US Whartons.

Apparently not a direct relation to Duke Philip Wharton the 1st, who apparently only had one son,
and that one died young.

The Wharton School of Finance Wharton, was a Joseph Wharton, who's ancestry likely dates back to the English.
During the 17th century (as it is today), there are some established wealthy families who are fiscally dominant,
and who will continue to do so due to their wealth.


As for the Duke Philip Wharton that I have discovered. He was involved in the original Hellfire club,
which was one of many elite aristocratic clubs, which reportedly held acts of amoral nature.

He certainly came from a very privileged wealthy and connected background.
Apparently the first non-Royal to receive the Duke Title from Royalty (King Charles the 3rd I believe).
Duke Philip Wharton

He sounded like the darling of the early Great British Empire, at least when he was young.
But from what I have already read in the said book, he spent his entire life living it up and partying with
the rest of his aristocratic chums, also from super wealthy backgrounds.

Apparently, much like Allister Crowley, his father died when he was young, and he inherited his wealth, which
his father left in his will in the form of an income via a trust fund.
Which the young Duke frittered away at his leisure. Which is the aristocratic way.

Around this time, it was fashion for those from privilege to revel in the perversity of abusing their position in society, abusing what connections / laws they wanted and taking great pleasure in doing so.

Philip Wharton apparently liked to see himself a devil in his earlier life - as was common among the wealthy rebels (where their rebellious antics may have been considered dangerous by normal folk, who weren't protected by wealth and powerful connections. I think when people come from such wealth and power, to rebel isn't the same, as there is no fear of punishment, prosecution nor death, as their wealthy chums can always clean things up for them if they make a mess)...

Duke Wharton did eventually denounce his association with rebellious clubs (such as the Hellfire club) after the then King decided he had enough of them, but also because he ended up marrying a well to do Irish girl, who was Catholic (as was common and still is in Ireland).

Out of interest, the original Theleme Abbey as envisioned by Francois Rabelais,
which Crowley borrowed the name and vision from had nothing to do with magic/k,
as Francois Rabelais, although rebellious against the hierarchy, structure and moral constraints
of the monastic life, did not go so far as to delve into magic/k, which he appeared to
steer clear of.

Kind of an early freethinker / freedom seeker / hedonist rather than magic/k orientated
occultist. Thought that was an interesting observation.