LIBERTATI AMICITIAE QUE SACRA
"Sacred to Liberty and Friendship"
The Knights of St. Francis of Wycombe were founded in the 1740's and the students of their mysteries are still active today. More infamously known as "The Hell Fire Club," the organization in the 21st Century has several chapters in Europe and one in Australia. Our Incipient Chapter, located on the Central Gulf Coast Bayous of Loui
siana and East Texas is the first of its kind chartered for North America. Taking as our Spiritual Father the Field Marshall of the Maid of Orleans, Gilles De Rais, we anticipate dinners and tours of our home city, New Orleans in the future. The Hell Fire Club is an informal & largely social body whose members regard Love, liberty & Friendship as the sacred bonds subsisting between men and women everywhere.The Hell Fire Club is traditionally divided into regional groups called 'Chapters' which meet in private for the purpose of continuing the oral history and inner traditions of the Club, enjoying wine and good company and to engage the minds of all with a unique symbolism in an effort to comprehend the Mysteries of Life in a spirit of Freedom and Equality for all. Neither the Club or its Chapter charge initiatory fees, has no formal degree rituals, requires no oaths, yet it is both demanding and enlightening according to the level of ones own commitment and dedication. There is no requirement to believe or disbelieve anything, all perspectives are equally true and all meet ultimately in the One Truth. Complex ideas and rigorous mental disciplines co-exist alongside an apparently simple convivial dining or party atmosphere:
'To some a simple dining club, to others a deep study of the soul.'
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Q: I would love to "Like" it as I admire the Templars and have no problem whatsoever with the Hellfire Club.... but the whole Gilles de Rais thing is a different story. My question is this: Are you devoting this Priory to him because you believe he was innocent of the ghastly crimes for which he was executed (the abduction, rape, torture, and murder of numerous children), or because you wish to make what appears to be the ultimate antinomian statement? A: It is our position that Gilles de Rais was a misunderstood and tragic figure, admittedly an alchemist and occultist, but no more guilty of his supposed atrocities than the Maid of Orleans was to her charges of Witchcraft. Given the connection that our Chapter has to the city of New Orleans, taking the mantle and shield of the "black knight" Field Marshal of that city's Patron Saint seemed a natural fit. We support the decisions of modern-day French courts that have vindicated Gilles de Rais, and recognize that to this day, Magicians and Witches around the world are still blacklisted, persecuted, robbed of their children, imprisoned, maimed and even killed. But we are also a society of Bon Vivants, and Illuminatory Mysteries, who celebrate life, not weeping Priests in sackcloth. We celebrate the best of life, and focus upon the inspirations found Bacchic revelry. Trinc!
