| Citation |
NECO.722.006
5-12 Feb 1722:22,31,32 (28)
The following account of the Hell-Fire Club, &c. (printed in
London) I lately receiv'd from a gentleman, who by his
office is oblig'd to make enquiry, whether any of his
Majesty's subjects here are guilty of the like horrid
impieties, as has been insinuated of late, by the sworn
enemies of the Courant, and, to do some justice to the
country, and conclude (I hope) the present Quarrel, I shall
here insert it.
The Hell-Fire Club consisted of about forty persons of both
sexes; fifteen of them were said to be ladies of
considerable quality: They blasphemously assumed to
themselves the tremendous names of God the Father, God the
Son, God the holy Ghost, St. John the Baptist, the Prophet
Enoch, Elijah, Elisha. . .
The parts acted by the Demi Red Dragon Club, were Belzebub
King of Hell. . .
The parts acted by the Sulpher Club were Sodom and
Gomorrah,. . .
Under these distinctions did they abuse all piety, and
ridicule the attributes and perfections of the blessed
Trinity, in a manner very unfit to be related.
Their chief place of rendezvous was some times on Conduit-
street, near Hanover-Square, or else at a house in
Westminster, or at Somerset-House, where they erected an
alter dedicated to the Devil, having two devils on the frame
thereof. They usually set round an oval-table, and each
having assum'd such names as above mention'd, began with an
impious health to the devil.
Four of these daring wretches were, ('tis to be fear'd) cut
off in the midst of their impieties, by the Hand of Divine
Vengeance. Two of them in a debauch in Somerset House on
the Lord's Day, who caused Musick to be play'd to them in
the time of Divine Service, one of whom, who the drank a
most blasphemous health, dy'd the same evening, and the
other soon after. . .
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