r/LPOTL

Find it fascinating that a group focused on "Universal Brotherhood" and the "Secret Doctrine" occupies a space built for the family of a department-store titan. It feels peak Philly. Layers of Gilded Age wealth, deep-seated intellectual eccentricity, and a commitment to keeping things exactly as they looked in 1920.

Architects originally designed this "Chateauesque" townhouse for the brother of John Wanamaker. It currently serves as the home for the United Lodge of Theosophists (ULT). For those unfamiliar with the history of Western esotericism, the ULT functions as a "straight-line" association dedicated to the original 19th-century teachings of Helena Blavatsky who oddly enough got her 2nd marriage officiated just down the street by Rev. Dr. William Henry Furness at First Unitarian Church which was built by his son Frank the architect.

The building remains an anomaly in a modern skyline. While the surrounding blocks have succumbed to glass-and-steel verticality, this limestone relic with a Mansard roof holds its ground. It operates under a unique "Platform of Anonymity," meaning the lecturers typically don't use their names, and the structure lacks a formal clergy. They basically run a 100-year-old philosophy book club with a hint of masonry. Surprised there's no historical marker outside nor at White Dog cafe where Blavatsky used to live... with her dog.

Does anyone here actually attend their study groups? Or does everyone just use the stoop as a convenient place to smoke?

My version of the Mount Rushmore of Evil so far. It ain’t much but it’s honest work.

You're welcome.

I’m assuming the first head is Josef Mengele? I know they did a series about him years ago, is that what they are referring to?

exchanged some books at little library this morning and i had to take this one

Honestly thought for a split second that it was a Henry bit of ending a dark bit of the script with a theme song.