What's all this about?

[Ryan Ross]

Has anyone else happened upon this:

http://circleofgentlemen.info/

Secret societies and a' that?

[Chas]

One of our Mods - Ancienne Alliance - Robert Amyot, is a member.

Regards

Chas

[Ryan Ross]

One of our Mods - Ancienne Alliance - Robert Amyot, is a member.

Regards

Chas

I figured as much, upon further examination of the site after my initial posting... so I guess the vague answer to my question must be yes!

[Dall_Piobaire]

Seems like a very good and very necessary cause.

[Woodsheal]

As a reenactor, I proudly portray a 1745 Jacobite. However, I consider modern Jacobite movements to be pretty silly, especially those embracing the bogus "Prince Michael of Albany."

The "Circle of Gentlemen", though, seems to focus more on history and heritage rather than modern political fantasies, which is a good thing...!

[tripleblessed]

Veeeerry iiiinteresting. Thanks.

[Chas]

I really do not want this to turn into a political thread, but people should be aware of certain things. The members of the Circle of Gentlemen are serious, important men. Movers and shakers. They are not 'good ol' boys' getting together for a bit of re-enactment and a good meal and a booze-up afterwards. These men seriously believe.

This is a quote from them:

Mission: To promote Scottish Jacobitism and offer an opposition to the Hanoverian monarch presently on the throne.

Scottish Jacobitism means Roman Catholicism. We fought a war and cut off a king' head to prevent the return of the Roman Catholic faith as the state religion. Opposition to the monarch - I was a serviceman for 12 years and frankly this smacks of treason to me.

They are now opening their doors to the whole world to join their cause.

I am deeply, deeply disturbed by every aspect of this.

Regards

Chas

[Schiehallion]

Some points of it disturb me too Chas. Particularly now as there are moves to repeal the Act of Settlement in Parliament.
However preserving the historical culture and the keeping of Jacobite artifacts in Scotland is admirable.

[Jock Scot]

I too am wary of this particular website and whilst I have absolutely no religious feelings whatsoever, the one thing I do know is that there is nothing, absloutely nothing romantic in having blood on the street, screams of the wounded and cries of anguish from the loved ones of the afflicted. All dramatic stuff I grant you and I admit that I may have misunderstood what the website is all about, but I detect undertones that need to be left alone------well alone.

[MacRobert's Reply]

I know nothing about the group referred to but, IMHO, learning from the past, especially the mistakes of the past, is very helpful and may forewarn us not to repeat them. Reenacting the past is great entertainment and can also be helpful in understanding the past through experience. Living in the past is an escapist delusion and the 'past' being inhabited is usually as much myth as it is history. Rehearsing the perceived injustices and other wrongs of history can so often lead to a less tolerant and inclusive society in the present.

On the church and state issue, Jesus made a clear distinction between God and Caesar (as did his apostles Peter and Paul), St Augustine of Hypo repeated that distinction in his City of God, and Martin Luther reminded Christians again of the need to distinguish clearly between church and state. History strongly suggests that when this distinction is lost, religion is transformed by the state and its opponents into ideologies to justify conflict. How different from the message of Jesus with its emphasis on love, forgiveness and reconciliation.