Bruce E. Carpenter wrote: > > What is the argument really about? At issue is the assertion > the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Carpenters are > descendants of an 11th century French knight William ‘The > Carpenter’ DeMelun. DeMelun was a sadist mass- murderer and twice deserter > of the crusades. The individual who is pushing this groundless and > distasteful theory intends to include it in his Year 2000 CD. This > individual is a Mormon genealogist who believes in baptism of the dead, an > ideology that hopes for the salvation of dead ancestors through proxy > baptism. Even a completely wrong list of ancestors is something to be > encouraged in the hope that, if a genealogy is correct, there then can be > religious redemption for departed relatives. This is fine for believers, but > for the rest of us, we do not wish to have our family history begin with one > of the most despicable men in history, particularly when the whole matter is > baseless. The genealogist interested in this theory will stop at nothing. He > is uninterested in historical truth and will listen to no objections to his > obsession. For myself, I feel that there is family honor involved here. This > Mornmon may think he is saving his ancestors, but he is insulting mine. Will > the Carpenter family allow this insult to the family name for the purpose of > Mormon ideology? Speak up! > Bruce: They spoke up!! Now lighten up and go back to work! George T. Carpenter (Not a professor) Illinois