Founded in May 1783 at Steuben’s headquarters near Newburg; N.Y.; by officers of the Continental army and navy; the Society of the Cincinnati was at one time one of America’s most controversial organizations. In Liberty without Anarchy; Minor Myers relates how the officers; who had not been paid for four years; began to circulate rumors of a military coup. The society; with Washington as President-General; was formed to exert political pressure on Congress to guarantee payment in response to the angry men.Many Americans; Thomas Jefferson principal among them; viewed the new organization with suspicion; as a seedbed for a hereditary American aristocracy. As Myers points out; the fears were well-founded: many society members were monarchists; and in 1786 Steuben himself wrote to Prince Henry of Prussia inquiring whether he might be interested in becoming king of the United States. Prince Henry declined.The interest in monarchy ended with the adoption of the federal Constitution in 1787; with many society members as delegates to the Convention; but it was not until 1827 that the original pay dispute was resolved and the officers awarded a pension. With unprecedented access to the society’s papers and documents; Minor Myers has produced a highly readable history of this fascinating organization; in which he concludes that the Society is an important reminder of the road the American revolutionaries avoided―the road that led from revolution to army coup to military dictatorship―a road taken by most of the armed revolutions of the last two hundred years. tag:The history of how a powerful and potentially subversive group of officers made the choice for liberty during the Revolutionary War
#1412016 in Books Michael R Molnar 2013-09-20 2013-08-23Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .48 x 5.51l; .60 #File Name: 0813564719208 pagesThe Star of Bethlehem
Review
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Is it April 17; 6 BC?By ReadalotsProfessional astronomer Michael Molnar's "The Star of Bethlehem: The Legacy of the Magi" (2000) is destined to become a classic in star studies. This 187-page (hardback) book is well documented with 16 informative pages of endnotes; a helpful 11-page glossary; and a 5-page chronology. Molnar also completes this work with an interesting 9-page appendix entitled "Defining the Position of the Zodiac".This fascinating book was a quick read for me (I completed it in only a few days). I've also noticed that much of the information herein has been featured on various television documentaries about history's most famous star. I have used its material often in discussions; and for teaching; about Christ's Nativity.From an ancient numismatic study; Molnar suggests that the arrival of the Magi to Jerusalem and then later in Bethlehem (Matthew 2) may be pinpointed with certain amount of accuracy. Syrian coins; minted just before the birth of Christ; sport a ram together with a star.This coinage discovery led Molnar to consider the power of the star in the world of late antiquity. Documenting (from ancient star charts and other records) Jupiter as the royal planet in the ancient mind and Aries (the Ram) as a symbol of Judah in the ancient Zodiac; Molnar identifies Jupiter's passage through Aries (in the western sky) during the spring of 6 B.C. (chapter 4). This portent may have convinced the Magi (as avid stargazers east of Palestine) of an immanent regal birth in Israel (page 101).Molnar's extensive research among the ancient documents leads him to an exciting conclusion- the Magi arrival occurred on April 17; 6 B.C. (the date Jupiter was most prominent to the naked eye in Aries)! Could this date be Jesus of Nazareth's birthday? Molnar seems convinced.Molnar also talks about various ancient topics (i.e. the Roman Saturnalia; the origins for the official date for Christmas as December 25th; the dating of Herod the Great's death; and much more). The book; additionally; offers several black and white ancient coin photos; a number of ancient zodiac/star charts; maps and drawings of key people from his research.Molnar's writing style is non technical and persuasive. His coin study is fascinating and the star charts are informative. This is an excellent book and a good gift candidate. It is recommended to all astronomy buffs; teachers; Bethlehem star studiers; students of late antiquity; biblical researchers; and history readers. Order your copy soon.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Star of Bethlehem NailedBy A customerMolnar nails it! Finally; a definitive explanation for the elusive Star of Bethlehem. The prior reviewer's criticism about the wobble in the Earth's axis is sour grapes. The fact is; Molnar has tangible evidence for his theory - coins showing the star in Aries on one side; and the Roman province of Judea on the other. Excellent work Molnar! You should be at the Keck!45 of 46 people found the following review helpful. A novel approach to a perennial enigma.By Mark E. MillerThe Star of Bethlehem is a perennially favorite topic for planetarium shows; articles; musings; sermons; and books. What could be left at this late date to say about it? Quite a lot; actually. Enough so that two new books; both titled "The Star of Bethlehem" (How original!) and both copyright 1999 are on my desk as I write.The story about the Star is found only in the Gospel of Matthew. There are three possibilities: 1) The star was a myth - invented by the writer of Matthew or earlier Christians whom he followed; in order to give Jesus appropriately royal auspices for his birth. 2) The star was a miracle provided by God to guide the Magi; even perhaps visible only to them. 3) The star was a natural astronomical event or events. These three are obviously mutually exclusive and exhaustive. If either of the first two possibilities are correct; there is little more to be said; therefore both of our authors give them short shrift.Both books cover some of the same material in about the same way. Jesus was *not* born on December 25 of 1 BC as worked out by the Scythian monastic scholar Dionysius Exiguus (Denny the Dwarf) in 525 AD. King Herod; of whom the Magi inquired about the birth; died in 4 BC. For other reasons; the birth is fairly firmly dated to between 6 and 4 BC. If the shepherds were `abiding with their flocks by night'; the birth did not take place in December. For various reasons; these authors agree that Spring is more likely."The Star of Bethlehem - An Astronomer's View"; by Mark Kidger; gives a review of all the various suggestions that have been made over the years; finally settling on a combination of events being the sign: a triple conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in Pisces (the sign Kidger says is associated with the Jews - more on this later) between May and December of 7 BC; with Mars approaching this pair in February of 6 BC; followed by a near-occultation of Jupiter by the Moon in Pisces in February of 5 BC; and then; possibly a nova in March/April 5 BC; as suggested by some Korean and Chinese records.I would have found this scenario plausible were it not for the second; and to my mind more interesting; book: "The Star of Bethlehem - The Legacy of the Magi" by Michael R. Molnar. There are two problems; as pointed out by Molnar; with the kinds of solutions reviewed; and those eventually suggested; by Kidger. Firstly; they tend to focus on what we as moderns would find to be visually compelling sights in the heavens. But this neglects the fact that the Magi were certainly *astrologers*; most likely Hellenistic rather than Babylonian in their astrological theories. Most of the events put forward would not have been significant to contemporary astrology. Kidger himself makes this point but does not seem to follow through with a close study of Hellenistic astrology as Molnar has made. Secondly; we have the advantage over the Magi of *knowing*; at least approximately; what the correct time frame is; then sifting through a small number a years to find the most significant events during those years. We have to imagine an ongoing community of astrologers; scanning the skies for generations perhaps; and imagine what would have been absolutely unique over many years; and compelling enough to make them undertake an arduous journey. In this light; Kidger's series of events are not so special.Molnar made a key discovery; beginning with a study of ancient coins; which often incorporated astrological symbols; that Aries was the constellation contemporary astrologers believed controlled the Levant; of which Judea was a part. The identification of Pisces with the Jews is Medieval and hence anachronistic in this context.When the Magi say "...we have seen his star in the east..."; they would have been referring to the helical rising of a star or planet - that is; when it is newly visible in the morning sky rising ahead of the sun. Jupiter had its heliacal rising on April 17 of 6 BC in Aries. On that same day; the moon occulted Jupiter for the second time in a row (previously on March 20). This would have greatly increased the astrological significance of kingly Jupiter. Molnar covers about half a dozen other astrological portents for this day; involving rulers of the trines; exaltations; attendance; and beneficent planets; that space does not permit me to explain in detail. In terms of astrological import; this day is absolutely unique for hundreds of years; and Molnar makes a strong case; to my mind; that he has indeed found the origin of the curious story in Matthew.Astronomers tend to be instantly dismissive of anything having to do with astrology; even to the extent of neglecting its proper application to a historical problem such as this one. Astrology; like it or not; is an important part of the history of human thought; and of the history of astronomy itself; which grew out of it. Michael Molnar is to be congratulated for shedding light on this ancient way of thinking.
