Mormons & Masons & Treasure Hunters, Oh my!

Sir Solomon the Angry Twit's on a grand historical quest over at HHI. Even we're impressed by the depth and range of his posting of completely disparate, disconnected sources to "establish" his lunatic thesis that treasure hunters evolved from a long American tradition of mysticism and fraud.

Of course, he's not fooling anyone here, as the end game is clearly to try to slime Odyssey (does HHI serve any other purpose? We don't think so.). Of course, like a good history poseur, Solomon doesn't hesitate to cherry pick niche moments in U.S. history to conveniently support his deeply goofy "arguments."

Here are some appropriately lunatic excerpts:

Solomon: "Now we have the histories of fraudulent treasure hunting using fraudulent scrying, credulous Planters being taken advantage for the little money they had, leading to the creation of a new cult. What does Mormonism have to say about this? They have employed their best minds to argue, but all it amounts to is a whinging 'you just don't understand', whereas their problem is, some do understand all too well. The Mormon leadership is well aware of the historical truth and how damaging it is....Why do I bother with this? Because it appears to me that very many have since learned nothing. Worse, they refuse to learn. You see how, tackling the inventions and frauds of treasure hunters, one enters a dark realm."

A "dark realm." Sounds positively sinister.

Solomon: "I mentioned earlier how Planters were commonly Puritan Protestant Scots bent on established their brand of Christianity in new lands. You will see many of the names in this account are Scottish in origin. One may bear in mind, in this regard, that however common is the name Smith, it is also the name of a Highland clan.We will be returning to the Smiths, mysticism and its employment in fraudulent treasure hunting. Look out for 'masonic jewels'. "

Yes, better look out for those.

Solomon: "We will now begin to see how the invented tales of Kidd treasure, which sparked a cultural phenomenon of scrying for treasure along along the Atlantic seaboard of North America - which led to much fraud and the creation of Mormonism - washed up on the shores of Nova Scotia."

Okaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay. Everybody following along?

Solomon: "These claims for Kidd's treasure are indicative that:

1. The treasure hunt is part of the treasure scrying phenomenon of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In the case of Nova Scotia, they are merely behind with the times.
2. There is no treasure. The sole point of the exercise is to raise money.
3. There may be a link between the Oak Island multiple frauds and early Mormons.

As I wrote earlier, treasure hunting American-style is less about finding treasure than reaching into somebody-else's wallet."

Why sure, makes perfect sense.

Well done, sir. You've proven you're well on your way to being certified a nut job.