Moses Wood Camp No. 125 Sons of Confederate Veterans will present Mark A. Simpson as guest speaker at its monthly meeting Thursday, July 16, at 7 p.m. at the Cherokee History and Arts Museum, 301 College Drive. The public is invited to attend.

Simpson's topic will be "War Conspiracy of 1861." The power point program will highlight some of the facts and path that led the United States government to provoke war upon the Southern states. The presentation is given in a courtroom setting, where Simpson serves as the prosecuting attorney and you are the jury. Eight defendants will be named, along with their primary motives for this unconstitutional war. Additionally, you will hear historical remarks from several witnesses and an array of evidence, including the correspondence from the South Carolina Peace Commissioners, the records from the log books of several U.S. naval warships and several secret memos from the Executive Mansion and other members of Lincoln's cabinet.

Simpson is a 10th generation South Carolinian from Spartanburg. A business graduate of Bob Jones University, he is a member of the Brigadier General Samuel McGowan Camp No. 0040 in Laurens, where he has served as both Lt. Commander and Commander.

Simpson joined the SCV through his second greatgrandfather James Hunter Simpson, 2nd SC Carolina Cavalry, Co. G and is proud to state that 31 additional Simpson men served in numerous units from the state, including the Holcombe Legion and the 3rd, 7th and 14th Regiments of Volunteers.