I like to explore a number of topics , one area of interest I have worked on in the last seven yrs has been discovering more about a small college secret society called by the deceptive name Oarsmen Society. . Deceptive because it has little or nothing to do with the sport of competitive rowing. I do have a family member who is associated with the group and have been able to dig from that point. There are a number of such societies the most well known and most speculated on is of course Skull and Bones of Yale. Past Presidents and captains of industry have been members. Shrouded in secrecy it goes on as have others with names like Scroll & Key. So what follow are a few basic facts I have uncovered by my various searches.
1. It was started by 3 students and a couple of facility at post war Cornell University circa 1947.
2. It was an essentially a brotherhood designed to give aid and underpinnings to a selected student body of essentially post war GI's and others entering on the GI Bill after the return from the recent war.
3. It provided a support type environment and as the small society evolved a philosophic base for ones life actions.
4. All most all the original group had Masonic or similar ties within their family ties.
5. What evolved after 3 or 4 yrs was a small compact society with a ritual for entering and various social forms for continuous membership while attending college.
6. One of their social events is a monthly dinner usually held on a Sunday.
7. You enter in your Junior yr and continue into the Senior or post graduate yrs.
8. Somewhere in the later 1950's their general outlook of living was codified. The Book as it is sometime referred to was written oddly by a long deceased actor named Jack Carson. He is perhaps best known for being in the movie Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. He played Paul Newman's older brother. For a good fee he codified a basic philosophy on conducting ones life. A functional take on life and potential conduct. I have not seen it all but it has lines in it such as"that distant sound you hear is the onrush of time." I was told it was about 25-30 pages.
9. At some point in the early 60's they expanded by facility from Cornell to select other colleges or universities. This has ebbed and flowed over time but the best I can fathom is there are chapters at St. Lawrence University , Mount Holyoke College with a few members at Williams and at one time Colgate.
10. They were all male into the late 70's when females began to be admitted on an on again off again basis for a few yrs.
11. They ran into recruitment problems in the late sixties and all most ceased to exist but with a financial gift from 2 members they were able to continue. A trust was set up by a C.C. Nott at the Bank of New York upstate division in Albany which in some form exists today. Nott it is rumored is a Bonesman.
12. Ones membership is apparently lifelong , once an Oarsmen all ways an Oarsmen.
13. There are upon occasion reunion type dinners held about every 3 yrs usually in NYC.
14. Oarsmen may very well have ties to other groups such as S&B.
15. One small "suggestion" that members carry on is that on the second Thursday evening in February during the dead of winter between 10:00pm and 1100pm ones takes a small moment to review the past yr and their lives. Contact a former member , have an honest talk. Or just spend some quiet personal time thinking it all over.
16. They acquired a Latin Motto somewhere in the 1950's probably from Jack Carson. Simply....Animo non Astutia. They also have a symbol which is 3 circles in a triangle shape , it was apparently based on a DeMedici family symbol They also apparently borrowed a number symbol from Skull & Bones 322. It goes back to Greek legend it is told.
17.. Membership roles are held closely but it is a strong rumor that one member is Erin Burnett currently of CNN. Apparently there is atleast one current member of congress that maintains a quiet membership.
So that is what my research has turned up , a slow but interesting journey. My thanks to my nameless sources , you know who you have been.
1. It was started by 3 students and a couple of facility at post war Cornell University circa 1947.
2. It was an essentially a brotherhood designed to give aid and underpinnings to a selected student body of essentially post war GI's and others entering on the GI Bill after the return from the recent war.
3. It provided a support type environment and as the small society evolved a philosophic base for ones life actions.
4. All most all the original group had Masonic or similar ties within their family ties.
5. What evolved after 3 or 4 yrs was a small compact society with a ritual for entering and various social forms for continuous membership while attending college.
6. One of their social events is a monthly dinner usually held on a Sunday.
7. You enter in your Junior yr and continue into the Senior or post graduate yrs.
8. Somewhere in the later 1950's their general outlook of living was codified. The Book as it is sometime referred to was written oddly by a long deceased actor named Jack Carson. He is perhaps best known for being in the movie Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. He played Paul Newman's older brother. For a good fee he codified a basic philosophy on conducting ones life. A functional take on life and potential conduct. I have not seen it all but it has lines in it such as"that distant sound you hear is the onrush of time." I was told it was about 25-30 pages.
9. At some point in the early 60's they expanded by facility from Cornell to select other colleges or universities. This has ebbed and flowed over time but the best I can fathom is there are chapters at St. Lawrence University , Mount Holyoke College with a few members at Williams and at one time Colgate.
10. They were all male into the late 70's when females began to be admitted on an on again off again basis for a few yrs.
11. They ran into recruitment problems in the late sixties and all most ceased to exist but with a financial gift from 2 members they were able to continue. A trust was set up by a C.C. Nott at the Bank of New York upstate division in Albany which in some form exists today. Nott it is rumored is a Bonesman.
12. Ones membership is apparently lifelong , once an Oarsmen all ways an Oarsmen.
13. There are upon occasion reunion type dinners held about every 3 yrs usually in NYC.
14. Oarsmen may very well have ties to other groups such as S&B.
15. One small "suggestion" that members carry on is that on the second Thursday evening in February during the dead of winter between 10:00pm and 1100pm ones takes a small moment to review the past yr and their lives. Contact a former member , have an honest talk. Or just spend some quiet personal time thinking it all over.
16. They acquired a Latin Motto somewhere in the 1950's probably from Jack Carson. Simply....Animo non Astutia. They also have a symbol which is 3 circles in a triangle shape , it was apparently based on a DeMedici family symbol They also apparently borrowed a number symbol from Skull & Bones 322. It goes back to Greek legend it is told.
17.. Membership roles are held closely but it is a strong rumor that one member is Erin Burnett currently of CNN. Apparently there is atleast one current member of congress that maintains a quiet membership.
So that is what my research has turned up , a slow but interesting journey. My thanks to my nameless sources , you know who you have been.
