Hermes Trismegistus

By H.W. Longfellow

Still through Egypt's desert places 

Flows the lordly Nile, 

From its banks the great stone faces 

Gaze with patient smile. 

Still the pyramids imperious 

Pierce the cloudless skies, 

And the Sphinx stares with mysterious, 

Solemn, stony eyes.

But where are the old Egyptian 

Demi-gods and kings? 

Nothing left but an inscription 

Graven on stones and rings. 

Where are Helios and Hephaestus, 

Gods of eldest eld? 

Where is Hermes Trismegistus, 

Who their secrets held?

Where are now the many hundred 

Thousand books he wrote? 

By the Thaumaturgists plundered, 

Lost in lands remote; 

In oblivion sunk forever, 

As when o'er the land 

Blows a storm-wind, in the river 

Sinks the scattered sand.

Something unsubstantial, ghostly, 

Seems this Theurgist, 

In deep meditation mostly 

Wrapped, as in a mist. 

Vague, phantasmal, and unreal 

To our thought he seems, 

Walking in a world ideal, 

In a land of dreams.

Was he one, or many, merging 

Name and fame in one, 

Like a stream, to which, converging 

Many streamlets run? 

Till, with gathered power proceeding, 

Ampler sweep it takes, 

Downward the sweet waters leading 

From unnumbered lakes.

By the Nile I see him wandering, 

Pausing now and then, 

On the mystic union pondering 

Between gods and men; 

Half believing, wholly feeling, 

With supreme delight, 

How the gods, themselves concealing, 

Lift men to their height.

Or in Thebes, the hundred-gated, 

In the thoroughfare 

Breathing, as if consecrated, 

A diviner air; 

And amid discordant noises, 

In the jostling throng, 

Hearing far, celestial voices 

Of Olympian song.

Who shall call his dreams fallacious? 

Who has searched or sought 

All the unexplored and spacious 

Universe of thought? 

Who, in his own skill confiding, 

Shall with rule and line 

Mark the border-land dividing 

Human and divine?

Trismegistus! three times greatest! 

How thy name sublime 

Has descended to this latest 

Progeny of time! 

Happy they whose written pages 

Perish with their lives, 

If amid the crumbling ages 

Still their name survives!

Thine, O priest of Egypt, lately 

Found I in the vast, 

Weed-encumbered sombre, stately, 

Grave-yard of the Past; 

And a presence moved before me 

On that gloomy shore, 

As a waft of wind, that o'er me 

Breathed, and was no more.

RIP Gerald A. Ford

I just heard that this morning Brother Gerald A. Ford has passed to the Celestial Lodge above.

He was an accomplished Freemason having served as Right Eminent Grand Commander of Colorado (1993-1994), Northwest Department Commander (2000-2003), Most Excellent Grand High Priest of Colorado (2005), Past Grand Preceptor of the Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests (2009), Past Governor General of the York Rite Sovereign College of North America (2012-2014), Chief Adept of the Colorado College of the Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis, and Primus Master of Rocky Mountain Chapel No.26 of the Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon.

Rest in Peace Brother.

Here is an update with a memorial from the Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis:

Gerald Alan Ford, 76 - Gerry was born September 16, 1939 in Melrose, Massachusetts to Albert Franklin and Doris Mae Folsom Ford. He had a brother Richard 13 years his senior. Because of the age difference they really didn't get to know each other until they were adults. He attended elementary and high school in Melrose and after graduating from high school his first job was working at the Necco Candy Company where his father was an accountant.

He joined the US Air Force in November of 1957 and was sent to San Antonio, TX to begin basic training. From there he went to Wichita Falls for specialized training. After training he was sent to Lowry Field in Denver where he saw President Eisenhower when he landed and parked President Nixon's plane. He met his first wife Sandy at the USO Club in downtown Denver and married her shortly after. Sue Ellen and David Alan were both born at Fitzsimmons hospital.

His next duty post was located just outside Paris, France and this is where Sherryl Lee was born. After 2 years there and many sightseeing trips in the area they returned to the US where he was stationed in Columbus, OH. They spent a short time also in Sumpter, SC where Julie Ann was born. Gerry was then sent to Udorn, Thailand but upon landing only had about 24 hours there as they changed his orders and sent him on to Tuy Hoa, Viet Nam on the Gulf of Tonkin. He was in Air Rescue with C-130P but in his off duty hours managed the base movie theatre for some extra money. They had a nice beach there but it was overrun by jelly fish for a while.

When he returned to the US, he asked to be stationed anywhere west of the Mississippi River only to be sent to Dover, DE. After only being there a short while they attempted to return him to Viet Nam and it was about time to re-sign with the Air Force and he decided to become a civilian again. The family returned to the Denver area where his father-in-law taught him all about framing houses, interior carpentry and all things wood. He loved working with wood and being a perfectionist, everything he touched was beautiful. The family lived in Frisco for a while where he was the construction superintendent on several condo projects in Keystone and the building of the fire stations in Breckenridge. They came back to the metro area and he adjusted to single family home construction. With all of the moving about, Gerry and Sandy decided they would part company. Around that time he met Audrey and they formed a wonderful friendship and married in 1982. At that point he gained another son, Joseph Scott and a daughter, Angela Renee.

From 1984 on he was employed by the Masonic Fraternity with one group or another. He did take a brief respite and worked for about 5 years as the COO for National Association of Credit Management. When he left there he became the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Colorado and as they say, the rest is history. He retired in 2009 but did help the Grand Lodge for several months in 2014.

While living in Frisco, he joined South Denver Lodge No.93 in 1973 with Jess Mann signing his petition. He drove back and forth from the mountains every Tuesday night muttering to himself learning the ritual. Wayne Arner tapped him in 1974 to become a line officer in the lodge and with that he was off and running. He joined South Denver Chapter No.42, RAM on May 28, 1975, Arapahoe Council No.23, CM on September 23, 1975, and Ascalon Commandery No.31 on December 11, 1975. Next was the Scottish Rite on November 15, 1979 becoming a 32° Mason, receiving his Knight Commander of the Court of Honor on October 21, 1985, and earning his Inspector General Honorary on October 22, 1991. Along with all of these organizations, came all of the appendant bodies that are associated with Masonry. I don't think he missed out on any of them. Of course, if you are going to join something, you jump in with both feet and work your way up the ranks. It wasn't good enough for Gerry to settle with what was close by. He had to join numerous bodies in other states and countries as well. When that didn't satisfy him, he was appointed to national officer lines where he excelled with great enthusiasm. He loved everything Masonry and it in turn showered him with much happiness.

Somewhere along the line Howard Montague and Judson Manning convinced him he had time for another endeavor and he joined the Mile Hi Optimist Club and as with everything else, he became their Secretary and eventually was the Club President. He loved working with the kids at the local Boys and Girls Club they sponsored where they had bicycle rodeos and helped the kids learn the care of their own bikes.

His actions after retiring were like a 5 year old when asking if he could have a dog. When Audrey agreed, he went immediately to the local animal rescue facility and found his beloved Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Callie. They were constant companions to his last breath.

Gerry passed away at his home on February 21, 2016 right where he wanted to be - in his recliner. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Audrey and children - Sue and Robert Sullivan in Denver, David Ford in California, Sherry and Steve Watkins in Maryland, Julie and Jim Girard in Dubai, Joe and Amy Kelley in Arizona and Angie Kelley in Colorado Springs. Twelve grandchildren and 5 great granddaughters. Also included among his survivors are his nephew and three nieces from the east coast and his two favorite sister-in-law's from the west coast. Memorial Services will be held on Monday, March 7th at 1 PM at the Arvada Covenant Church, 5555 Ward Road. Donations may be made to the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, 1614 Welton St #503, Denver, CO 80202 or the Scottish Rite Foundation, 1370 Grant St, Denver, CO 80203

2016 Masonic Week

Last week was a great time of fellowship and brotherhood. Masonic Week occurred last week in Arlington, VA. I accomplished a great deal with St. Thomas of Acon, met some new Brothers, and had a very fun time.

Thursday morning started off with the Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon. We brought in some new knights before the Grand Master's Council convened. A new Most Worthy Grand Master was elected and installed along with a new cadre of officers. In the afternoon it was time for the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Court of the Masonic Order of Athelstan, Province of the USA. After that ended, I came upon the Grand Registrar of the Grand College of Rites and was able to purchase from him two editions of the Collectanea; one on the Martinist Order and the other on the Rite of Strict Observance. The evening was spent hosting Brothers in the NW Hospitality Suite.

The Grand Council of Knights Masons, USA, met Friday morning with the usual business. Not content with just the two books I bought on Thursday, I purchased several more books on Royal Arch Masonry...now to figure out how I'm going to pack them home. In the afternoon the Grand College of America of the Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests met and as I'm not a member, I got the time off. The Sovereign Order of the Knights Preceptor met in the early evening before the All Masonic Banquet. The night was concluded with a meeting and conferral of Ye Antient Order of the Corks.

I nearly missed the annual meeting of the Grand College of Rites because I slept through my alarm, but thank God for the Brothers who came and knocked on my door. After the meeting of the GCR, there was the meeting of the Nine Muses Council No.13, AMD, as well as the conferring of three degrees of the AMD. The Philalethes Society Luncheon was an intimate affair with a presentation by the Editor of the group's magazine. The Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America met Saturday afternoon which was followed by the annual meeting of the Sovereign Grand Master's Council, where I served as Junior Warden for the meeting.

Saturday night started with the annual banquet and meeting of the Masonic Society where good food and an even better presentation were given. I decided on a whim to attend the meeting and conferral of the Masonic Order of the Bath, which, like the Corks, makes a fun end to a long day of Masonic meetings. After the meeting had concluded I retired to one of the Hospitality Suites hosted by a Brother and while there received a phone call. I was informed that at the meeting of the High Council of the Masonic Order of the Bath, I had been selected to be the Right Honorable Keeper of the Bath Mat for the ensuing year; this position is the beginning of the progressive line of officers. I happily accepted and look forward to the next 6-years in this line. The rest of the night was spent having some great Masonic discussions back in the Hospitality Suite.

Sunday morning was spent packing and the rest of the day was spent traveling...in a circuitous route...back home. Now I'm back home, working on some Masonic To-Do Lists, finishing some homework, and catching my breath.

Masonic Youth Groups

There are a variety of organizations considered under the Masonic umbrella. This includes the youth groups like the Job's Daughters, DeMolay, and Rainbow Girls, but there are also lesser-known groups like the Knights of Pythagoras, Organization of Triangles, Inc., and Asociacion de Jovenes Esperanza de la Fraternidad. These youth groups provide a place for young men and young women to learn important life skills, and Freemasons can provide guidance and mentoring. I have served as Associate Bethel Guardian for a Bethel and have begun to get involved with a local DeMolay Chapter. Serving in these roles has been very fulfilling and even if the day has been long, busy, hectic, or just plain awful, attending a youth group meeting always brought a smile to my face and made my day better.

Job's Daughters International is an organization for young women age 10 to 20, and who are related to a Master Mason or a Majority Member (a woman who was in Job's Daughters). As in Freemasonry, young women are required to have a belief in a Supreme Being.

It was founded by Ethel T Wead Mick (affectionately known as "Mother Mick) in Omaha, NE, on October 20, 1920. The purpose of the order was to band together young girls with a Masonic relationship for character building through moral and spiritual development, teaching a greater reverence for God and the Bible, patriotism, and respect for parents.

The local organization is called a Bethel which is presided over by an Honored Queen and supervised by a Bethel Guardian (and a Guardian Council). The state-level is called Grand Bethel which is presided over by a Grand Bethel Honored Queen and supervised by a Grand Guardian (and council). Job's Daughters International is headed by a Supreme Bethel Honored Queen and with adult supervision from a Supreme Guardian (along with council and Board of Trustees). There are Bethels all over the United States, but are also found in Australia, Brazil, Canada, and the Philippines.

Job's Daughters takes its name and rituals from a story in the Biblical Book of Job, but membership is open to young women of any faith; Job 42:15 states "And in all the land were no women found so fair as the Daughters of Job."

The Order of DeMolay is an organization for young men (12 to 21). Unlike Job's Daughter, the young men do not need to be related to a Mason to join. Though like Freemasonry, it does require young men to hold a belief in a Supreme Being.

The Order of DeMolay was founded by Frank Land in Kansas City, MO, on March 24, 1919 (although March 18th is also used to commemorate the death of Jacques DeMolay).

The basic organizational structure of the order is the Chapter which is presided over by a Master Councilor. The young men receive guidance and mentoring from adult advisers known as "Chapter Dads." Chapters form the State Chapter and are presided over by the State Master Councilor. The adult adviser is called the "Executive Officer." DeMolay International is presided over by the International Master Councilor along with the Grand Master (adult adviser). There are Chapters located in Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Romania, Serbia, the United States, and Uruguay.

This youth group takes its name from Jacques DeMolay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, who was executed in 1314 by the French King, Philip the Fair, during the suppression of the Knights Templar. The virtues of reverence, love of parents, comradeship, patriotism, courtesy, cleanness, and fidelity are taught through the rituals of the order. DeMolay also teaches leadership skills, financial responsibility, civic awareness, and public speaking. Aside from the initiatic ceremony also confers the honors of Legion of Honor, Chevalier, Blue Honor awards, and Merit Medals.

The International Order of Rainbow for Girls is an organization for young women, ages 11 to 20. Though, unlike the Job's Daughters, applicants do not need to have any relationship to a Freemason.

This group was founded by Reverend William Mark Sexson in McAlester, OK, on April 6, 1922.

The basic organizational level for this group is called an Assembly which is presided over by a Worthy Advisor and Mother Advisor (adult supervisor). The next level is called the Grand Assembly which is presided over by a Grand Worthy Advisor and Supreme Deputy. The international level is known as the Supreme Assembly and is unique in that there is no young woman or youth leader. The Supreme Assembly is governed by adult advisors in a group known as the "House of Gold," composed of 50 Supreme Inspectors. Outside the United States, there are Rainbow Assemblies in Aruba, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Paraguay, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Romania.

The Rainbow ritual is based on the story from Genesis of Noah and the Great Flood. After the waters receded, God made a promise that He would never again destroy the Earth. As a sign of that promise, He placed a rainbow in the heavens. Although its teachings are based on Christian writings, the order is open to children of all religions; the Christian lessons are simply used to show basic values that are integral to many religions. The lessons encourage members to be strong in spirit and kind in heart, respectful toward nature and giving toward all humanity. Each of the colors of the rainbow is associated with a particular virtue or source of inspiration: Red (love), Orange (religion), Yellow (nature), Green (immortality), Blue (fidelity), Indigo (patriotism), and Violet (service).

References

1. Youth Organizations. (n.d.). http://www.msana.com/youth.asp

2. Our History. (n.d.). https://demolay.org/our_history/

3. Masonic Bodies. (n.d.). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masonic_bodies#Youth_organizations

4. Hodapp, C. (n.d.). Freemason Youth Groups. http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/freemason-youth-groups.html

5. Masons & Youth Initiation. (n.d.). http://www.carnaval.com/masons/

6. Masonic Youth Groups. (n.d.). http://roadrunners.us/masonic-youth-group

7. Job's Daughters International. (n.d.). http://www.jobsdaughtersinternational.org/

8. International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. (n.d.). https://www.gorainbow.org/

9. International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. (n.d.). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Order_of_the_Rainbow_for_Girls

10. DeMolay International By Laws. (n.d.). https://demolay.org/wp-content/uploads/resources/2015_2016_di_bylaws.pdf

Introduction to Hermeticism

Hermeticism is a religious, esoteric, and philosophical movement stemming from the teachings of Hermes Trismegistus. Hermeticism takes its name from Hermes, a Greek god, which is the Greek equivalent to the Egyptian god Thoth. Thoth is said to be the god who invented writing (Thoth is often portrayed as a scribe and credited for all the sacred texts) and is also the god of magic. Trismegistus means "thrice great master" and Hermes is said to be master of the three wisdoms of the universe (alchemy, astrology, and theurgy) as well as being a priest, king, and philosopher. According to Francis Barrett, Hermes Trismegistus was a king of Egypt, though such claims cannot be proven through existing records of the kings of Egypt. Looking at this figure from two gods (Hermes and Thoth), Hermes Trismegistus was a great messenger to mankind as both of those gods were said to have revealed magic, writing, astrology, science, and philosophy to humans. Hermes Trismegistus was the subject of many Christian writers who considered him to be a "wise pagan prophet" who predicted the coming of Christianity.

In Hermeticism, there are said to be many sacred texts attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, but few exist today due to war, destruction, and loss. Generally, there are three major texts today used to study Hermeticism: the Corpus Hermeticum, the Emerald Tablet of Thoth, and the Perfect Sermon. The Corpus Hermeticum is composed of 18 books and forms the basis of Hermetic philosophy. It discusses the creation story in the first book and, in the following books, covers various philosophical and mystical aspects of Hermeticism. For centuries the Corpus Hermeticum was lost to the West, but during the Renaissance, many ancient texts were rediscovered and translated. Such was the case for the Corpus Hermeticum which came to be in the possession of Cosimo de Medici (who started the Medici dynasty in Italy). The Emerald Tablet of Thoth (or Hermes) is a series of tablets that is said to hold ancient formulas key to Alchemy. Many early alchemists revere this artifact as the founding of their art. The earliest known record of the tablets is attributed to 6th to 8th century Arabia where a man is known as "Balinas" is said to have discovered the tablets in a vault below a statue of Hermes in Tyana (now in central Turkey). The Perfect Sermon covers topics similar to those in Corpus Hermeticum, but this work is substantially longer, but also covers the prophecy concerning the decline of Hermetic wisdom and the end of the world. This work is said to have been translated into Latin by Apuleius, who authored "The Golden Ass" and remained in circulation throughout Europe.

Hermeticism stresses the importance of attaining inner enlightenment in hopes of going through a mystical experience, a sign that the soul has reunited with God; unity with the Divine is the great aim of Hermeticism. Ultimately it is only through divine revelation that leads to the Truth. It follows the belief in the existence of a single and true theology (Prisca Theologia) that is present in all religions that were given by God to mankind in antiquity. This movement also affirms the existence of one God, but rather than being a personified entity, God is considered the ultimate reality and truth. God in Hermeticism is both immanent and transcendent to the material universe. In Hermeticism there are other beings such as aeons (various emanations of God), angels, elementals, and other such spirits. Looking at the aspects of the aeons, one could see polytheistic, but as they would be just versions of a single God, Hermeticism is seen though as monotheistic. All divine entities are good as they come from God which is the Ultimate Good. All evil stems from demons and evil spirits. Man is in the material world and ignorant of the Truth and God is not free of evil

Alchemy in Hermeticism, and other practices, is not just focusing on literal alchemy (changing lead to gold), but also focuses upon spiritual alchemy where one progresses towards to inner enlightenment and reunion with God. Astrology is important in Hermeticism as the revolutions, rotations, and movements of the various heavenly bodies also have metaphorical means and influences. Knowing these meanings and influences leads to wisdom. Theurgy is the practice of good, or rather divine, magic; its opposite is Goëtia (black or evil magic). In the practice of theurgy, one allies with divine spirits.

The maxim "As Above, So Below" stems from the Hermetic text "The Emerald Tablet of Thoth" where it states: "That which is Below corresponds to that which is Above, and that which is Above corresponds to that which is Below, to accomplish the miracle of the One Thing." I found an interesting excerpt from the Gnostic Warrior blog that describes this maxim:

Humans are made of the heavens who are found among the stars and planets. The heavens on the AS ABOVE is the macrocosm, and we humans on the SO BELOW, the microcosm. The same chemical energies found in the AS ABOVE stars such as phosphorus, hydrogen, sodium, Sulfur, magnesium, and iron can be found in almost all living organisms including we humans on the SO BELOW.

In the first book of the Corpus Hermeticum, Hermes recalls the creation story as told by God. In the beginning, God created the primary matter that would make up the universe. From this primary matter, God separated the four elements (earth, air, fire, and water) and ordered them into the seven heavens which are often illustrated through Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the Sun, and the Moon. God created the world, separating it from the waters, and filled it with creatures that lacked Intelligence (Nous). Man was then made and was imbued with intelligence and the ability to create. Man fell in love with nature and trapped in the material world. With this obsession with nature and the material world, man became limited, but while mortal in the body was still immortal in spirit.

I find Hermeticism quite interesting, particularly with its obvious connections to Rosicrucianism and Gnosticism as well as aspects seen in Western and Eastern religions. Although the texts claim to go back to antiquity, most of them are dated from 2nd century AD onward, but many religious texts are dated back to this time, including Christian books. Hermes Trismegistus may or may not have been a real person, but many who follow the Hermetic movement don't take everything in the texts as literal and understand that many things are figurative and metaphorical.

References

1. Herd, R. (2008, February 2). The Initiatic Experience. http://thesanctumsanctorum.blogspot.com/2008/02/initiatic-experience-by-wb-robert-herd.html

2. Hermes Trismegistus. (n.d.). http://www.renaissanceastrology.com/hermestrismegistus.html

3. Hermeticism. (n.d.). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeticism

4. Ralls, K. (n.d.). Hermeticism. http://www.ancientquest.com/embark/hermetic.html

5. What Is Hermeticism? (n.d.). http://www.hermeticfellowship.org/HFHermeticism.html

6. Ebeling, F. (2007). The Secret History of Hermes Trismegistus. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.

7. Hermes Trismegistus. (n.d.). http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/h/hermes_trismegistus.html

8. Hermeticism. (n.d.). http://blogs.uoregon.edu/rel399f14drreis/hermeticism/

9. Greer, J. (n.d.). An Introduction to the Corpus Hermeticum. http://gnosis.org/library/hermet_intro.htm

10. Hermetica. (n.d.). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermetica

11. Emerald Tablet. (n.d.). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_Tablet

12. What Is the Emerald Tablet? (n.d.). http://www.alchemylab.com/what_is_the_tablet.htm

13. Emerald Tablet of Hermes. (n.d.). http://www.sacred-texts.com/alc/emerald.htm

14. As Above, So Below. (2014, September 4). http://gnosticwarrior.com/as-above-so-below.html

Initiation into Wyoming College of the SRICF

Today was a milestone in my Masonic career as I was initiated in the Wyoming College of the Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis. The weekend for me started out Friday afternoon with me driving and staying the night with a Brother outside of Twin Falls. Due to some snowstorms, we took off early the next morning. While driving through southern Idaho most of what we saw was high desert covered in snow, but once we went through Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming there were some great winter scenes (see below), but lots of snow on the road.

After the lengthy drive (534 miles) we made it to Riverton, WY; For me, it was about 11.5 cumulative hours of driving because of the weather. My traveling companion and I shared some delicious Scotch (Balvenie 21) and a nice steak. Early the next morning I presented myself at the Riverton Masonic Temple and received the Learning Grades (the first 4 grades) of the order in full form. I am proud and humbled to be a IV° - Philosophus in Wyoming College. The ritual work, brotherhood, and hospitality were great, and I look forward to my time in this order. This weekend will stand in my mind as one of my top memories in Freemasonry.

Today is also the 310th birthday of Ben Franklin, author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, diplomat, Founding Father and Brother Freemason.

Now it's time to travel back to Boise and attend the dinner for the Frank Church Conference tomorrow night. Let's see how Mother Nature treats us on our way home to Idaho.

Kappa Sigma Bio: Frank Courtney Nicodemus

The last of the Five Friends and Brothers is Frank Courtney Nicodemus. He was born on January 8, 1853, in Baltimore, MD, the son of Josiah Courtney Nicodemus and Mary Jane Montandon. He came from a prominent family and his sister went on to marry Edwin Warfield, the 45th Governor of Maryland.

Prior to attending the University of Virginia, he attends the Kinner Academy where he met and befriended Edmund Law Rogers. His attendance at the University of Virginia was not long, shortly after helping with the formation of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, he left UVA to join his father's firm, Smith & Nicodemus. Four years later he and his father formed an investment brokerage firm, J.C. Nicodemus and Son.

In the Spring of 1879, he married Mary Field Weeks and they had 4 children: 3 sons and 1 daughter. Later that year he formed his own company, F.C. Nicodemus and Co. which manufactured boilers, engines, and machinery. Six years later he would become the Treasurer of the Baltimore Post Office, but after 2-years he went on to work for the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company where he worked until the end of his days.

His first wife died young and in 1891 he married Florence B. Smith. He and his family were all well known within the Baltimore social scene and highly regarded. Frank Courtney Nicodemus passed away on May 25, 1919.

References

1. Docet Kappa Sigma. (n.d.). https://quizlet.com/21517822/docet-kappa-sigma-flash-cards/

2. Frank Courtney Nicodemus. (1904). Caduceus of Kappa Sigma, 19(1). 

3. Five Friends and Brothers. (n.d.). Retrieved December 29, 2015, from http://www.umich.edu/~kappasig/5Brothers.htm

4. The Five Founders. (n.d.). https://quizlet.com/54353742/the-five-founders-flash-cards/ 

Time

by Sir Knight James C. Taylor, PDC, PGC

Time can be fickle, elusive and mean. 

It can change in length with every age 

As the scenes progress on each life's stage 

Though one knows he can't hurry his dream. 

Time travels slow like a turtle's feet; 

A child thinks Christmas will never arrive, 

The teenager cannot wait to drive, 

And life's joys we cannot wait to meet. 

Time can stand still when one wants it to pass: 

When awaiting the birth of a first child 

Or accomplishing our goals or making a mark in the world. 

It's like watching the growth of the grass.

When September years come, we say "Where did time go? 

I haven't done all that I wanted to do." 

Body and mind going, our lives are near through, 

We were young not that long ago.

And when we are old, time plods, there's no thrill 

In waiting for life to end when it's late. 

We think of loved ones who've passed heaven's gate, 

For just them alone, time stands still.

But we cannot alter the clock's steady knell. 

What counts are the accomplishments of today. 

Dwell not in the future or the past and just pray 

That you use your time wisely and well. 

So living life daily can be sublime, 

If one will "do unto others" with a smile on his face. 

By performing good deeds and enhancing God's grace, 

We thank him for the gift of time.

End of the Year

Well, another year has come and gone. This year started with an adventure to Washington DC where I spent four months working as an Intern for the US Senate. My time in DC was amazing, full of experiences and lessons. I'm glad for the experience, but DC is too humid and too expensive (living on the wages of an intern). Coming home started a new adventure with Grad School and a trip up to Seattle for the Grand Assembly for the Red Cross of Constantine.

The fall brought more Grad school and the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Idaho where I gave my Grand Oration. The rest of the fall flew by in a whirlwind of Masonic meetings and tons of reading for Grad school. The winter break came with enjoyable news: I achieved a 4.0 for the semester. The rest of the time has been spending time with family and more reading for my Master's Thesis. 

Now, I'm again spending New Year's Eve with some of the guys I was in charge of in the Army National Guard. 2016 is going to be an exciting year for me.

Merry Christmas

To all of my family, friends, and Brothers whithersoever dispersed around the globe: