Oarsmen Society

Within many of especially the older or more tradition laden universities are found private clubs or societies. Probably the best known is Skull & Bones of Yale University. Scroll & Key being another. The society I have found fascinating after I by chance discovered or heard about it is The Oarsmen Society. It was started circa 1947 at Cornell University by 3 students , two of which were GI Bill students at the time. It obtained it's name to obscure itself somewhat. One of the founders had rowed while in England. What it is essentially is a private society{they hate the word secret} that is dedicated to aiding those in their junior and senior yrs who become initiated to gain a philosophic underpinning to their life. Their basic document was written in the later 1950's by a long deceased actor named Jack Carson. Perhaps his most famous role was in the movie version of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with recently deceased actor Paul Newman. This appx 14 page treatise give an essential guide to conducting ones life. How to ponder the existence of GOD etc. I have never read the full document for it is truly a guarded paper. Afterone is initiated it is not unusual for members to have dinners together to discuss their lives and ambitions. This is mainly done in the senior year. The only request after leaving school is on the second Thursday of February between 10:00 pm and 11:00 in the evening their local time one thinks over the past few months and of their fellow members. The members also do not discuss their membership except to spouses and close family members. This is essentially what I have uncovered in my occasional moments of research on this topic.