In 1819, the Freemasonry behind the great seal of their country was not unknown to the denizens of the original 13 United States. Crudely redundant, it included an olive branch with 13 leaves and 13 berries, 13 arrows, 13 stars, and 13 stripes, inscribed with “New World Order/ Novus Ordo Seclorum . . . One, Forged from Many/ E Pluribus Unum (13 letters) . . . Our Undertaking is Favored (by an encapsulated Cyclops, the one-eyed pagan deity of light ensconced atop a 13-pedestalled pyramid) . . . /Annuit Coeptis” (again, 13 letters). Given this ideological zeitgeist, why not 13 letters in Colgate’s “Deo ac Veritati” as well? Like the ubiquitous number “13,” Colgate’s torchlight ritual is another Masonic symbol open to deeper psychological interpretation beyond its prima facie understanding. It is a nocturnal rite wherein we gather to commune in darkness. We swarm en masse, without individual distinction between faculty, alumnus, or student. Against our passion for the climb, we descend from the Chapel with torches of primeval light, whose extraordinarily evanescent flame, yes, we carry . . . but merely to extinguish in the dark, wet womb of Taylor Lake. And, by this inexplicable stroke of design and undeniable fact, the climax becomes the loss of light, the inexorable triumph of darkness. At my 30th reunion, a kilted bagpiper of the Scottish Rite stood playing as our torches sizzled on the lakeshore. He said he was always there as the light went out. He wailed long into the night, blowing shrill strains of tribute to a shadow resembling the “Light Bringer” (Lucifer) himself. In the way that a cup can be both half empty and half full, this is simply another interpretation. Ambiguity, intentional or not, garners our fascination and unthinking participation. We descend the hill and bring our light unto the world . . . or, do we enact something
else? The bagpiper’s words gave me pause for thought. Colgate’s Baptist roots have instilled commitment to learning and community. Its unwritten Masonic traditions have bequeathed irrational attachment to numerology and a frenetic fixation upon auguries of the numinous figure “13.” Herein lies the enigma of its founding, which lets us answer the mystery of that unrecorded “13th prayer.” Gary Moler ’73 Shiga, Japan
Help with Salmagundi collection The Colgate University Libraries are seeking copies of the Salmagundi (the student yearbook) to complete its holdings in the main collection and in the University Archives. If you possess any of the following volumes and would be willing to donate them, please contact me: 1998, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. We are also seeking second cop-
ies of most yearbooks from 1884 to the present. The yearbooks are important resources for documenting Colgate’s history. Preserving them in the archives and making a second copy easily available in the main circulating collection will help us to support research on, and general interest in, Colgate. In addition, we are investigating possibly digitizing them, as we have done for the Colgate University Student Newspapers collection, and we need to have in hand each volume to do so. Thank you in advance for your help with this important project. Sarah Keen Head of Special Collections and University Archivist skeen@colgate.edu
What they’re saying online Facebook December 26/ Colgate University Students in extended study courses left for Israel and Egypt this week to further explore concepts developed in their classrooms during the fall semester at Colgate. Did you go on an extended study during the holiday break? Tassey A. Russo ’80 When at Colgate in the late ’70s, it was still necessary to do a J-term. I did an extended study in Sweden. Loved it! Wesley Gordon ’05 Japan with Professors Hudson and Harpp — one of my best Colgate memories. Stephanie Zanowic ’11 India, three years ago this Sunday. Gregory Siegelman ’79 Jan plan with Prof Kistler in London. Twitter December 6 Emo Philips @EmoPhilips My 12-7 show @colgateuniv (Lord, please give me the strength not to do any toothpaste jokes) is open 2 the public. http://www.emophilips.com Valerie @Kyriositytweets I’m so proud of @EmoPhilips for resolving not to tell toothpaste jokes at Colgate U. Way to Aim high, Emo! #jokesEmoWill Avoid aaron@dangerboymusic He will come up with an amazingly original toothpaste joke. At least he better Oral B really mad. Josh Caterer @joshcaterer I just flew in from Las Vegas, and boy are my gums receding! #jokesEmowillavoid
Postcard from France: Alexandra Mills ’13 sent greetings from last spring’s Dijon Study Group, taken during their trip to the south of France at the Pont du Gard.
al clark @PikesvilleAL It will be an historic event but @EmoPhilips is going to leave @Colgateuniv plaque-free after his 12/7 performance. #jokes Emowillavoid
News and views for the Colgate community
5