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Frank T. Hodgdon Shrine Emblem
Each year at the installation of the officers of the Nemo Shrine Club, the custody of a large and beautiful Shrine emblem is transferred from the outgoing president to the newly elected president. Unless special mention is made of the history of the emblem, many Nobles are unfamiliar with the origin of this emblem which each president of Nemo is authorized to wear during his term of office.
The emblem originally belonged to Frank T. Hodgdon, an early and most active member of Moolah Temple and of the Nemo Shrine Club. Several years after Mr. Hodgdon's death, his daughter, Ann Dorsey Hodgdon, presented the emblem to the Nemo Shrine Club and it was decided, possibly with her suggestion, that the emblem be used by the presidents of the club during their respective terms of office. In any event, this has become the practice and use of the emblem.
The issue of the Courier-Post of Oct. 18, 1920, in connection with a banquet at the old Hannibal Rubber Plant building for 1200 Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and ceremonial at the Park Theatre, tells of the presentation of the jeweled Shrine emblem to Frank T. Hodgdon in the following language.
One of the most pleasant incidents connected with the ceremonial was the presentation of a costly Shriners emblem to Frank T. Hodgdon, cashier of the Farmers & Merchants Bank, by Potentate John E. Bishop, of Moolah Temple. Mr. Hodgdon was general chairman of all committees on arrangements for the ceremonial here. The Emblem was presented to him as a token of Moolah Temple's appreciation and esteem of the splendid arrangements made for making the ceremonial a success in every detail.
Mr. Hodgdon was not present to receive the emblem in person owing to the fact that he is a member of the executive council of the American Bankers Assn. which convened in Washington, and he had to leave Friday for Washington. In his absence the emblem was presented to Mrs. Hodgdon, who was the only woman honored by being called before the ceremonial session at the Park Theatre. She responded to the address of the Potentate feelingly and in a most gracious manner thanked the Nobles for the honor conferred upon her husband, saying that he would prize it highly. At the conclusion of Mrs. Hodgdon's remarks, three cheers were given in her honor which almost shook the opera house."
The ceremonial referred to in the news article was held in Hannibal on Oct. 16th, 1920, at which time there were 143 candidates for initiation. This ceremonial has often been referred to as the Champ Clark ceremonial since he was one of the candidates for initiation. The ceremonial was widely publicized and the late Hal Frazier took many pictures of this ceremonial many of which were displayed at Schaffer's Smoke House, 308 Broadway, Hannibal MO.