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Difference between revisions of "Frederick Santee"
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==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
Santee was born on 17 September 1906 in the rural Pennsylvania town of Wapwallopen, the only child of Dr. Charles LaMotte Santee | Santee was born on 17 September 1906 in the rural Pennsylvania town of Wapwallopen, the only child of Dr. Charles LaMotte Santee and his wife Verna Caroline Lloyd Santee. He was the grandson of Dr. Ephraim A. Santee. His father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all practicing physicians. | ||
Frederick was able to read English and German at age three and at the age of eight, wrote a translation of Caesar's ''Gallic War'' from the original Latin, which had had taught himself by studying his grandfather's old Latin books. As a youth, he excelled at baseball, with a classmate claiming he was a "budding 'Babe' Ruth, whose heavy hitting had won more than one game for his team." Santee later | Frederick was able to read English and German at age three and at the age of eight, wrote a translation of Caesar's ''Gallic War'' from the original Latin, which had had taught himself by studying his grandfather's old Latin books. As a youth, he excelled at baseball, with a classmate claiming he was a "budding 'Babe' Ruth, whose heavy hitting had won more than one game for his team." Santee later said he tried very hard to be good at sports in the hopes of attracting girls. | ||
==Education== | ==Education== | ||
In 1920, Santee became the youngest person accepted to Harvard University, at | In 1920, Santee became the youngest person accepted to Harvard University, at age 13. Newspapers around the country carried reports of his remarkable achievement. The ''Scranton Times'' stated: | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
Frederick Santee, 13, Wapwallopen, son of Dr. and Mrs. Santee has matriculated for the regular course in Harvard University. He is the youngest ever to enter as a candidate for degree. The boy has been unusual since his first day in school… | Frederick Santee, 13, Wapwallopen, son of Dr. and Mrs. Santee has matriculated for the regular course in Harvard University. He is the youngest ever to enter as a candidate for degree. The boy has been unusual since his first day in school… | ||
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After leaving Harvard, Santee earned a second BA and an MA in classics at Oxford, before graduating from the University of Berlin with a PhD in 1928. He taught for several years at various schools, but after losing his teaching position during the Great Depression, he earned his MD in 1938 at John Hopkins University. | After leaving Harvard, Santee earned a second BA and an MA in classics at Oxford, before graduating from the University of Berlin with a PhD in 1928. He taught for several years at various schools, but after losing his teaching position during the Great Depression, he earned his MD in 1938 at John Hopkins University. | ||
==Professor at Kenyon College== | ==Professor at Kenyon College== | ||
In April 1938, Santee was hired as a Latin professor at Kenyon College in Ohio. He was highly regarded by his colleagues, who considered him the greatest living Latin author and on par with classical Roman authors. He published numerous poems in Latin in the ''HIKA'' literary magazine. In 1941, the students at the college performed his play, ''The Woman From Detroit'', which was an adaptation of Meander's ''The Andrian Woman''. | In April 1938, Santee was hired as a Latin professor at Kenyon College in Ohio. He was highly regarded by his colleagues, who considered him the greatest living Latin author and on par with classical Roman authors. He published numerous poems in Latin in the ''HIKA'' literary magazine. In 1941, the students at the college performed his play, ''The Woman From Detroit'', which was an adaptation of Meander's ''The Andrian Woman''. | ||
Although he became popular with | Although he became popular with Kenyon students and ended up teaching numerous classes, his first class, a critical examination of Dante's ''Divine Comedy'', only had two students. | ||
==Naval career== | ==Naval career== | ||
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==Involvement with the occult== | ==Involvement with the occult== | ||
[[File:Frederick Book Cover.jpg|350px|thumb|Dr. Frederick Santee in 1979]] | [[File:Frederick Book Cover.jpg|350px|thumb|Dr. Frederick Santee in 1979]] | ||
Santee was introduced to the [[occult]] by his english professor at Harvard, George. L. Kittredge, author of the book ''Witchcraft in Old New England''. During his time at Oxford, Santee became acquainted with [[W.B. Yeats]], who was a member of Alpha et Omega, while the "modern [[witchcraft]]" movement was enjoying immense popularity throughout England. | Santee was introduced to the [[occult]] by his english professor at Harvard, George. L. Kittredge, author of the book ''Witchcraft in Old New England''. During his time at Oxford, Santee became acquainted with [[W.B. Yeats]], who was a member of Alpha et Omega, while the "modern [[witchcraft]]" movement was enjoying immense popularity throughout England. | ||
It has been speculated that during his time in England, Santee was inducted into the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]], however this could not have been possible as the organization had already been disestablished by that time. Members of the [[Coven of the Catta]] believe Santee met [[Aleister Crowley]] and [[Israel Regardie]], although there is no evidence to support these claims. | |||
With the assistance of his philosophy professor, Dr. Brabbart, he became a member of the Theosophical Society of England. | |||
While studying in Berlin, Santee was initiated into a [[Wicca]]n lineage by Arnold Reinman, who was a High Priest of the Black Forest Tradition. Santee's coven members claimed that during this time, "Europeans wanted to be guided by him" and he served as a homeopathic healer and quasi-religious advisor to Adolf Hitler. | While studying in Berlin, Santee was initiated into a [[Wicca]]n lineage by Arnold Reinman, who was a High Priest of the Black Forest Tradition. Santee's coven members claimed that during this time, "Europeans wanted to be guided by him" and he served as a homeopathic healer and quasi-religious advisor to Adolf Hitler. | ||
In 1967, after returning to America and starting up his own medical practice out of his home in Wapwallopen, Santee and most of his staff of nurses were initiated into the New Forest Wicca lineage by [[Sybil Leek]], creating the [[Coven of the Catta]] in the process. | In 1967, after returning to America and starting up his own medical practice out of his father's home in Wapwallopen, Santee and most of his staff of nurses were initiated into the New Forest Wicca lineage by [[Sybil Leek]], creating the [[Coven of the Catta]] in the process. | ||
===As High Priest=== | ===As High Priest=== | ||
From 1967 until his death in 1980, Frederick Santee was the High Priest of the Coven of the Catta. His High Priestess was the head nurse of his medical practice, Edna Kishbaugh Williams, who was nicknamed "Janie," but usually used her coven name, "Lady Phoebe." | From 1967 until his death in 1980, Frederick Santee was the High Priest of the Coven of the Catta. His High Priestess was the head nurse of his medical practice, Edna Kishbaugh Williams, who was nicknamed "Janie," but usually used her coven name, "Lady Phoebe." Santee's coven name was "Lord Merlin." | ||
Their temple was located in the corner of an outbuilding next to Santee's house on River Street in Wapwallopen. The building primarily served as a library for his vast collection of books and [[grimoire]]s, but there was a sizable space dedicated to performing [[ritual magic]] and an altar. | |||
During their rituals, the High Priest and High Priestess wore red robes while the other six coven members wore white robes. They used candles and incense in their ceremonies. Services were performed on the major and minor [[Sabbat]] days, but there was also a weekly teaching circle which was open to anyone in the community. There was a one-year probationary period for all new initiates. | |||
===Personal views=== | |||
Santee always considered himself a teacher, and in that respect, he instructed many people in the ways of Wicca. He did believe in [[Yahweh|God]], but was disenfranchised with organized religion, having declared in 1950, “In religion, I lean towards Anglo Catholicism, am a member of no church.” | Santee always considered himself a teacher, and in that respect, he instructed many people in the ways of Wicca. He did believe in [[Yahweh|God]], but was disenfranchised with organized religion, having declared in 1950, “In religion, I lean towards Anglo Catholicism, am a member of no church.” | ||
As evidenced from his "Country Doctor" newspaper column in the ''Berwick Enterprise'', Santee was staunchly conservative in many respects, despite leading a coven of [[witch]]es. He held traditional views on the role of women in society and stated they should be placed on a pedestal to be worshipped rather than engage in the workforce. | |||
==Death== | ==Death== | ||