Greetings to all Amateur Mendicants — active and inactive, local and imported, friends and associates!
This is my inaugural Encyclical to the membership as Gasogene, and I hope to bring the same spirit that Russell McLauchlin did when he began the tradition in 1946.
There’s quite a bit of information jammed in here, so please take the time to read all of it and feel free to reply with any questions, comments, or suggestions.
“It is a matter of history—that secret history” [BRUC]
Like many of you, I enjoy history, and in particular the history of our own little group is important to me. We are Detroit’s oldest Sherlockian society — one of the Original 8 (akin to the NHL’s Original 6, of which Detroit is also a charter member). We joined the likes of the Speckled Band of Boston, the Hounds of the Baskerville (sic), the Scowrers and Molly Maguires of San Francisco when we were founded in 1946; and were later joined by the Six Napoleons of Baltimore, the Illustrious Clients of Indianapolis, the Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota, and the Sons of the Copper Beeches — all before 1948 was over.
Those early days set the tone for the fun, scholarship, and fellowship that we still embrace today and that I hope we shall continue to celebrate well into the future. I am a firm believer that the farther you look back, the farther you can look ahead. And in that spirit, if anyone is curious about those early days and how the societies came about, the January 1 episode of Trifles will be “The Origin of 221B Worship” and you can find it wherever you get podcasts, as well as on YouTube.
It seems appropriate at this time of the year to acknowledge Christopher Morley, founder of the Baker Street Irregulars, who wrote a lovely introduction to a special BSI edition of “The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle” in 1948, with this holiday vignette:
“He called on Holmes to wish him, in his restrained way, “the compliments of the season.” That is the first frosty phrase to remember. Not a Merry Old Christmas, not Jocund Yule; just the bashful British meiosis, Compliments of the Season. Wary old Watson, one of Britain's great understatesmen. No emotional Helige Nacht, no Tannenbaum, no vast substantial Fezziwigs, no lachrymous Yuletide yowling. Compliments of the season, Old Boy; and how are you, Holmes?”
“Come, now, give us the order of events” [LADY]
In 2024, the Mendicants were fortunate to have not one but two meetings at the Commonwealth Club, which at the time we understood would no longer be available for our use, due to its own uncertain future. We later discovered that 2025 will afford us at least one more opportunity to reconvene among the Tudor timbers, the Stars and Stripes, and the Union Jack.
Our two lively gatherings each consisted of some three dozen Mendicants, with entertaining and creative toasts from the likes of John Sherwood, Regina Stinson, Christine Jeryan, Rob Musial, Monica Schmidt, Al Calderini, David MacGregor, and Brad Schwartz. Our Commissionaire Chris Music gave us two solid entries in his Mendicant History Minute series: a look at previous Mendicant meeting venues that have since closed, and Past Gas, a history of the Gasogenes of the AMS since 1946.
Like Sherlock Holmes at the Church of St. Monica, we were all witnesses to a marriage — not of the Norton-Adler type, but of creativity and research as we enjoyed scholarly papers. Glenn Walters diagnosed “The Doctors of the Canon,” particularly those who filled in for Watson, and reminded us of the plaque at the laboratory at St. Bartholomew's hospital made possible by the AMS. Jerry Kelly had a plethora of information that made up “Everything You Didn’t Know About Sherlock Holmes,” and Steve Doyle, head of the Illustrious Clients of Indianapolis, made “The Case for the Scion Society.”
“Suddenly, as I looked ahead” [PRIO]
The Spring talk from Steve Doyle was something of an early indication of an event happening in 2025 that all Mendicants should be aware of: The Midwest BSI Canonical Conclave of Scion Societies, taking place in Indianapolis on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
This is a one-day event, made up of multiple BSI Scion Societies brought together under the official recognition of The Baker Street Irregulars. It’s a chance to get to know members of our neighboring societies in a friendly Midwestern way, explore and share what we’re all about, get energized with ideas, and more. Check the link above for more information and registration details.
We’ll also be looking ahead in 2025 for our own meeting schedule. The Executive Committee will be looking into venue options and program ideas, so stay tuned!
“A singular set of people, Watson” [WIST]
Speaking of our Executive Committee, your Gasogene is very fortunate to be surrounded by an experienced and supportive group of Sherlockians who deserve the credit for making sure this organization keeps organizing. Chris Music as Commissionaire does the heavy lifting, Christine Jeryan as Tidewaiter keeps us afloat financially, and Rob Musial as Tantalus keeps you tantalized with communications about our meetings (and secures the cakes for our meetings!). Without them, we’d be professional mendicants.
Special recognition goes out to Michael and Bev Ellis, who have been long-time members and have been helpful members of the Planning Committee and will be stepping down.
Also to Christine Del Greco, who has been an active committee member and who keeps our Gasogene Emeritus in line.
“a gasogene in the corner” [SCAN]
Finally, a word about our Gasogenes. As I wrote about 87 screens above, history is important to me. To be knowledgeable about where we come from helps to inform where we intend to go. Or as Goethe — whom Holmes admitted “is always pithy” in The Sign of Four — remarked:
“He who cannot draw on three thousand years is living hand to mouth.”
In that spirit, I would like to acknowledge those who have paved the way and how their leadership examples act as beacons of the future.
To serve in the same capacity as early greats such as Russell McLauchlin, Bob Harris, and Bill Rabe is an honor, as I stand on the shoulders of giants. I can only hope I am as energized and inspired as the likes of Gene Leeb, Tom Voss, Ed Stein, and Peter Spivak, all of whom helped the Mendicants revive, survive, and thrive. Roy Pilot was as generous with his time, insight, and knowledge as he is a leading Sherlockian collector.
And of course our most recent Gasogene Emeritus John Kramb, who led us faithfully and steadily for 20 years, exercising wisdom and good judgment — my only hope is that I won’t let him down, despite this one momentary lapse that has resulted in appointing me as his replacement.
There is more to come — expect more Encyclicals throughout 2025, with more Amateur Mendicant Society events, some technological changes, opportunities for involvement, and more — all in the aim of keeping green the memory within Detroit’s oldest Sherlock Holmes society.
And if you know of anyone who’d be interested in regular updates from us, please share this with them or have them email us at amateurmendicantsociety @gmail .com.
Until then, the game’s afoot!
Scott Monty, BSI
Thank you, Scott, for the update on both past and future endeavors of the AMS. I'm looking forward to upcoming meetings and events. Allow me to (again) thank John Kramb for his leadership and dedication to our scion society. Happy New Year!