Success came early and often for Mr. Nate in his professional career. His success in the Methodist communities of Illinois included a seven-year term as pastor and superintendent of the Methodist Denomination at Champaign. His ability to speak in a college and University setting were constantly in demand. By 1909 he was appointed a member of the Board of Managers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, representing its schools and colleges across the country. Due to his service he was then ask to serve on the Board of Education of the Methodist Church as an Assistant Secretary in New York. While in New York, he served as the President of the New York Alumni Association of Sigma Chi. His other services included many positions on the Board of Trustees of many educational institutions, but his service to Sigma Chi will be remembered more than anything. In addition to serving the Alpha Iota chapter as an undergraduate, he held office as the Grand Questor (1890-1899), Grand Consul (1899-1901), Grand Trustee (1903-1909), Research Historian (1909-1921), Grand Historian (1921-1933), and Grand Tribune (1927-1933).

His work over this time period included influence in the writing of The History of Sigma Chi and the Ritual, including the printing of the secret volume of the 1930 edition of the Ritual. Alpha Iota is proud to claim the Brother Nate as an alumnus. He was initiated in 1885 and has done more than any other man to raise the position of the fraternity system to a position of honor and respect. Since the day of initiation he has dedicated his life's work to Sigma Chi and the fraternity system. His influence in the Sigma Chi community at the time of his death was so great that then Grand Consul Hamilton Douglas, Jr. demanded that every chapter of Sigma Chi possess a permanently bound copy of the Nate Memorial issue of the Magazine of Sigma Chi in their library.

Grave of Brother Joseph Cookman Nate