Text Box: Gems of Purpose Business Name

 

 

 

 

Text Box: The following links are taken from and elaborated from a paper written by David Stafford and printed in The Plumbline, the newsletter of The Scottish Rite Research Society.  For information on how to join the SRRS click on the icon below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Masonic symbolism and philosophy had a strong influence in the early development of many of the so-called “Greek-letter” organizations so commonly seen and accepted on college campuses throughout the United States.  In some cases, the influence was little more than an association of ritual and secrecy, but in many cases the relationships between Freemasonry and college fraternal organizations were strong and even enduring.             During the half century before the Revolutionary War, college fraternities had a meager yet building existence.  Prior to 1776, Yale College, the College of New Jersey (Princeton University), and the College of William and Mary all had student fraternal organizations (Voorhees, 1945).  The establishment and development of these fraternities closely mimicked the maturation of the American branch of Freemasonry.  These fraternities supported fidelity, scholarship, and the development of speaking skills through debate and literary circles.  Click on the headings below to read more about college fraternities and Freemasonry.  To return to this page just click on the purple double headed eagle.