Text Box: Gems of Purpose Business Name

 

 

 

Text Box:   The Square and Compass Fraternity was organized at Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia in 1917 (Fairfield, 1965).  This fraternity, like Acacia, unified the individual Masonic clubs found on college campus across the country, many of which were called “Square and Compass clubs” (Foss, 1925). The Square and Compass Fraternity was organized as a reaction to Acacia’s “prohibition against having as members any Masons who were already members of social Greek-letter fraternities” (Foss, 1925).  But Square and Compass was not as selective as Acacia, accepting virtually all Masons who petitioned for membership.  Petitioning Masons could only be rejected for membership due to Masonic misconduct, and by majority vote (Foss).  The Square and Compass Fraternity merged with Sigma Mu Sigma in 1952 (Alpha Chapter History, n.d.).  The objective of the unification of these two fraternities was “to thoroughly indoctrinate the college men of America with the traditions of our American Masonic Heritage through ritualistic and fraternity conducted educational programs devoted to the Rites of Initiation and our American Way of Life” (Fairfield, p. 16).   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Sigma Mu Sigma was established 25 March 1921 at Tri-State College, Angola, Indiana.  During this time, the college had a strict rule banning student secret societies on campus.  However, there were several organizations working clandestinely on the campus.  These organizations were well known for hazing and excess.  In order to combat the rules of the college and the unsavory established fraternities, three Masonic Knights Templar worked together to organize a fraternity for Master Masons (Fairfield, 1965).  The founders invited other students of good report and demeanor who were Freemasons to begin a student organization.  The young founders were savvy enough to invite the president of the College and various professors who were Freemasons to become honorary members, a plan originally used by Phi Beta Kappa (Voorhees, 1945).  The president wished to retain these high-performing students at the College, so he revoked the restriction on fraternities and recognized the new body.  Today, Sigma Mu Sigma no longer requires its members to be Master Masons.  The prerequisite was dropped in 1929 due to the reduced age of men attending college (Alpha Chapter History, n.d.; Fairfield).  The Sigma Mu Sigma shield2 incorporated the symbols of two clasped, and open book, and a lamp of knowledge.  The crest above the shield consists of an all-seeing eye.