Symbols and the Soul of the Fraternity

I joined a fraternity that was a Brotherhood of young men who, together, learned and strove and prepared for the rest of our lives. Our Ritual is full of symbolism and outright statements of mutual support which is expected of every brother. As a pledge I was encouraged to consider the symbols and wonder what they might mean. As a new initiate I reflected on the newly revealed meanings and saw how they formed a consistent pattern. As an alumnus I have returned many times to the lessons of those symbols for guidance. The Crest with its Sword, Lamp, Cross, and Crown convey in one symbol the essence of what the founders meant to be a ‘different’ fraternity. The badge with its enigmatic combination of symbols both light and dark remind me of the need to have my brothers’ support in both good times and bad.

Our Headquarters site has been "improved" over time. In fact it has been so improved that there is nothing of our symbolic heraldry left. I would go so far as to say there is no soul in the site. I looked over the site recently and was hard pressed to find any of the symbols that are so proudly explained to the members on initiation. There is no Crest, no Ducal Crown, no representation of the Badge. I did see the Cardinal Principles referred to in passing a few times, but only as a lead in to some program descriptions.

This has not occurred overnight. The last several years have seen less and less emphasis - or even acknowledgement - on the esoteric messages conveyed by symbols with explanations and interpretations. In their place we have seen program after program - each more elite and exclusive than the last. I hasten to admit these programs have their merits – that is not the issue. My point is the programs focus more on individual accomplishments than on shared success – which is the essence of a “Brotherhood”.

Consider the new 'ladder' of programs:

• New member camps are seemingly intended to replace the big brother/little brother mentoring at the chapter level with a 'consistent' and 'responsible' offering from Headquarters.
• Carlson Leadership Academies - for chapter leaders. Focused on officer training.
• Ruck Institute - for the 'shining stars' of the fraternity. Very exclusive.
• Quest to Greece - mere mortals need not apply.

Each program is more exclusive and self-focused that the last.

Has the leadership of our Fraternity lost touch so badly they don't understand the need to connect to the symbolic touchpoints that have bound us together for over a century? Has the Fraternity lost its soul in the constant striving for excellence and climbing toward the 'wheelhouse'?