Bremond Lodge No. 241 Hosts Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity

SigEps from Christopher Newport University and Bremond Lodge No. 241 in Newport News, VA have established a special relationship that has benefitted both the chapter and the lodge.

On Saturday, February 20, Bremond Lodge No. 241, Newport News, Va., hosted a cookout for the brethren of Bremond and the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity at Christopher Newport University. This was a fantastic event, full of fellowship and new friends. Over 25 members of Bremond and over 40 members of “Sig Ep” were in attendance.

Over the past four years, Bremond Lodge has enjoyed a special relationship with Sigma Phi Epsilon, a men’s fraternity at Christopher Newport University. Each year we’ve opened our lodge doors and allowed Sig Ep to use our facilities for their initiation ceremony. This relationship has been beneficial for both organizations. Allowing the use of our building has sparked interest in Freemasonry and has led many Sig Ep brothers to petition our lodge. In fact, since this relationship began in 2006, over 25% of all Master Masons raised in Bremond Lodge have also been members of Sig Ep at CNU. Five of these brethren have gone on to serve as lodge officers.

Thanks to SigEp (and Masonic) brother Patrick Murphrey for writing and passing along this article from The Scottish Rite Journal.

SigEps and Freemasons - Partnership

Patrick Murphrey sends this description of mixing Fraternity with Fraternity. The partnership is beneficial to both groups.

Since I joined Bremond Lodge #241, I’ve made it one of my missions to increase the fraternal relations between Masonry and the college fraternity. A strong relationship now exists between Bremond Lodge and the Sigma Phi Epsilon (“SigEp”) chapter at Christopher Newport University.

Over the last several years, my lodge has provided it’s facilities to the SigEp chapter to use for its initiation ceremonies. This has led to inquiries about Masonry and has helped bring 10 SigEps into my lodge. The great thing to remember is that success breeds success. When one fraternity man has a great experience with Masonry, he brings his friends to join him.

Also last year, myself and Bremond’s current Worshipful Master Jack Holland played in the SigEp Chapter’s charity golf tournament. In consequence of his support of SigEp, the chapter recently initiated the Wor. Jack Holland as an Honorary Member.

SigEps in DC partner with Masonic lodge for beautification project

SigEps and other Greek organizations at American University in D.C. are working with William R. Singleton - Hope Lebanon Lodge #7 to help restore the tree canopy in Washington.

On Saturday, December 6, 2008, starting at 9 a.m., more than 50 volunteers will assemble at 4441 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, to plant nearly 30 new trees in the park adjacent to Tenley Circle.

"Our hope with this project is to use the natural beauty of trees to transform two city blocks into a welcoming area for all members of the community to embrace.
“Our hope with this project is to use the natural beauty of trees to transform two city blocks into a welcoming area for all members of the community to embrace,” commented Mike Reid, chairperson of the event. “Our planning committee has been reaching out to several other community organizations including the American University Chapters of Sigma Phi Epsilon, Alpha Epsilon Pi, and Pi Kappa Phi; Saint Anne’s Church; and Cleveland Park Congregational Church to make this a true community event.”

Community Organizations Form Partnership to Beautify Tenley Circle

"Uncle Billy" - Freemason landmarks

One of our correspondents has been tracking down the Masonic history of the founders of Sig Ep. This response came in answer to a query about "William Lazell Phillips"

For your information, we have the following on the above brother.

Joined our Nutley Lodge #25 at age of 23, occupation - Clerk

Entered Apprentice Degree on 9/20/1897

Fellowcraft Degree on 10/18/97

Master Mason Degree on 11/22/97

Date of death June 19, 1956

Fraternally,
Ray Bellini, PGM
Gr. Sec.

According to these dates, he was a Master Mason at the time Sigma Phi Epsilon was founded.

To find earlier posts in this series, search for the "Freemason" tag

Freemasonry and Phi Beta Kappa

An interesting article with some history of the first Greek Letter Society.

Masons might well take a closer look at their cousins, the Greek-letter fraternities. These and sororities in the United States owe their origins, at least indirectly, to Freemasonry. This is because the very first fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa, was heavily influenced by the Craft: "...Thomas Smith belonged to the Williamsburg lodge before joining Heath as one of the five Phi Beta Kappa founders. Smith served as the first clerk of the Phi Beta Kappa Society and became its president on May 3, 1777. Nine other members of the society joined the Masonic lodge during the next year."
[...]
Today there is too little connection between Masonry and the world of fraternities and sororities. Like the Masons, the Greeks find that the profane world with its problems has intruded into the temple, even into the Phi Beta Kappa temple. And like the television comedian who drew laughs in implausible situations by complaining about not getting respect, the Greeks have suffered at the hands of the profane.
[...]
While the frat house on the local campus or the graduation ceremony awarding Phi Beta Kappa keys are far removed from Freemasons meeting in Virginia taverns in the 18th century, they nevertheless are descendants of those brothers, and we strongly suspect that on at least some occasions the conviviality, if not the ritual, might recall those distant forbearers.

The Scottish Rite Journal

A MASONIC CHRISTMAS TALE

In the spirit of the season, We present this story of fraternal brotherhood, rivalry, and forgiveness.

As I was reading the story of how one brother's jealousy and envy hurt another, and the eventual resolution I remembered my time in the chapter as an undergraduate. There was often contention between brothers, and hard feelings were not always assuaged. Sadly, I must admit that even now, many years later, there are men whom I once called 'brother' that I would feel awkward meeting on the street - and not always because of their actions. I must claim a share of responsibility too. I cannot change the past, but I won't close it out either. If the opportunity arises I will make the first move to make amends and repair the rift of many years.

When you get back to school, look up that a**hole who made your life hell last semester, or the guy you just can't stand for whatever reason. Make a special effort to get past your differences. You may not agree on everything, you may not become "best friends forever". But you may be able to find that brotherhood and common principles allow differences to be reconciled, or at least accepted. Hopefully you will find that meeting "on the level" and parting "on the square" - as they say in freemasonry - is not only possible but preferable. Don't let today's disagreement become tomorrow's estrangement.

Technorati tags: SigEp, Freemason, fraternity

Freemasons talk about technology

Tim Bryce, who writes the "Freemasonry from the EDGE" column on the "Freemason Information" web site, has another post that I think should be of interest to Sig Eps and fraternities in general.

He notes the general availability of VoIP (Voice over IP), or "internet telephony" now allows for free or nearly free communication between individuals and groups.

So what does VoIP mean to Freemasonry? A lot. Here is a new technology that can be useful for communicating to the Craft, particularly those living in remote locations (such as those with sickness or distress, or our soldier-Brothers in Iraq). It can also be used to hold conference calls. Here is another idea for you: recently I participated in a "Wardens Workshop" to help prepare officers for their year in the East. It was fairly well attended, but there were some Brothers who couldn't attend. How about opening a VoIP line to allow selected people (Masons) to watch the seminar remotely? When you think about it, the potential is enormous.
[...]
Using VoIP, you are no longer concerned with "roaming fees," nor are you shackled to a small network of friends and family in a specific geographical area. Now, your network is the Internet, which is accessed by millions of people around the world, at incredibly reduced rates, making the possibilities for communications staggering. Now you know why the telecommunications giants are worried about VoIP. They ought to be.

Pretty interesting idea, eh? Chapters could use this concept to make it easier for far-away alumni to participate in the AVC meetings. HQ could open up some of the CLA or Conclave breakout sessions for dial-in access.

Taking the idea one step further, how about using internet streaming to make the Conclave opening sessions, keynote speakers, and other general interest events available to those who cannot attend? We already are taping them for the DVD, how much extra effort would be involved in sending the video out to the web?

Comments pro and con from the technology committee, HQ, or anyone else are welcome.

Freemason Information - VoIP

Technorati tags: technology, fraternity, VoIP, Freemason

Masonry And The College Fraternity

This Freemason writes that he has seen an affinity between college age fraternity men and the Masonic orders that is not apparent in older (35-55) men.

My own college fraternity, which is dear to my heart and of which I am most familiar, was founded in 1868 at the Virginia Military Institute by three members of the 1870 graduating class. One of the three, James Frank Hopkins, a Confederate veteran, was a Freemason, and to him fell the task of drafting the fraternity’s initiation ritual.

Thus, the tenets of Freemasonry, thinly veiled, found their way into the initiation ritual of Sigma Nu and remain essentially unchanged today. Both Alpha Tau Omega and Sigma Chi also have Masonic roots as do many other fraternities. Consequently, in a sense, initiates of college fraternities are already “friends and brothers.” By pledging a fraternity, they have already demonstrated an interest, and by becoming active, they have been exposed to ritual initiation.

So how do we capitalize on this natural affinity, this historical relationship between Freemasonry and the collegiate fraternity?

The Freemasons in Fargo, North Dakota, have, for a number of years, made the Masonic Temple available to college fraternities and encouraged use of the facility for meetings and initiation ritual work. Sigma Nu has eagerly accepted this offer as have others. Typically, the building is opened by a Masonic alumnus of the particular fraternity who then sits in during the initiation. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Masonic alumnus gives a brief talk on the fraternal relationship and Freemasonry. We ask visiting fraternity members to sign a guest book and encourage them to take informational materials home with them. This program has been received very well.

Interesting article. I'm not sure if his facts about the upsurge in fraternity membership are totally correct, but he seems to have found a way to connect with the younger men. The idea of using a Masonic hall/lodge/temple as a place for fraternities to gather is, in my opinion, a masterstroke. When I was an undergrad, we always tried to have initiations in a church, but it was often difficult to obtain permission. How neat it would have been to have access to a space that was already set up to be a)seriously impressive, and b)very private.

Masonry And The College Fraternity

Technorati tags: Freemason, college fraternity, Sigma Nu

More on our founders' Masonic history

Our correspondent (Brother "Hiram") has continued to research the Masonic history of Sig Ep's founders. We published an earlier piece about some whose affiliations were well known. Here is the latest result of his inquiries.

This is the response I received from the Grand Lodge of Virginia...

"The library researched your request for the Masonic history of Thomas Temple Wright. His membership card gives his Degree Dates as Initiated as an Entered Apprentice on 9-16-1921, Passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on 1-21-1922, and Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on 2-3-1922.
He was raised a Master Mason in Warsaw-Bauman Lodge # 322 in 1922. He demitted from the Lodge on February 15, 1937."

I hadn't realize he had left the lodge. But it may have been a dues issue.
Let me know what you think.

In Masonic terms a "demit" generally means to leave while still in good standing. In other words he was not expelled for bad conduct or unpaid dues. I explained my own experience to our correspondent thusly:

Like any other organization, sometimes people decide that they just are not getting what they need from a group. Several years ago (well - about 20!) I had joined both Scottish Rite and the Shrine.The demands of my job and a young family being what they were I realized that I was not able to give adequate time to either group. I made a decision to demit in good standing from them. But I have kept my Blue lodge (i.e. the lodge where I was "raised") dues current, even though I have not attended a lodge meeting in a while either, because it is important to me that I be able to identify myself as a Mason. I have made a committment to myself to get active again once I have finished the MBA degree I'm working on. That should be complete in the first half of next year so I'll be back "on the level" soon.

Technorati tags: SigEp, college, fraternity, Freemason

THE DEMOCRATIC DECALOGUE

I wasn't going to put this up, because it is not specifically fraternity related. But then Euripides asked me "pretty please", so here it is.

This article is entitled "The Democratic Decalogue" which consists of a reprint of a LOOK Magazine article from 1963. Basically, the author describes ten ideas for making Democracy work. ts as applicable today as it was over 40 years ago, not just generally but Masonically as well.

4. Those we like may be wrong; those we hate may be right. The only way to find out what is best, for whom, is to let the ideas and the theories, however disturbing, roll out in uninterrupted contest. The right to talk creates the duty to listen.

That was #4. There are ten of them (Duh. DECALOGUE. Hello!) Enjoy.
Oh. Extra credit if you know what "Look" magazine was. (No-not the forerunner to FHM)

Freemason Information - THE DEMOCRATIC DECALOGUE

Understanding Productivity

Tim Bryce has another "Freemason Information" article that sounds like it was written with chapters, AVCs and HQ in mind. What is productivity and why is it so hard to achieve?

One of the first things I learned in working with volunteer organizations was that people have a natural aversion to planning of any kind.
[...]
...most people take on a “reactive” versus “proactive” approach to management. Instead of trying to anticipate and plan for the future, its easier to let the problems come to us, thereby we don’t make progress because we are constantly putting out fires as they occur. You might have some great firefighters on your team, but they are probably your chief arsonists as well.

Does anyone come to mind? I thought so.

Freemason Information - Productivity

Technorati tags: productivity, management, freemasonry

Turn Negative into Positive

Another article from Tim Bryce, the Footsoldier for Freemasonry. He writes about negativity in a lodge (i.e. chapter) and how to address it.

Some common expressions heard in Lodges:

• "It can’t be done."
• "Its too much work; It will take too long."
• “Why should we waste our time?”
• “Can’t we just give them some money instead?”
• “It wouldn’t be prudent.”
• “We’ve never done that before.”
• “Let’s send it to committee until another time.
  (Translation: "Let’s bury it".)
• “We don’t have time to do it right.”
  (Translation: “We have plenty of time to do it wrong.”)

If you tell someone enough times that they are wrong for trying to do something, eventually they start to believe it, throw up their arms, and do nothing, particularly in a volunteer organization.

Does any of that sound familiar? It sure does to me.

He goes on to tell people to bring up solutions, not problems. When I go to my boss and say "This is an issue and here is what I would like to do about it" I will get a better reception that if I just whine about "Ain't it awful." It works the same way in the Chapter, or for that matter with the National Fraternity. [Note: I didn't say it would get done your way, just that it gets a better hearing.]

Update: Several of Mr. Bryce's columns have have application to Fraternities in general. I have added the list of his columns - "Freemasonry from the EDGE" to the "Not Sig Ep But Not Bad" area in the sidebar.

Freemason Information-Negative/Positive

Technorati tags: Fremason, Fraternity, complaints

William Hugh Carter - Masonic history

Another bit of information about the Masonic History of our Founders

---

To: "P. M."
From: "Marie Barnett" <allenerobertslibrary@grandlodgeofvirginia.org>
Date: 05/26/2006 04:19PM
Subject: RE: Research Request

Dear Mr. M:

    The library researched the Masonic record of William Hugh Carter and it is complex in that he was a member of many Lodges, etc.  From the cards on file is found the following information:   

• Raised in Chase City Lodge No. 119 in 1904; withdrew in 1911;  
• affiliated with Love Lodge No. 311 in 1913, however the Lodge surrenders it Charter in 1914 and he affiliated with Winchester Hiram Lodge No. 21, his name appears on the roster in 1915; withdrew from #21 on 6-9-1925;  
• affiliated with Crewe Lodge No. 123 in 1925; withdrew from Crewe Lodge on 12-31-1929;  
• affiliated with Marion Lodge No. 31 on 1-20-1930 and served as Worshipful Master in 1935;  
• affiliated with Taylor Lodge No. 23 on 1-5-1950 while remaining a member of Marion Lodge No. 31, holding dual membership.   
• Received 60 year Veteran's Emblem in 1964.  

    In the Commandery he was created in 1925 in Olivet Commandery No. 18 in Crewe, Virginia.  He withdrew in 1929 and affiliated with Lynn Commandery No. 9 in Roanoke, Virginia.  He served as Commander in 1936 in Lynn Commandery.

 

     Due to some of the Royal Arch Grand Chapter Proceedings lacking Chapter rosters in the library collection, research lacked the sources to trace his membership.  Here are some of the pieces found:   

• In Tyrean Chapter No. 8 in 1926 in Crewe, Virginia, served as High Priest in 1928 and Chaplain of Southwestern Royal Arch School of Instruction 1930;  
• also Chaplain of Host in Chapter No. 8 in 1926;  
• affiliated with D.C. Shanks R.A. Chapter No. 31 in 1947 in Roanoke  
• and with Marion R.A. Chapter No. 54 in Marion, Virginia (could not find year)  serving as  Chaplain in 1938.   
• He held dual membership in both Chapters and is listed under deceased in 1972 in each. 

    Library recommends contacting the Grand Commandery and the Grand Chapter to find out more about these memberships.

Should you have further inquiries, the library is happy to assist.

 

 Sincerely,

 

 Marie Barnett  

 Librarian

Freemasonry in Sigma Phi Epsilon

One of our vast network of correspondents sent in this bit of history. He prefers to remain out of the spotlight for now and we are glad to accomodate him, as we have others. Nonetheless, these are interesting links between Sig Ep and Freemasonry.

"Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth" = "Virtue, Diligence and Brotherly Love?"

The Influence of Freemasonry in Sigma Phi Epsilon

Previous posts to this webblog have noted some of the major similarities between Freemasonry and the Greek fraternity movement in general. Given the interest in this subject, we thought it would be pertinent to discuss the possible Masonic influences in the development of the great fraternity of Sigma Phi Epsilon. First, a possible connection might exist given the Masonic affiliation of several founders of Sigma Phi Epsilon. The Masonic memberships of 4 SigEp founders are listed as follows:

• William Hugh Carter (23 years old in 1901)
  -Member of all three branches of York Rite Masonry
  -Served as Worshipful Master of the Blue Lodge
  -District Deputy Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons
  -District Commander of Knights Templar
  -Grand Prelate of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Virginia
• Thomas Temple Wright (18 years old in 1901)
  -Member of the Warsaw-Bauman Masonic Lodge #332 in Warsaw, VA
• William Lazell Phillips (28 years old in 1901)
  -Freemason in 1897 at Newark, NJ at the age of 24
  -Member of the Royal Arch Chapter, Knights Templar and Shrine in 1911 at age of 38. In 1911, he was the Editor of SigEp Journal.
• Thomas Vaden McCaul (23 years old in 1901)
  -Master Mason
  -A Royal Arch Mason
  -Knights Templar

— 1960 ed. of Sigma Phi Epsilon Pledge Manual

If the affiliation of these founders were not enough to establish a connection, the Masonic influence on Sigma Phi Epsilon's development is apparent in other arenas. An example of this was seen at the 1907 Grand Chapter Conclave in which a formal ritual was adopted. Despite numerous revisions through the years, the Fraternity has vehemently stayed true to the core of this 1907 ritual.

"The most significant event at the conclave was the adoption of a ritual that ironically came from the floor. The proposed ritual, grounded in the classic Book of Common Prayer and Freemasonry, was prepared by Adna A. Jones and W.H. Hinkel of Delta Beta at Jefferson Medical College. It was chosen over the one submitted by the official Ritual committee, composed of Phillips and James R. Webster."

—Our Journey of Brotherhood: Sigma Phi Epsilon?s First Hundred Years P.20

While this reference makes it easy to deduce that Brothers Jones and Hinkel were probably Freemasons, we have not been able to confirm this information. However, Uncle Billy's Masonic affiliation is well-documented. Seems like another case of "no matter where you go, there you are." This begs the question of whether or not there are similarities between the Masonic and SigEp rituals and if so, what are they?

What are they, indeed? As they say, I could tell you, but then well, I'd have to, you know...

Thanks to Brother "Hiram" for this introduction. We hope to hear more on the subject from you soon.

Masonic Farm Clubs

A correspondent pointed out an article that suggests collegiate Greek organizations could be "farm teams" for the Freemasons.

Being a baseball fan, I always marvel at the organization of Major League Baseball. Under their "farm system," rookie players are broken in and, when ready, move up to the major leagues. [...] Believe it or not, Freemasonry also has a "farm system," one that is too often overlooked, and that is the college Greek fraternities.

I am an old Greek man myself (Phi Delta Theta) and am very familiar with the Greek system which began in the 1800's and flourished in just about every college campus in North America as well as other parts of the world. In fact, dozens of Greek Chapters (Lodges) can be found at a single campus. All of them ultimately trace their roots to Freemasonry. As such, there is ritual work, obligations, and the day-to-day operations of the Chapter; nor is there anything in the Greek system that is incompatible with Freemasonry. They enjoy Brotherhood as much as Masons do, work for charitable causes, respect their heritage, and form a network of fellowship.

As a Freemason and a Sig Ep, your correspondent can attest to the complementary natures of the two systems. Any of us who has the pleasure of belonging to both fraternities can tell you that while the specifics differ, there are a number of similarities that obviously will not be discussed further here.

There is a significant difference in the way one joins, however. While fraternities actively recruit, one is never invited to be a Freemason. The way to start the process is to ask someone who is one.

Technorati tags: Freemason, Fraternity

Oaths and Tokens

Sometimes we get so caught up in all our everyday tasks that we forget to consider the meaning of our Ritual, the symbols, and even the exact words.

We found this discussion of the terms "Oath", "Obligation", and "Token" on a Freemason site. While Sig Ep is not in any way a Masonic body, we share certain terms and symbols with them as several of the founders had a Masonic background.

Freemason Information - Oaths and Tokens

Technorati tags: Oath, Token, Freemason

Talking Points for CLA and Conclave

Who's Ritual is it? - Part II (See previous)

Our Ritual embodies the philosophy that forms our Brotherhood and is the basic grounding of our Fraternity. The words, the symbols and their meanings, the tokens and signs, even the placement of items and the order they are exemplified all should build to a mystical revelation of the bond between us.

The Ritual should change rarely and slowly and with much soul searching. It should be even harder to change than a constitution. It should not be left to the whim of a group of people without accountability to the membership and altered cavalierly to fit the needs of the member development scheme du jour.

If, as seems to be inevitable, we are in the process of recreating what it means to be a member of a fraternity then of course the Ritual must be altered to accommodate the change. That does not mean it should be divested of every mystical symbol simply because they are hard to understand or may 'look bad' or "it takes too long". It should not be broken into parts just because you have to do something after each "challenge" stage.

The Initiation Ritual could very well be structured to work in a 3-tiered manner. We already have a model, in fact. For those of you who came in late I would remind you that several of our founders were Freemasons. The Freemason's "Blue Lodge" Ritual is a series of three degrees, from Entered Apprentice, to Fellow Craft, to Master Mason, at which time one is "as much a Mason as you will ever be". (The higher degrees are more for learning and understanding than secret initiation.) The Masonic model in its current form has served that Fraternity well at least since 1717, and much longer according to which origin story you believe.

It is a sad indictment that a fraternity founded by Freemasons has so few of them in leadership positions. Perhaps if our leaders were more familiar with the concept of a fraternal organization we would have a stronger mystical context to the brotherhood. As things are today, we seem to be working from a business plan better suited to producing MBA candidates than a vital brotherhood. "What profiteth a man if he gain the whole world but lose his own soul?"

Brotherhood is our "Core Business", not "building leaders". We must never forget that. A corporation that moves away from its core business is in danger of losing strategic focus and losing market share.

The Fraternity as a body should make it clear that we do not want the ground to move under our feet without the full participation of the membership. And by membership I mean ALL members including Alumni as well as Undergraduates, Volunteers as well as Paid Staff. We need a Ritual Committee made up of members who are well versed in the power of rituals - clergy, Freemasons, academics, or volunteers with strong Chapter experience. That committee would make recommendations which must be ratified by the Fraternity as a whole. That is the only way such fundamental changes should be made. Change will be slow - it should be. If the current leadership cannot accept that mandate then we need new leadership.

I am Diogenes and I approved this message.