The Creed
 

In your house or work, where do you have our creed posted to see on a daily basis?

Nowhere. I never learned the creed in college. Not sure it was even written then. I doesn't appear in the Paedagogus until 1995.

As it is, it's somewhat poorly written, the first part ending with "...in following that ideal", without stating what "that ideal" is. Rather ambiguous wouldn't you say? What ideal?

I have no idea who wrote it or when.

ZAX,
Jono

sitting on my wall in front of my desk. This is hte same copy that I got from my big bro when I AMed in September of 2002. Many things have been spilled on it, including vegetable oil, yet the sheet of paper still stands.

Jono and I discussed this last night. The Creed was not in the Paedagogus as of 1992, 45 th Edition.

The next Editin I have is 2000, 48 th has The Creed in it as the last one.

Strange when one thinks about it.

I would venture a guess that "The Ideals", would be service, sacfifice, suffering and humiliation if need be.

The creed was altered slightly when we went from pledges
to AMs (or when pledges were first allowed to attend
chapter meetings)....phrases refering to initiate-only
details were removed. The whole text was probably
secret before then. I believe the full text of the original
is in the High Phi manual....kinda neat.

I'm curious, why a crescent? I mean, it really isn't pure or ever growing. I can understand the cross with sacrifice, etc. (duh, Jesus!), but not the crescent.

Water is pure, fire is pure, etc., but a crescent? How is an eclipsed moon pure and ever growing?

Isn't the crescent an Islamic symbol anyways?

Maybe we should change it to the Cross and Dove Soap Bar if we want pure? (very bad joke)

No but seriously, why a crescent? I wouldn't be surprised if Cole just threw it in there because it looked cool.

So, what's the story behind the crescent?

I think one of the mythical founders of the fraternity, Rene d'Anjenou of France was the first to use the crescent (he formed the order of the crsecent in the 1500's) because the crescent was always seen to be growing. Getting larger. etc. I dont know why it got larger instead of smaller. Paging Chuck Psyer...

Also, the Sufffering and hummilliation thing, I always say that is probably the suffering and humilliation Jesus endured on the cross. Do think that passage could sound a bit intimidating to PNM's. They might think they would have to be humilliated to get in. Always struck me as odd. WHO did write our creed? Thats a damn good question!

I understand the cross part and how it relates to Jesus.

But thanks Life for clearing up that crescent thing, never really made much sense to me, good theory.

Crescent Symbolism
 

Brothers,

I love symbols! The Crescent, like most other symbols, has multiple meanings- natural growth (Astarte), classic purity (Diana), and Christian purity (Mary, Mother of Jesus). The original source for our use of the Crescent symbol was the Grange. Cole incorporated the crescent moon into his original 1912 Ritual. Later, Mason and McIntosh chose the Crescent because it was part of the symbolism associated with good King Rene' of Anjou. Our symbol, found on the "Order of Merit" award, is also associated with the Order of Mary Magdalen!

Our Creed, which I believe is in the need of an "overhaul," is lifted from parts of our current Ritual. Keep in mind "Per Crucem Crescens" or "Crescent in the Cross" when you think of our useage. Ours is a combined symbol, composed of a Cross and Crescent, that loses its meaning if each part is looked at as seperate elements. The Crescent represents the Ideal of our Order; pure, evergrowing, but unattainable spiritual perfection and the Cross represents our Guide to attaining ultimate perfection in the afterlife through the teachings of Christianity in this life. The Crescent is really the crescent moon and the moon's cycle of growth until it is fully luminated is an obvious symbol of more light (enlightenment) that impressed people all over the world throughout recorded history. Taken together this is a wonderful symbol of what Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity is really all about and what it can mean to our members.

By the way, don't panic... this is my interpretation of material that has appeared in old "Purple, Green, and Gold" magazines, the 1929 History Book, the 1992 History Book, and research I did for an article I wrote that is scheduled to appear in the next two issues of "The Cross & Crescent." No real secrets here. If you do some basic research in our open publications you will find this information all laid out for you to read.

Yours in ZAX,

Mike Raymond, Zeta-Upsilon Zeta

Well, now I REALLY can't wait to get the next issue of the C&C! In the meantime, Mike, do you know who wrote the Creed or why it seems to have been kept somewhat secret for so long?

ZAX,
Jono

Also it is ever growing because it is a waxing crescent, not a waining crescent. (sp?)

Two Things- Creed & Crescent
 

Jono,

I don't know the orignator of the Creed. I do know that most of it is "patched together" from long existing sources. I took a quick look at the 1992 History Book and found no mention of the creation of the Creed as a unique statement. In a "round about" way I think Jack Mason has to get some credit for the wording of the Creed. I do have a very vague memory of something about the Creed appearing on the old IHQ webpage years ago. It is also possible that the "Open Ritual" (I can't remember the exact title right now) booklet has something to say about it. Let's continue to look into this one!

And,

EM1843,

You make an excellent point about the nature of the crescent symbolism we have adopted. The waxing crescent moon fits our traditions perfectly.

Yours in ZAX,
Mike Raymond, Z-U Zeta

Going Back to the Original Post
 

Right now I don't have the Creed posted anywhere in my office at home. This fact surprised me when I read your original post. Back in the mid-1960s, when I was an Active, it really was not emphasized by my Zeta. But, I think that over the past 20 years or so it has become very important to our Zeta members. I don't think I ever memorized it, but many of the younger guys, say 40 years and under, know it by heart. So, I will have to do something about my oversight.

Also, I believe that the Creed needs a good review and a "make-over" to make it easier to read, understand, and memorize. Nothing radical needs to be done, just a good edit. As I have mentioned before, I think the creed was "lifted" from another important document in bits and pieces with little attention to the readabilty and flow of the text. I hope someone at IHQ can do this revision someday and get the proper approvals to issue a new version of the Creed. Any thoughts on that idea....

Yours in ZAX,

Mike Raymond, Zeta-Upsilon Zeta

Matt does make an excellent point. Beta Theta Pi is one fraternity that originally got it wrong when they had a crescent on their badge.

"In 1841 Alexander Paddock (Miami, 1841) improved the badge by making its surface of black eneamel and replacing the crescent by the wreath and diamond. As to the crescent it might be recorded that one reason for the change was that, as borne on the Beta emblem, its horns were turned to the right as one faces the badge. Some Miami student, knowing more heraldry than his mates, or being a closer observer of the devices in the almanac, pointed out that the Beta badge bore the waning crescent, and ridicule hastened the change." ---The Story of Beta Theta Pi, Francis W. Shepardson (1927)

Ours looks just like the one I can see out my window. :)

ZAX,
Jono

Order of Mary Magdalen
 

Jono,

Great quote from one of my favorite writers! I love reading his books about Beta Theta Pi and I am proud to say I have a number of items in my collection that were owned by him! Some with his signiture....

The Crescent & Cross motif of the Order of Mary Magdalen, that we use as our Order of Merit Award, is another wonderful "take" on the waxing crescent moon symbol. The Cross is actually centered in the Crescent which appears at the base of the Cross. The symbolism of the growing Crescent Moon associated in this manner with the symbolism of the Cross is very powerful. I also have a famous painting on my office wall called "The Aspirant" that depicts a woman (representing Mary Magdalen?)inducting a young knight into this Order. The Crescent is emblazed on his garment newly superimposed over his family crest!

I know that Jack Mason envisioned our fraternity as a continuation of this type of feudal Order of Knights. I think that he wanted a greater emphasis on this concept then we now acknowledge. I would like to see this "mythical" tradition made a greater part of our fraternity today.

Yours in ZAX,

Mike, "The Knight," Raymond- ZUZ