Phi Mu / Sigma Nu creeds similar

[Kevin]

I noticed a few Phi Mu's on here ending their messages with "Love, Honor, Truth". Sigma Nu's primary 3 principles are Love Honor and Truth as well. I checked on the Phi Mu website to see if you had a creed. It was strangely very similar to that of Sigma Nu. Here's ours so you can see for yourselves.

To believe in the life of love
To walk in the way of honor
To serve in the light of truth
This is the life, the way and the light of Sigma Nu.
This is the creed of our fraternity.

(This is the short version)

It struck me that your creed contained two lines that were exactly like ours. Do ya'll know if there is any relation of your creed to ours? Ours was written in the late 1800's (I think) by Walter James Sears of Kansas University. If anyone knows if this is more than just strange coincidence I'd be very interested.

LHT
Kevin
MT 5
University of Central Oklahoma

[VSUPhiMu]

I'm not sure there is a link. It may be purely coincidental because our creed was written in 1852 and Phi Mu wasn't really on mulitple campuses for awhile. They are a lot a like, though. I'd seen the Sigma Nu creed from VSU's Sigma Nus, but I never thought there was a link.

-VSUPhiMu

[PhiMuJewels]

We were thinking about pairing with Sigma Nu for Greek Week, so I checked out their website and noticed the creed too!! It's so weird. We were founded in 1852, but I'm not sure when the creed was written. I'll look into it. It's neat to know someone else noticed it.

[betapsigirl]

My chapter has noticed that too. And, according to a Sigma Nu brother here, our National Philanthropies are the same, too- CMN. I'm good friends with one of the brothers, he asked my advice on going Greek before he pledged, and we've been buds ever since. I made him a banner when he was initiated. My dad is a Sigma Nu, so they hold a special place in my heart!
Jen

[PMSunshine77]

Okay, here's another old, old topic I dug up, 'cause this has interested me for a while... According to the most recent history book, "The creed submitted by Mu Chapter was adopted as the official Creed of Phi Mu" at the 1916 Convention.

Annadell Craig Lamb goes on to say,
"Authorship of the Phi Mu Creed has been credited in some Phi Mu publications, beginning in the 1930s, to Grace Lumpkin, a charter member in 1910 of Mu Chapter, the chapter that submitted the Creed for the convention body's consideration in 1916. ... However, there is no reference to an author at the time it was introduced. Grace did have a real talent for writing and in her lifetime was the author of a number of best selling books and successful plays. ... When interviewed by the National Historian in 1976, Grace had no distinct memory of having written the Creed. She conceded it could have been possible, but quite modestly, was reluctant to accept the credit if it were not due her. Therefore, it has not been possible to firmly establish authorship of the Phi Mu Creed, even through the member to whom it has been widely attributed."

I checked out the Sigma Nu website, and it doesn't mention a specific date of when their creed was written. The only thing I can think of is that perhaps a Phi Mu from Mu Chapter was very close -- in one way or another -- to a Sigma Nu. We should see if Mary Jane (National Historian) can check into it! : )

[Kevin]

Very cool info!

Our Creed was first presented in 1907 by Walter James Sears (the author). He was affiliated with both Ohio State and Kansas. It was revised and adopted in 1918.