have you heard of this group?

[OnePlus69Is70]

I'm looking for anyone who's heard of/had contact with/knows anything about a national men's GLO called Sigma Mu Sigma. It seems to be (or have been, it might be defunct) a college fraternity exclusively for Freemasons. It has some connection with the Square & Compass Club, and a GLO called Sigma Alpha Chi that died out in the 50s (no relation to the modern SAC sorority).

I would search old posts, but the search feature won't let you include the word 'mu' in a search because it's too short.

[Senusret I]

From: http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/the_builder_1925_june.htm

SIGMA MU SIGMA FRATERNITY: OR "SELECT MASONS SOCIETY"



In the present instance we have ourselves contributed an inquiry to this department in the shape of a letter addressed to Bro. Sidney C. Brown, Jr., of Washington, D. C., concerning a new fraternity for college Masons. His reply is a complete description in brief of the fraternity in question, and good to have in its own behalf, as well as to serve as a valuable addition to Bro. Carl Foss's magnificent essay on "American College Fraternities," published in the March and April issues of this journal:



Realizing the need of an organization of students selected from the Masonic Order who would devote themselves to the fostering of the highest ideals of the Fraternity and to the promotion of Masonic fellowship, three Master Masons, Harold Van Vranken, Charles Knapp, and Claude Brown, students of Tri-State College of Angola, Ind., met on Good Friday, March 25, 1921, and organized the Sigma Mu Sigma fraternity. The first requisite of the new society was that the members should be Master Masons in good standing and should be imbued with a zeal for the promotion of the cardinal principles of Sincerity, Morality, and Scholarship by thought, speech and practice. The social fellowship that followed such lofty ideals was of the highest type, and the society at once became firmly fixed in the plans and lives of the young men who became affiliated with it.



Interest being manifested from other sources, a national organization was perfected in Washington, D. C., in May, 1924, by Sidney C. Brown, attorney, who was elected National President. Hon. L. W. Fairfield introduced in Congress a bill which would grant a National Charter to the fraternity. Brigadier General Fries, head of the division of Chemical Warfare, is sponsor of the National organization and these two men are the first national honorary members.



The object of the national body is to establish in leading universities and colleges chapters of Sigma Mu Sigma for the promotion of these same cardinal virtues. The plan is to select from Master Masons who are attending the various schools, those who are interested in promoting the true spirit of Masonry as applied to student life and for the development of sincerity, morality and scholarship in the lives of young men fitting themselves for service in the world. Established on such an exalted plane there is no need for wonder why the fraternity is attracting attention and a long and flourishing career is anticipated for Sigma Mu Sigma among those who have given thought to its aims and its teachings.



There are now three active chapters, located at Angola, Ind.; Washington, D. C.; and Oklahoma University, at Norman, Okla. Chapters will be installed at Purdue University, Indiana; Milwaukee Engineering School; Alabama University; National University; and George Washington University, Washington, D. C., this spring.



Sidney C. Brown, Jr., Dist. of Columbia.

[Erik P Conard]

Sigma Mu Sigma, "Sincerity, Morality and Scholarship" was a Junior Member of NIC. In 1934 most of the active chapters were
absorbed by Teke. See Baird's for further information.

[OnePlus69Is70]

thanks all! I've actually discovered that there's at least one surviving chapter, at the College of William and Mary- there may be a second, unrecognized chapter at Elon. It's a delight to find some estranged cousins still around.

[SurfinDBeach]

Yeah, Erik beat me to it...

We (TKE) absorbed most of Sigma Mu Sigma... Our chapter at George Washington University is specifically a SMS chapter that TKE took over - Because of our similar origins apparently...

This is from the SIGMA MU SIGMA website (their Epsilon chapter history):
Link: http://www.sigmamusigma.com/index.ph...9&limitstart=9
_______
"Epsilon Chapter History
Written by Administrator
Wednesday, 25 January 2006
With a name like George Washington University it is not surprising that Masons played an important role in campus life. A Masonic club was founded in 1911 and over the next twelve years both Acacia and Square and Compass established chapters at GWU. With the creation of Epsilon Chapter in June 1924, Sigma Mu Sigma became the third Masonic fraternity on Campus. Though there was the potential for rivalries, the three worked well together organizing joint smokers. At one of these events in September of 1924 over 100 Masons attended including the university president.
Over the next six years, Sigma Mu Sigma established itself as a positive force on the urban campus even as its role changed. Once they acquired a house at 1414 16th Street SW it took only a few years for Epsilon Chapter to increasingly be seen as a social fraternity. In 1931 they were admitted into the Greek Council. When Sigma Mu Sigma's Nationals were forced to dissolve in the fall of 1934, members of Epsilon saw their acquisition by Tau Kappa Epsilon (a fraternity with Masonic origins) as the best means to preserve their chapter and traditions. Today this chapter remains an active part of both Tau Kappa Epsilon and George Washington University. "
_________________________________________

[Tom Earp]

It never ceases to amaze Me that when a Question is asked, there will be someone on here who knows the answer or find it!

Erik, once again, Your Knowledge is outstanding!


SurfinDBeach

thanks for the link too!


Dang, some folks are so damn good on GC!

[Erik P Conard]

TKE was not masonically connected nor was a liaison with the
Fraternity made.
Some of the founders were Master Masons. I asked Tex Flint about it, he being a Mason, and he said there was no connection
though it was in high regard. A goodly number of greek letter fraternities mirrored their ritual and initiation procedures after the
Fellowcraft degree (second) of Freemasonry. TKE had no clause
intimating "free born" so from the outset, the Knights of Classic
Lore and later TKE, was apart from the Masons. I am a Master
Mason and a Life Member of the Scottish Rite. Seven generations
of my family have been Masons...that I know of, in England, in Ireland, and the USA.
I, once upon a time, had a couple of dozen fraternity ritual books,
and after awhile they became rather boring. I discarded them
without ever revealing their esoteric or similar procedures.
There have been several fraternities demanding Masonic ties.
As colleges became less elite, the supply dried up, and little by
little the organizations either merged, died or dropped the most
limiting requirement. The Masons of Indiana did build the Acacia
house at Indiana U, by the way.

[Erik P Conard]

Having visited masonic libraries both abroad and in the US, I am
amazed at the thousands upon thousands of pages written on
various topics, masonically-related. Many men have spent years
and years just reading the various treatises. The Prince Hall and
other masonic bodies have nearly come together in this, the
21st century. How exciting it will be to break bread together, and
we have in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Illinois..that
I know of. In my opinion, the Prince Hall masons represent the highest principles in every instance I have seen, and they put on
fantastic ritualistic performances.
For those of you who enjoy reading inspirational and lofty compositions I recommend reading about Freemasonry. It is one
of our unsung aspirations to become aligned with the Supreme
Architect of the Universe.
Sorry for the deviation from the greek letter chatter, but I thought
this was a worthy addition to our fraternal repast.
But, friends, Freemasonry, directly or indirectly, has had a profound influence on our deportment, and while there may be a
few things yet uncorrected, they will be in time. So mote it be!