Square And Compass (fraternity)
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Square and Compass, also called Square and Compass–Sigma Alpha Chi, was an American collegiate social fraternity associated with
Freemasonry Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still-existing organizati ...
. It was established at
Washington and Lee University Washington and Lee University (Washington and Lee or W&L) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States. Established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, it is among ...
in
Lexington, Virginia Lexington is an Independent city (United States)#Virginia, independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 7,320. It is the county seat of Rockbridge County, Virg ...
in 1917. In 1952, Square and Compass merged with
Sigma Mu Sigma Sigma Mu Sigma () is a former American college fraternity founded in 1921 at Tri-State University. Sigma Mu Sigma was historically an all-male social fraternity open originally to Master Masons, and later open to all undergraduate male students. ...
(ΣΜΣ), originally another Masonic fraternity, resulting in a new organization called Sigma Mu Sigma–Square and Compass.


History

Square and Compass originated at
Washington and Lee University Washington and Lee University (Washington and Lee or W&L) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States. Established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, it is among ...
in 1897 as a local club of
Master Masons Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still-existing organizati ...
called The Masonic Club.Shepard, Francis W., ed. (1927)
''Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities'' (11th ed.)
Menasha, Wisconsin: George Banta Publishing Company. p. 203-205. – via Google Books.
Its founders were: All of the founders were students except Farrar who was a faculty member of the college. In 1916, its members were interested in affiliating with an intercollegiate Greek-letter organization, specifically
Acacia ''Acacia'', commonly known as wattles or acacias, is a genus of about of shrubs and trees in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. Initially, it comprised a group of plant species native to Africa, South America, and Austral ...
which was the only national Masonic fraternity at the time. However, this was not possible because many of club's members already had fraternity affiliations. Instead, the club adopted the name Square and Compass in 1916, forming a fraternity that could accept members of other Greek letter organizations. It was incorporated in the
Commonwealth of Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
on May 12, 1917; members considered this event to be their formal founding. The new fraternity had plans to expand to other colleges. However, any expansion plans were put on hold on the eve of
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
when the fraternity's two leaders left immediately to enter the
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on May 14, 1917. Before the end of the 1917 college year, all of Square and Compass's founders were either in the
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or the
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. The fraternity went inactive. In the fall of 1919, Carl A. Foss, the fraternity's secretary, returned to Washington and Lee. Foss reorganized Square and Compass with the help of Thomas J. Farrar and others. By 1927, the fraternity had initiated 3,504 and had chartered 55 chapters, with 50 being active. It had chapter houses at
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,
Drake University Drake University is a private university in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. The University offers over 140 undergraduate and graduate programs, including professional programs in business, education, Legal education, law, and pharmacy. Drake U ...
,
Howard College Howard College is a Public college, public community college with its main campus in Big Spring, Texas. It also has branch campuses in San Angelo, Texas, San Angelo and Lamesa, Texas, Lamesa. History Howard County Junior College was establishe ...
,
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,
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, the
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, the
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, and the
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. Although the
Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...
led to a decline in the fraternity's vitality, by the beginning of
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, it had initiated nearly 4,500 members and had expanded to 57 chapters. Rising tensions before the war precipitated the loss of chapters. Square and Compass were inactive for the duration of the war, opening once again for both Masons and sons of Masons. Some members lobbied for the adoption of Greek letters to appeal to new members. These pressures prompted Square and Compass to adopt the name of Sigma Alpha Chi in 1950; the organization became Square and Compass–Sigma Alpha Chi. Two years later, on August 3, 1952, Square and Compass voted to merge with
Sigma Mu Sigma Sigma Mu Sigma () is a former American college fraternity founded in 1921 at Tri-State University. Sigma Mu Sigma was historically an all-male social fraternity open originally to Master Masons, and later open to all undergraduate male students. ...
, another national Masonic fraternity that was originally known as Square Men’s Society.Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (July 7, 2024)
Sigma Mu Sigma
.
Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities
'. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed September 18, 2024.
The merged organization became known officially as Sigma Mu Sigma–Square and Compass. The merger linked four Sigma Alpha Chi chapters with Sigma Mu Sigma and to another period of moderate growth. The other Square and Compass chapters dissipated.


Symbols

The name Square and Compass was chosen because
square and compasses The Square and Compasses (or, more correctly, a square and a set of compasses joined) is the single most identifiable symbol of Freemasonry. Both the square and compasses are architect's tools and are used in Masonic ritual as emblems to teac ...
, more correctly a
square In geometry, a square is a regular polygon, regular quadrilateral. It has four straight sides of equal length and four equal angles. Squares are special cases of rectangles, which have four equal angles, and of rhombuses, which have four equal si ...
and a set of
compasses A compass, also commonly known as a pair of compasses, is a technical drawing instrument that can be used for inscribing circles or arcs. As dividers, it can also be used as a tool to mark out distances, in particular, on maps. Compasses ca ...
joined, is the single most identifiable symbol of Freemasonry. The Square and Compass badge was diamond-shaped with the letters M, F, C & E at the four corners and two secret characters in the center. Its pledge button was a circle divided by the letter S in navy blue and silver gray. The fraternity's colors were
navy blue Navy blue is a dark shade of the color blue. Navy blue got its name from the dark blue (contrasted with naval white) worn by officers in the Royal Navy since 1748 and subsequently adopted by other navies around the world. When this color name, ...
and silver gray.''Agromeck'' 1922 p277
/ref> Its flower was the white rose. Square and Compass referred to its chapters as squares. Its publication was ''The College Mason.''Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities Twelfth Edition - 1930 p 226


Membership

Square and Compass adopted the Masonic model where interested candidates applied for membership, rather than opting for a typical Greek letter organization bidding process. Any active Mason in good-standing was automatically accepted as a member. Faculty advisors were considered equal members to the students and could hold offices. The fraternity also conveyed honorary memberships to Master Masons. Its honorary members included university presidents and Grand Master Masons of several American
grand lodges A Grand Lodge, also called Grand Orient, Obedience, or by another similar title, is a name for the overarching governing body of a fraternal or other similarly organized group in a given area, usually a city, state, or country. In Freemasonry A ...
.


Governance

Square and Compass was governed by national officers who met at biennial convention. The national officers included a representative from each chapter. Between conventions, executive and legislative power was given to its general counsul that included five national officers and five national deputes who were elected to represent the fraternity's five provinces.


Chapters

Square and Compass referred to its chapters as squares and named them based on the institution where it was established. The squares of Square and Compass through 1929 were:Shepardson, Francis Wayland, ed. ''Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 12th edition.'' Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/
George Banta Publishing Company Banta Corporation was a major printing, imaging, and supply chain management company of the United States, based in Menasha, Wisconsin, for all of its 105 years. Founded in 1901, it was acquired by Chicago-based RR Donnelley in late 2006. Histo ...
, 1930. p. 226.


Notable members

*
Frank Reed Horton Frank Reed Horton (July 17, 1896 – August 28, 1966) was an American educator. He is best known as the founder and first national president of Alpha Phi Omega, an international service fraternity. Early life and education Horton was born July 1 ...
(Lafayette) educator and the founder of
Alpha Phi Omega Alpha Phi Omega (), commonly known as APO, but also A-Phi-O and A-Phi-Q, is a national Mixed-sex education, coeducational Service fraternities and sororities, service Fraternities and sororities, fraternity. It is the largest College fraterniti ...
* William E. Warner (Wisconsin),
industrial arts Industrial arts is an educational program that features the fabrication of objects in wood or metal using a variety of hand, power, or machine tools. Industrial Arts are commonly referred to as Technology Education. It may include small engine ...
professor


References

{{reflist Masonic collegiate fraternities and sororities Student societies in the United States Merged fraternities and sororities 1897 establishments in Virginia Student organizations established in 1897