Expecting More of Ourselves

1
Expecting More of Ourselves

• Exploring the core sentiments of Sigma Chi in
  order to gain an understanding of what brings us
  together.

2
Expectations

• It is better to go into the graveyard and
  associate with dead men, than spend your time
  with the foul mouthed or idle, who are marked
  only for their lack of originality. Such men are
  common but Sigma Chis are not common, - they
  are men of action, whose growth, intellectually,
  morally and socially, is continuous from the
  cradle to the grave.
• C. L. Smith, Alpha Xi, 1887

3
Expectations

• No person should be admitted to membership
  who cannot promote the general welfare of the
  fraternity by bringing with him a clean
  character, lofty aims, and his due share of
  mental and moral stamina. And last, but not
  least, he should be a man who possesses the
  sterling quality of good fellowship who can be
  a true companion to his associates, who can at
  all times rise out of self and think and feel for
  others.
• Edwin L. Shuman Omega, 1887

4
A Strong Foundation

• The Sigma Chi fraternity is a development. The
  two antagonistic elements could not dwell
  together in the old Delta society.
• The D. K. E. was a cabal founded upon
  selfishness, and it gave birth to a genuine
  fraternity.
• General Benjamin Piatt Runkle Alpha 1857
• June 1894

5
The Foundation - 1855

• Believing that many advantages are to be
  derived from a secret literary organization
  appreciating that closer communion of kindred
  hearts, which adds so many incentives to virtuous
  exertion and feeling that in union there is
  strength we do hereby form ourselves into an
  association for the development of the nobler
  powers of the mind, the finer feelings of the
  heart and for the promotion of friendship and
  congeniality of feeling. Preamble to
  Constitution/Ritual of 1855

6
The Development

• Of the Nobler Powers
• of the mind

7
Development of Nobler Powers

• Let the principles of this Fraternity be the
  cultivation of the social side of mans nature as
  well as his intellect, to teach him to measure
  himself and his fellow men, so that by contact
  with those above him he may inquire into the most
  secret springs which move human action. Thus may
  he develop his character and make his education
  truly and properly complete.
• Governor John M. Hamilton, Gamma 1868

8
Development of Nobler Powers

• Let it be understood that, while we are
  looking forward to the training of the mental
  powers, while the cultivation of the intellect is
  the main purpose of Sigma Chi, the higher
  qualities of general culture and polish are of
  equal importance. One may have passed with honor
  through college halls, and yet be poorly equipped
  for the battle of life.
• Governor John M. Hamilton, Gamma 1868

9
Development of Nobler Powers

• You are gathering, it is true, in different
  parts of the field, but in the same field you are
  gathering the same harvest, and binding and
  storing the full, rich sheaves of learning and
  knowledge.
• Linden Kent, Psi 1869

10
Development of Nobler Powers

• The thoughts here expressed will be of no
  common stamp, none such as the rabble
  communicates, none such as ignorant minds would
  express, but instead such thoughts as have been
  through the mint of the mind..
• Charles Reynolds, Gamma 1856

11
The Development

• of the Finer Feelings of the
• Heart

12
Development of Finer Feelings

• The influence of these associations cannot be
  other than healthful and beneficial. The
  friendship formed in these fraternities, when
  mens hearts are pure and unselfish, endures
  through life, and the hours passed in these halls
  are the most fondly cherished memories of our
  college days.
• Col. Ben. P. Runkle, U.S.A. Alpha 1857

13
Development of Finer Feelings

• Brother Sigmas, we belong to a society
  worthy of our highest regard and warmest
  affection. We are united in the strong and
  enduring bonds of friendship and esteem. Let us
  each and all so do our duty and conduct ourselves
  that we bring no dishonor upon our society or
  each other. And we may have the high and proud
  satisfaction of knowing that our beautiful White
  Cross, at once the badge of our society and the
  emblem of purity, will never be worn over any
  breast which does not beat with pure, generous,
  and noble emotions, and by no man who is not a
  man of honor.
• To the Cincinnati Grand Chapter,
  August, 1884 I.M. Jordan

14
The Promotion

• of
• Friendship

15
Promotion of Friendship

• Let us clasp the hand of friendship not as
  does the formal world at meeting, not with a
  feeling of mere respectful civility, but let the
  pressure indicate that the emotions of the heart
  attend the grasp let the warmest feelings of our
  natures seek and find a hearty reciprocation.
• Charles Reynolds, January, 1856

16
Promotion of Friendship

• Second, there is the grip that holds. It is
  not a mere handshake.
• Tomas C. Bell, June 1905

17
Promotion of Friendship

• Let the emblem of the White Cross of Sigma
  Chi be an emblem of our purity and devotion to
  the principles of honor and manhood, of
  unwavering devotion to humanity. Let it be your
  emblem, not only in college, but as you go out
  into the world let it be a decoration indicating
  that you have been tried in your early manhood by
  your fellow men, and found true in your
  friendships and devotion to principle.
• Governor John M. Hamilton, Gamma 1868

18
Promotion of Friendship

• Let us act as though success in life depended
  upon our mutual good feeling and brotherly love,
  let us ever feel reluctant to entertain an idea,
  that feelings of honor will ever prohibit us from
  seeking the advice and assistance of one another
  then and only then shall we carry out the objects
  for which we are associated.
• Charles Reynolds, January, 1856

19
Promotion of Friendship

• Nothing so much tends to promote friendship,
  as the free mutual interchanging of our thoughts,
  hopes, and fears with one in whom we can confide.
• Franklin H. Scobey, 1857

20
The Promotion

• of Congeniality
• of
• Feeling

21
Promotion of Congeniality of Feeling

• When we take our places in the arena of life
  to battle the storms of disappointment and trial,
  it will be a most delicious reverie to follow
  those tiny threads of love and unity and to feel
  there is a spirit of congeniality still in
  existence, although years may have rolled away
  since the web was woven. It will be no common
  luxury to taste again in imagination those
  delicate dishes with which we have here been
  regaled, and for this association we shall be
  wiser and more useful men.
• Charles Reynolds January 4, 1856 to Gamma
  Chapter 

22
Promotion of Congeniality of Feeling

• Be it yours, then, my brothers, in laboring
  for the advancement of all that the Sigma Chi
  Fraternity stands for, to do all in the right
  spirit and from the right motives, so that you
  may hand down our Fraternity to those who come
  after you with its strength undiminished, its
  beauty untarnished and may it continue to
  advance in all that is good and true, until time
  itself shall be no more!
• Daniel W. Cooper June 28, 1905

23
Promotion of Congeniality of Feeling

• Generous, kindly and impulsive, fraternal
  feeling was the only bond. It has proven
  stronger than steel. The development of the
  order has been something wonderful, and it has
  ever been along the lines of human kindliness
  fraternity.
• General Benjamin Piatt Runkle Alpha 1857
• June, 1894

24
Promotion of Congeniality of Feeling

• When you recruit your ranks, be certain to
  choose congenial, high-minded talented fellows.
  Though you may be strong now, take all you can
  get who have the ring of true metal.
• William L. Lockwood, 1857

25
Epilogue

• My young brothers, it is in you, through you,
  and with you, that our Fraternity lives today.
  In you, my brothers, new warm blood flows through
  the veins of the old Sigma Chi. New leaves, new
  buds and fruit, are continually sprouting from
  the fraternal tree, and so with youthful strength
  and enthusiasm the spirit of our Fraternity urges
  you on.
• 10th Grand Consul Robert Farnham,
• July, 1901