Square and Compass, also called Square and Compass–Sigma Alpha Chi, was an American collegiate social fraternity associated with Freemasonry. It was established at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia in 1917. In 1952, Square and Compass merged with Sigma Mu Sigma (ΣΜΣ), another Masonic fraternity, resulting in a new organization called Sigma Mu Sigma–Square and Compass.
Square and Compass originated at Washington and Lee University in 1897 as a local club of Master Masons called The Masonic Club.[1] Its founders were:[1]
All of the founders were students except Farrar who was a faculty member of the college.[1]
In 1916, its members were interested in affiliating with an intercollegiate Greek-letter organization, specifically Acacia 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.[1] Instead, the club adopted the name Square and Compass in 1916, forming a fraternity that could accept members of other Greek letter organizations.[1] It was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia on May 12, 1917; members considered this event to be their formal founding.[1] The new fraternity had plans to expand to other colleges.[1]
However, any expansion plans were put on hold on the eve of World War I when the fraternity's two leaders left immediately to enter the Reserve Officers' Training Corps on May 14, 1917.[1] Before the end of the 1917 college year, all of Square and Compass's founders were either in the United States Army or the United States Navy.[1] The fraternity went inactive.
In the fall of 1919, Carl A. Foss, the fraternity's secretary, returned to Washington and Lee.[1] Foss reorganized Square and Compass with the help of Thomas J. Farrar and others.[1] By 1927, the fraternity had initiated 3,504 and had chartered 55 chapters, with 50 being active.[1] It had chapter houses at Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Drake University, Howard College, Louisiana State University, Tulane University, the University of Arizona, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Wisconsin.[1]
Although the Great Depression led to a decline in the fraternity's vitality, by the beginning of World War II, 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.[2][3]
Two years later, on August 3, 1952, Square and Compass voted to merge with Sigma Mu Sigma, another national Masonic fraternity that was originally known as Square Men’s Society.[4][3] The merged organization became known officially as Sigma Mu Sigma–Square and Compass.[5][2] The merger linked four Sigma Alpha Chi chapters with Sigma Mu Sigma and to another period of moderate growth.[5] The other Square and Compass chapters dissipated.[3]
The name Square and Compass was chosen because square and compasses, more correctly a square and a set of compasses 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.[6] Its pledge button was a circle divided by the letter S in navy blue and silver gray.[6] The fraternity's colors were navy blue and silver gray.[7][1] Its flower was the white rose.[7]
Square and Compass referred to its chapters as squares.[1] Its publication was The College Mason.[8]
Square and Compass adopted the Masonic model where interested candidates applied for membership, rather than opting for a typical Greek letter organization bidding process.[1] Any active Mason in good-standing was automatically accepted as a member.[1] Faculty advisors were considered equal members to the students and could hold offices.[1] The fraternity also conveyed honorary memberships to Master Masons.[1] Its honorary members included university presidents and Grand Master Masons of several American grand lodges.[1]
Square and Compass was governed by national officers who met at biennial convention.[1] The national officers included a representative from each chapter.[1] 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.[1]
Square and Compass referred to its chapters as squares and named them based on the institution where it was established.[1] The squares of Square and Compass through 1929 were:[6][1]