# Square and Compass (fraternity)

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), 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 in 1897 as a local club of Master Masons called The Masonic Club. Its founders were:
* Ells McDonald Bristow
* Fred M. Davis
* Thomas J. Farrar
* Carl A. Foss
* Edgar F. Grossman
* George T. Hollbrook
* Malcolm L. McCrae
* Lacy L. Shirey
* W. Bruce Trigg
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 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 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 when the fraternity's two leaders left immediately to enter the Reserve Officers' Training Corps on May 14, 1917. 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. 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 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.
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.
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. 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, 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. Its pledge button was a circle divided by the letter S in navy blue and silver gray. The fraternity's colors were navy blue and silver gray. Its flower was the white rose.
Square and Compass referred to its chapters as squares. Its publication was The College Mason.

## 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.

## 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:
| Charter date and range | Institution | Location | Status |
| May 12, 1917 | Washington and Lee University | Lexington, Virginia | Inactive |
| 1920 | Tulane University | New Orleans, Louisiana | Inactive |
| 1920 | Colgate University | Hamilton, New York | Inactive |
| 1920 | Louisiana State University | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Inactive |
| 1921 | University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Inactive |
| 1921 | North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineeing | Raleigh, North Carolina | Inactive |
| 1921 | Howard College | Big Spring, Texas | Inactive |
| 1921 | St. Lawrence University | Canton, New York | Inactive |
| 1921 | Columbia University | New York City, New York | Inactive |
| 1921 | Alabama Polytechnic Institute | Auburn, Alabama | Inactive |
| 1921–1924 | Emory University | Atlanta, Georgia | Inactive |
| 1921 | Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy | Rolla, Missouri | Inactive |
| 1921–1924 | Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Tennese | Inactive |
| 1922 – August 3, 1952 | Medical College of Virginia | Richmond, Virginia | Merged (ΣΜΣ) |
| 1922 | University of Idaho | Moscow, Idaho | Inactive |
| 1922–1924 | Millsaps College | Jackson, Mississippi | Inactive |
| 1922 | Washington & Jefferson College | Washington, Pennsylvania | Inactive |
| 1922 | Brown University | Providence, Rhode Island. | Inactive |
| 1922 | Thomas S. Clarkson Memorial College of Technology | Potsdam, New York | Inactive |
| 1922–1926 | University of Illinois | Champaign, Illinois | Withdrew (ΣΜΣ) |
| 1922 | State College of Washington | Pullman, Washington | Inactive |
| 1922 | University of Wisconsin | Madison, Wisconsin | Inactive |
| 1923 | University of Oklahoma | Norman, Oklahoma | Inactive |
| 1923 | Clark University | Worcester, Massachusetts | Inactive |
| 1923–1929 | Des Moines University | West Des Moines, Iowa | Inactive |
| 1923 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Troy, New York | Inactive |
| 1923 | Georgia Tech | Atlanta, Georgia | Inactive |
| 1923 | Birmingham–Southern College | Birmingham, Alabama | Inactive |
| 1923 | Wabash College | Crawfordsville, Indiana | Inactive |
| 1923 | West Virginia University | Morgantown, West Virginia | Inactive |
| 1923 | Montana College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts | Bozeman, Montana | Inactive |
| 1923 | Medical College of the University of Arkansas | Little Rock, Arkansas | Inactive |
| 1923 | Municipal University of Akron | Akron, Ohio | Inactive |
| 1923 – August 3, 1952 | Miami University | Oxford, Ohio | Merged (ΣΜΣ) |
| 1923–1926 | Stout Institute | Menomonie, Wisconsin | Inactive |
| 1924 | Lehigh University | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Inactive |
| 1924 | Brooklyn Law School | New York City, New York | Inactive |
| 1924 | Ohio University | Athens, Ohio | Inactive |
| 1924 | George Washington University | Washington, D.C. | Inactive |
| 1924 | University of Utah | Salt Lake City, Utah | Inactive |
| 1924 | University of Georgia | Athens, Georgia | Inactive |
| 1924 | University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, North Dakota | Inactive |
| 1924 | Washington University in St. Louis | St. Louis, Missouri | Inactive |
| 1924 | University of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Inactive |
| 1924 | University of Washington | Seattle, Washington | Inactive |
| 1924 | Colorado School of Mines | Golden, Colorado | Inactive |
| 1925 | Syracuse University | Syracuse, New York | Inactive |
| 1925 | University of Arizona | Tucson, Arizona | Inactive |
| 1925 | University of Kentucky | Lexington, Kentucky | Inactive |
| 1926 | University of Southern California | Los Angeles, California | Inactive |
| 1926 | Marshall College | Huntington, West Virginia | Inactive |
| 1926 | Medical College of the University of Tennessee | Memphis, Tennessee | Inactive |
| 1926 | University of Nevada | Reno, Nevada | Inactive |
| 1926 | Drake University | Des Moines, Iowa | Inactive |
| 1927 | College of William & Mary | Williamsburg, Virginia | Inactive |
| 1928 | Kirksville College of Osteopathy and Surgery | Kirksville, Missouri | Inactive |
| 19xx ? – August 3, 1952 | Elon College | Elon, North Carolina | Merged (ΣΜΣ) |
| 19xx ? | Lafayette College | Easton, Pennsylvania | Inactive |
| 19xx ? – August 3, 1952 | Salmon P. Chase College of Law | Highland Heights, Kentucky | Merged (ΣΜΣ) |
* ↑ Chapter started in 1897 as The Masonic Club, a local campus group for Master Masons.
* ↑ Became the Kappa chapter of Sigma Mu Sigma in 1952 with the national merger of the two fraternities.
* ↑ Chapter withdrew and became the Eta chapter of Sigma Mu Sigma.
* ↑ Became the Nu chapter of Sigma Mu Sigma with the national merger of the two fraternities.
* ↑ Became the Lambda chapter of Sigma Mu Sigma with the national merger of the two fraternities.
* ↑ Became the Mu chapter of Sigma Mu Sigma with the national merger of the two fraternities.

## Notable members

* Frank Reed Horton (Lafayette) educator and the founder of Alpha Phi Omega
* William E. Warner (Wisconsin), industrial arts professor