Beta Sigma Psi
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| Beta Sigma Psi (ΒΣΨ) |
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| Founded | April 17, 1925 University of Illinois |
| Type | Social, Religious |
| Emphasis | Lutheran |
| Scope | National |
| Mission Statement | To promote an organization of communicant Lutheran men who recognize that life rooted with Christ in God is the only true goal of human existence and who therefore foster, encourage, and inspire activities and relationships which promote this end. |
| Motto | Per Aspera Ad Astra |
| Colors | Cardinal Red and White |
| Symbol | Luther's Emblem |
| Flower | Gold Rose |
| Publication | The Gold Rose |
| Chartered | April 17, 1925 at Springfield, Illinois |
| Chapters | 11 in the United States |
| Members | 175 currently 7,500+ lifetime |
| Free label | Faith, Loyalty, Brotherhood, Service |
| Headquarters | 2408 Lebanon Ave. Belleville, IL, USA |
| Homepage | http://www.betasigmapsi.org |
Beta Sigma Psi National Lutheran Fraternity (ΒΣΨ) is a pan Lutheran fraternity. Founded at the University of Illinois in 1925, ΒΣΨ has more than 7,500 initiated members. With 11 chapters and colonies in 8 states, there are currently about 175 Beta Sigs (the nickname of a member of Beta Sigma Psi) who are undergraduate members. Beta Sigma Psi is centered around three S's: spiritual, scholastic, and social.
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[edit] Purpose
The Purpose of Beta Sigma Psi National Lutheran Fraternity:
To provide an environment in which the Lutheran college man can grow spiritually, scholastically, and socially. To that end Beta Sigma Psi undertakes programs designed to develop Christian leaders and to aid the individual in assuming a satisfying and useful role in society. Through its alumni and undergraduate leadership Beta Sigma Psi endeavors to assist each member:
- Develop Character
- Develop Intellectual Awareness
- Develop Social Responsibility to Chapter, College, Community, State, Nation, and World
- Develop Spiritual Welfare
- Develop Brotherhood
- Develop Integrity
- Promote Friendship
- Advance Justice
[edit] History
[edit] Founding
Beta Sigma Psi was founded as a national fraternity for Lutheran students on April 17, 1925. The Fraternity had its origins in the concerns of a Lutheran pastor for students who had been entrusted to his spiritual care at the University of Illinois.
The Rev. Frederick William Gustav Stiegemeyer, the son of a Lutheran pastor, was born on January 16, 1878 in a parsonage in Dubuque, Iowa. Early in his life, he decided to follow his father's footsteps and serve the Lord. He received his college education at Concordia College in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and prepared for the ministry at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Rev. Stiegemeyer served his congregations faithfully, serving churches in Ohio, West Virginia, and Illinois. In 1911, he accepted a call to St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Champaign, Illinois. As part of his ministry, he was to serve the students at the University of Illinois.
In the fall of 1919, he organized the Lutheran Illini League with a nucleus of ten students. At that time their intentions was to do no more than meet once or twice a week for religious instruction and discussion on contemporary issues. In the fall of 1920, now with twenty members, the Lutheran Illini League rented a house, and in early 1921 was reorganized as the Concordia Club.
By 1923 the group regularly participated in campus activities; so much so that they began being referred to as the "Concordia Fraternity." This was among the circumstances that encouraged some of the members to give serious thought to once again reorganizing and making it part of the university's fraternity system. Meetings were held, and plans were laid to organize as a new national fraternity.
Those men who worked on these plans were convinced that they would create a National Lutheran fraternity that would maintain all the noble aspirations of the early Concordia Club founders. Those who shared this conviction were:
- Harold Ahlbrand
- Wilbur E. Augustine
- Norbert W. Behrens
- Herman H. Gilster
- Arden F. Henry
- Russell Henry
- Julius J. Seidel
- Rev. Stiegemeyer
- William H. Welge
These men, considered the founding fathers of Beta Sigma Psi, decided to act in the spring of 1925. Incorporation papers were filed for Beta Sigma Psi National Lutheran Fraternity on April 17, 1925 in Springfield, Illinois.
[edit] Growth
The Concordia Club at Champaign had been in correspondence with the Rev. Paul Schmidt, who had formed a similar organization at Purdue University for Lutheran students. One month after incorporation papers were filed in Springfield, Illinois, members of Alpha Chapter drove to Purdue to help organize Beta Chapter. Within months, the first National Council of Beta Sigma Psi was elected.
In the 1920s, Beta Sigma Psi experienced a prosperous early growth. Gamma Chapter at the University of Michigan (1928) and Delta Chapter at the University of Nebraska (1929) soon joined Alpha and Beta chapters. By this time, guests from other Concordia Clubs from all around were attending National Council meetings, and Alpha Chapter was busy building a new house.
When the depression of the 1930s hit, fraternity financing became very difficult, and Gamma Chapter was forced to close in 1933. Alpha Chapter closed in 1940. During World War II, Beta Sigma Psi had only two chapters, Beta and Delta, with a combined membership of fourteen men. At this time, an undergraduate member named Delmar Lienemann from Delta Chapter stepped forward and was elected Secretary Treasurer. He started his job with nothing more than the National Constitution and a great determination to keep the fraternity alive. Del served Beta Sigma Psi loyally as a volunteer for 22 years, and now the fraternity's highest honor is named for him.
Through hard work and determination, Beta Sigma Psi survived World War II, and in 1949, Epsilon Chapter was established at Iowa State University. Expansion continued over the next few years as Zeta Chapter was organized at Kansas State University in 1951, and Eta Chapter followed at the University of Missouri–Rolla in 1952. That year at the National Council meeting in Ames, Iowa, the fraternity found another leader who would work with Del for many years. John Hingst, an alumnus of Beta Chapter, was elected National President, and went on to serve for 14 years in that position. Then in 1956, Alpha Chapter was reactivated, and in 1962 Iota Chapter was chartered at the University of Missouri - Columbia.
Beta Sigma Psi continued to prosper in the 1960s due to its Lutheran membership, its common faith principles, and the strong leadership of alumni such as John Hingst of Beta Chapter and Larry Edwards of Zeta Chapter. Throughout the decade, new chapters were formed at several new campuses, including Western Michigan University, Eastern Illinois University, and the University of Minnesota. Growth was so rapid that the fraternity decided to add a full-time staff person. Although Del Lienemann had served faithfully as a loyal volunteer in the role of Secretary-Treasurer, the National Council decided in 1965 that in order for Beta Sigma Psi to become a strong national fraternity, it needed to have a full-time employee. Dick Weiss, an alumnus of Epsilon Chapter, was named the fraternity's first salaried Secretary-Treasurer, and the National Headquarters office was moved from Omaha, Nebraska, to St. Louis, Missouri.
In 1969, Beta Sigma Psi became a full member of the National Interfraternity Conference. The NIC had long been dominated by large national fraternities with 100 or more chapters. Hence, Beta Sigma Psi became the first "niche" fraternity to be recognized as a full member of NIC. Soon afterwards, other groups representing Latino, African-American, and other religious fraternities sought membership in NIC as well.
The Rev. Walter E. Rose, campus pastor at Eastern Illinois University and pastoral adviser to Mu Chapter, moved to St. Louis in 1971 to succeed Dick Weiss as Executive Director. At the suggestion of several parents, Rev. Rose helped to form Phi Beta Chi Lutheran Sorority at the University of Illinois. For a time, he served as the executive director of both organizations and is recognized today as a founder of Phi Beta Chi. Phi Beta Chi has since formed several chapters and become a national sorority.
[edit] Into the Future
The future of the Fraternity is in the hands of its members. Edgar Friedrichs, Beta Sigma Psi's first national president, once observed that "Beta Sigma Psi was organized as a means of serving the Church -- as a means to the end. Let us therefore be vigilant lest the means become an end in itself."
[edit] Statement of Principles
The following are the principles every member of Beta Sigma Psi strives to live up to:
With God's help I will strive to:
- Show my faith in Jesus Christ, live the ideals of a Christian gentleman, uphold the traditions and beliefs of the Lutheran Church, and share my faith with others
- Be loyal to Christ, my brothers, and myself
- So serve my church, campus, and community through the pursuit of excellence in all my endeavors
With the support and encouragement of the brotherhood within Beta Sigma Psi.
[edit] Symbols
Luther's Emblem - Luther's Emblem or seal consists of a black cross inside of a red heart inside of a rose and represents the Lutheran faith that is represented strongly in the men of Beta Sigma Psi. It is incorporated into the coat of arms and the badge.
The Badge The Badge of Beta Sigma Psi consists of black cross contained in a heart which is superimposed on a gold rose (Luther's Emblem). The emblem is placed on a shield with the Greek letters Beta Sigma Psi in an arc above the rose. The variation of the badge includes eighteen pearls bordering the shield. The badge is worn by activated members of Beta Sigma Psi.
The Flag - The Flag of Beta Sigma Psi consists of the Coat of Arms set upon a field of Cardinal red and white with the letters in the upper left quadrant.
The Banner - The Banner of Beta Sigma Psi consists of the Coat of Arms set upon a field of Cardinal red and white.
The Gold Rose - The Gold Rose of the official flower of Beta Sigma Psi. The fraternity's national publication and yearly national formal are also named after the flower.
[edit] Organization
The organization of Beta Sigma Psi National Lutheran Fraternity is unique. In order to divide the duties and services, three separate corporations or entities were formed, each with a specific mission, purpose, and Board of Directors. The three corporations are the National Fraternity, the Education Foundation, and the Housing Foundation.
[edit] Chapters
[edit] Active Chapters
- Alpha - University of Illinois, 1925-1940, 1956
- Beta - Purdue University, 1925
- Delta - University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1929-1995, 2006
- Epsilon - Iowa State University, 1949
- Zeta - Kansas State University, 1951
- Eta - Missouri University of Science and Technology, 1952
- Iota - University of Missouri, 1962
- Psi - Concordia College-New York, 1999
- Chi Colony - Ohio State University, 1999-2004, recolonized in 2007
- Omega Colony - Indiana University, 2000-2002, recolonized in 2008
- Alpha-Alpha - Midland Lutheran College, 2001
[edit] Inactive Chapters
- Gamma - University of Michigan, 1928-1933
- Theta - Michigan Tech University - 1962-1973 - Now Beta Sigma Theta, 1973-Present
- Kappa - University of Minnesota, 1963-1983
- Lambda - Western Michigan University, 1964-1973
- Mu - Eastern Illinois University, 1966-1984
- Nu - University of Kansas, 1967-1972
- Xi - University of Nebraska-Kearney, 1967-1990
- Omicron - Central Michigan University, 1968-1973
- Pi - Central Missouri State University, 1969-1989
- Rho - University of Minnesota Morris, 1969-1984
- Sigma - Wayne State College, 1969-1974
- Tau - Oklahoma State University, 1970-1979
- Upsilon - Illinois State University, 1980-1991
- Phi - Texas A&M University, 1988-1994
[edit] Notable Alumni
- Norbert T. Tiemann, Delta Chapter - 35th governor of Nebraska
- Lloyd Karmeier, Alpha Chapter - Illinois State Supreme Court Justice
- Brian Bosma, Beta Chapter - Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives
[edit] References
- Beta Sigma Psi National Lutheran Fraternity (2003). Beta Sigma Psi National Membership Manual (7th ed.).
[edit] External links
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