Sigma Chi - Theta Iota

The Fundamental Purpose

The fundamental purpose of the Sigma Chi Fraternity is to cultivate an appreciation of and commitment to the ideals of friendship, justice, and learning. These ideals and objectives have been at the heart of Sigma Chi since its founding by seven men at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, on June 28,1855. These seven men believed that the principles they professed were but imperfectly realized in other fraternal organizations. Although this vision of Sigma Chi was based upon the notion of shared ideals, they believed that true brotherhood would thrive best among men of different temperaments, talents and convictions. These purposes are captured in the Preamble to the Constitution of 1856:

Believing that many advantages are to be derived from a secret fraternity organization; appreciating that closer communion of kindred hearts which adds so many incentives to virtuous exertion; and feeling that there is union in 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.

These guiding principles, unchanged for well over a century, continue to define the essence of Sigma Chi.

The Jordan Standard

The standard with which the Fraternity started was declared by Isaac M. Jordan to be that of admitting no man to membership in Sigma Chi who is not believed to be:

A Man of Good Character.....
A Student of Fair Ability.........
With Ambitious Purposes...........
A Congenial Disposition...........
Possessed of Good Morals..........
Having a High Sense of Honor and
A Deep Sense of Personal Responsibility

The Sigma Chi Creed

I believe in fairness, decency and good manners.
I will endeavor to retain the spirit of youth.
I will try to make my college,
the Sigma Chi fraternity
and my own chapter more honored
by all men and women
and more beloved and honestly respected
by our own brothers.
I say these words in all sincerity;
That Sigma Chi has given me favor and distinction;
that the bond of our fellowship is reciprocal,
that I will endeavor to so build myself
and so conduct myself
that I will ever be a credit to our fraternity.

The Spirit of Sigma Chi

The Spirit of Sigma Chi, as conceived by the Founders more than 140 years ago yet visible and alive today, is based on the theory that...

...Friendship among members, sharing a common belief in an ideal,...
...and possessing different temperaments, talents, and convictions,...
...is superior to friendship among members having the same temperaments, talents, and convictions, and that...
...Genuine friendship can be maintained without surrendering the principle of individuality or sacrificing one's personal judgment.

My Badge

I might be forced to admit that there is some similarity between the ideals of Sigma Chi and those other fraternities but -

I will not share the beautiful and the symbolic supremacy of the White Cross of Sigma Chi with any other badge in the Greek world.

The badge of my fraternity is a cross, a sign and a symbol known to all the world, uplifting HIM of whom our badge reminds us.

It is not a shield of timid defense nor a drawn sword of oppressive aggression nor an arrow swift and sure on its mission of death.

It is not a diamond so rich and so rare as to have no part in the common crowd nor a crescent pale and incomplete nor a star shining with a borrowed ray.

It is not a lamp whose feeble flame is extinguished by the slightest gust of wind that blows; nor a simple monogram of mysterious Greek letters presuming to reveal some hidden meaning.

But a cross with its base planted in the common clay of earth; its arms outstretched to all the world and its head lifted heavenward.

It is a White Cross, suggesting purity.

As any pure white surface reflects all the rays of light without the absorption of any, so the White Cross of Sigma Chi reflects its ideals unselfishly to all Mankind.

- W. Henry McLean