343:
45:
319:
The early members of Sigma Pi engaged in literary works, debate, and oratory. From its founding, the society was involved in abolitionist work and may have assisted escaped enslaved people. Its debates were mostly centered on the politics of the era, with an emphasis on debating style and persuasion.
303:
Initially, the society's existence was kept secret. The society held its first literary event on
November 12, 1843, in the recitation room of Old Beecher Hall. However, some of the founders were never active student members because they had graduated before the June organizational meeting, including
441:
The fraternity claims to have affiliated with the Sigma Pi society of
Illinois College and is using the history of that society to add more lustre to its own name. The fraternity has also had occasion to publish in several fraternity magazines the enclosed articles in which your name is mentioned
228:
where they were students and roommates. They convened a meeting with twelve students in Wing's room (room 32) in Old
College Building and presented their idea. On June 24th, 1843 the founders met again in Wing's room and approved a constitution. This resulted in the creation of Sigma Pi, the first
339:, meeting room, and library. By 1870, the society had a sizeable library of some 1,500 volumes, including biographies, Congressional records, dictionaries, dramas, encyclopedias, essays, history, magazines, novels, poetry, religion, science, theology, and travel. It also had initiated 500 members.
357:
Pi Sigma is still housed in
Beecher Hall. Although it retains its identity as a literary society, it has become an unofficial social fraternity by the later 1990s, known for hosting parties in Beecher Hall. At the time, academic Becky Bradway-Hesse called it "the strongest, most active, and most
471:
of new members, as documented in yearbook photos showing pledges covered in mustard and ketchup. In 2016, the society was placed on probation for three years for hazing during new member orientation in the fall of 2015. The pledge master and president were criminally charged with hazing, had to
436:
after receiving a communication from the fraternity indicating that he was now its member, due to the merger of the two groups. Bryan found the fraternity's members agreeable but did not research the matter. The society's secretary, Warren Case Jr., wrote Bryan,
299:
The purpose of the Sigma Pi
Literary Society is concisely stated in its constitution. "The purpose of the society shall be the attainment of truth, and the advancement of its members in literary and scientific pursuits." Tillson was elected its first president.
208:. It is the oldest literary society at Illinois College and one of the oldest literary societies in the United States, having been founded on Saturday, June 24, 1843. Sigma Pi is headquartered in Beecher Hall, the oldest college building in Illinois.
459:. Baird wrote article stating that Sigma Pi fraternity's claim of "alleged antiquity" was "incredible" and "ridiculous". After embarrassing the fraternity on a national level, Patterson was expelled from the fraternity for his role in the fraud.
512:
323:
From its creation, Sigma Pi was characterized by a restrictive membership and a slight element of secrecy". It was "considered highly exclusive" and its membership was through invitation, following the tradition of
425:. At the time, the fraternity expanding and Patterson wanted it to be the largest and oldest group of its kind in the nation; the literary society also provided a potential link to Patterson's hero
398:
Sigma Pi assembles three judged literary productions each semester where society members make a presentation to an audience. The society conducts weekly business meetings, which are conducted using
354:
debates. When
Illinois College admitted women in 1903, the society invited coeds to its meetings, turning this into a social event. However, Sigma Pi remained an organization for male students.
307:
The literary society was nameless until the fall of 1844, Henry M. Lewis suggested calling the group "Union and
Progress"; Willard selected the name Sigma Pi and the corresponding Greek Words,
455:, wrote Illinois College to verify the literary society's continued standing as a local group. As a result of his findings, Baird rejected Patterson's submission for Sigma Pi fraternity for
429:
who was a member of the society. Patterson's history reported on a meeting with Bryan on
February 8, 1908, to "exchange greetings and hope for the future prosperity of the fraternity".
1289:
442:
as being its most prominent member. If they use your name as a member...such use is fraudulent, for Sigma Pi society is not and has never been connected with Sigma Pi fraternity.
636:
332:, another campus literary society that included many members who had been denied admission to Sigma Pi. Their rivalry was perceived as "the exclusives against the liberals".
450:
1279:
350:
The society's meetings were initially closed but later became open to non-members. In 1874, Sigma Pi and other campus literary societies began to participate in
485:
233:
358:
elite society at
Illinois College". It strives to develop the social, communication, and leadership skills of the membership. Its sister organization is
1294:
432:
When others disputed the connection between the fraternity and the society. Bryan responded that he met with representatives of the fraternity in
1207:
1108:
735:
693:
680:
671:
645:
615:
589:
572:
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390:
Its nickname is Sigs. Its colors are black and gold. Its motto is "Let there be light". The society never had passwords and secret handshakes.
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1182:
576:
468:
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933:
848:
815:
594:
359:
739:
667:
598:
552:
504:
714:
539:
404:. These meetings direct the everyday operations of Sigma Pi. The society's members also complete community service activities.
654:
623:
568:
335:
The college gave Sigma Pi quarters on the second (upper) floor of
Beecher Hall in 1856. This included a "well furnished"
697:
1153:
751:
723:
632:
399:
329:
44:
19:
This article is about the local men's literary society at Illinois College. For the national men's fraternity, see
1284:
1072:
Bright Access: Midwestern Literary Societies, with a Particular Look at a University for the 'Farmer and the Poor
1010:
Bright Access: Midwestern Literary Societies, with a Particular Look at a University for the 'Farmer and the Poor
619:
220:
In 1842, Samuel Willard and Henry Wing had the idea of creating a society to discuss philosophy and theology at
336:
602:
489:
316:
Wing suggested that the society adopt the Hebrew sentence from Genesis: "Let there be light" as its motto.
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581:
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325:
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689:
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585:
1209:
Dictionary of Midwestern Literature, Volume Two: Dimensions of the Midwestern Literary Imagination
641:
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494:
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517:
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221:
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159:
70:
718:
676:
650:
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973:. Chaplin & Ihling Bro's Book and Job Printers. p. 23 – via Google Books.
421:
fraternity, distributed a short history claiming that Sigma Pi Literary Society was its
685:
663:
481:
433:
245:
1273:
526:
269:
659:
564:
548:
543:
286:
130:
968:
855:. Jacksonville: Journal Book and Job Print: 3–4. 1862 – via Google Books.
212:, a three-time presidential nominee, is one of its most distinguished members.
1261:
Catalog of the Sigma Pi Society of Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois
1183:"Spreading the words: Literary societies a long tradition in Illinois town"
1061:. Jacksonville: Journal Book and Job Print: 17–31. 1862 – via Google Books.
1059:
Catalog of the Sigma Pi Society of Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois
938:
Catalog of the Sigma Pi Society of Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois
853:
Catalog of the Sigma Pi Society of Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois
342:
635:, writer, translator, and amateur naturalist who worked in India with the
418:
173:
20:
1263:. Jacksonville: Journal Book and Job Print: .5 1862 – via Google Books.
940:. Jacksonville: Journal Book and Job Print: 5, 1862 – via Google Books.
1071:
1009:
341:
123:
1137:. Brentwood, TN: Sigma Pi Fraternity, International, 2010. Print.
907:
820:. Illinois College. pp. 128–131 – via Google Books.
472:
resign from their offices, and were moved to inactive status.
380:
372:
308:
194:
34:
970:
Manual of College Literary Societies, with Statistical Table
417:
In 1908, Robert George Patterson, president of the national
542:, conducted first government-sponsored passage through the
879:. Jacksonville, Illinois: Sigma Pi Society. p. 1.
467:
In the 1960s, Sigma Pi was open about its practice of
877:
History of the Sigma Pi Society of Illinois College
152:
144:
136:
116:
108:
100:
92:
84:
76:
54:
28:
817:Illinois College: A Centennial History, 1829-1929
229:permanent literary society at Illinois College.
1290:College literary societies in the United States
452:Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities
486:Illinois Superintendent of Public Instruction
8:
1031:"Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois"
328:colleges. This intensified its rivalry with
1130:
1128:
1126:
1109:"The Greek World (A Ready Made Antiquity)"
25:
1212:. Indiana University Press. p. 333.
16:Male literary society at Illinois College
240:The fourteen founders of Sigma Pi were:
231:
1078:17, no. 1 (1998): 65 and 70. via JSTOR.
777:
767:. Jacksonville: Sigma Pi Society, 1972.
765:Sigma Pi Society of Illinois: 1843-1971
1280:Student societies in the United States
1251:
1249:
1119:(3): 397–401 – via Google Books.
1107:Simpson, Hendree P. (September 1909).
736:United States House of Representatives
694:United States House of Representatives
681:United States House of Representatives
672:United States House of Representatives
646:United States House of Representatives
616:United States House of Representatives
590:United States House of Representatives
531:United States House of Representatives
1247:
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1243:
1241:
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1237:
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1231:
1229:
1181:Spearie, Steven (February 26, 2009).
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1016:17, no. 1 (1998): 65-66. via JSTOR.
1206:Greasley, Philip A. (2016-08-08).
814:Rammelkamp, Charles Henry (1928).
378:is an acronym of the Greek phrase
14:
740:Illinois House of Representatives
599:Illinois House of Representatives
553:Illinois House of Representatives
360:Sigma Pi Epsilon Literary Society
304:Beecher, Bateman, and Willard.
49:Sigma Pi badge or watch fob, 1862
505:United States Secretary of State
370:The society's Greek letter name
43:
1295:1843 establishments in Illinois
715:Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
540:United States Geological Survey
908:"Greek Lettered Organizations"
655:President of the United States
624:Secretary of State of Illinois
569:United States Attorney General
1:
1154:"Sigma Pi: Treated Unfairly?"
967:Seeley, Isaac Casper (1871).
573:U.S. House of Representatives
509:U.S. House of Representatives
934:Founders of Sigma Pi Society
577:Attorney General of Missouri
408:Controversies and misconduct
1152:Owumi, Marie (2016-05-02).
698:Illinois Secretary of State
618:, associate justice of the
457:Baird's Manual, 7th edition
1311:
752:College literary societies
449:, editor and publisher of
373:
200:) is one of the four male
195:
35:
18:
1222:– via Google Books.
620:Supreme Court of Illinois
42:
33:
637:American Marathi Mission
1070:Bradway-Hesse, Becky. "
1008:Bradway-Hesse, Becky. "
603:Illinois Circuit Courts
401:Robert's Rules of Order
386:or "Union and Progress"
381:
309:
60:; 181 years ago
1055:Catalog of the Library
875:Moore, Ensley (1871).
702:Illinois Supreme Court
700:, and justice of the
538:, 2nd director of the
513:presidential candidate
501:William Jennings Bryan
444:
427:William Jennings Bryan
347:
346:Beecher House, c. 1928
237:
226:Jacksonville, Illinois
210:William Jennings Bryan
690:United States Senator
612:United States Senator
582:William Henry Bissell
447:William Raimond Baird
439:
345:
236:Founders of Sigma Pi
235:
163:1101 W College Avenue
1187:The Holland Sentinel
1113:Alpha Tau Omega Palm
732:United States Senate
728:Governor of Illinois
711:Governor of Illinois
586:Governor of Illinois
382:Sustasis kai Prokape
310:Sustasis kai Prokape
112:"Let there be light"
849:"Historical Sketch"
413:Sigma Pi fraternity
914:. Illinois College
763:Gibson, Harold E.
642:John F. Farnsworth
629:Samuel B. Fairbank
608:Stephen A. Douglas
536:John Wesley Powell
348:
283:Charles H. Tillson
238:
202:literary societies
58:June 24, 1843
1219:978-0-253-02116-8
495:Thomas K. Beecher
488:and president of
255:William E. Catlin
251:Thomas K. Beecher
187:
186:
1302:
1285:Illinois College
1264:
1257:Honorary Members
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1162:Illinois College
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1035:Haunted Illinois
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559:Honorary members
518:William C. Goudy
463:Hazing incidents
384:
376:
375:
312:
280:Joseph L. Thayer
263:George W. Harlan
259:William C. Goudy
222:Illinois College
206:Illinois College
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160:Illinois College
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71:Illinois College
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1076:Rhetoric Review
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1014:Rhetoric Review
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758:Further reading
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719:Illinois Senate
677:Jesse O. Norton
651:Abraham Lincoln
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522:Illinois Senate
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476:Notable members
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423:Epsilon chapter
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352:intercollegiate
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266:William Ireland
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434:Columbus, Ohio
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724:Richard Yates
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527:Barbour Lewis
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1190:. Retrieved
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1038:. Retrieved
1034:
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937:
928:
916:. Retrieved
911:
876:
852:
816:
764:
726:(Honorary),
688:(Honorary),
679:(Honorary),
668:abolitionist
662:(Honorary),
660:Owen Lovejoy
653:(Honorary),
644:(Honorary),
631:(Honorary),
610:(Honorary),
597:(Honorary),
584:(Honorary),
567:(Honorary),
565:Edward Bates
549:John Tillson
544:Grand Canyon
490:Knox College
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287:John Tillson
277:John B. Shaw
239:
219:
193:
189:
188:
168:Jacksonville
157:Beecher Hall
153:Headquarters
1158:The Rambler
918:18 December
88:Independent
85:Affiliation
1274:Categories
1192:2024-08-25
1167:2024-08-25
1040:2024-08-25
772:References
666:minister,
633:evangelist
497:, minister
394:Activities
294:Henry Wing
178:6265062650
65:1843-06-24
1135:I Believe
707:John Wood
337:vestibule
746:See also
437:stating:
419:Sigma Pi
330:Pi Alpha
190:Sigma Pi
174:Illinois
145:Nickname
137:Chapters
80:Literary
29:Sigma Pi
21:Sigma Pi
366:Symbols
326:Eastern
216:History
63: (
55:Founded
1216:
912:ic.edu
738:, and
717:, and
670:, and
622:, and
575:, and
511:, and
469:hazing
128:
121:
117:Colors
96:Active
93:Status
124:Black
109:Motto
104:Local
101:Scope
1214:ISBN
1074:.'"
1012:.'"
920:2023
601:and
588:and
148:Sigs
131:Gold
126:and
77:Type
1259:".
1057:".
936:".
696:,
224:in
204:of
1276::
1228:^
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