ΒΣΨ - Beta Sigma Psi

Motto	Per Aspera Ad Astra
Colors	Cardinal Red and White
Symbol	Luther's Emblem
Flower	Gold Rose
Founded	April 17, 1925 at University of Illinois
Fraternity type	Social, Religious
Scope	National
Headquarters	2408 Lebanon Ave. Belleville, Illinois, USA
Chapters	8 in the United States, 1 Colony
Mission	To promote an organization of communicant Lutheran men who recognize that life rooted with Christ in God is the only true goal of human existance and who therefore foster, encourage, and inspire activities and relationships which promote this end.
Homepage	http://www.betasigmapsi.org

Beta Sigma Psi National Lutheran Fraternity is a pan Lutheran fraternity. BSY was founded at University of Illinois in 1925. Beta Sigma Psi is centered around three S's: spiritual, scholastic, and social. Image File history File links The official crest of Beta Sigma Psi National Lutheran Fraternity. ... Red is a color at the lowest frequencies of light discernible by the human eye. ... White is a color (more accurately it contains all the colors of the visible spectrum and is sometimes described as an achromatic color—black is the absence of color) that has high brightness but zero hue. ... April 17 is the 107th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (108th in leap years). ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign   The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, also known as UIUC and the U of I (the officially preferred abbreviation), is the largest campus in the University of Illinois system. ... Belleville is a city located in St. ... State nickname: Land of Lincoln, The Prairie State Official languages English Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) Senators Richard Durbin (D) Barack Obama (D) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 25th 149,998 km² 4. ... A colony is a probationary member of a national fraternity. ... The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ... While the terms fraternity and sorority may be used to describe any number of social and charitable organizations, including the Lions Club, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, International, and the Shriners, in the United States and Canada fraternities and sororities are most commonly known as social organizations of higher education students - organizations... University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign   The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, also known as UIUC and the U of I (the officially preferred abbreviation), is the largest campus in the University of Illinois system. ...

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:

1. Develop Character
2. Develop Intellectual Awareness
3. Develop Social Responsibility to Chapter, College, Community, State, Nation, and World
4. Develop Spiritual Welfare
5. Develop Brotherhood
6. Develop Integrity
7. Promote Friendship
8. Advance Justice

History

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. April 17 is the 107th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (108th in leap years). ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ...

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. January 16 is the 16th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1878 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Concordia Seminary is located in Clayton, Missouri, an inner-ring suburb on the western border of Saint 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. A view of Champaign from above ( see wider view). ...

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 encourgaed 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. Founding Fathers are persons instrumental not only in the establishment (founding) of a political institution, but also in the origination of the idea of the institution. ... April 17 is the 107th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (108th in leap years). ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Founded Incorporated 1819   County Sangamon County Mayor Timothy Davlin Area  - Total  - Water 156. ...

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. The Great Depression was a massive global economic recession (or depression) that ran from 1929 to approximately 1939. ... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the globe and is accepted as the largest and deadliest...

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. For nearly 100 years, the North-American Interfraternity Conference (formerly known as the National Interfraternity Conference) has assisted mens college fraternities in working together. ...

The Rev. Walter E. Rose, campus pastor at Eastern Illinois University and pastoral advisor 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.

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."

Beta Sigma Psi National Presidents

1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... -1... -1... 1930 (MCMXXX) is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... 1930 (MCMXXX) is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... 1932 (MCMXXXII) is a leap year starting on Friday. ... 1932 (MCMXXXII) is a leap year starting on Friday. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... -1... -1... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... For the movie, see 1941 (film) 1941 (MCMXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... For the movie, see 1941 (film) 1941 (MCMXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) is a common year starting on Saturday. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) is a common year starting on Saturday. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... 2002 (MMII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2002 (MMII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Chapters

Active Chapters

• Alpha - University of Illinois, 1925-1940, 1956
• Beta - Purdue University, 1925
• Epsilon - Iowa State University, 1949
• Zeta - Kansas State University, 1951
• Eta - University of Missouri - Rolla, 1952
• Iota - University of Missouri - Columbia, 1962
• Psi - Concordia College - New York, 1999
• Alpha-Alpha - Midland Lutheran College

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign   The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, also known as UIUC and the U of I (the officially preferred abbreviation), is the largest campus in the University of Illinois system. ... Purdue University is a public land-grant university system within the state of Indiana. ... Iowa State University (ISU) is a public land-grant university and space-grant university located in Ames, Iowa. ... Kansas State University (sometimes referred to as K-State) is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas. ... The University of Missouri-Rolla (abbreviated UMR) is an institution of higher learning located in Rolla, Missouri and part of the University of Missouri system. ... The University of Missouri-Columbia (abbreviated UMC and nicknamed Mizzou) is an institution of higher learning located in Columbia, Missouri, USA. Columbia is the largest campus, of equal standing, in the University of Missouri System with approximately 27,000 students and is often considered the flagship campus of the system. ... Concordia College is a small, Christian liberal arts college, located in Bronxville, New York in Westchester County. ... Midland Lutheran College is a liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, located in Fremont, Nebraska. ...

Inactive Chapters

• Gamma - University of Michigan, 1928-1933
• Delta - University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 1929-1995
• Theta - Michigan Tech University - 1962-1973
• 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
• Chi - Ohio State University, 1999-2004
• Omega - Indiana University, 2000-2002

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (U-M, U of M, or U-Mich) is a public coeducational university in Michigan, United States. ... The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a state-supported institution of higher learning located in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. Often referred to as simply Nebraska or UNL, it is the flagship and largest campus of the University of Nebraska system. ... Michigan Technological University (abbr. ... University of Minnesota Twin Cities This article is about the oldest and largest campus of the University of Minnesota. ... Western Michigan University Western Michigan University (abbr. ... Eastern Illinois University is a state university located in Charleston, Illinois. ... The University of Kansas (often referred to as just KU or Kansas) is an institution of higher learning located in Lawrence, Kansas. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... Central Michigan University Central Michigan University (also known as CMU) is a state university located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. ... Central Missouri State University is a 4-year public institution offering a diverse range of academic concentrations. ... University of Minnesota, Morris (UMM) is part of the University of Minnesota system. ... Wayne State College is a state-supported four year university. ... Oklahoma State University Logo The Oklahoma State University System comprises of five educational instututes across Oklahoma. ... Illinois State University, originally named Illinois State Normal University, was founded in 1857 by Jesse W. Fell (1808-1887), and was the first public institution of higher education in the state. ... Texas A&M University, often Texas A&M, A&M or TAMU for short, is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. ... This article is about Ohio State; there is also an Ohio University. ... Indiana University Bloomington is the principal campus of the Indiana University system. ...

Colonies

• Delta Colony - University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Interest Groups

• University of Nebraska - Kearney
• Texas A&M University

References

• Beta Sigma Psi National Lutheran Fraternity (2003). Beta Sigma Psi National Membership Manual (7th ed.).

External links

• Beta Sigma Psi National website