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COAT OF ARMS

from The Triangle, publication of Mu Phi Epsilon music fraternity, Volume 116, Issue 4 Winter 2023

by Mu Phi Epsilon

from The Triangle, publication of Mu Phi Epsilon music fraternity, Volume 116, Issue 4 Winter 2023, page 6

Article from: The Triangle, publication of Mu Phi Epsilon music fraternity, Volume 116, Issue 4 Winter 2023

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Wendy A. Sistrunk, International Librarian and Archives Chair, Mu Mu, Kansas City Alumni | 61gwensinger@gmail.com

Fraternity’s emblem steeped in symbolism

Having a fraternal coat of arms goes back to heraldic times when knights and houses of royalty would have shields and a literal coat of arms to identify themselves, especially during battles and jousts.

There is always much symbolism and meaning behind what appears on one’s coat of arms. Fraternal and other ceremonial societies have adopted these emblems as a point of connection and pride. Mu Phi Epsilon is no exception and adopted its shield and coat of arms quite early in our existence, during the June 1904 Convention to be exact.

The design has remained unchanged since those first days, with the exception that when Mu Phi voted in 1977 to become a fraternity and admit men to membership, a change was desired to reflect both genders, so that now the scroll of music includes the bass as well as the treble clef.

For those who may not know:

• The background is in our colors — purple and white.

• It is divided into four divisions or “cantons” by a black cross containing 13 gold stars: 13 because we were founded on the 13th of November with 13 members; stars because our aim is high; and gold to denote our true worth.

• Each of the four cantons includes a symbol repeated both in the first and fourth divisions and the second and third showing a scroll of music and our pin or badge.

• Mu Phi Epsilon is indicated by the Greek letters

• The new coat of arms was adapted to be part of our Ritual Cloth in 1983 by Roberta O’Connell (Phi Mu).