Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Happy 133rd Anniversary to Sigma Chapter!

 

The 125th anniversary photo from 2009.

 
This is a replica of the original charter.
Today marks the 133rd anniversary of the founding of Sigma Chapter at Wittenberg University! The original charter from Phi Gamma Delta was commissioned on October 25, 1884!

The story behind our founding 133 years ago is fascinating, and is captured in writing by one of Sigma's legends, George Hopper '32. George wrote the history in 1933, just ahead of the 50th anniversary celebration planned in 1934. Here's an excerpt from George's opening paragraph:


"They say that Friday is an unlucky day and that all ventures which begin on a Friday are foredoomed to failure. If these old whimsies be true, then a certain group of forthright youths was foolish in its choice of a day on which to launch an undertaking. For it was on a Friday evening in the spring of 1883 that Sigma of Phi Gamma Delta was conceived. That word, "conceived", is used advisedly and in its strict physiological sense, for, as all Sigma men know, it wasn't until the fall of 1884 that Sigma was born..."

Here's a link to the complete, fascinating article on Sigma's first 50 years, written by George and first published by the chapter in 1933:
https://www.phigam.org/wittenbergsigma

What an amazing beginning, and what an incredible legacy Sigma Chapter has forged over 133 years. Godspeed, Sigma Chapter - may you endure and succeed for another 100 years!

Fraternally,

Skip Buckley '80

Perge!

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