Mu Chapter History
The Story Behind the Founding
by Frank Reed Horton, Founder
During the first world war, I served as an ensign in the United States Navy aboard a minesweeper in the North Sea. Our ship and its partner exploded more than 1,000 magnetic mines. My law school background at Boston University led to my appointment to try court martial cases in our Division. When we reached ports some of the sailors ran wild. Many court martial cases resulted. I saw young boys in their teens getting into trouble.
Because of these experiences, I made a firm resolution within myself that if I returned alive, I would try to do two things and do them with all my power. First, do my best to help young people get the right start in life by holding up before them a "standard of manhood" that would withstand the test of time! Second and just as important, try to help the nations of the world settle their disputes in a more sensible and legal manner than by war.
After the war, I became a student at Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania. One evening, while attending an American Legion banquet during my sophomore year, I sat next to an inspiring man named Herbert G. Horton. We were not related but we became fast friends. He, too, had been a naval officer but was now serving as the local Scout Executive. He helped me to become a Deputy Scout Commissioner. One of the troops needed a leader, so I became a Scoutmaster as well.
Through these experiences, I found that the Scout Oath and Law were what I had been seeking - a standard of manhood that would withstand the test of time and a code of ideals created and accepted by some of the greatest leaders the world has ever known.
The summer of my junior year was spent as an Associate Camp Director at the Easton Scout Reservation. Here I was impressed with the religious tolerance in the hearts of the boys. This I have not found so easily among older people. Scouts of the Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant faiths worked together in everything at camp, and everyone had an opportunity to worship on his Sabbath in his own way.
My Brothers in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity house, where I lived, who were outstanding for high ideals and clean living, were all former Scouts. I felt a college organization should be formed that would strengthen men in these ideals, and give them an opportunity for Leadership experience and for Service to others.
As a senior at Lafayette College, I talked to some of the men with a Scouting background and the response was good. These men would join an organization based on the ideals of Scouting. I created the name Alpha Phi Omega, the motto and the Greek words and their meaning and wrote the Ritual. Everett W. Probst designed the pin and drew the Coat-of-Arms. Thane S. Cooley suggested the handclasp. Ellsworth S. Dobson and Gordon M. Looney helped write the Constitution and Bylaws.
Fourteen undergraduates signed as charter Members. Scouting advisors were Dr. Ray O. Wyland and Herbert G. Horton.
The Lafayette College Faculty approved the petition for recognition. On December 16, 1925, I conducted the Ritual Initiation at Brainerd Hall, second floor, and Alpha Phi Omega was born.
My purpose was to make Alpha Phi Omega an organization for college men who cooperated with all youth movements, especially Scouting. I also anticipated that our Service program would expand to help people in need everywhere and to do service on the campus of each Chapter.
As Scouting is worldwide, so should Alpha Phi Omega be worldwide, gradually in the colleges and universities of all the nations. Alpha Phi Omega can help bring about, through the future statesmen of the world, that standard of manhood and international understanding and friendship that will lead to a better, more peaceful world in which to live and in which to make a living and a life.
Our Founders
Founding Advisors
Arthur Hatch Herbert Horton John McCracken Donald Prentice Harry Spengler Ray Wyland
Traditions
Cardinal Principles
Leaderhip
Realistically, leadership is a matter of development. Alpha Phi Omega develops leaders, and we are very proud of that. As we grow, we seek qualities of leadership, and throughout our lives, we pursue the development of those qualities and the development of other 'well-rounding' qualities. Through our leadership development program in Alpha Phi Omega, we are able to develop ourselves. And, as we aspire to greater things in life, we become aware of limiting factors - which we can't control, the external forces that shape our destiny until we control and develop what we have inside of us. We discover our own talents and strive to better our skills. We study, we learn, we practice.
Friendship
Brotherhood is the spirit of friendship. It implies respect, honesty and dependability. It means that we overlook differences and emphasize similarities as we join together in unselfish service. It means listening to Brothers whose views on issues might differ from our own. It means working closely with people whom under other circumstances we might not choose as our friends.
Service
Our Chapter service program provides many opportunities for the development of social awareness, friendships and leadership skills. Participation in our service program helps make Alpha Phi Omega the unique fraternal organization that it is.
Greek Alphabet
English Spelling
Upper Greek
Upper English
Lower Greek
Lower English
Alpha Α A α a Beta Β B β b Gamma Γ G γ g Delta Δ D δ d Epsilon Ε E ε e Zeta Ζ Z ζ z Eta Η E η e Theta Θ TH θ th Iota Ι I ι i Kappa Κ K κ k Lambda Λ L λ l Mu Μ M μ m Nu Ν N ν n Xi Ξ X ξ x Omicron Ο O ο o Pi Π P π p Rho Ρ R ρ r Sigma Σ S σ s Tau Τ T τ t Upsilon Υ U υ u Phi Φ PH φ ph Chi Χ CH χ ch Psi Ψ PS ψ ps Omega Ω O ω o
Insignia
Badge
Coat-of-Arms
This badge, worn by thousands of brothers of APO, is the "Emblem of Campus Service." Students and faculty alike recognize and respect the activities for which it stands. The ideals of Alpha Phi Omega are embodied in our coat-of-arms. As everyone who has passed through the ritual knows, the symbolism of the coat-of-arms stands for the very purpose of our brotherhood.
Motto
Be a Leader, Be a Friend, Be of Service
Symbols
In the early days of our Fraternity our Founders chose recognizable objects that would be representative symbols of the spirit of our guiding principles of Leadership, Friendship and Service. They selected items of historical and traditional value and notability. The meaning and definitions of these symbols have not changed in our lifetimes, and likely will not change in the future.
Jewel
Diamond
The most precious of all gemstones representing brilliance, luster, always increasing in value, and an expression of the greatest gift of love when given. Flower
Forget-Me-Not
A perennial flower with royal blue blossoms. It is everlasting, always remembered. Tree
Oak
We have all heard from a parent or mentor at least once in our lives the story of the sturdy oak tree that grew from a small acorn. The oak is stately, sturdy, and sheltering. Colors
Blue and Gold
Our color of blue is a royal blue color. It is elegant, a sign of pure deed and thought. A color in our nation's flag.
Our color of gold is called "old glory" gold. A color also found in the nation's flag (fringe and tassels). It represents the high value, respect, royalty, and a sign of love.
Bird
Golden Eagle
At the 1976 National Convention the delegates chose another symbol to further this richness of our history and traditions. They declared the golden eagle as a new Fraternity symbol. An eagle is often found as a standard or as a part of the seal of a nation. The golden eagle symbolizes strength, gracefulness, keenness of vision, and endurance.
Toast Song
The Toast Song is the official fraternity song. It is usually sung at the end of all fraternity functions (meetings, ceremonies, conferences, etc.). It is sung to the tune of Alma Mater:
Here's to Alpha Phi Omega, Loyal brothers we,
True to self and to each other, firm in loyalty
Daily working, daily striving, ever more to be,
Men of Alpha Phi Omega, our fraternity.Brothers clasp the hands of Brothers, strong the circle we,
Ever mindful ever serving, all humanity
Now we raise our grateful voices, in our song to thee
Men of Alpha Phi Omega, may we always be!
Mu Chapter Founding
Mu Chapter, the 12th chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, was chartered on December 15, 1929 by Thornton Stone and was rechartered on October 4, 1981.
Last Updated: April 29, 2008
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