Annals of Psi Upsilon 1833-1941 the Heraldry

THE HERALDRY OF PSI UPSILON By Clayton W. Butterfield, Pi '11 Certain emblems were generally used in English Heraldry to indicate whether a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc., son of a family was the bearer of arms. In Biblical history, every man among the Children of Israel was or dered to pitch his camp by his own standard�no doubt an individual sign or emblem. Various explanations are given to the origin of the various units which make up a coat-of-arms. The early warriors are said to have painted their shields or covered them with metal or furs so that they might be or Just as the various divisions of the readily identified distinguished in when the war army are today identified by the in battle, particularly riors were in their coats signia on their equipment, or on the of mail. The idea is also unifonns of the men, so in the early given credence that when a warrior returned a ages various tribes and warriors from could be identified by the emblems battle, he hung his shield on the wall and symbols which served as their or placed it on a big chair-like rack particular marks of distinction. in the great hall, and above it his a Not only did a tribe have its dis placed helmet. Sometimes hel tinctive identifying mark, but fami- met was decorated with the colors Hes, too, used emblems to show their and ribbons of the warrior's lady fair. A warrior's coat-of-arms was in hneage or allegiance. In the days of a of his shield feudalism, a family who gave alle reality picturization with his decorated helmet above it. giance to a certain feudal lord had a coat-of-arms which was in certain There was also the custom of at details similar to the coat-of-arms of taching to the helmet some particu the family to whom support was lar emblem to identify the individ given; but, naturally, the shield was ual, probably just in case he lost his suflBciently changed so as to indicate shield in battle and still retained his difference in station, etc. head, and helmet. The Greeks and Romans assigned It is also said that the warrior, various emblems to individuals and when reHeving himself of his shield to their deities. and helmet, upon return from an en- 713 ANNALS OF PSI UPSILON gagement, would hang his cloak be legislative enactments which brought side his shield or possibly throw it heraldry and the use of heraldic de over the helmet, thus originating the vices to a systematic and scientific "mantling" or flowing decorations basis. The color schemes, designs, that appear so frequently above and symbols, metals and furs used on the around the shield of a coat-of-arms. shields, were originally purported to Animals are often shown support suggest deeds of valor, ideals or aims ing either side of a shield, and their or allegiance to some other family. use, no doubt, can be traced back to These legislative enactments pro the time of the tournaments when vided clearly as to certain details. knights and esquires had pages or In England, for instance, the rul attendants who were masked to rep ings were established that hehnets resent animals or imaginary crea were of four types: 1st, the sov tures, and who guarded their mas ereigns', shown full face with six pro ter's shield and armor when not in tecting bars�this helmet was crim use. son, lined with gold; 2nd, the nobles', The motto used ordinarily with a which bore silver helmets of five coat-of-arms is no doubt an out bars facing three quarters to the growth of the war cry, and in later front, and were adorned with gold; days became a statement or indica 3rd, the knights'�helmets of steel tion of some characteristic of the with silver ornaments shown full family or an ideal or ambition. Fre front view with visor open; and 4th, quently, it had reference to some the gentlemen's or esquires'�a steel achievement and, occasionally, a helmet in profile with visor closed. similarity or reference to the family In this way, the details of the coat- name. of-arms gave information readily con When heraldic emblems were first cerning the bearer, his rank, his al used, there was little or no definite legiance, accomphshments and aims, scheme for the adoption or arrange In addition to being used by fami- ment of the symbols. Later, in vari ous countries, there were certain The Arms of the Fraternity Theta Chapter THE HE R A L D R Y hes and individuals down through ing one national coat-of-arms and a the armorial years, bearings came to similar yet distinctive device for each be used cities and by towns as their chapter. Among these few are. Delta oflBcial seals, until, in later years, Kappa Epsilon-Beta Theta Pi�and states, corporations, guilds, legal or our own Psi Upsilon. hotels and clubs came ganizations, In the year 1892, Brothers Albert to use heraldic devices quite gener P. Jacobs, Phi '73, Karl P. Harring ally. ton, Xi '82, and George B. Penny, This rather popular custom is no Chi '85, acting as a Psi Upsilon Her doubt due to partially the fact that aldry Committee, prepared and pre the shield in its various forms makes sented a report proposing the system an attractive device for indicating a of heraldry which was adopted by service offered, and partially due to our fraternity in convention of 1894. a certain pride in ancestry. This system is so simple, so uniform, In America, most state and college and the principles of early heraldry seals bear evidence of having their are followed so well and so pleas origin in some historic arms or in ingly, it is evident that those "elder some detail, evidence of the ancient brothers" took their assignments seri heraldic science. ously and performed their work for the use Today, of armorial bearings the fraternity with great care, and which most nearly conforms to the with a thorough knowledge of the historic and established principles of subject. olden times has been developed by The following is quoted from the various college fraternities. report submitted by the original Her Most fraternities have but one coat- aldry Committee to the 1892 Psi Up of-arms used by the fraternity in silon Convention: general, with no special emblems or The need of a uniform of He for the various system symbols chapters. raldic representation has long been recog Only a few have a system of employ- nized by those members who have been Delta Chapter Beta Chapter ANNALS OF PSI UPSILON called upon to supervise the ornamenta The recommendations in this re tion of the decoration of Chapter Houses, port were approved and adopted at lodge rooms, the of Psi U printing publi the National Convention two cations, and the illustration of chapter years in the Coats-of- lists in College annuals. Considerable sums later, and so, 1894, of money have been wasted in procuring Arms of Psi Upsilon came into ex that for the most costly engravings part istence. lack spirit, dignity and appropriateness� The Coats-of-Arms of the various that are Heraldically incorrect, and that are soon laid aside because they mean chapters all have a similarity read these are too nothing. Besides, engravings noticed by comparison. There is intricate for reproduction in mural decorat ily a consistent scheme which would ing, and when one seeks to ornament a ballroom or dining hall with the emblems have been impossible had each chap of the or of the fraternity chapters, they ter used some device without thought give httle aid. It is obvious that a correct of the common and and significant system of Heraldry could spirit identity The shields be employed with great effectiveness in of the other chapters. ritual work. We believe that the Fraternity are uniform size and shape; the owl would be benefited the of a by adoption for the crest of each; the chapter dignified and consistent series of coats-of- mottoes also on uniform scrolls; the arms, reproducing in proper Heraldic form and position the historic emblems of the ancient emblems of our Fraternity Order and of its several branches. The appear on each shield together with ancient symbols upon our and the badge, other for each pecuUar emblems adopted by the various symbols appropriate chapters, furnish the material for a com chapter. plete and satisfactory set of armorial de The mottoes of the chapter Coats- This Committee has signs. sought to of-Arms with the characteristic utilize the old insignia rather than to begin letter of the and in most introduce new bearings; it has aimed at chapter, simplicity and effectiveness; and it has en cases have reference in meaning to deavored to a scheme that has at present the symbols�or to the secret watch once an outward significance, and, to the initiated�a word of that "deeper meaning" which may chapter. be fully elaborated and explained in the The original Psi Upsilon Heraldry ritual. Committee went on further in their Sigma Chapter Gamma Chapter THE HERALDRY report to the National Convention in an emblem of her supernal wisdom, and the Romans to Goddess of 1892 as follows: by Minerva, Wisdom. The fasces, which the owl sur mounts, was a term given a bundle of elm "The divides itself into subject naturally sticks or branches boimd with five divisions: together leather thongs or lashes, and containing an (a).

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