Phi Tau Theta
Encyclopedia
A group of Methodist men in the Wesley Foundation
at the University of South Dakota
had been carrying on a program as a religious fraternity, which they called Phi Lambda Phi, for some time when it occurred to them that perhaps men in other Wesley Foundations had similar groups which could be mutually helpful if they should form a union. This idea was brought up at a student council retreat held in Ames, Iowa, in 1924 and in February, 1925, invitations were sent to all Wesley Foundation units asking those interested to send representatives to an organizational meeting. This meeting was held in Lincoln, Nebraska, on April 6 and 7, 1925, and was attended by members of Phi Lambda Phi of the University of South Dakota
, the Wesley Guild of the University of Nebraska, the Young Men’s Club of the University of Minnesota
, and Methodist men’s organizations of Iowa State College, the University of Oklahoma
, and Pennsylvania State University
. Articles of Federation were drawn up and submitted to the individual groups for ratification and national officers were elected, and thus a national religious fraternity for Methodist men to be known as Phi Tau Theta was born. The name Phi Tau Theta was derived from the Greek words for “Friends of God,” Philos Tau Theos.
The Methodist men’s groups from Iowa State, the University of Nebraska, the University of South Dakota, and the University of Minnesota ratified the Articles of Federation and became the charter chapters of Phi Tau Theta. The group from Pennsylvania State did not ratify the Articles and the group from the University of Oklahoma had previously withdrawn when it was proposed that a chapter of the fraternity should be organized for Methodist men of the Negro race. The first national Conclave was held at Iowa State College on December 19-21, 1925. The Conclave adopted a constitution, drafted rituals, and set up other machinery necessary for the proper functioning of a national fraternity.
The spirit of the group was well expressed in the Preamble to the national constitution which was drafted by Lee Carpenter of the Nebraska chapter and W. Meyer of the South Dakota chapter and adopted by the first Conclave:
"Appreciating the need of a closer spiritual fellowship among men of Methodist preference in attendance at universities and colleges, and believing also that a fraternal organization of young men can do much to stimulate the development of high moral standards of college men and believing also that college and university men of Methodist preference, if so organized can have a more effective influence upon the student life, we hereby unite ourselves as Phi Tau Theta (Friends of God) a fraternity of Christian men for the promotion of these ideals."
In line with this spirit and desire to bring Methodist men into closer fellowship with each other and with the church, thus bringing them closer to God, five purposes of the fraternity were adopted:
1. To create a more intimate spiritual fellowship among Methodist men and to organize our life around Jesus Christ as the Master of life.
2. To develop leadership in the church, both as laymen and as professional workers.
3. To promote the study of the Bible.
4. To acquaint Methodist men with the history, activities, and purposes of the church.
5. To promote clean social activities among its members.
Phi Tau Theta began to grow and develop, with Epsilon formed at the University of Iowa
in October 1927. The Zeta chapter was installed at the University of California, Berkeley
sometime in 1928. Over the next decade the fraternity added Eta at the Iowa State Teachers College, Theta at Ohio University
, Iota at the University of Wyoming
, Kappa at Ohio State University
, Lambda at Kansas State University
, Mu at West Virginia University
, and Nu at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College. The fraternity merged with Sigma Epsilon Theta, another Methodist fraternity, in 1941 to form Delta Sigma Theta, which would be renamed Sigma Theta Epsilon
in 1949.
Wesley Foundation
A Wesley Foundation is a United Methodist campus ministry sponsored in full or in part by the United Methodist Church on a non-church owned and operated campus...
at the University of South Dakota
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota ', the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, United States, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current...
had been carrying on a program as a religious fraternity, which they called Phi Lambda Phi, for some time when it occurred to them that perhaps men in other Wesley Foundations had similar groups which could be mutually helpful if they should form a union. This idea was brought up at a student council retreat held in Ames, Iowa, in 1924 and in February, 1925, invitations were sent to all Wesley Foundation units asking those interested to send representatives to an organizational meeting. This meeting was held in Lincoln, Nebraska, on April 6 and 7, 1925, and was attended by members of Phi Lambda Phi of the University of South Dakota
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota ', the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, United States, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current...
, the Wesley Guild of the University of Nebraska, the Young Men’s Club of the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, and Methodist men’s organizations of Iowa State College, the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, and Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
. Articles of Federation were drawn up and submitted to the individual groups for ratification and national officers were elected, and thus a national religious fraternity for Methodist men to be known as Phi Tau Theta was born. The name Phi Tau Theta was derived from the Greek words for “Friends of God,” Philos Tau Theos.
The Methodist men’s groups from Iowa State, the University of Nebraska, the University of South Dakota, and the University of Minnesota ratified the Articles of Federation and became the charter chapters of Phi Tau Theta. The group from Pennsylvania State did not ratify the Articles and the group from the University of Oklahoma had previously withdrawn when it was proposed that a chapter of the fraternity should be organized for Methodist men of the Negro race. The first national Conclave was held at Iowa State College on December 19-21, 1925. The Conclave adopted a constitution, drafted rituals, and set up other machinery necessary for the proper functioning of a national fraternity.
The spirit of the group was well expressed in the Preamble to the national constitution which was drafted by Lee Carpenter of the Nebraska chapter and W. Meyer of the South Dakota chapter and adopted by the first Conclave:
"Appreciating the need of a closer spiritual fellowship among men of Methodist preference in attendance at universities and colleges, and believing also that a fraternal organization of young men can do much to stimulate the development of high moral standards of college men and believing also that college and university men of Methodist preference, if so organized can have a more effective influence upon the student life, we hereby unite ourselves as Phi Tau Theta (Friends of God) a fraternity of Christian men for the promotion of these ideals."
In line with this spirit and desire to bring Methodist men into closer fellowship with each other and with the church, thus bringing them closer to God, five purposes of the fraternity were adopted:
1. To create a more intimate spiritual fellowship among Methodist men and to organize our life around Jesus Christ as the Master of life.
2. To develop leadership in the church, both as laymen and as professional workers.
3. To promote the study of the Bible.
4. To acquaint Methodist men with the history, activities, and purposes of the church.
5. To promote clean social activities among its members.
Phi Tau Theta began to grow and develop, with Epsilon formed at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
in October 1927. The Zeta chapter was installed at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
sometime in 1928. Over the next decade the fraternity added Eta at the Iowa State Teachers College, Theta at Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
, Iota at the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
, Kappa at Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, Lambda at Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
, Mu at West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
, and Nu at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College. The fraternity merged with Sigma Epsilon Theta, another Methodist fraternity, in 1941 to form Delta Sigma Theta, which would be renamed Sigma Theta Epsilon
Sigma Theta Epsilon
Sigma Theta Epsilon is an interdenominational national Christian fraternal organization. It is the oldest Christian Fraternity in the United States, tracing its history to its founding in 1925 at Lincoln, Nebraska...
in 1949.