In the fall of 1854
a disagreement arose in Kappa chapter of Delta
Kappa Epsilon at Miami University, Oxford,
Ohio. This chapter consisted of 12 men. Six
of them, lef by Whitelaw Reid, supported one
of the members for Poet in the Erodelphian
Literary Society. Four of the other six members,
James Parks Caldwell, Isaac M. Jordan, Benjamin
Piatt Runkle and Franklin Howard Scobey, refused
to vote for the brother because they knew
him to lack poetic abilities. The man they
did favor was not a Deke. Thomas Cowan Bell
and Daniel William Cooper were not members
of the Erodelphian, but their relation to
the disagreement was unqualified endorsement
of the four. Thus, they became six.
The chapter
of 12 was evenly divided in a difference of
opinion that ordinarily would have been decided
easily one way or another. But both sides
considered it a matter of principle, and could
not reach a compromise. During the ensuing
months their friendship grew distant.
Chapter meetings
occurred for months with the breach constantly
widening. A dramatic dinner meeting at a restaurant
in Oxford in February 1855 set the stage for
Sigma Chi's founding. Bell, Caldwell, Cooper,
Jordan, Runkle and Scobey hosted the event,
hopingto mend ways with the other six. In
the words of Benjamin Piatt Runkle, "They
did not come for a long time, and then only
Mr. Reid and a stranger. He took into his
confidence Minor Millikin (from nearby Hamilton,
Ohio) and the two decided on strenuous proceedings."
Millikin
introduced himself, then passed judgement
on all of the matters in dispute. Since he
had heard only one side of the story, his
verdict was against Runkle, Scobey and the
others who had originally opposed election
of the Deke. Millikin found them guilty.
Next, Millikin
unfolded a plan he and Reid had concocted
by which "justice" would be satisfied
with the formal expulsion of the leaders in
the rebellion. At the moment Runkle stepped
forward, pulled off his Deke pin, tossed it
upon the table and said, "I did not join
this fraternity to be anyone's tool. And that,
sir, is my answer!" The six stalked out
of the room.
A rather
prolonged correspondence ensued with the parent
chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon at Yale, resulting
in "The Bull of Excommunication"
in April 1855, expelling Bell, Caldwell, Cooper,
Jordan, Runkle and Scobey. It was at this
time they began making plans to found their
own fraternity.
One of the
best moves these six ever made was to associate
themselves with William Lewis Lockwood. He
had entered Miami early in 1855 but had not
joined a fraternity. He was the "businessman"
of the group and possessed a remarkable organizing
ability. More than any other founder, he was
responsible for setting up the general plan
of the Fraternity, much of which endures today.
During the
latter months of the 1854-1855 college year,
Runkle and Caldwell lived in what is known
as the birthplace fo Sigma Chi (or Sigma Phi,
as it was originally called). Having been
members of Delta Kappa Epsilon, six were familiar
with the general outline of fraternity constitution
and ritual content. With plans formally completed,
the seven founder announced its establishment
by wearing their badges for the first time
in public on Commencement Day at Miami University,
June 28, 1855.
**Taken from The Norman Shield 1999-2001
