A ceremony dating back to the early years of American education will be re-enacted on our campus on Friday November 15th at 6:45PM. It is the Black Lantern Processional of Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity, born in the mid-1800s at Yale University. Members march in silence in dark robes, carrying a Diogenes Lantern (the lantern is named for the kind of light carried by the Greek philosopher Diogenes in his search for an honest man.) The manner of the processional is passed down from the early days at Yale when members of the fraternity marched to various student residences to announce to candidates that they had been selected for membership. The new member was placed into the line of the march, and then taken to the Fraternitys rooms for his first meeting. The solemn ceremony is carried out today on campuses throughout America where Alpha Sigma Phi has chapters. It is used today as a memorial for deceased brothers, to commemorate the Fraternitys or chapters founding, and to welcome new members. The brotherhood wishes to stress that this fraternity ritual has no racial overtones and is not in any way related to any supremacist organization. The Black Lantern Processional can be viewed at 6:45PM, when members will march from the University Center to the Stairs between Hyer Hall and the University Center. Those watching are asked to respect the solemnity of the ceremony and remain silent.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 00:19:24 +0000
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