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"Ben
Runkle was the embryonic soldier of the group and was a student of the
Greek and Roman wars and
Constantine was one of his heroes and the first of the Seven to catch the inspiration of the vision of Constantine, and to interweave it into the story of the White Cross and the slanting of the Badge over the left shoulder." ---Bell about Runkle |
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The seven Founders conceived the chief elements of Sigma Chi heraldry, including the White Cross. They admired the courage of those ancient warriors who were willing to fight - even to die - for their ideals. Consequently, our heraldry is influenced by a legendary feat of the Emperor Constantine, a man who demonstrated remarkable commitment to an ideal. Constantine was born in 272 A.D. and grew to become a fine soldier, ultimately achieving the rank of Supreme Emperor of the Roman Empire. Marching toward Rome on October 27, 312, Constantine's forces were pursuing the armies of Maxentius, a challenger to the crown. En toutoi nika. Derived from the Latin translation, in hoc signo vinces, its meaning is "In this sign you will conquer." Early the next morning, Constantine dreamed that a voice commanded him to have his soldiers mark upon their shields the letter "X" with a line drawn through it and a mark across the top. Because this was the symbol of Christ, the battle took on the significance of a holy cause, and, in fact, is considered an important event in religious history; many believe this marks Christianity's popular surge past paganism among the masses. Its significance for Sigma Chi, however, is Constantine's discovery of noble principles in which he believed and for which he was willing to go to battle. The founders drew inspiration from the story of Constantine and thus from Constantine's vision. The significance of the design of the Sigma Chi badge, the White Cross, and of our public motto, "In Hoc Signo Vinces", is therefore evident. The words of our Founders reminds us, however, that "only as the ideals for which this badge stands take possession of my heart and become exemplified in my life will I ever know the true meaning of the White Cross of Sigma Chi." As it was more than one century ago, the
display of Sigma Chi heraldry identifies the wearer as a believer in a
set of principles, and consequently "demands more of him than it
does of other men." Thus, the heraldry of Sigma Chi provides much
more than ornamental value - it also identifies all who wear it as Sigma
Chi's and marks them as men of high ideals, noble purposes, and strong
character.
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