Founded in 1939 by an Episcopal reverend, Tau Delta Alpha was a national sorority for Episcopalian teenagers, under the auspices of the Episcopal Church. Its initiation ceremony, along with that of Pi Alpha fraternity, are kept in archives should the organizations ever become reinstated. The archives are the collection of Reverend Samuel H. Sayre, of the Episcopal Church, and are found here. Rev. Sayre was a 32nd degree Mason and a Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
Tau Delta Alpha coordinated with Pi Alpha fraternity, founded in 1931 by the Rev. Canon Arthur G.W. Pfaffko (Howison, p. 89).
A chapter of the sorority was active in Lawrence, Kansas in October 1941- the Lawrence Journal-World announced that the sorority would be having tea on the 17th. There was a chapter active in Tucson, Arizona in August 1945. The Hagerstown, Maryland chapter met in July 1950. Aside from these newspaper briefs and documentation in the William and Mary archives, no other information exists.
Tau Delta Alpha was an Episcopalian sorority with some Masonic influence in its presentation of rituals.
EPISCOPALIAN TRADITIONS
As with Kismet/ Theta Kappa Chi, the ritual was deep and meaningful- no harmful stunts that we've read about with other sororities (ex. Alpha Alpha Sorority, Bridgeport, CT). The motif was very Christian, specifically Episcopalian.
Order of Business
At some point in the Order of Business, Prospects for the Church and, separately, Baptism were discussed or presented to the active sisters- there is no elaboration in the handbook.
There were seven characteristics to the Tau Delta Alpha girl, including " ... [worshipping] Him every Sunday in His Church at the Holy Communion... 'receiving] Communion only after dye preparation through examination, confession, contrition and resolution of amendment.
The opening and closing rituals included recitations of the Magnificat, the Lamb of God (Agnus Dei), Our Father, Apostle's Creed, and Episcopal hymns.
Pledge Ceremony
Regarding the pledge period, Tau Delta Alpha believed that it was giving new members light from the darkness, that "the Church stands for the Christian in this world", and in loyalty to the parish priest who "offers sacrifice at the altar."
The pledge vow included, " I further promise and vow that I will endeavor to conform my life as far within me lies according to the example of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ."
The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard was read to the pledge, likening their pledge period to vineyard labor, partly earning metaphorical wages while working to become Tau Delta Alphas.
Initiation
The Initiation service included recitations or enactments (left to the chapter's discretion) of the birth of John the Baptist, the Annunciation and the Nativity. Tau Delta Alpha believed that Jesus came to save the lost, and that the lost were becoming members of the sorority.
Symbols
The official badge was in the shape of a pentagon, with the inner shape of pentagon have a separate meaning. The meaning of the pentagon and inner-shape had Christian interpretations.
The shield (the sorority did not call it a "coat of arms") included:
cross
helmet
2 Eucharistic candles
baptismal bowl
Book of Common Prayer
open Bible
chalice and paten
broom
triangle
circle
The colors used in the shield were black, green, purple, red and white.
The official colors were black and white.
The head of the sorority was Jesus Christ.
The pledge and initiation ceremonies had Greek names. The Greek letters Tau, Delta, Alpha were initials for the secret Greek motto. They had a grip and password.
MASONIC INFLUENCE
In my posts on Phi Omega Pi and Omega Epsilon Sigma, I reported on the Order of the Eastern Star's room set-up for meetings. There are five stations, with each officer at her corresponding station, with the appropriate symbols at each station. TDA was the same, but renamed officers and symbols to fit with the sorority's purpose.
Also, the use of the pentagon as a badge could very well be inspired from the Order of the Eastern Star's pentagon, which is found inside their pentagram.
Howison, George Holmes. The Limits of Evolution.
Lawrence Journal - World, Daily Journal World, Oct. 16, 1941, p. 9
The Ritual of Tau Delta Alpha, Inventory of the Rev. Samuel Huntting Sayre, Jr. Papers, 1874-1989
Accession Number Mss. Acc. 2007.43 A Collection in the Special Collections Research Center ; Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Tau Delta Alpha coordinated with Pi Alpha fraternity, founded in 1931 by the Rev. Canon Arthur G.W. Pfaffko (Howison, p. 89).
A chapter of the sorority was active in Lawrence, Kansas in October 1941- the Lawrence Journal-World announced that the sorority would be having tea on the 17th. There was a chapter active in Tucson, Arizona in August 1945. The Hagerstown, Maryland chapter met in July 1950. Aside from these newspaper briefs and documentation in the William and Mary archives, no other information exists.
Tau Delta Alpha was an Episcopalian sorority with some Masonic influence in its presentation of rituals.
EPISCOPALIAN TRADITIONS
As with Kismet/ Theta Kappa Chi, the ritual was deep and meaningful- no harmful stunts that we've read about with other sororities (ex. Alpha Alpha Sorority, Bridgeport, CT). The motif was very Christian, specifically Episcopalian.
Order of Business
At some point in the Order of Business, Prospects for the Church and, separately, Baptism were discussed or presented to the active sisters- there is no elaboration in the handbook.
There were seven characteristics to the Tau Delta Alpha girl, including " ... [worshipping] Him every Sunday in His Church at the Holy Communion... 'receiving] Communion only after dye preparation through examination, confession, contrition and resolution of amendment.
The opening and closing rituals included recitations of the Magnificat, the Lamb of God (Agnus Dei), Our Father, Apostle's Creed, and Episcopal hymns.
Pledge Ceremony
Regarding the pledge period, Tau Delta Alpha believed that it was giving new members light from the darkness, that "the Church stands for the Christian in this world", and in loyalty to the parish priest who "offers sacrifice at the altar."
The pledge vow included, " I further promise and vow that I will endeavor to conform my life as far within me lies according to the example of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ."
The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard was read to the pledge, likening their pledge period to vineyard labor, partly earning metaphorical wages while working to become Tau Delta Alphas.
Initiation
The Initiation service included recitations or enactments (left to the chapter's discretion) of the birth of John the Baptist, the Annunciation and the Nativity. Tau Delta Alpha believed that Jesus came to save the lost, and that the lost were becoming members of the sorority.
Symbols
The official badge was in the shape of a pentagon, with the inner shape of pentagon have a separate meaning. The meaning of the pentagon and inner-shape had Christian interpretations.
The shield (the sorority did not call it a "coat of arms") included:
cross
helmet
2 Eucharistic candles
baptismal bowl
Book of Common Prayer
open Bible
chalice and paten
broom
triangle
circle
The colors used in the shield were black, green, purple, red and white.
The official colors were black and white.
The head of the sorority was Jesus Christ.
The pledge and initiation ceremonies had Greek names. The Greek letters Tau, Delta, Alpha were initials for the secret Greek motto. They had a grip and password.
MASONIC INFLUENCE
In my posts on Phi Omega Pi and Omega Epsilon Sigma, I reported on the Order of the Eastern Star's room set-up for meetings. There are five stations, with each officer at her corresponding station, with the appropriate symbols at each station. TDA was the same, but renamed officers and symbols to fit with the sorority's purpose.
Also, the use of the pentagon as a badge could very well be inspired from the Order of the Eastern Star's pentagon, which is found inside their pentagram.
Howison, George Holmes. The Limits of Evolution.
Lawrence Journal - World, Daily Journal World, Oct. 16, 1941, p. 9
The Ritual of Tau Delta Alpha, Inventory of the Rev. Samuel Huntting Sayre, Jr. Papers, 1874-1989
Accession Number Mss. Acc. 2007.43 A Collection in the Special Collections Research Center ; Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
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