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Th e A c a c ia Fra te r n i t y

Acacia Fraternity was founded on May Th e founders of Acacia fraternity were:
12, 1904, at the University of Michigan
by 14 Master Masons. Th e group was an James M. Cooper
outgrowth of the University of Michigan Benjamin E. DeRoy
Masonic Club. Edward E. Gallup
Jared W. Hawkins
Membership was initially restricted to Clarence G. Hill
those who had already taken the Masonic Harvey J. Howard
obligations. Th e organization was to be George A. Malcolm
built on the ideals and principles instilled Ernest R. Ringo
by vows already taken in the lodge room. William J. Marshall
Th e members were to be motivated by the desire for Harlan P. Rowe
high scholarship and such character that the fraternity Ralph B. Scatterday
house would be free of the social vices and unbecoming Charles A. Sink
activities that had been a blot on the fraternity life of Harry B. Washburn
years the nation. Within one year, four other Masonic Walter S. Wheeler
clubs received Acacia charters, paving the way for
rapid expansion in the following years.

Since Acacia’s founding in 1904, changes in American
colleges and universities' student enrollment have
resulted in changes in membership requirements from
time to time. Today, members are no longer required to In 1934 the Masonic membership requirement was
belong to the Masonic Fraternity. However, since the dropped. However, because Master Masons founded
Masonic Fraternity members founded Acacia, it still acacia, it still enjoys an informal spiritual tie to
enjoys an informal, spiritual tie to Masonry. Although Masonry. Today the Acacia Fraternity has 28 Active
some Acacians eventually join the Masonic Fraternity, Chapters and 5 Colonies.
and Masonic lodges and individual Masons have been
of invaluable service to Acacia Chapters over the years,
this relationship is entirely voluntary.

Th e evolution and development of Acacia over the
past century has resulted in a fraternity considerably
diff erent from what the founders originally envisioned.
But, each signifi cant change has been an adaption to
the needs of new conditions, and each has permitted
the fraternity to grow in reputation, infl uence, and
strength. Th e future will undoubtedly require further
change, but so long as Acacia continues to stand for
high scholarship, fraternal brotherhood, and human
service, our founders' intentions will be well realized.

"Th e biological law of 'survival of the fi ttest' holds
good with the social organizations as well as with other
institutions and organizations. Only those survive
the test of ages, which prove their usefulness to the
human race. No organization, religious or state, social
or industrial, with other principles than those which
promote the best interest of all concerned can ever
hope to continue its existence through the centuries to
come."
-William J. Marshall, -1907

Montana Freemason Page 23 Jan/Feb 2021 Volume 97 No. 1