Omega Epsilon Sigma

Template:Short description Omega Epsilon Sigma () was a collegiate sorority operating in the United States from 1925 until, approximately, 1930. It is the second known organization for college women with Order of the Eastern Star affiliation, the first being Achoth.

History

Omicron Epsilon Sigma

Omega Epsilon Sigma was founded as Omicron Epsilon Sigma on January 3, 1925, at Central Missouri State Teachers College (now University of Central Missouri). The 1925 edition of the Sunflower Yearbook described the sorority's membership policy as "eligibility to membership in this organization is based upon affiliation with the Order of the Eastern Star."

On April 21, 1925, the sorority was recognized by the Grand Matron of the Grand Chapter of Kansas. The yearbook also described the Masonic Association. "Through the kindness of the Shriners of Emporia semi-monthly meetings are held in the Shrine room of the Masonic Temple. Although yet in its infancy Omicron has a large membership and is exerting a democratic influence on the campus." According to the yearbook, Omicron's purpose "is to promote friendship among the girls of the school who are members of this fraternal order."

Omega Epsilon Sigma

It appears there was a consolidation of several other Eastern Star-affiliated locals shortly after the formation of Omicron Epsilon Sigma. An undated copy of the constitution and bylaws noted the change to Omega Epsilon Sigma.

The purpose was "to inspire each member to grow in strength and beauty of character by emphasizing the living as well as the teaching of moral principles; to strength existing fraternal relations through college fellowship, also to promote high ideals of scholarship and social relations."

While some of its chapters appear to have continued after 1927, that year, the first two chapters withdrew, soon becoming chapters of Theta Sigma Upsilon, which later merged with Alpha Gamma Delta.

Symbols

The colors of Omicron Epsilon Sigma were yellow and white. Its flower was the snapdragon. When it became Omega Epsilon Sigma, its colors were changed to green and white, and the flower changed to the growing narcissus and white rose. Its badge is described as a "regular pentagon bordered with pearls, five on a side surrounding a field of black, in the center of which is a gold five-pointed star which points downward with an emerald in its center; above the star, the letter in gold and at the bottom on either side of the fifth point, the letters, and in gold." Its pledge pin was a gold pentagon, with the letter Omega engraved at top, above the letters Epsilon and Sigma.

Chapters

Following is a list of chapters for Omega Epsilon Sigma.

Chapter	Charter date and range	Institution	Location	Status	Reference
Alpha	Template:Dts–Template:Dts	University of Central Missouri	Warrensburg, Missouri	Withdrew ()	Template:Efn
Beta	Template:Dts–Template:Dts	Fort Hays State University	Hays, Kansas	Withdrew ()	Template:Efn
Gamma	Template:Dts–Template:Dts	Pittsburg State University	Pittsburg, Kansas	Inactive	Template:Efn
Delta	Template:Dts–19xx ?	Emporia State University	Emporia, Kansas	Inactive	Template:Efn
Epsilon	1925–19xx ?	University of Northern Colorado	Greeley, Colorado	Inactive

See also

• Achoth (became Phi Omega Pi)
• Order of the Eastern Star

References

BIbliography

• Constitution and By-laws of Omega Epsilon Sigma (undated).
• Kansas State Teachers College (Emporia State University), The Sunflower yearbook, 1925, p. 178