Clariosophic Society

Henry William Ravenel

Hugh S. Legaré

The Clariosophic Society, also known as MΣΦ (Mu Sigma Phi), is a literary society founded in 1806 at the University of South Carolina, then known as South Carolina College, as a result of the splitting in two of the Philomathic Society, which had been formed within weeks of the opening of the college in 1805 and included virtually all students. At what was called the Synapian Convention held in February, 1806, the members of Philomathic voted to splt into two separate societies, one of which became known as Clariosophic, while the other became known as Euphradian. Two blood brothers picked the members for the new groups in a manner similar to choosing up sides for an impromptu baseball game. John Goodwin became the first president of Clariosophic Other early presidents include Stephen Elliott, Hugh S. Legaré. George McDuffie and Richard I. Manning.^[1]

Latin Diploma and key

Applicants who had fulfilled all the requirements for membership were given the society's Latin Diploma along with its key to signify their membership. Somewhere along the way, the giving of keys ceased but the key still appeared on the diplomas, The key was shaped like a rhombus or lozenge except that the sides did not meet at the top and bottom, but were blunted off. The front had two overlapping hearts at the top with the Greek letters, Mu Sigma Phi (MΣΦ,) in the center and the initials C.S., for Clariosophic Society, at the bottom. The reverse side had the two hearts at the top and two Greek words beginning with the letters, Delta and Phi (ΔΦ} in the center and the initials S.C.C, for South Carolina College, at the bottom,

Notable Members 19th Century

• John C. Calhoun US Vice President (Honorary member)
• Stephen Elliott First Episcopal Bishop of Georgia & Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the CSA
• Hugh S. Legaré US Attorney General
• George McDuffie SC Governor & US Senator from SC
• Richard I. Manning SC Governor & Member of Congress from SC
• Henry William Ravenel Botanist^[2]

Notable Members 20th Century

• Thurmond Bishop, Retired Chief Judge US Bankruptcy Court for SC
• Victor Laurie, Retired Chemistry Professor, Princeton University
• Walton J. McLeod, Member of SC Legislature
• Eugene Platt, Poet, and 2010 SC State House Candidate
• Cecil Winfield Scott, B.S., 1927, M.Ed. 1928, Philanthropist and Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, Rutgers University^[3]

External links

• Walton J. McLeod, Member of SC Legislature
• Eugene Platt, Poet, and 2010 SC State House Candidate

Resources

• Haygood, Tamara Miner (2006). Henry William Ravenel, 1814-1887 South Carolina scientist in the Civil War Era, Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press.
• Hollis, Daniel Walker (1951). University of South Carolina, volume I: South Carolina College, Columbia: University of South Carolina Press.

References

1. ^ Hollis, Daniel Walker (1951). University of South Carolina, volume I: South Carolina College. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, pp.230-233.
2. ^ Haygood, Tamara Miner (2006). Henry William Ravenel, 1814-1887 South Carolina scientist in the Civil War Era, Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press
3. ^ Alumnus donates $1 million for financial aid - News