1881
Origination of the Beta Dragon Beta altered classical symbolism to its own use, choosing the dragon as a fitting guard of the secret lore of the Fraternity. Unlike some images of the fantastic beast, it is alert, not dormant; it is calm, not threatening. The Beta dragon is much closer to the Oriental species than the European, as it represents the virtues of prudence, respect and courage, rather than being an embodiment of evil. The evil attached to it, if any, is a reminder of the consequences of neglecting the care of the inner fires of the Fraternity. The ancient Greek legend of Cadmus and the dragon has entered our lore as well; Betas are called “the sons of the dragon” and have been appointed as the guardians of the Fraternity. Beta’s heraldry expert, George M. Chandler, Michigan 1898, summarized the story of the selection of the dragon, giving equal credit to both John Hogarth Lozier, DePauw 1857, and Charles J. Seaman, Denison 1871. A letter from Chaplain Lozier stated that he had in mind the fabled monster as the guardian of the Fraternity secrets (in the 1850s, during his development of the legend of Wooglin). Then, in 1874, an advertisement in the Beta Theta Pi of Beta note paper was illustrated with a griffin crest, which is similar to a dragon, but apparently both griffins and dragons were neglected for a few years. Lozier’s forgotten idea seems to have duplicated itself in the fertile brain of C. J. Seaman. The catalog published in 1881 was to be ornamented with the chapter cuts or “lore pictures.” Seaman was responsible for the Centre (the Epsilon) chapter among others, and his choice for the Epsilon cut contained the dragon. He told the following story of its origin: “The Epsilon Chapter cut, in which a dragon stands guard over the altar of Beta Theta Pi, has really become a recognized emblem of the Fraternity. Its growing use furnishes an illustration of the readiness with which Beta adopts appropriate and attractive symbols. Not long since in a company of Betas, a question arose as to the origin of the dragon as a symbol of our Fraternity.
The facts seem to be these: When the catalog of 1881 was in press, the thought came to a well known Beta [which was Seaman himself ] as he was walking along the street, of the fabled dragon that guarded the approach to the Garden of the gods. Why not embody that idea in an engraving representing the dragon as guardian of the altar, the approach to Beta Theta Pi? The picture was outlined to a Cleveland artist, G.G. Finn, now dead, and was elaborated by him, the Epsilon cut resulting. As a work of art this engraving is a fine one. Willard, a Cleveland artist, speaking of his dead Beta Brotherhood | page 50
friend’s work, said, “I regard that dragon cut as Finn’s masterpiece.” Now, on magazine cover, songbook, and fraternity papers generally, the dragon is a fixture. Let its lesson not pass unheeded: for, as the fabled monster of old jealously guarded the entrance to that sacred garden, so now should the entrance to Beta Theta Pi be protected if not by a horrible dragon, at least by the watchful care of zealous Beta hearts.” — The Beta Book, pgs. 302-303; The Faithful Home of the Three Stars, pg. 339