Acacia Fraternity was founded on May 12, 1904 at the University of Michigan by fourteen Master Masons. The group was an outgrowth of the University of Michigan Masonic Club. Acacia's founders established a fraternity on a new basis. Membership was restricted to those who had already taken the Masonic obligations, and the organization was to be built on the ideals and principles inculcated by the vows already taken in the lodge room. The members were to be motivated by a desire for high scholarship and of such character that the fraternity house would be free of the social vices and unbecoming activities that for years had been a blot on the fraternity life of the nation. Within one year, four other Masonic clubs received Acacia charters paving the way for rapid expansion in the following years.

   Since Acacia's founding in 1904, changes in the student enrollment of American colleges and universities have resulted in changes in membership requirements from time to time. Today, members are no longer required to belong to the Masonic Fraternity. However, since Acacia was founded by members of the Masonic Fraternity, it still enjoys an informal spiritual tie to Masonry. Many Acacians eventually join the Masonic Fraternity, and Masonic lodges and individual masons have been an invaluable service to Acacia chapters over the years; this relationship, however is voluntary.

   The evolution and development of Acacia over the years has resulted in a fraternity considerably different from what the founders originally envisioned. But, each major change has been an adaptation to the needs of new conditions, and each has permitted the fraternity to grow in reputation, influence, and strength. The future will undoubtedly require further change, but so long as Acacia continues to stand for high scholarship, fraternal brotherhood, and human service, the intentions of the founders will be well realized.

Excerpted from "Acacia in Summary"