New Thought, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Ossian Everett Mills

The influence of the New Thought movement on Mills and Sinfonia was recognized by Rollin M. Pease (Supreme Historian, 1926-1934) in his words “A symphony of life our Master led.” In keeping with other references in his text, this is an allusion not only to a heroic figure, but also to Mills. The Symphony of Life was a book written by Henry Wood in 1901, which achieved world-wide fame. Wood’s writing was described as

“semi-mystical philosophy which professes to solve the mystery of the connection between mind and matter.”

A literary review described The Symphony of Life as “interpretations of the ‘higher evolution’ that has been in process in the thoughts of men” and said,

“Mr. Wood is not an extremist concerning the healing power resident in the new philosophy of life. What he says on this point is sane, and would commend itself to the approval of all schools of thinkers. The essays contain much that is suggestive and valuable on the art of making life beautiful and happy.”

The works of Henry Wood were concerned in large part with mental healing.

“The principles of New Thought are that the mind has an influence on the body, that good thoughts have a salutary effect and bad thoughts are injurious.”

The New Thought incorporated the views of Rev. W. F. Evans, a Swedenborgian clergyman, who became a noted and voluminous writer on mental healing. Evans was a disciple of Phineas Quimby (as was MBE, principal founder of Christian Science), who practiced methods in America similar to those of Swedenborg and Chevalier de Barbarin, who influenced the beginning of the spiritualist movement in Europe. In his 1908 book The New Old Healing, Henry Wood describes the healing power of music (http://pvrguymale.blogspot.com/2011/12/music-as-healing-power.html). One cannot fail to see the clear alignment of this New Thought philosophy on music with the musical aesthetics of subjectivity and feeling discussed earlier.

“Our very genesis was not really a beginning after all, but indeed the product of a personality - Father Mills.”

Some distinguished members of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity

• Andrew Carnegie, 1835–1919 (Alpha Honorary 1917; founder of Pittsburgh's Carnegie Steel Company which later became United States Steel; Philanthropist; Namesake of Carnegie-Mellon University, Carnegie Hall, and numerous libraries; By virtue of his birthdate, most likely to be the "third Sinfonian to be born", behind Theodore Thomas, born earlier in 1835, and Major Henry Lee Higginson, born in 1834)
• George Eastman, 1854–1932 (Alpha Nu Honorary 1927, Alpha Alpha National Honorary 1941(?); founded Eastman Kodak Company, invented the roll of film, namesake of Eastman School of Music)
• Elmer Bernstein, 1922-2004 (Gamma Omega 1964; American film score composer known for The Ten Commandments, The Man with the Golden Arm, The Great Escape, The Magnificent Seven, Meatballs, To Kill a Mockingbird, Ghostbusters, and Airplane!).
• John Cacavas, 1930–present (Iota 1951; Composer of music from television shows including Hawaii Five-O, Kojak, The Bionic Woman, and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, the films Airport 1975 and Airport '77; wrote the theme song for the 2005 video game Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. The song, "March Popakov Remix", was sampled by DJ Danger Mouse and is used frequently in the game).
• Bill Conti, 1942–present* (Beta Omega 1960; Film and television composer, including Rocky, the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only, Dynasty, Falcon Crest, Cagney & Lacey, and the ABC Evening News) • Nelson S. Riddle, Jr., 1921–1985 (Gamma Omega Honorary 1967; Bandleader, Arranger, Orchestrator; Noted for the soundtrack of the 1960s Batman television series and movie)
• David Rose* (Gamma Omega Honorary 1968; Wrote music for The Red Skelton Show and Bonanza; Known for 1962 Billboard #1 hit The Stripper; Married to actress Judy Garland)
• Thomas Dewey, 1902–1971 (Epsilon 1920, Alpha Alpha National Honorary 1946; Governor of New York, 1943–1955; Republican nominee for President of the United States, 1944 and 1948; Author of Journey to the Far Pacific (1952) and Thomas E. Dewey on the Two Party System (1966). In addition, Dewey served as president of the Epsilon Chapter at the University of Michigan and as the Fraternity's supreme historian from 1922 to 1924.)
• Frank De Vol, 1911-1999 (Gamma Omega Honorary 1962, Sometimes simply known as "De Vol", American arranger, composer and actor; Recognized for his television theme tunes for Family Affair, The Brady Bunch, and My Three Sons, the latter of which was a hit single in 1961. As an actor, appeared in several TV series, such as I Dream of Jeannie, Bonanza, Petticoat Junction, The Brady Bunch, Get Smart (at least 2 appearances as Prof. Carleton), and The Jeffersons (where he portrayed a sad jingle-writer who moved into Mr. Bentley's vacant apartment), as well as the movie The Parent Trap)
• Nelson Eddy, 1901–1967 (New Zeta Honorary 1936; Baritone & Actor, performed at 1941 inauguration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt)
• Art Gilmore, 1912–2010 (Chi 1934; Radio Personality; T.V. Announcer for The Waltons, The Amazing Howard Hughes, The Red Skelton Show, Garner Ted Armstrong & The World Tomorrow; Actor, Moonbeams, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Adam-12, Dragnet)
• Andy Griffith, 1926–present f (Alpha Rho 1946; Starred in title roles in The Andy Griffith Show, 1960–1968, and Matlock, 1986–1995)
• Lyle Russell Cedric "Skitch" Henderson, 1918–2005 (Original conductor for The Tonight Show and The Today Show)
• Sy Mann (Pianist & Arranger for The Arthur Godfrey Show)
• Mitch Miller, 1911–present ‡ (Record producer, host of 1960s show Sing Along With Mitch of "follow the bouncing ball" fame)
• Fred Rogers, 1928–2003 f (Xi Psi Honorary 1987; Creator and host of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, 1968–2001) • Bo Diddley, 1928-2008 ‡ (Eta Omega Honorary 1999; Rock & Roll pioneer, Member Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) • Lee Loughnane, 1946–present (Kappa Phi 1965; founding member of Chicago rock band) • James Pankow, 1947–present (Kappa Phi 1966; founding member of Chicago rock band)
• Walter Parazaider, 1945–present (Kappa Phi 1964; founding member of Chicago rock band) • Glenn Hughes (singer), 1950–2001 (Kappa Pi 1970; founding member of The Village People, 1970s gay iconic pop band) • Ruben Studdard, 1978–present (Omicron Delta 1997; pop singer, [2003 American Idol winner])
• Shay Watson (Iota Nu 1994, founding member of Watson and Nash)
• Jimmy Webb, 1946–present (Pi Tau Honorary 1969, American songwriter, known for "Up, Up and Away" and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix". His songs have been recorded or performed by Glen Campbell, The 5th Dimension, The Supremes, Richard Harris, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Isaac Hayes, R.E.M., and Chet Atkins, among others.)

Enlightenment ideals. In these groups men gather strength, support, and inspiration to advance music through their fraternal bonds, their shared devotion to spiritual ideals, and the earnest search for Truth and Beauty.

"So, let us, you and I, for the sake of our brother man, individually strive by example and influence to lift the standard of thought and conduct from the low level of selfishness and self-indulgence up to the lofty realms of aspirational thought and self-denial." Ossian Everett Mills (What are the Possibilities of Sinfonia: Optimism Runs High in Phi Mu Alpha, 1912)

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (also known as Phi Mu Alpha, or simply Sinfonia) is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music. The fraternity is open to men "who, through a love for music, can assist in the fulfillment of [its] Object and ideals either by adopting music as a profession, or by working to advance the cause of music in America."


Ossian Everett Mills(1856 - 1920) was the founder of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts on October 6, 1898. Often referred to as the "Father of Sinfonia", Mills was a familiar figure at annual conventions until his last years when his work would not permit his leaving Boston. He served the fraternity as its first and fourth supreme president (1901-1902 and 1904–1905) and was elected "Honorary Grand Supreme President for Life" in 1904.

"Let our friendship be marked by kind words, kind deeds, and lasting cooperation in our common work; and, remembering that our inspiration is from on High, from the God of all creatures, we should ever be constant in our humble attitude to this great source. Let our sincerity be manifest to all. Hypocrisy should be unknown to us, and a solicitude for our fellows should dominate our every word and action. Then our nobility will shine forth in our characters..." Ossian Everett Mills (The President's Message, 1902)

"I assure you that we men, all of us, need, perhaps more than we think, to withdraw from the active, noisy, materialistic rush of the world, not to mention the sensuous, intoxicating, social pleasures of life that minister only to the flesh, and in peaceful quiet meditate upon and consider together some of the deep things of life, listen to the voice of the Eternal and be taught by the infinite spirit of truth." (Greetings and other things from Father Mills, 1909)

"One of the most beautiful spectacles is to see men mutually interested in each other, so much so, that like 'David and Jonathan' they are ready to sacrifice, even to the laying down of their lives, for their brothers..." Ossian Everett Mills (Sinfonia-Yesterday, 1910)

The first Metaphysical Convention was held in Boston in 1889. Like Emerson, the New Thought societies did not define themselves with any particular form of creed or belief. The leaders advocated attendance at the already established churches and wished “to leaven all churches with their spirit, and not to form a new denomination to contend with the old ones.”


In 1891 George Williams(Supreme President 1903-1904) began attending the New England Conservatory15 and joined the Christian Endeavor society. He wrote:

During my sophomore year at college I attended church services at the great Tremont Temple. The pastor was Dr. George C. Lorimer[http://pvrguymale.blogspot.com/2011/12/george-claude-lorimer.html]… one of the most brilliant and powerful speakers I have ever heard… Under his persuasive preaching, all my somewhat scattered spiritual impressions were brought to a focus…
As I recall, it was about this time that I established a definite daily Quiet Hour Period, which I have maintained to the present time. Year by year this period of prayer and meditation has become more and more precious; and I now look forward to it as the most helpful and inspiring period of the entire day.
What do we of this noisy world need more than to learn how to be still, lest we lose all contact with our soul? To my mind, we are suffering, not from a loss of theological beliefs, but from a loss of solitude. Afraid to be alone, we are always going places, but in reality never getting anywhere.
Whatever our task, it will be better done if we definitely reserve some time each day for a Quiet Hour Period with God. Ten minutes each day—if not more—of quiet meditation and prayer—“a little hush amid the rush,” will help us, in the words of Plato, to “re-collect ourselves.” Surely there is something in the soul that is blood-relative to God. And thus the soul of all improvement is the improvement of the soul. As Pascal[http://pvrguymale.blogspot.com/2011/12/pascal.html]once remarked,

“The heart has reasons which the Reason does not know.”