1918 Volume 43 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

18 THE SCROLL
is an organization that must accomplish some good results or it will
have to be thrown into the discard. A violent war has been waged
against the svsíem in the past decade and I believe that we are now
emerging from this warfare with our colors still flying. But the
relentless warfare that has been waged against us has taught us many
lessons and we have profited by them. The serious minded, careful,
thinking men of all fraternities have awakened to the fact that we are
not a mere social organization, designed to make college life a round
of pleasure, but that we have a higher purpose to perform, that we
have a real place in college life, and let us hope that this development
will continué and show us the way to carry our usefulness into
broader walks of life and make of every fraternity a valuable unit in
the life of our nation.
Looking back over seventy years of existence we cannot fail to feel
proud of the achievements of our Fraternity. Today she stands at
the pinnacle of her greatness, seventy years of triumphs are hers!
These triumphs she lays at our feet and bids us share in the glory
of past achievements and at the same time, with hands outstretched
in mute appeal, calis on us to do our part to add still more luster to
the crown she has so magnificently worn all these years. We should
be grateful to the fathers and pioneers of our Fraternity for building
so well for us. The foundations of our organization are builded on
the solid rock of truth, high aims, and noble ideáis. The superstructure
that we are erecting should be worthy of the stones of the
foundation. One by one the patriarchs have finished their labors and
silently passed on to join the Chapter Grand, but their works and
deeds should inspire in us the desire to accomplish something that
will make our Fraternity better. Benjamín Harrison, our beloved
president, Adlai Stevenson, statesman and vice-president, John W.
Foster, the deán of American diplomacy, Eugene Field, that sweet
singer of child thoughts, Frederick Funston, that brave and fearless
warrior, all rose to the highest place in our nation's life and received
the victor's crown—yet every one of these men, even in the midst of
their busy lives, found time to give to $ A 0 the best there was in
them, and if you read our history you will find inscribed on its
pages a host of other great men who have loved it and worked for
its success. Are there any of us or our many brothers scattered
throughout our land who can plead a busier existence than any of
these men As I look back to my college days, and think of the
pleasant associations and tender memories. the one thing that stands
out clear and distinct, in the haze that surrounds these memories.
is the altar of $ A 0, around which we were accustomed to gather.
Then it did not mean much to us for we took everything for granted.
But after we have left the walls of the chapter home and scattered
to the four corners of the earth we can appreciate what it actually
was, if we are not too securely enmeshed in the busy marts of trade
or involved in the intricacies of our professions to let our thoughts