1916 Volume 41 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

12 THE SCROLLhistory for some time, and I would be in favor of putting both publications incharge of that chapter."H. C. Jones wrote for THE SCROLL, April, 1875 : "If I mistake not. THESCROLL owes its existence to a suggestion from the Ohio chapter, which wasmade at the Danville Convention in 1872 by our delegate. Brother P. S.Goodwin." The proceedings of the convention of 1872 show that Goodwinwas a delegate but make no mention of him or any one else proposing toestablish a fraternity journal.At the convention of 1873, on motion of D. B. Floyd, a committee on publishing"a monthly organ" was appointed, W. N. Pickerill, chairman. In acommunication to the convention of 1874 he stated that, in his opinion, sucha publication could not be maintained without 800 subscriptions at $2 eachper year. It was impracticable, if not impossible, to obtain such a subscriptionlist. On motion of .S. W. Carpenter, of New York Alpha, the conventionadopted a resolution providing for "a quarterly paper." To A. B. Thrasher andS. J. Tomlinson, of Indiana Gamma, and W. O. Bates, also of that chapter,but then affiliated with New York Alpha, was committed the entire managementof the proposed paper, they to assume all "pecuniary responsibility."Thrasher, Tomlinson and Bates issued the prospectus for The PhiDelta Theta Quarterly, dated October 17, 1874. Bates suggested theappropriateness of THE SCROLL as a name, and it was adopted. Thefirst issue of THE SCROLL was dated January, 1875.A letter from Brother Stiers to me, dated December 23, 1915, says:At the Danville National Convention another matter was brought up by ourdelegate. Brother Goodwin, originated by your humble servant. The Fraternitymade arrangement with Robert Clark & Co., of Cincinnati, and withBrown & Co., of Indianapolis, bookstore men, by which members of theFraternity could buy books at a very great reduction, amounting in somelists to nearly 50 per cent discount. I am surprised that this matter has beenpermitted to fall by the wayside.It might be profitable now for the fraternity to revive this planfor its members to purchase books and stationery at reduced ratesfrom two or three dealers in different parts of the country.AN ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER LETTERBy HENRY C. STAUNTON, Editor Alpha Chi RhoThe chapter letter is the editor's staple and the editor's tribulation.No matter what other elements go to make up the fraternity magazine,no matter though college presidents may write able articles oneducation, or national officers expound the fraternity's principles outof the depth of their experience and wisdom; this, after all, is butcontingent: and the fixed quantity (and what a quantity of it thereis !) is always the information, indifferently spelled and badly worded,that "Ham" Jones attended the pink tea on the 24 inst. given by"Zip" Johnson's sisters; that there were lots of eats; that the chapterhas planned a the dansant to be given in honor of these and otherchapter peaches on the fourth of next month, and issues a cordialinvitation to all brothers to be present; etc., etc. The letter alwaysbeginning with the mystic words "We have just completed thefirst term of the most prosperous year in our history, and have added