1930–31 Volume 55 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

Vol. LV, No. 6THE SCROLLPHI DELTA THETAThe Chicago chapter issued a charterto Floyd and three others underfrom a Hanover Phi, H. J. Bigger, whoentered Monmouth in the fall of 1870.date of May 31, 1869. The chapter Early in 1871 the Chicago chapter,followed an average career thenceforth,although perhaps there were athen called Illinois Alpha, granted himand one other a charter to establishfew more downs than ups, as might "Illinois Beta" at Monmouth. Thebe indicated from the fact that the Monmouth chapter was largely instrumentalminutes of Ohio Alpha (then thein the establishment within aGrand Alpha chapter) for April 16,1871, made mention of "a letter fromfew months of the Knox and IowaWesleyan chapters.the Virginia Alpha concerning its Most of the story of Illinois Gammatroubles." These "troubles" took the(as it came to be called whenform of internal dissensions in thechapter, and in the fall of 1871 onlychapter nomenclature was straightenedout) was one of a constant strugglethree members returned. The membershipagainst adverse faculty rulings. However,was soon built up, though. .Vlow active membership, with from oneto three Phis in attendance at variousfor a time in 1872 it became thepresiding chapter in Illinois, those atNorthwestern and Chicago being suspended.times, continued to be the bane ofSince the United Presby­Virginia Alpha, however.Membership difficulties were commonto a number of chapters in theterian Church, the denomination controllingthe college, was opposed tosecret societies, the Monmouth faculty(then) Beta Province and the Provincedecided in 1874 that fraternitiesPresident made special visits to should no longer be permitted on thethe Virginia and North Carolina chaptersMonmouth campus. The existingin January, 1896. He reported chapters refusing to disband, the fac­that Virginia .\lpha had "a chapter ulty adopted a radical antifraternityof thirteen congenial men, who seemto be enthusiastic and working harmoniously,"law, as a result of which several chapters,including Illinois Gamma, werebut nevertheless he compelled to operate sub rosa. Therecommended the withdrawal of the chapter was greatly weakened and thechapter. The majority of the chaptersConvention of 1875 instructed it "toof the Province approved the keep its organization the best way itrecommendation and the General could."Council in June 1896 withdrew thecharter as of August 1.In fact, the chapter became so verymuch under the rose that even theVirginia Alpha was the first longlivedrest of $ A 0 knew little of it. Achapter to become inactive. In portion of this greater seclusion washer life of over a quarter of a centuryshe initiated more than 150 menamong whom were such as Charlesdue to the influence of a $20,000 bequestwhich had been left Monmouthon condition that students be prohibitedR. Capps, vice-president of the Seaboardfrom joining secret societies. TheAirline Railway, and Robert M. chapter met irregularly during 1882-Calfee, Palmer Endowment Fund 83 but this was the beginning of thetrustee. Fraternities at Roanoke have end. The 1883 catalog of the Fraternity,had a rather checkered history. Ofcontaining the names of theten men's general fraternities, six havedied.attendant members at Monmouth, fellinto faculty hands and as a result fiveA true Darwinian struggle for existencePhis were suspended. Faculty watch­took place in the case of the fulness prevented the initiation ofMonmouth chapter. Its story is perhapsothers. The charter was reluctantlyas heroic as that of any of the suspended in the summer of 1884 andinactive chapters. The stimulus for was withdrawn by the Convention twothe establishment of the chapter came years later. Chapters of B 0 II,[371]