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

THE SCROLLPHI DELTA THETA October, 1930lation tabloid that appeared each ofthe three mornings of the cruise.By next morning the boat was nearthe northern tip of Lake Huron readyfor its tortuous voyage through St.Mary's River. While the master pilotof the Detroit and Canadian line stoodon the bridge, the Phi Delts, grabbingtheir breakfast on the run as usual,were piling into the hall for nineo'clock convention session. Aboutnoon the city of Sault Ste. Marie appeared..•^s the boat tied up, Walter WestwoodCase, Alleglieny, '84, rushedaboard to assure the convention thatA GROUP OF REGULARS AT THE SOOBanta, Jr., Davidson, Brown, Urion, Banta,Search, Case, Mitchell, and Hendersonall was arranged. That meant that ahundred or more motor cars were onthe landing waiting to take delegatesto the golf course or sight-seeing, thatthe Soo had put its American flags incurb sockets and declared a holiday,that traffic would be suspended anytimethe Phi Delts said so, and that the conventionbanquet that evening was allarranged—down to extra portions ofbroiled Lake Superior white fish, mostsought of all table delicacies the GreatLakes have to offer.Brother Case staged a receptionaboard the boat in which city officialswelcomed the delegates. Across theriver the Canadian flags were flying intribute to the Phis of Canada and theUnited States. So many delegates[6]took the ferry and crossed over.Others sought the golf courses andstill others inspected the huge locks.Brother Case saw to it that the delegateswere tendered the freedom of theport and further arranged a boat ridefor the ladies which included passingup the locks on the American side anddown on the Canadian.By 8 o'clock that night, the Conventionbanquet was under way atOjibway Hotel, its walls gleamingwith fraternity crests and similar decorations.On that menu were white fish,turkey, salads, and desserts in abundance.Brother Macauley presided asa past president should preside. Hewas thoughtful, witty, and impressive.He called his committee chairmen totheir feet and all got a boisterous handfrom the delegates. He referred torecent initiates in the Chapter Grandand did it impressively.One of the most effective featuresof the dinner was the introductionof venerable Phis. These includedGeorge Banta, Sr., first president ofthe General Council, who out of hislove for the fraternity, traveled fromhis home in Menasha, Wisconsin, tothe Soo to attend for a moment theconvention dinner. Also introducedwas Hilton U. Brown, of Indianapolis,second president of the General Council.Both men were given tumultuousreceptions.Then came the speaker, James E.Davidson, Hillsdale, '97. He was givenan ovation for his deep interest inthe Palmer Endowment Fund whichhe discussed under the title of "FinancialStability for the Fraternity."Preston W. Search, Wooster, '76, camefrom California as the fraternity'sguest. In his student days and since,he has written nearly a score of PhiDelt songs and so was made "honorarychoragus" of the convention. Hisgreat height and shock of white hairmade him a distinguished figure aboutthe convention. He wrote speciallyfor the Convention dinner a poem,"The Call to Men." Daniel Appleton