1905-06 Volume 30 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

250 THE SCROLL.tions, were brought together in fraternal intercourse at conventions andother meetings. In this way, and also by means of friendly correspondencebetween the chapters, the fraternity was a. real, even if small, force operatingtoward that reconciliation of the North and the South which has nowbeen accomplished.The Fraternityacquired a foothold in the East and finallygained there a place of substantial equality with the older fraternities. .. It has become more than national, having, entered the Dominion ofCanada.Bro. Goodwin pays a well deserved tribute to the membershipof the parent chapter, whose simple story is one of thebest lessons in fraternity life that could be read by membersof the active chapters today.We see before us the serious, stately, young fellows, who, in great earnestness,organized the Fraternity. We can appreciate better the preceptsof the Bond of Union which they formulated; we can realize more fully thefar reaching influence of that simple, eloquent declaration. We enter intothe spirit of their meetings; we take part in their struggles, their victoriesand their disappointments. Judging them by the principles found in therecords which they left, and expressed in their letters which have been preserved,as well as by their successful careers in their chosen professions,where could be found a better chapter than the early Ohio Alpha? Smallwonder it is that so many of them, and so many member's of other earlychapters, became men whose names are conspicuous, not alone iu this history,but in the history of their country.And yet chapter houses had not been thought of, and the glory of athleticshad not illuminated their narrow horizon. They placed the emphasison character, and this must ever be done in any fraternity which is to havestanding in the eyes of the world and keep its own self fespect secure. Allelse is but the paraphernalia, the fa.shion of the hour, useful enough in itsway, if not suffered to hide the essential principles of true fraternitvlifeWith all due recognition of the progress that has been made, of the usesof wealth, of the value of influence and numbers, the observing student ofto-day cannot fail to see that the chief strength of a fraternity lies in thehearts and minds of those who wear its emblems. He will see that anydeterioration in this respect cannot be offset by an external splendor. Hewill also remember that when any form of life or organization reaches thetime when there ceases to be growth, it has reached the stage that is thebeginning of decay. He should, therefore, be inspired to efforts for theadvancement of the Order in all proper ways, and especially for maintainingthe high standard of character which marked its beginning.The history proper begins with an account of the firstGreek-letter society, Phi Beta Kappa, founded at Williamand Mary College in Virginia, December 5, 1776. The earlierhistory of this interesting organization, which, as all collegemen know, has become non-secret and an honoraryorganization for students of high scholastic rank, is given indetail, with many of its by-laws and records of its earliermeetings. It is the most complete account of ^ B K everpublished. There follows a sketch of the inter-collegiate fra-