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

372 THE SCROLL.Mixon, '49, a prominent member of the North Georgia Conference;Dr. C. W. Smith, '49, for many years a professor inWesleyan Female College.These early graduates were nearly all first honormen. They took very high rank in their chosen professions,and their useful lives and noble character should furnishmodels and inspiration to young men of the present day. Imention their names because they were personally known tome, and to show the character of the men who illustrated theMystic society in its prosperous days.I attended the preparatory school at Oxford in 1850, thenin charge of my beloved cousin, James E. Palmer, and whenI entered college, in 1851, I knew something of the standingand character of the foregoing members, and very naturally,was biased in favor of the Mystic society. It was one of thehappiest and proudest days of my college life when I wasnotified of my selection for membership, by a written communicationfrom one of the senior members, which began asfollows:"Fellow Mortal ! Moved by our tutelary goddess, Minerva,the members of the Mystic Seven have selected you tobecome a member of our fraternity;" all written in the mostsolemn and impressive style, and implying that the objectsand benefits were of the highest character; the responsibilitiesvery great, and the penalties very severe, for any neglector omission of duty, or any injurious exposure of thefraternity; to all of which I was requested to make answer inwriting, and, if unwilling to accept membership, I was askedto return the communication. In my long life I have neverreceived or read any writing which made such a profoundimpression upon me. Of course I accepted, and soon receivedanother letter, appointing a specific place on thecampus, and 9 o'clock Friday night, as the hour when Iwould be called for to be initiated.I was promptly on hand at place and time, when two membersof the society, coming from different directions, seizedme by my arms and, without saying a word, marched mevery rapidly, stopping occasionally and looking ominouslyat the stars. Finally we reached an obscure place and one ofthem, pointed me to a star, said: "Stand still and look steadilyat the star till Minerva calls you." They left me alonefor a few minutes, during which time I did not move nortake my eyes off the star. One then returned and said:"Minerva has called you; come with me." We walked