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

376 THE SCROLL.felt at liberty to explain some of its secret workings and requirements,with the hope that the better organized collegefraternities of the present day may profit by the suggestionsof our experience, both in our successes and failures.I find it impossible to close this sketch, already too long,without mentioning the noble band of brothers who everyFriday night sat with me around the seven sided table, betweenthe hours of nine and twelve, and enjoyed our feastof season and flow of soul. I close my eyes and see the dearfaces and almost hear the loved voices of Orr and Turner of'52; Glenn, McLaughlin and Seay of '53; Chambers,Clements, Hunnicutt and Shockley of 54; Drane and Wailesin elective course, and my own dear chum and generous rivalfor leadership and the honor of the class. Gen. James F.Izlar of '55, who represented South Carolina in the Confederatearmy, and distinguished himself in her legislature andjudiciary, and in the national congress. I could write abook about them and their virtues. One of them recentlywrote me, that fully half the benefits and most of the pleasuresof his college course, were derived from the regime andassociations of the Mystic fraternity. Most of them havefallen by the wayside but all of them fell at the post of duty.May those of us who remain be as faithful to the end.L. D. PALMER, '55.Henry R. Branham, who was graduated in the class of1842, was, at the date of the founding of Emory College,a student at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.While there he became a member of the -Mystical Seven.Coming to Emory in 1840-41, he by authority of the parentsociety at Wesleyan, organized a branch at Emorj' in 1841.The Crescent society came into being at Emory in 1843, ^"'lin 1847, I think, the Irinian societ3^Seven was the minimum membership and fourteen themaximum membership of the Mystical Seven; and, between1845 and 1849, the term of my active connection with thesociety, the membership never reached the last named figure.The Calvinistic theory of Scripture teaching was strikinglyexemplified —many felt themselves "called but few werechosen." There was no electioneering for members. Whena new man entered college, he became at once the subject ofinquiry as to the probable or possible outcome of his academiccareer. After acquaintance and careful observation of his