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

484 THE SCROLL.cation committee, which prepares an outline for a two yearscourse of study. This outline and a quiz on the course arefurnished to the chapter committees, which, in turn, sendthe examination papers to the general committee to be graded.Each chapter is required to keep a card catalogue ofits members on uniform cards in uniform boxes. The fraternitycataloguer keeps a card catalogue of all members,and, on a certain date every year, the chapter cataloguerforwards to the chief cataloguer the cards of allnew members. The president of each district is requiredto visit all the chapters in her district between grand conventions.Formerly the expenses of these visits were metby assessment upon the chapters in the districts, but thetax. was heavier in some districts than in others, becausesome districts were much larger than others, and theexpenses are now equalized by paying them out of the grandtreasury. One half of the traveling expenses of delegatesfrom alumnae chapters are paid out of the grand treasury, andthe burden of the cost of entertaining the convention is borneby the grand treasury.HIGH SCHOOL FRATERNITIES,I take it that there has always been about the college fraternityan air of mystery which in itself has been a charm.I believe that in thousands of cases the initiation ceremonyhas opened before a new student an entirely different vista,and has given an inspiration whose influence has been lasting.The pride of association with his brothers, the consciousnessof common interest in a common fraternity, the gratificationbecause of selection by older men, the novelty of the initiation—allof these have been potent elements of strength tothe chapter.Now suppose that a boy has had experience in a highschool fraternity. Will he relish the initiation ceremony,especially if the horse-play features are not so ridiculous asthose of earlier experience? Will he be able to appreciatethe lessons and suggestions of the ritual as will one' who isignorant of such instructions? Will he enter upon the lifeand activities of the chapter with the same fresh enthusiasmand ardor that mark his brother who comes to the door of asecret society for the first time?I have asked these questions of some representative men inleading fraternities, and in every case the answer has been in