1903-04 Volume 28 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

THE SCROLL. 5Century of American Diplomacy,' published in 1900, and' American Diplomacy in the Orient,' published during thecurrent year, are valued historical works. No man, perhaps,is better qualified to write on our political relationswith the Far East than Mr. Foster, and his latest work fillsa recognized need and is regarded a most important contributionto the history of American politics.Mr. Foster was initiated into Phi Delta Theta by IndianaAlpha chapter at the University of Indiana during his sophomoreyear. He was an enthusiastic member and throughhis energy and enterprise left a strong impress on the chapter.In after years he has retained an interest in Phi DeltaTheta and has contributed to THE SCROLI,. A notable contributionwas an article in the number for April, 1901, concerningPresident Benjamin Harrison, in whose cabinet hehad served as Secretary of State, both being members ofPhi Delta Theta.GENERAL'JOHN CHARLES BLACK, WABASH,'62.General John C. Black was born in Granada, Miss., January27, 1839. His father was John Black, D. D., whospent his manhood life in the ministry of the Presbyterianchurch. His mother was Josephine Louise Culbertson.Both father and mother were from Pennsylvania, and onboth sides the ancestry runs back to revolutionary stockand to the early days of the colonies. By the death of hisfather in 1847, when but thirty-seven years of age, John C.was left the eldest of four small children, with a widowedmother, who later passed away at the age of seventy-fiveyears. In the year of the father's death the family movedto the State of Illinois, with no heritage but an honoredname and a stalwart Christian character.In 1858 General Black entered Wabash College, Crawfordsville,Indiana, in the last year of the preparatorycourse, and remained a student of that institution untilApril, 1861. On the morning on which the news reachedthe college that Fort Sumter had been fired on, he volunteeredas a private in the Montgomery Guards, an organizationwhich a few days later was mustered into the federalarmy, at Indianapolis, as.Co. I, 11th Indiana VolunteerInfantry, Colonel (afterward Major General) Lew Wallacecommanding. Of this regiment Mr. Black was made sergeant-major,and so served during the four months prior tothe regiment's re-enlistment for three years' service. At