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

THE SCROLL. 255be collected another set of men professing Christianity whoare in a higher degree devoid of all principals of honor, truthand justice than this Satanic B society and their femininecolleagues." This probably referred to B © n. Anotherrival, probably * F A, was characterized in terms too coarsefor the THE SCROLL to quote. The history says:A number of questions early arose to vex the members of the new organization(* K ^), not the least of which was the problem of coping withrival orders. The favorite method of "spiking" was to obtain in some nefariousway the esoteric work of a competing chapter, and spread the **secrets"thus obtained before the candidate sought. It is easy to see to what suchtactics would lead. The chief business of $ K 4' and other Greek-lettersocieties for the twenty-five years from 1855 to 1880 was to revise ritualsand constitutions, so as to keep ahead of the ambitious burglars and liarswho in various ways secured information, more or less accurate, of rivals,which was peddled about from chapter to chapter in the same fraternity,and sometimes intrusted to a rival fraternity when the object of the exposewas hateful to both organizations.The minutes and memorials of the early chapters of * K *^ contain frequentreferences to the grips and passwords of various rivals; and to such apitch of unrighteous frenzy did the practice rise, that at one time a bookexisted in the Fraternity in which a super-zealous brother in $ K 4^ hadcopied the constitutions, mottoes, passwords, etc., of every fraternity repre-, sented in the college where his chapter was located, together with a miscellaneouslot not so represented. This book was passed around in * K 'J' foryears, and used in the manner above adverted to, on the Jesuitical plea thatyou "must fight the devil with fire." The writer of these lines takes a tardyjoy in the fact that he was instrumental in losing the book for good and all.Having mentioned the existence of such a piratical volume at a Grand ArchCouncil (convention) which he was attending, he was besought to procurethe book for several delegates. Knowing the transcriber intimately, thehistorian secured the loan of the book, and he rejoices that, from that dateto this, the contraband article has not been mentioned to him nor to thetranscriber, who is now heartily ashamed of his youthful folly.One of the founders, Moore, remained at Jefferson Collegebut a short time. He went to Union College "for the avowedpurpose of establishing $ K * in the conservative East." Hewas invited to join A , which had been founded at Union in1827. The history gives a facsimile of A *'s invitation toMoore—a printed form reading:DELTA PHI.MR. CHARLES MOORE.Dear Sir: I have the honor to inform you that you have been elected aMember of the Delta Phi (Alpha of New York). Strictly Confidential.I am. Sir, Very respectfully yours, &c., WM. A. NUMAN.Union College, June 3rd, 1853.The history says: "Finding that the field was well filled,and that the prospect for establishing a chapter of choice menwas impracticable," he asked for permission to join A *, and