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

2 74 THE SCROLL.which will bring us into a closer intimacy with an aristocracyof heart and mind that ever delights with its purity andattractiveness.ONE vital cause of success in the acquirement of chapterhousesis a scrupulous observance of the chapter's duties andobligations in detail. It may properly be said, of course,that this is requisite to the proper maintenance of any chapter.The possession of a chapterhouse is, however, a prettysure evidence of the highest form of fraternity life; and yet,some of our strongest chapters, on account of unfavorablelocal conditions, have not yet acquired homes. Nearly allof those chapters occupying houses have been careful withtheir internal organization, which has developed the earnestnessof spirit that has enabled them to reach their presentprosperity. The burden of maintaining homes does not generallyeven cause them to be insensible to their general fraternityduties. In this we are merely taking the chapterhouse as a type of strength and prosperity, and the principlewe mean to insist upon is that of close and rigid performanceof all duties of internal organization as the practical basis ofdistinctive chapter prosperity.COLLEGE fraternities differ from other fraternal associationsin that their active membership rapidly changes, andchanges entirely within three or four years. It often happensthat a chapter may seem to be exceedingly prosperous,because it is managed by a few experienced leaders, but,when they have been graduated, the chapter, in the followingyear, may exhibit lamentable weakness, unless the underclassmenhave received sufficient training in routine duties.The younger members should be impressed with the importanceof fitting themselves to become efficient fraternity workers.The strong, healthy chapter is not one in which theorganization is entirely in charge of a few older men but onein which every member has something to do and even theyoungest is entrusted with some degree of responsibility.