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

THE SCROLL. 339tagonism between Greeks and barbarians is noticed, and theauthor says: "in general, the fraternities dominate the smallercolleges, particularly those of New England and the MiddleStates, although an occasional revolt on the part of the nonfraternitymen sometimes occurs. The 'barbarians' arestrongest at the large colleges, particularly the state universitiesof the West, which have always been the seat of a stronganti-fraternity feeling." The author continues:During the last thirty years the fraternities have entered upon a newstage of their development; with the storm and stress period of their historybehind them, they have been free to perfect the details of their system and toexpand. As early as 1871 a movement toward the centralization of thevarious societies was inaugurated. The old system of control by central orparent chapters when the convention was not in session gave way to centralgoverning boards, usually known as executive council's, composed of alumni,which performed functions similar to those delegated to the boards of trusteesin American colleges. In this body is vested the ownership of the fraternityproperty. The determination of fraternity policy remained to conventionsof delegates consisting largely .of undergraduates. Many of the fraternitieshave divided the college territory of the country into provinces, and showngreat insight and judgment in the location of chapters. It has been claimedthat the action of the larger societies in issuing and withdrawing chartersmay be taken as an almost sure index of the future of the college.*In recent years the influence of the alumni has increased greatly, andmany of the societies have endeavoured to still further augment this influenceby establishing alumni chapters and fraternity clubs. In a few instances thealumni chapters are regularly organized, hold sessions, and send delegatesto conventions, but in a majority of cases they are chapters only in name.Fraternity clubs are a more natural expression of interest. Several fraternityclubs have been founded in New York, San Francisco, and elsewhere.Two or three societies have established summer camps in the woods for therecreation of their members.Thechapters at the stronger fraternity centres are coming to partake moreand more of the character of social clubs. The progress of the club ideamay be traced in the architecture of the fraternity houses. The earlierstructures were built as lodge rooms or temples for general meeting placesonly, while the more recent buildings are complete club houses, containingpublic rooms, lodge rooms, and sleeping apartments. Many of the modernfraternity houses are ornate and expensive structures, of which their membersare justly proudThe Americanf fraternity system has attained to a strength and stabilitywhich have rarely characterized student associations. The general fraternitiesalone (men's) have a membership of one hundred and thirty thousandmembers. No statistics have been gathered in regard to their property, buta rough estimate places its valuation in the neighbourhood of five milliondollars. The prominent fraternities issue an entire series of publications,including extensive catalogues and expensive quarterly magazines, arid holdconventions, with hundreds of delegates from all sections of the Union.*Sce The Independent, August 3, iSgg, an article by W, A. Curtis, "The Decline of theDenominational GoUege."tThe term American here must not be limited to the United States, as important chaptershave been organized in the Canadian universities.