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

THE FIRST GREEK-LETTER SOCIETY. 9material was changed from silver to gold. The obverse containsthe letters 4> B K"; in the lower right, 'an index pointing to acluster of stars in the upper left; in the lower left, "Dec. 5th,1776." The reverse contains "S P," in old English, within awreath at the top; below, the name of the college, the name of theowner and his class. These changes were made probably soonafter the Society was established in the North.Twelve chapters sent delegates to the centennial of the Harvardchapter, 1881. A constitution was adopted for "The UnitedChapters of * B K," 1882. It provides for a National Council(convention) to meet every third year. The Secretary of theUnited Chapters, Rev. E. B. Parsons, D. D., issued, 1897, apamphlet: 'Phi Beta Kappa: Officers, Constitution, Minutes,Etc., of the United Chapters; Officers, Customs, Statistics, Etc.,of the Forty Chapters." It quotes S. L. Woodford as saying inhis * B K address at Columbia, 1886, that the Society was probablysuggested by the philosophic clubs which were commonamong collegians in France and other European countries duringthe eighteenth century. It says that "S P" was interpreted, "SocietasPhilosophies" by twelve chapters, "Societas Particeps" by nine,Societas Philosophica" by seven, Societas Philosophorum" bytwo, Signum Principium" by two; while three chapters furnishedthree additional forms: ''Salus Patrice," ' 'Scientia et Prudentia,"Scientia et Philosophia." It says also that the number of starson the B Iv key varied, three chapters using three stars (theoriginal number), and all others using more—five, six, seven, nine,ten, and one chapter using thirteen. It also notes much diversityamong chapters as to conditions of admission to membership.Some chapters admit members in junior year, or even earlier,some at the beginning and some at the end of senior year. Some,holding to their "reserved rights," admit one-third nf each class(those ranking highest in scholarship), while others admit fromone-fourth to one-fifteenth. In the chapters at Harvard, Williamsand other colleges there are ' no initiation, no secrecy," whilesome chapters call for a pledge of secrecy and a promise to helpbrothers in distress, like the great Order which has sent its phraseologythrough all college fraternities." In many chapters thePresident makes an address to the initiates, and pledges them toencourage friendship, morality and literature;" after which he communicatesto them the grip and explains the symbols; and then allolder members present give them the grip and extend congratulations.At Yale the President reads the constitution, the initiatessignify assent to it by uplifted hands, and he recites a Latinformula admitting them to the Society. At Johns Hopkins 'theoath is a slight dilution of the somewhat strong waters of theoriginal * B Iv oath of 1776."The United Chapters has "a committee on the uniformity of customsand methods of procedure—elections, initiations, keys,