Sayfadaki görseller
PDF
ePub

We give the Pennsylvania College Monthly last place because it is our latest exchange. This journal is to Pa. College what the PALM is to ALPHA TAU OMEGA. It is in its "Decenniai volume," and has from the first taken high rank among college journals. It is well edited and neatly gotten up, and is in true sympathy with fraternities. All its editors and business manager, seven in number, are fraternity men except one and he ought to be. We will give more space to it in October.

COLLEGE REVISITED.

He was a guileless college youth,
That mirrored modesty and truth;
And sometimes at his musty room
His sister called to chase the gloom.
One afternoon, when she was there,
Arranging things with kindly care,
As often she had done before,
There came a knock upon the door.
Our student, sensitive to fears

Of thoughtless comrades' laughing jeers,
Had only time to make deposit
Of his dear sister in a closet;
Then haste the door to open wide;
His guest unbidden stept inside.

He was a cheery-faced old man,
And with apologies began

For calling, and then let him know
That more than fifty years ago,
When he was in his youthful bloom,
He'd occupied that very room;

So thought he'd take the chance, he said,
To see the changes time had made.

"The same old window, same old view-
Ha, ha! the same old pictures, too!"
And then he tapped them with his cane,
And laughed his merry laugh again.
"The same old sofa, I declare !

Dear me, it must be worse for wear!

The same old shelves." And then he came
And spied the closet door. "The same-
Oh, my! A woman's dress peeped through.
Quick as he could he closed it to.

He shook his head. "Ah! ah! the same
Old game, young man, the same old game!"

"Would you my reputation slur?"

The youth gasped; "that's my sister, sir."
"Ah!" said the old man, with a sigh,
"The same old lie-the same old lie!"

G. B.

THE VOICE

OICE OF THE GREEK PEESS

A WORD TO THE ALUMNI.

[From the Chi Phi Quarterly.]

There is an idea altogether too common among Alumni that all chapter work ceases, so far as they are concerned, with graduation. To be sure, our active membership closes at that time, but we continue as members of the fraternity through life, and we are never too old to render assistance to our mother chapter.

It is to be regretted that not only do some of the Alumni cease to work for their chapter, but they rapidly lose all the interest which they formerly cherished in her.

It is the object of these few lines to call the attention of the Alumni to this fact, and to suggest how the defect may be remedied, and thus lead to the great advantages of the various chapters.

The opportunities for this kind of work which may present themselves to us will differ much according to our profession and surroundings. Of course, those who are pursuing further studies in a professional school have comparatively little opportunity for aiding their respective chapters, or the fraternity as a whole; but many professional men in active life often know of available men intending to enter a college where our fraternity is represented, and, by a letter of introduction, or a note of information to an officer of the chapter, could be of much assistance in securing valuable men for our chapters. Especially is this the case with those engaged in teaching and preparing pupils for college. The powerful influence of the teacher over his pupil is too well known to require proof. This influence, wisely exerted, coupled with judicious remarks and proper letters, will go further than the most strenuous efforts of the chapter members after the candidate has begun his college course.

Moreover, those engaged in commercial pursuits and the more active callings of life have opportunities for aiding the chapter and fraternity which will be of as much service and as much appreciated as the efforts of others.

Although the constant and ever recurring need of every live chapter is for first-class men, and there is no chapter which would not be benefitted by some useful gift. Perhaps the alumnus can best show his interest, and be of actual value to his chapter in a letter of kindly and friendly advice upon some special topic, or upon the general course and workings of the chapter. If a lodge is about undertaking some project in a financial or business way, let him whose experience has been such as to make his advice valuable, offer suggestions and counsel; but above all, let him not be offended if these same be not adopted and carried out.

The advantage thus to be gained is not wholly one-sided, it is reciprocal and must be from the nature of the case. Taking an active interest in the welfare of your college society is to invite the active members thereof to take an interest in you, and this is most sure to follow.

Scarcely anything is more satisfactory to an undergraduate than to realize that the chapter Alumni are watching with interest and appreciating his efforts for the advancement of their common interests.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FRATERNITIES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.

[FROM The Delta (SIGMA Nu).]

In 1831 the University of Alabama became a settled fact, so proved by the graduation of its first class, although "a seminary of learning" had been provided for by a liberal donation of land from the State of Georgia, previous to Alabama's admittance into the Union. A fine Faculty was secured and it took a prominent position in the educational world from the beginning.

This University seems to have attracted the attention of the "Eastern Fraternities" first of all the now existing Southern Colleges, for while Beta Theta Pi had entered Centre College in

'42, the entrance of D. K. E. at Tuscaloosa in '47 marked an era in the history of fraternities. One of the founders of D. K. E. was from Huntsville, and the author of her first constitution was from Mobile, so that it is no wonder that desiring to see their fraternity influence spread in their native State, they should have its sixth chapter established at their State University. D. K. E. had a very prosperous life and many of the members of her Psi chapter have attained prominence, both local and national. * * *

Four years after the advent of D. K. E., Alpha Delpha Phi made her appearance and seems to have succeeded most admirably, although the chapter lived but eight years. She gave up her charter because of anti-fraternity laws, and has as yet never made any effort to revive the chapter.

In 1856 some of the non-fraternity men formed a local Phi Alpha, which lasted but a short time, some of its members accepting a charter from Phi Gamma Delta and others after changing the ritual, name, etc., but retaining the main features of the badge, organized the Mu or Mother chapter of S. A. E. Thus we see the "Western" and "Southern" Fraternities come in together to contest the field with the "Down Easters."

Between the years 1848 and 1859 there was at the University of Alabama a fraternity called Kappa Alpha (Kucklos Adelphon? -a circle of brothers). The fraternity had another chapter at Howard College, and the two chapters contained some of the most talented young men in the State.

I am unable to trace any connection between this fraternity and the numerous Kappa Alphas existing in the South in antebellum times.

Phi Gamma Delta maintained her Theta Chapter with perhaps an interval from 1860-72, from 1856 to 1878, when she went down before the hostile faculty. One of her charter members, Hon. Jno. M. Martin, Congressman elect, founded the Iota chapter, which became suspended with his graduation, but before becoming extinct, initiated the Rt. Rev. Wm E. W. Saven, Bishop of Illinois. After her re-establishment in '72, (for the organic law of Phi Gamma Delta provides that a chapter never dies,) Phi Gamma Delta flourished, and boasts among

her alumni some of the most prominent young men of Alabama. In 1875-79, she carried off the orator's medal, and in 1879–80, held the Senior captaincy, editorship of the monthly, and orator for the Philomatic, all in one man. Phi Gamma Delta has also held many positions of trust and honor in the military department, and has had a fair share of the honors in the literary societies.

Theta, one of Alpha Gamma's best chapters, was situated at the University of Alabama, and had a prosperous career from its foundation until 1881, when its last member graduated as senior captain of the cadet corps, and the winner of the second prize of the Early English Text Society, and the first prize of the Shakespere Society of Great Britian. During her existence, she carried off several valedictories, four editors of the Monthly, and a fair share of other honors. Senior captain was theirs for four years in succession.

Until the first of January, 1874, Phi Gamma Delta and Alpha Gamma contested the friendly fraternity fight, but through the influence of some Alabama boys at the V. M. I., the Theta chapter of Sigma Nu's, entered the fray under most favorable auspices, and has continued in existence up to the present time; though from 1882 to 1884, the chapter was dormant. Sigma Nu has stood well from the beginning, and has taken a full share of the honors; academic, military and political.

In 1877, Phi Delta Theta made a rather abortive effort to establish, and after initiating six members returned the charter of Alabama Alpha. There was scarcely a year however, that there was not a Phi Delta Theta at the University, and in 1881, an effort was made by Ala. Beta to establish a sub-rosa chapter, but a panic ensued, and of the four proposed charter members, one joined Phi Delta Theta at another college, one joined a fraternity at the Universaty, and the other two have been gathered in the band of untutored barbarians. In 1884 the chapter was revived, mainly through the instrumentality of members from Alabama Beta, then in the University, and since that time it has flourished, and will compare very favorably with any of her fifty-odd sister chapters. In '84, she held 1st and 4th captains and several lieutenants, and non-commissioned officers, and car

« ÖncekiDevam »