New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-08

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remain member Of sny society publicly condemned By
the faculty; and person shall receive an honorsee
applying sr the same, satisfy the faculty that he o.
| not violated this rule. ~
nnrnose OF or mock socetes shall be allowed
IN this University and that any student VINO saa JOIN
such aAsociaton or moca soc,e rncsea,nx. q, IN
any proceedings OF the Of mock initiation shall
Rrsotsed That nothing contained In these resolutions
shall bc held TO restrict the faculty from further action
regarding college societies 81 various so's 'no'" '"'
| present action be found incnectua. s I'D
This 10 certainly great step In the night direction
ana perhaps oil that be asked at this time. im
plies an unreseryed submittance Of all constitutions ana
regulations sad may 10 simple and practical way lesd
10 the abandonment Of the secrecy which, nos pern
cors according 10 DR. Crosby chidsh: an antsemax
which may have weight with those who would sefer
do wrong rather than be reckoned o. lacking WIZ
Hoping occupy your space again upon TINS SUB
ject, am, &C.. .. bshr w. "'hDI~
Ithaca, Nov. 1878.
BENEFICENT INFLUENCE OF THE SOCIETIES.
FROM ONE WHO THINKS THAT JOINING SOCIETY
WAS ONE OF THE BEST STEPS OF HIS LIFE
TO Me Edttor Of The Tribune.
SIR: In The TRIBUNE of Che 22d October
there appears letter from Burt O. Wilder on the
subject OF secret societies general and college socie
ties IN particular Perhaps II may pe wei TO cay fey
words on the SIDE not because there Is any reas
TO fear that the article will seriously inure any "e~
organized secret society," but simply correct the o.
roueous impressions which night be conveyed 70 no
public by some OF its statements # lett unanswered.
After giving an account Of the testimony ana fasts
concerning the late unfortunate accident at ithaca, tho
Professor goes offer objections TO all secret or
ganzations but first states that he has no prejudice
AGAINST them claims 90 be capable OF ar ana I'M
partial consideration OF the matter upon general prn
cples. shall not attempt TO dispute the Psofessors
TaDth aa ma
Prof. Wilder is member Of society called the DefO
Epsilon Fraternity, and has specified Of ITS olee
tonable features and Ats similarity 10 proiessedp
secret societies Its members have OF the friend
ship for each other that but be noticed among tho
members other societies. and distinctly affirm
that that organization does TO excite those oaous
les OF which the Professor complains, than any two
regular secret societies The mere fact that man wears
secret society pin at makes him appear 20 the
member ef the Delta Upslon devoid OF allSood sualf
ties and unit for any position in college.
An institution be judged by its theory and lite
practice Which the best theory raerr al regard and
benevoence. blind opposition to an ORGANISATION
merely because 1t ia secret Which the best practice
good fellowship and brotherhood, or Jealousy and dis
trust Such the relative position Of the theory aud
practice Of the secret and ansecet societies IN our COT
ezes and universities. The few in college, whsstay
out OF secret society from pure principle, and not be-
cause they are not asked join, never connect eem
selves with an antsecret society and charsc
terzed By any unfiendliness 10 the members OF any
secret society, personally politically. The latter can
not be said of the class Of with which Prof Wilder
has seen DIT to unite himself.
young entering college IL, I'M most cases, Win
out friends or any whom he 20 for assistance
or counsel If he untes with one OF these societies he
supplies all these deficiencies Is the chance 80 great
that his companions will be utterly uncon-
genial and mode OF life when 10 is Tor the very
congeDality itself that they ohoseni Ho7 often Is
II remarked the members OF certain society are as
aIike as two peas - We almost tell what society
man belongs TO by his appearance and eau certainly
guess pretty nearly, when we become acquainted WIG
him. On the other hand the societies themselves the
best means taken to make certain tnas
any one they propose TO honor with ther
fellowship is In every respect worthy OF their
respect and regard. II judge from experience
alone IL would that the members OF these college
| societies much less danger ilOm the men thus
selected and united with them than the Chnrch lro
| dishonest and worldly conmucaDts. or the Danks Dy
their officers though the latter relations are supposeu
| 10 be founded on demonstrated virtue ahd lntegly
But who thinks account OF many failures ana de-
facatons OF condemning al churches and banAs siu
or fraudulent It must also be remembered mat there
are great differences between secret societies. Tue
structures the Jesuits may be Just, Dut All secfet
no follows that because the work OF one society
may be in itself and productive OF EVIL that tne
Is equally reprehensibe merely because neither
are public.
well be answered without tue secrss element Al man
Is member of society he Is believed 10 be worthy OF
Its aid wOrthluess tue OCCASION OF III
membership A. TO tine money spent IN these socenes
there things which are not 10 lie compared
with money. aud che college o1y nfn1rles anu sssI
at ny price. To socie les Prof Wilder attributes
all the evil when he sees la the students NE az COrne
To his eyes they cause promote all the dIss! patton
debauchery obscenty and dieness. Farther alt male
statement, II Il were true, would prove too much II
human nature In sucn desperate condition, the
TIE is. that societies have tendency not TO
promote wee. but to encourages virtue In the
haaf etIpa nj
.pGecen. Language are strictly prohibited wl'I hn
their their society meetings tue students are actually
kept away from ordinary temptations, anu are
prevented from yielding to at downward tendeoey,
In reality students frequently refrain. out OF respect
for their soclety aud its MEMBERS from Oad haDs OF
associations which. other influence could prevent
From personal experience colrge can state That no
uthe Step taKen has been productive or goo 10
ys no s v N our own college hut N others which
nave ripsneG into the warmest rleDdshps Ia my own
experience these societies 40 not encourage pots ahd
Vaccinations against law order and sociey" On the
contrary. the neaithIu advice OF the older menoer
aud Tor the sake OF the reputation Oi Inc society, Tue
Younger members are Often restrained from such under
takIngs as Prot. Wilder attributes 10 society men. A.
addition to ali that Is alleged again thrih tue
societies TINS aud attention needed ior stuy,
! in tho country MOI only members, Dat warm uehus
Of OF these college soeietes o. the last oses.
sity from Corne. "A cut OF 80 resident PROBES
sos connected Nitn society, ana these IA IN
clIae the worthy president. ana INC aDlest and moss
popular men faculty VINO are the warmest adj
hercuts their Alma Mater the soeety en or me non
society mems WAo ar; those tha always Sone BACK a,
commenccmeuts and alumni ncetlnc.i No longer ago
than the last - gentleman VINO had been pre-
by parents from joining secret fraternity
while In college, said that there nOthi1g that
he regretted deeply, when ne cala BACK AZ com
mencemeut. Tnere 10 one VINO kncW hlm except
an Gee slOna clssniae While those Who during their
college lite had been connected NTH "a society found
many retuy item hearty weicone On tnelr AZ
| rival and " God bless you" wnen they lcrL
Tue remedy which Is proposed D. Pfof. Wilder nae
been parIy tried Tor years ~ Princeton ana Harvard
aud sgnaly failed. II true tbat secret society mep
colleges where suoh repression has been attempted
have been kept much possible out oi AL pJsi,ons
OF honor trust IIc cJsSc tiat snOud aaJpt such
regulations far IA every respect than IL
could hope gam, PcOl. WIiueis views should
at some Time reyoldtiVn.E, popular OPINION.