St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1874-06-12
Written for the Caledonian.
College Life. No. 8.

A distinctive feature of our American
colleges is the system of secret societies.
Different chapters of the three strongest
societies exist in nearly every college.
Chapters of others of greater or less
strength abound. Our colleges will
probably average about six secret sOcie-
ties apiece. Only one anti-secret so
ciety of any importance exists. The
rapid increase of such societies and
their wealth and influence conclusively
show that the charm of secrecy has IL
fascination for our American youth that
nothing else can equal.
In many cases the Faculties of our
colleges are opposed to these societies,
but for what reasons We are unable to
state. At Princeton every student Is
obliged to pledge that he will not he
come member of amy secret organiza-
ton. Within few years the societies
at Harvard We're suppressed 10y the
Faculty. At Yale the students join
different societies each year of their
course but in the other colleges mem
hership in the same Brotherhood con-
tinues through the four Years.
The society rooms are in most cases
elegantly furnished and are usually
situated in the business blocks of the
college towns. Many chapters own halls
of their own valued at thousands of
dollars. One of the leading societies of
our college own the upper stories of a
large business block and have recently
purchased a dwelling house for Slo.mo.
Each society takes about eight men from
IL class and the competition among them
in pledging the Freshmen is very great.
Only the hest men in Il class are sought
after. and the dividing line between the
Oudens or nou-Socicty men and the
others is marked. And here is where
some of the greatest evils of the system
arise. InaSmuch as the societies are
organized as well for ii brotherhood a>
loi 'leHtil tEltulf. DISSERTATIONS anu
friends are chiefly formed with ones
own society men and thus clique> exist
into which an ouden with difficulty can
enter. The rivalry between the Socie-
ties especially in colleges where many
prizes are offered is intense.
The oudcns work ut Il great di>ad-
vantage, chiefly in contesting for eX-
cellence in oratory. for while they have
only themselves to rely upon the so
ciety men have at their disposal the
best talent of their fraternity to train
them. The result of this is clearly secl
in the comparatively few nudens who
are selected as contestants for prizes
Meetings are usually held once Il week
and the exercises consist of literary
work and social intercourse with music
The advantage derived from the com
panionship of upper clasSmen, the men
tai culture gained in the debates ano
mated. The critiqucs by the Senior
upon ones work are much more minut,
and critical and tend to develop fine
style and polish than can possibly b'
gained in any open society. The Socia
intercourse and the pleasant and home
like surroundings render our sOcict,
rooms a pleasant refuge from our col
lege duties.
All of our societies have suits of room
adjoining their hall, which the member
occupy. Thus brotherhood exists ant
friendships are formed which will con
time as long as life lasts. For of al
the pleasant associations of college days
those which cluster around memoric
of friends and entwine themselves il
our daily after life are the dearest an,
afford retrospect always pleasant t.
our fancy. The expenses consequCn
upon initiation and term fees vary ac
cording to the society and the situation
of the college, but the money could no
be more profitably spent. In fact
society is nearly half of a college cours
and we can but have sympathy for tn
fifty men of our class who are oudcns.
The recent excitement ut Cornell
raised quite hue against college so
cieties which had not the least founda
ton we think. That societies whicl
are chiefly formed for the purpose of
brotherhood should resort to hazing il
their limitations is absurd. In ii few o
our colleges hazing societies exist bu
they are a disgrace to any institution
and should not be compared or asSOcia
ted with the literary societies of col
lege.
In many colleges societies open to al
the students are found, but as genera
thing they are not prosperous. AT 1al
two societies of this kind have met
natural death and many are the remon
strances of some of her alumni VIII,
consider them as the true fOsterers O
manly debate. There are two III on
college quite healthy and pOssessin.
large libraries, and nearly all the stu
dents are members, but the weekly
meetings are thinly attended and W,
doubt if such societies can be very sue