New-York tribune., 1876-01-07
SECRET SOCIETIES AT PRINCETON

Kindness so Tar as to ask you TO publish certain sug
gestIons on the other side made by and referred
to by him.
HUGH L. COLE.
JONATHAN EDGAR,
WOOISEY JOHNSON, }Commlttee.
JAMES w. ALEXANDER,
ALEXANDER T.. MCGnL,J
Ne,c- York. JAM 6, 1876.
The suggestions inclOsed embraced in the
two speeches made respectively by Hugh l.. Cole
and Jonathan Edgar, representing committee ap-
pointed by the Alumni Association OF New-fOrk, to
urge the propriety of removing the prohibition OF
the Greek letter societies. Mr.. Cole began by show
ing that the pledge so long required by the College
authorities had utterly failed. He said:
Recent events concusvey show that the societies. mp
to a weeks age, existing here in a iourishng
condition. and that the only reason which the auhorl-
doubt that they st exist and flourish here
is a new pledge from who, cunfessedly, do not
gard such pledges Of binding weight upon their con
sciences the effect that the societies have been dis
banded and Will he reOrganzed. SO that the evil 10
live and with which your honorable body has
still to deal as such.
He next urged that these societies were not bad in
themselves, adducing the testimony of eminent
graduate members and even appealing to the per
sonal knowledge. on this point, of several members
of the Board Of Trustees themselves; and next, that
they were not bad in their influence. either upon the
members or upon the large literary societies.
The truth is. that tho Crock letter societies. like all
COLI &c cOIeS exercise au influence Tor g0od OF Or eeH
good or by 5ad men
An experience oi many years in this and other colleges
makes II abundany evident that the societies will CON
spite Of every thing which the authorities
can do TO prevent it, As long they under the law
of college law-as long as pledges required OF
matricuiates not TO join them-it IS assumed that
dents will he kept out OF their RANKS, aud
that the societies VIII be LETT TO the control of an ne-
rior clas. of men, whose influence upon neOphy tee WhO
they shall bo enabled to influence into their ranks viii
necessarily be TOR evil And this bad effect VIII be the
more certain and 1ncontolaOe just IN proportion AZ the
crusade OF college authorities shall succeed ia driving
tue prohibited societies into state Of seclusion anu law
On tue other hand both common and the expe-
rences OF other colleges show that II the last societies
arc recognized by tie college authorities as existing ee-
college ife they can be so regulated anu con
the authorities in tho management and dis
ciplne OF the college. Indeed, wherever So
Insist that their members shall conduct themselves
gentlemen The badge, which here is never allowed 70
% ~ w m ~, n, Ss society into disrepufs by dsgrac-
Ing Lis badge" is Liable To DE disc plined in way which,
The college authorities have in their power inhct.
Mr Cole next showed the real reasons for the de-
cline of the large literary societcs:
l. The gradual change in the character and habits Of
Thought Of the American students especially or those
from the South. Twenty years ago to be good
yOuns man's education, and every southern student
the natural almost only outlet for hs ambition.
The taxing frOm the halls the control OF TIE election
OF junior This Was very Ike taxing flon the hu-
man body the living heart No wonder tnat thereafter
.ho liie-bood ceased TO low.
3 Tho crusade against the Greek letter societies.
the fact of their existence In the class OF 1900
rs Greek letter society men out OF total OF
81. that time tho halls were never more nourlslng
and Il was practically impossible for man to remain III
college without connecting himself with one or other OF
them Then began the crusade against the creek letter
societies with result that there at present 80
inca the college Who do not belong to either OF the
Mr. Cole then argued that if the Greek letter soci
eties were neither evil themselves nor injurious
either TO the students or the halls their prohibition
was useless and if useless, wrong that the element
of secrecy ought not 10 be urged against hein since
the halls also were secret; and that the effect Of
acting pledge against them had been aud would be
bad.
Mr. Edgar next spoke substantially as follows
cannot from my own experience or knowledge say
anything FOR against these societies as have never
belonged Of thenI but have diligently sought
information ia reference them from college presi
dents professors and eminent graduates OF various m
stitutiJns who had, while students been society men,
aud the testimony OF these gentlemen has been almost
unanimous and without quaihcit,On III thor IaVOf'
OF course from the very nature OF their secrecy have
,hat these results are bad. ON the cont .ary, hnd
that the recollections OF society .ife and its
OF the college life proper, and the distinguished
and honorable positions OF many mon among us
are attributed by them much To society discipline
to the college Every graduate OF Yale who has
hen member OF lis leading secret society looks back to
that membership with Satisfaction and pleasure
than all his college honors aud that TOO, Without
Understanding IN the slightest degree the value OF Ills
lie objection to these societies, that they lead to
fairness IN tho award OF college konors does
be well founded. wherever these matters left at all
10 the choice OF the students, cqles and c0cres will he
formed FOR the benefit OF fayortos IL Is human nature
In All such matters combine of the concert Of acton
and drecness purpose, ana where the organized so
ceties To exist their influence from at very
knowledge is likely 10 be neutralized than would
be that combinations mproyised for special oc
casons, whose work would only be known after It was
accomplished. .
contended oppOnrns they rather tend To the
prevention not only oil dissipation, but OF all other vices
feels the degradation of bad reputation IN his
than degree OF college discipline,
and esprit corps Of his society Will 20 fufther IN
helping m resist temptation and eyil Than auy other
lie societies come in as aid and supplement to the
college studies IN lifting young men Tor the practical
duties OF lie, and the society men have Dceh the most
successful in our learned professions, ana executive ana
legislative positions -,
secrecy OF these societies seems to be Tor no bad pur-
post only make ter good more exclusive. Just AS
successful business man VIA Keep soe oI ms haOs Oi
mind and thought 10 himself exclusively as MS special
properly to be recognized by Others only by Results
rhs secrecy after all only bugbear to those who have
never society men,. IL should not be unless II
results In apparent eNlls ana cannot learn luaI sucn
resultlng evils exist -,
there il no necessity prohibition Of these societies
granting that there arc objections 10 ther existence
the question arises whether or not Their pIonlbtlon
do not think 1t Is 100 mdch goSerhneh' III toih'taS
ASS Ocations well as in the state, Is Dad, ana
in both eyil acts only shoad DO punished M oniora u
student DO guilty OF lntelnperanee ne TehneiIs
himself Justly liable 10 college discipline but II be be only
guilty. o act which may, bat VIII not necessarily r.
suit In ntemperance, no should not be punished iot
that But lt Is not charged that all the influences
OF societies are evil ON tho contrary! some OF
them adlnittod To 10 g0od, ana Why prohloit
the societies entirely because, isoOth, one OF
tneir acoompaninents may be intemper2nce Why
ex act pledge OF every student that ne sall not De-
long TO them because they, among other things,
lead iuemperancei Why not 30 10 thc very root ct