New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-08
COLLEGE SOCIETIES.

MEETING OF THE NEW-fORh ASSOClAllON-'IEWS
EXPRESSED CONCERNING THE ACTION OF The
PRINCETON FACULTY-ARGUMENTs AGAINST TIE
PLEDGE ExACrED--SO DEFINITE CONCLUSION
RFACHED-ENTHUsIAsNIC APPROVAL OF THE
INTERCOLLEGIATE LITERARY CONTESTS.
A meeting of the Princeton College Alumni
Association OF the City OF NewYork held last
ing ut DelmonicO's, at Fifth-ave and Fourteenh-s
large number OF members were present, and displayed
much interest in the principal subject Of the evenings
discussion the influence Of secret societies ut Princeton,
and the effect the action the faculty and trustees
concerning them. Parke Goodwin presided Letters OF
regret On account OF their inability TO be present
read from Secretary Belknap and tho
Hon. Hester Clymer. The Executive Committee
reported that Jonathan Edgar, II. L. Cole,
J. W. Alexander. Alexander L. McGill, and Woosey
Johnson had been appointed committee 10 10 Prince
and protest against the abolition OF the Greek letter
societies.
After appeal had been made TO the Alumni for
sistance purchasing ground for the athletic games Of
Princeton students, j. W. Alexander offered the follow
ing:
erest upon the ntTcOeg iate literary and Orat0rtcal
competition established in this city, and de sires 10
encourage the undergraduates Of Princeton IN their ef
forts at success in these contests. ~
The Rev. Dr. s. Irensus Prime called on to speak,
and after referring his love for Princeton said;
asked to speak in reference to the contest in the
Academy Of Music. Ivery believe that that Is the very
best thing out ut the present time. don't believe there
"A better thing going for the Improvement. the stnu-
us Of young men than that very competition that s
going on not only OratOry but in the preparation Of
believe Latin are now TO be added II you
viii only think OF IT, not merely with reference TO the
on an'o5, ,be st,ents H. All that Z nessar bmt n
You look at tnat thing with reference a college
the North western unHeisly, when Few OF us nad
ceyc tie efct OF The coapeton upon tie students Of
such college. Princeton is doing something, not only
for itself but for the OF education throughout the
whole country when she encourages other Institutions
thai arena am proud when Nee the name OF Prince.
~, - 20 ~, ,,I H., sim ord ~os daiigbtad when
ol d NV WI" H. Una. uuE, S m Viii fr aSa
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in the midst Of those colleges
and illustrating power by being there While there
may he colleges in the country that do not think
il consistent with their dignity to come Into
competition with their younger brothers-I have
no sort OF sympathy with that kind Of
thing that withiraws itsei They may withdraw from
oS c o c ., 5 ami som Of Se other colleges are
smaller There NAV he reason for a. but there is no
reason why young men who are in the pursuit Of leaning
and a. the fgreatest norts OF Greece used 10
contend. with one ahoihrr and with all tho
vvnrgd Inn Sir helieve flat the contest i'm
oratory in public speaking is the highest and
best OF all Now what is the Of
getting knowledge unless YOU can do something with il
say that the competition in oratoIy which is intended
t ti,,u,te mn IN Ie,rn bnv ~ spe1E l. tae bi,hest
ey,rcsa in which edncated yonng men can engage II
there il any one thing lacking n y0ur coleges-and be-
Xoad al tat permit ae 70 say Il eGe is amy one tn t
wnt of tbe ca5acy 70 teach Young men how to speak
Ur Primo was loudlv anplauded and the resolution
yvas carried nv acca,nation
Tho s,ocial committee annolntod to vsit Prlnceton
and ,ipst tho ohoIition ~ secret socete tbere
,bon rosontod tb ar,rp,epts ~ Uugh r cole and Iona
,t roa ,sro ,ho po,.I a, T,,toeo as mir renor,
, 7n,,no of ,hoso oronroents tooethor Win e,.
,ots fro, ,Io, r,a .i,on in Tuy Te,Rryp Yesterday
ppop cu,nporpxp,s VIEWS
" mn n,, A. n ,o,d ,no fo,,o,r,n,, lo,ter from
praf Chadhn,o ~ ,yiui,n,s College m regarl 20 So
,ret socatias.
WILLIAMS COLLEGE. Jan 3. 1876.
MY DEAR DOCTOR: Ii is difficult for to say any
thnS III regard u secret societies without 1hs mlsun-
uers'oou' II s,uuehls Mern percc VI nu VIC oNeI 20
no. ,sa t,r th;p o Keen clear of secret so,ires Buf
they will form circles or cliques for any social pur-
pose prefer that these "circs ;" or "cques should
il. societies known 10 be such and marked II Won please
toy Society pride often protects young men. I
think II very likely that some students are injured Dy
JON ng societies certainly some OF tneI are DeHe ih
by joining thlnk the societies mere nave not mus
lar rendered usclpnhe nliue.H' - Jun
the best way to reach a young man 70
reach him through the good members OF ms
society IL tnry nnu tat s so0 M ~ h, ~ n5
ana OF they thus do what We cannot do for
OF knowledge II societies are TO exist AZ all or any
nlain to me- the more known they are the better. We
have Judged best let the thing take its own course
And believe that tue young men whom heNc known IN
roge FOR 20 wears as members Of secret societies have
done as we'll to say the least the same men would
have done out Oi tAe societies. Very truly yours
L. H. CHADBoIkNE'
THE DISCUSSION.
An,cn,ber o, the Association having asked that the
=, 49, -, - ~, -, aio,ts no ,,iysn and ev
'bun anu ool'''Hoi VI" $3.50 ''N'~N'N' ~ 49,
blamed Mr. Edgar replied that 40 he not society
~, ia i,ht ~. ahle Tn answer this question berter
' - M. -. -. =, ~.
imam member Oh soc'e'y' i' "hoo "H'"0i W ''is
question In the fact that the societies were secret
nd thar.fore their objects could not be made public
-, -, .h, a. ,o,, borr, i,o,,, ,,. cha
MI ANoEu "'ouhuV ui'' 'no '"'o "ou'' N'P' ~ .''
societies constituted the main objection 10 them. Ho
a., h,h, ,i,o tho d.codance M, rho literary s,eietes
'so .io"sN' '' ~ -, =,
in Princeton was due entirety 10 the Introduction OF
Greek letter societies
NJ coio oaid ,h,t in bis on,non the trouble in lit