The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-06-25
The Birth of the Phi Beta Kappa
BY E. E. HALE.

In the wild excitement of 1776, while the
Assembly OF Virginia, which met at Will
liamsburg, was making the Independence of
Virginia reality, the young men of the col
lege of William and Mary, not caring to De
behind their fathers and elder brothers, form
ed the Phi Beta Kappa society. Their orig
insl records are unfortunately lost,-let US
hope not beyond recovery. The formula of
organization cannot now, therefore, be cited
But it is clear enough, from the immediate
practice of the society, that it was intended
to form philosophical club, whose purposes
should go far beyond the narrow range OF
the college studies of those days, and should
include not only the wide range of what was
then called PHILOSOPHY" but the considera-
ton, at the same time, of political questions.
These, too, were discussed, not in the abb
stract, but in their bearing. on the events of
the day. We're there no other evidence OF
this, the names of the founders would be al
most sufficient to show the political symps-
thies of the society. John Msrshsll's is the
most distinguished name. But the other
names, of Stuart, Fitzhugh, Bushrod Wash
ingtou, Alexander Mason, William Short,
William Csbell, John Nivison, and others,
are the names of men who went right into
the political service of the country as soon
as they left college, as promptly as ducklings
20 into water. 1t is true that such was the
drift of the time. But the early calendar of
Phi Beta Kappa in Virginia certainly shows
more than an average share of young men
interested in the philosophy of politics. In
a letter written as late as 1881, Mr.. Short,
the vice President, said that it was formed
by student, who prided himself on being
the best Hellenist there, to "rivalise' an.
other society with Latin initials.
In the stress of political discussion in after
times, the charge was freely made that Mr..
Jefferson founded this society, and this
charge was urged as if reproach. Phi
Beta Kappa today would be very glad to
hang Mr.. Jeferson's portrait in its hall, and
to connect itself with the Declaration of In
dependence in something more than the year
of its birth. But, unfortunately, there is not
shadow of line of evidence to show that
Jefferson had anything to do with it. 1t is
true that he was sitting in the Legislature OF
Virginia in Williamsburg at the time the So
ciety was formed. And it is said the society
was formed in the Apollo Hall in the old
"Rsleigh tavern" justly celebrated in the
local annals Of those days. But these two
facts are all that the romsnce-writer can now
build upon 10 connecting Jefferson with the
society. Another fancy has been that Phi
Beta was invented by the French officers in
Rochsmbesu's army after the pattern of the
German illuminate. But this does not hold
water. For the French army did not come
to Williamsburg till five years after Phi Beta
Kappa had been founded; and when they
came the college had been disbanded, and
Phi Beta Kappa with it. The only good
that Phi Beta Kappa got from the French
army was that William Short, thcn the Pre-
sident, who was staying in Williamsburg,
then and there learned French, and thus laid
the foundation of the diplomatic career in
which he afterwards served the country with
distinction. Indeed, it is not probable that
any of the officers of the French army at
that time knew anything of the illuminate.
Readers of Cousuelo and the Countess Of
Rudolstadt, who hope to follow down the
lines of those stories through the records Of
Phi Beta Kappa, must give up that trail as
futile.-July atlantic.