New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-31
GREEK LETTER CLUBS.
A DECADE OF WORK BY THE COLLEGE FRA
TERNITIES.
RAPID GROWTH OF COLLEGE SOCIETY HOMES IN
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THE oITY-rHEIR cLuB-HoUsEs.
During the last decade there has come 10 be a
unique element in the club life Of the city. In
$40 the Delta Psi fraternity founded the Sc
Anthony Club-the first club established by a
college Greek letter society In New-York. To
dry there are in the city nine wellorganized and
successful Greek letter clubs, with total mem
bership Of nearly 1000, representing the Delta
Kappa Epsilon, Psi Epsilon, Alpha Delta Phi,
Delta Phi Sigma Phi, Zeta Psi, Phi
Gamma Delta, Delta Psi, and Delta
Epsilon fnternities. Although the clubs bear
Greek letter names and their membership is linn
tied to the members Of the societies they represent
their constitutions and their objects are similar
to the other social organizations in the city.
There Is certain sentiment howver, attached
TO these clubs which is not common to other
clubs, and which is their characteristic feature.
Their members, although representing every in
stution of learning in the land, have this bond OF
sympathy: they belong to the same college fra
ternity In fact IL may be said that the desire
to revive the memories of college days and to
keep up the old friendships was the principal
motive which led to their organization.
When the advisability Of establishing Greek
letter clubs in New-YorI was first discussed old
club-men, some college men and men Of affairs
were sceptical. They doubted the success of the
project, arguing that the choice Of members was
limited and that the societies themselves were
merely Undergraduate affairs or little more But
the founders were men who thoroughly under
stood the character of Greek letter fraternities.
They realized how rapid had been the growth of
these societies in ali the leading colleges and uni
versities in the country, and how great and far
reaching their influence had become as q feature
of modern college life. They reflected that in
fifty years Of existence the aternities had in
creased SO in popularity that they
included in their memberships $4,000; that they
had established in the colleges expensive and sub
stantial lodges that the influence Of the frater-
mites was approved by college faculties and that
admission 10 their membership was striven for by
the students Of the highest character and ability.
These considerations certainly gave assurance Of
the permanency OF college fraternities as an in
stituton and warranted the belief that
local clubs Of fraternity alumni would
not langush for lack Of support and interest.
The success of the clubs has already shown
the wisdom and judgment Of their founders, and
justified the faith which was placed in their
establishment. They are an active part OF the
club life Of the Metropolis; recognized as such,
and have come TO stay ALI are wellhoused and
centrally situated, their buildings are provided
with every facility of the modern club and are
comfortably, and in some instances elegantly,
furnished. All the great colleges all patts OF
tho country, all the professions and all ages,
nom the graduate who has just received his
sheepslSin TO the silver-haired founders of the
fraternity, are represented in them.
THE DELTA KAPPA EPSILON
The largest and one OF the most successful
Greek letter clubs in the city is Delta Kappa
Epsilon. The articles of Incorporation, filed on
May 0, 1885, modestly declare the objects OF the
club 20 be: To promote social intercourse among
the members thereof, and 70 provide for them
pleasant place of convenient resort for their enter
Imminent and Improvement There was q memoir
able house-warming at No. SO West Thirty
fourth-st. when the new club OF 250 members,
with Charlton T. Lewis as its president, first
went TO housekeeping. After two years Of
prosperous life in that house, the club, having
outgrown It's first abode, chose q larger and more
desirable dwelling at No. 435 Fifth-ave The
wisdom OF tho removal appears in the growing
popularity and increasing membership Of the
club. On the lst of May 1887, the roll num-
bered $780, and one year later 45s, while the
facilities for entertainment and comfort have in
creased with even greater rapidity.
we'll suited to tho purposes OF the club. Before
the threshold over which the doors leading to the
yestibule swing is passed, visitor is aware
that he is standing before the home of some body
of Delta Kappa Epsilon men. The lnonograms
on the mat at his feet and etched on glass above
his head show that The hall is equally indica-
tive that here ID X e reigns supreme. Tho ink
well in which the host dips his pen 60 register
guest is modelled after tho diamond shaped
min of tho fraternity. On the brass umbrella
rack stand out in bold relief the mystic char
acters d Il, and on the wall hangs beautiful
banner OF crimson, blue and gold--the fraternity
colors-bearing the words, Chreai de Pantoiai
Philon AndrOn," the motto Of the club. And so
throughout the house the decorations are char
actcrstic of college tastes Of Greek letter societies.
and particularly Of Delta Kappa Epsilon Photo
graphs Of college buildings and Of chapter houses
d Il banners, shields end symbols and the
coats-of-arms Of chapters decorate rooms and
furniture, recalling delightful associations Of
undergraduate days and fraternity life
Tho house is provided with a spacious parlor,
cafe and private dining-roOm, library, magazine
room. bachelor apartments for members Of the club
guest rooms and lodge halls Of the Columbia Col
lege and the College Of the City OF New-York
chapters OF the fraternity. The takers and
smokers OF the club have quiet and attractive
corners for their enjoyment while to tho lovers
of billiards and whist are furnished the best
facilities for their favorite amusements.
The library of the club is perhaps the most
striking FEATURE OF the house. The oak chairs,
table and cases, the unique and beautiful set Of
brass library pieces, which ehectually combine
and display the insignia OF the fraternity and its
chapters, designed and executed by Tiffany, and
presented to the club by Calvin s, Brice; the
collection Of students ANIMALS, college papers, the
catalogues and publications of the leading Greek
letter societies the annual and triennal catalogues
of tho larger colleges on the oaken shelves, the
groups Of photographs OF chapter houses and
college buildings hanging on the walls, make this
room attractive not only TO members of the club
but to every college man who enters It The
.oiIao.ion NJ college and fraternity publications