New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-20
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
FRATERNITIES AT CORNELL.
GOOD THAT THEY ACCOMPLISH - TIMES
CHANGED SINCE THESE SOCIETIES WERE
AN OBJECT OF ATTACK.

AN OBJECT OF ATTACK.
TO the Editor OF Tho Tribune
Sir: The communication from Dr. Wilder, published
in The Tribune Of April IL, seems likely to convey
the idea to outsiders that the so-ealled "secret So
ceties" In bad odor here Cornell. and receive
the mcrited condemnation of the faculty. That TINS Is
untrue every one who Is at all familiar with the uni
verslty well knows. The attitude OF the university Is
we'll expressed in the Grafton Of cxPresIdent White de-
lvered before the convention Of the Psi Upslloh
Fraternity In the Metropolitan Opera House on Feo-
ruary "a, 1887 in the course OF which he said' All
members Of fraterntes) are to certain eAVen.
responsible for each and each for ALL hho" .n".
several college officers well as myself nave aNaeU
themselves of this relation for the good Oh all CON
cerned. More than once, when some memoer vi
fraternity has been careless in conduct Or seuuS, 4
have sent for some senior members Of his chapter as
cussed the matter conlidentia!ly VITA thein' anu W
sisted that the chapter must exercise us n'enO' i
good upon the delinquent And l nave Hequeh'p
seen this expedent succeed when others nave laeu'
Senior members Of various fraterihtles nave lie-
quenty thus devoted themselves to their younger oret
rem in a way which would do honor to OrotheF
laboring for brother. FA'oe "e"'S -
thirty students In the ordinary college dormtorS ana
there will be carelessness, destruction OF cohego
property, confusion and uproar race inc same mum
Der OF men belonging 10 any fraternity WHICH "aS
character to maintain in chapterhouse Oeal'"S INC
emblems Of their fraternity, and the point Oh hoor
changed The house will be well kept and VIII DC
quiet The reason is simple. These young men VIII
be brought into a sense of proprietorshp-lhto leef
ing of responsibility for the maintenance OF the prop
crty and OF its reputation. have taken part III 'o
eral such gatherings social entertainments III uo
hapterhouses OF various fraternities ana Iee tn"
they mark new and better epoch In American coiee9
life Again declare my belief that the erection Oh
chapter-houses roomy, healthful convenient, MARKS
a In
The objections of DR.. Crosby to secret socleues rs
quoted by Dr. Wilder In his Communication are
The expenslyeness The expenses incident to mem
bership I'm the college fraernies are greatly oVea'cu
think 1t safe to estimate the average liit'oh ioo "
below fifty dollars land very probably II Is Delo"
thirty five and the dues for the year NJ oeio" u"e9
five dollars 1t is to be remembered that 1t Is the Gus
tom in many and in perhaps all chapters to excuse
such members as may he unable TO pay from whole or
a part OF their fees and dues.
| Their evil influence upon the literary societies
| This Is undoubtedly true Is it a survival Oh INC
! nttcstl -,
Their disturbance Of public order and tpelr eVh
influence upon study. THIS accusation piust De ose"
on total ignorance. The constant ann Oh ra'ern'"''
| Z, toward an honorable reputation. The use OF H.
toxcants and gambling absolutely forbidden In all
| chapterhouscs Of which have personal or hearSay
| knowledge. Initiates taught HAT the hohof u
| the chapter rests with them, that theH atS V"e'0
after affect them not only personally, but Us hi0r
hers OF the chapter whose honor they are sworn 20
uphold 1t is 70 idle tale that students often refrain
from disorder and immortality because 1t would re-
| nect upon their chapters. As 10 interference WIN
studv Il is wellknown fact that scholarship IS aS
much point OF rivalry as arc athletics ana socai
prominence, and in many chapters the chlel ann Is
| 20 have as many meu noted for scholarship upon Vhe
rolls as possible; in some matter al fact schoi-
arshp is made the basis upon which new members
| tba fruta
study is It not strange that the last Phi Beta Kappa
| LIST IS published in The Comedian should show
twelve Maternity men out OF seventeen ~ Is uIl-
dou5tedly TACT thaC boy thrown among t.c tscN
associations OF college life IS more or less drawn away
| rom hls family ami becomes In measure eitr5ingea
| uucaoc OF the beginning OF Il new life.
Ihc secrecy witch Is popularity supposed 20 surround
no, 81 their mtetings which ars held with closed
doors their only secrecy consists in their gilp and te
vnu with t0lcrable accuracy, and which can hardly
cover any deeds. Their meetings are secret. Dot t
il is tho secrecy Of the business Woilu enG P0 ron
nlendship In every college the traiernlles are et
resented upon tho faculty, and tF nee'YS 9 fb 81,
tended By their proiesorm9mbers ana III tH H tbs
secret transactions known 10 them 10 say taat V, ~,
secrecy is used cover Tor immortality Is an i3 ,
10 the governing bodies Of the colleges OF tis Goy
When the fraternity idea first TOOK root az Olu ~
il met with great opposition from certain Ca,s i.
sudrnts and al over the country antsecrct 1Iaerl,
lies we're csGaDiished These amalgamaed und;r tne
nane Of Delta Epsilon, wlch proes5dcG bi 10 t,rio ~
ansecIvt fraternity bu, which clslsSq "a, h n VIII
non-secret in 1s5l. This fraternity Of Tnen Dr. Mi
l. a member according to The COfnellHHi' NO.
nrcisc The sane secrecy regarding its meetings as
ANY Of The socaad societies and the most Gare
ri Observer could detect no difference between tAei'
rt il seems as conple, vindlcaton of the secret
| socletcs7 as could be wished Tor. -. a.. ,,o.or is
| I9n"n ono poIpt am glad TO see that the Doctor Is
right Many excellent men DO support tneoe S
long after they leave college Ihesc t I, do nor
10 use the expression Of the I NO, W.
Gem 10 bem,n their mutilatioa, but seem ratner 70
,ory in It. Can II be that the name OF tle la oiitS
inst when they became members OF thcSe scCioV So'1
| tjcs va, " narrow minded prejudice" ~ -, ,,,
| 'lO' ''''' GEORGE CON1STOCK BAKER.
| Cornell University, April 10, 1911