The San Francisco call., 1896-10-02
HAS D|SGRACED ITSELF,
What Older Members Think of
Phi Gamma Delta of
Stanford.
An Open Letter Severely Scoring the
Detecting lambda Sigma
Chapter.

The recent action of the Phi Gamma
Delta Fraternity of Stanford University in
drawing away from it's allegiance to the
main order, with an intention of affiliating
with some other fraternity, has caused
much comment, particularly among the
mem bers of the order 10 which the defect
ing chapter belongs. So keenly is the
action of the Stanford fraternity felt by
the older members of the order that they
have submitted the following communities
tion and asked for its publication:
To the Editor Of the San Prdncisco Cdll-SIR:
The PM Gamma Delta College Fraternity de-
sires the courtesy of your columns TO forestall
misapprehenSion among Its frlenuS ana the
general public touching the true circum-
stances of recent events directed against its
honor and its interests in this community.
Within the last few days the Lam bda Sigma
Chapter at Stanford University has announced
to its friends and to US and will announce
through the public prints las they inform us),
that it will repudiate its sworn obligations to
its fraternity and form itself into local So
ciety with the illconcealed but indu bitable
intention of becoming chapter OF the WE'LL
known Eastern fraternity OF Alpha Delta Phi.
1t is only their declared intention to make
public this matter in the journals that has in
spired this communication. Their haste Is
due 10 desire to reach the ear OF the public
before the fraternity officials in New York can
take action.
That action will undoubtedly take the form
OF dissolution OF the Onendlng chapter and
the expulsion of its members Immediately
upon the commission Of any overt act. such as
joining another fraternity. 1t is no violation
of fraternal secrets to say that all college fra
ternities require q solemn promise upon
honor that no member shall ever join another
college fraternity. 1t is unnecessary TO add
that there may be no remuneration OF member
ship short of expulsion. All members of other
fraternal organizations, all indeed who recog-
nize that an obligation once solemnly assumed
is sacred in the eyes OF men OF honor, will real
ize how 1t happens that among college frater-
mites disloyalty to ones colors on the part of
any fraternity man is the utmost disgrace;
that the initiation by any fraternity of such
disloyal men is of equal discredit to itself.
1t is questionable if Alpha Delta Phi would
participate in the present disgraceful proceed
ing were the facts known to it. The evident
motive of the Stanford Chapter (Which it does
not deny is that it hopes to better its condi-
ton under the colors of another fraternity.
To men OF honor there can be no question of
expediency as against the sacredness OF their
oath. There can be no compact with dishonor
In order to unsparingly condemn this fool
ish and treaeherous surrender by the Stanford
Chapter OF the duty due itself, its alumni and
its fraternity, the California Alumni Chapter
of Phi Gamma Delta and the Delta XI Chapter
at the University of California have published
this statement.
w. H. Harmon, President, Chief of Section
X; Edward w. Hill, Secretary; H. M. Wright
w. P. Humphreys Jr. Executive Committee of
California Alumni Chapter.
Lloyd Baldwin, President Delta XII Chapter
Dated September 80, 1896.