The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-20
UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA
IS HONORED
Enters the Circle of
Eastern Colleges.
ITS STANDING RECOGNIZED
RECEIVES A CHARTER FROM
PHI BETA KAPPA.
The Honorary Fraternity Which
Represents the Highest Schol-
arships Comes at Last to
the Pacific Coast.
ITS STANDING RECOGNIZED
RECEIVES A CHARTER FROM
PHI BETA KAPPA.

BERKELEY, Sept. 19.-News was re-
ceived to-day at the University of Cali
fornia that the honorary fraternity of Phi
Beta Kappa had granted a charter where
by local chapter of that society can be
organized among the college men at
Berkeley. The news is regarded as the
most important that has affected the in
terestS of the university for some time
past, because all that has ever tended to
keep the college from being recognized as
in every way the equal of any Eastern
university will now be a thing Of the
past.
Phi Beta Kappa is an honorary frater-
nifty Of Eastern college men, the Oldest
organization of its kind in the United
States. 1t was founded in 176 as a
secret order, but has since cast aside that
phase Of its constitution and now consists
of the graduates of such universities as
Yale, Harvard, Cornell and Princeton,
who have attained eminent distinction in
scholarship during their student career.
The policy of the society has been marked
by rigid conservatism since its origin.
Its membership comprises the most dis
tinguished college graduates of the coun-
try, and its presence in any university
places that institution at once in the fore
most ranks. For several years its direc-
tors have declined to entertain the no.
ton of having a chapter on the Pacific
Coast, but they have yielded at last and
now Berkeley students will be able to en-
ter the classic circles of Eastern scholar
ship as in every way the equals of their
brothers on the other side of the con-
tinent.
The telegram bringing this announce
ment this afternoon was received with
Berkeley faculty who, are Phi Beta
Kappa men. Among their number are:
President Martin J. kellogg and Pro-
fessorS Irving J. Stringham, X. G. Bah
cock, Willard B. Rising, Mellen w. Has
kell, Carl c. Plehn, j. c. Rockwell, w.
A. Setchell and Herbert c.. Nutting. They
have made psTsistent efforts to bring
The organization of local chapter Will
be effected as soon as meeting of the
faculty members can be called. This will
probably be done within the next two
weeks. They will draft constitution for
the guidance of their order in the Uni
versity of California.
Dr. Kendrick c. Babcock. who has been
movement, said to-day that membership
in the fraternity would depend altogether
upon distinction in scholarship. This
means that a certain percentage OF the
graduating class Of each year will be
elected to membership Just what that
percentage is to be will be determined
later but it is expected that not more
nuaily. The first election will be held
from among the members of the present
senior class, but the names of the for
tunate ones will not be- announced till
commencement day at the close of the
year. The honor of election will then be
considered as one of the highest which
the university can offer, ana 1t is safe to
say that it will be made the subject of a
very keen competition among the stu
dents