New-York tribune., 1902-03-30

SEMI CENTENNIAL OF THIS
GREEK LETTER FRA
TERNITY.
ONE OF THE LARGEST COLLEGE soCIE-
TIES-MANY EMINENT NAMES
ON ITS ROLLS.

CsN AAS ANC~A-N-
The Importance OF Greek letter fraternities
a factor in American college life was never more
felt than 1t is to-day. AS institution they have
steadily gained strength in the last fifty years.
although several Of the fraternties much older
That the fraternity spirit does not die out with
graduation from college is shown by the strong
alumni associations which most fraterntties form
and the interest taken in the affairs OF the society
bv men long out Of college An instance in point
is Phi Kappa Psi one OF the strongest OF these
national intercollegiate associations, which holds
it's semi-centennaI anniversary In Pittsburg this
week The society has two active chapters in this
city and an alumni association OF more than 80
active members many Of whom are going TO
Pittsburg.
The Phi Kappa Psi fraternity was founded az
Washington and jefferson College. in Pennsylvania.
in 1852 The founders were Dr. William II. I~ether-
man. Of Baltimore. and Judge c. P. T. Moore. %
West Virginia Al the time OF It's foundation there
was an epidemic of typhoid fever in the college.
and day after day those who not prOstrated
by the disease watched by the bedside 81 their
afflicted friends. ministering them. The warm
friendships then formed rpened into the sentiment
which led 10 the establishment OF the fraternity.
Judge c. p T. Moore the surviving founder. Is
man Of wide reputation as a writer and lecturer
especially among those who have been to Char
tauqua In 1860 he chosen commonwealth \
torney Of Mason County. W. Va. In 1888 he
elected Justice of the Supreme Court Of AppealA
and later became Chief Justice Of the state or
West Virginia He retired from public life in ISL
He is a member sf the Institute OF Ctvics, ~
Washington and Of the West Virginia Historical
Society He is also thirty-second degree Mason
He is now living EIweIl Mason County. W. Va
Though younger by whole generation than
many Of the Greek letter frateruities, Phi Kappa
Psi is now the sixth largest In number In the
country and among the greatest in strength In
Pennsylvania and Indiana. at least 1t is powerful
political factor The constitution of this fraternity
and the system of organization not excelled by
Dyvar and frfa~a
have enjoyed its benefits during the half century.
Among these are to be found the names OF over
five hundred Civil War veterans. Two hundred
and nnety-two OF these were commissioned officers.
Including three major generals-two Union and one
Confederate-twO brigadier generals. ten cOlonels.
four captains. eighty-six Heutenants. thirty-one
surgeons. fifteen Chapains two paymasters and
three naval officers over hundred Phi Psis were
killed in battle
The fraternity has always been widely represent
ed in political life both national State Of
fees At present there ten members OF Phi
Kappa Psi in Congress. Perhaps the best known
OF these is Senator J. B. Foraker. OF Ohio. who
was long ago president OF the fraternity The
others are Representatives Bingham Ghe Father
of the House,. Bates. Wooten. COOney, Needham.
Finley, Acheson and Watson
Among the best known names to be found the
alumni roll of Phi Kappa Psi are those OF Charles
Sumner. Carl Schurz ex-senator John Mitchell. OF
Pennsylvania: ex-Speaker John W. Kiefer. John G.
Wooley, Prohibtionist candidate for the Presi-
dency; John r. Cough. the temperance orator.
Bishops McCabe. Ninde and Walden. OF the Meth
odst Episcopal Church; Professor Woodrow VIII
son. of Princeton; Professor John W. White. OF
Harvard; Professor Amos z. Dolbear, of Tufts Col
lege: James Whitcomb Riley, Robert J. Burdetts
Theodore TiIton the Rev DIT Robert Lowrie Cen
eral john p. Rea. Frederick H Wines the prison
reform advocate President Edmund J. James OF
Northwestern University. President Crawford OF
Aicghcoy ColleEe Dean Marshall, OF the Univer-