The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-20
PHI BETA KAPPA.
History Of Alpha Chapter at William and
Mary College.

~ 'f1''S& - '''N~'' sA''N
Mary College.
This unique society originated at the
College OF William and Mary towards
the close OF the year which saw the
enactment OF the Declaration Of Inde-
pendence. The original records extend
ing from December 8, It's. to January 6.
LII. when the parent chapter dispersed.
owing to the stress OF war, read as fol-
lows: ION Thursday, the 5th OF Decem-
Der, in the year Of our Lord. one thous-
and seven hundred and seventy-six. and
the first OF the Comm a happy
spirit, and resolution of att, lining. the Inn,
portant ends Of society entering the minds
Of John Heath. Thomas Smith, Richard
Booker, Arunistead Smith. and John
Jones, and afterwards seconded By
others. prevailed. and was accordingly
ratified" These were. therefore, the char
ter members and seem possessed by a
broad, humanitarian spirit.
A square silver medal was then adopted,
engraved on one side with the letters S.
P. as the Initials OF Latin words, and on
the other side with the initials Of Greek
words. Phi Beta Kappa.
On January S, 1777, they again met and
fxed upon an oath designed to make its
members more faithful and loyal to the
purposes OF the society. The objects were
partly social and partly literary, as was
evidenced by the banquets which occa-
sionally called it's members together In
social mlrth and festlvity, and by the
literary compositions and debates which
constituted the central features OF their
monthly meetings. At their meeting on
March s, It'll the first rule made was
as follows:
Resolved First, That In every design.
OF attempt whether great or small we
ought to invoke the Deity" Thus the
keynote OF religion was not absent from
the society in the beginning OF Its years
OTHER CHAPTERS.
With q broad, humanitarian spirit
which they considered to be not foreign
to a true philosophy, they soon deter.
mined that their social and literary or
ganization should not be confined in Its
benefits to the parent chapter, but should
be extended elsewhere. They therefore,
issued charters for three Virginia chap.
tiers, one In Westmoreland county, which
chapters either never started, or soon
expired. Finally, Mr.. Elisha Parmelee
was, on December T. 1779. granted permits
sion to establish chapters at Harvard, HE
own Alma Mater, and also at Yale; the 1
Alpha OF Virginia processing itself desi-.
rious. in almost true prophetic spirit, OF
SSIbUl4SulllS Sk1$aPICko III Gil IA0 OuIleO
States" These were the original thirteen
colonies. '"They builded better than they
knew =
The Alpha of Virginia continued its
peaceful work of social and literary
culture until, finally. finally 8. 1881. a
British fleet. with Benedict Arnold on
board. anchored off Jamestown, On Jan
uary 9Th the records were sealed and
delivered to the college steward; the
members dispersed, expressing. however,
enthusiastic hopes that tho socieev would
ere long reviv, and be- arrayed In garments
OF beauty and glory.
These expectations were strangely dis |
appointed. More than fifty years later.
In 1S49. the Alpha of Virginia resumed ita
organic life. Then William Short. OF
Surry county. Va, then living In phila-
delphia, Pa, and an old man Of 90 years. II
who had been It's president at the time
Of It's last meeting In 1851. consented to
act In Its reorganization, and thus pre.
serve the continuity Of Its existence In
1901 war again dlsbanded the chapter
About the year 1876, when the college
was almost crushed out of life by flnan.
cial straits, an effort was made TO revive
It by electlng a few new members; but
1t went no further.
In 1888, when the college itself had
taken on new life under the auspices OF
the State, the Alpha Of Virginia rose
once more to new life. Colonel 3. s.
Ewell emeritus president OF the college.
was the connecting link In 1898, as VIII.
liam Short had been In 1849. TO Colonel
William Lamb has been mainly due its
present successful revival.
IT'S PECULIAR Sphere.
MEANWHILE chapter after chanter had
been formed In various colleges OF the
United States beginning with the cbnn
ters OF Yale and Harvard, The secret
features which characterized the original
Alpha Of Virginia became mucn obiter-
ated In many chapters, totally in one or
more, Other secret societies arose, and
supplied q real or supposed want for suof
and the Phi Beta Kappa
came gradual y to occupy a sphere pecu,
larry Its own. It has continued to main.
tain y. COLLEGIATE character by establish.