The Indianapolis journal., 1904-04-09

An ENJOYABLE BANQUET
CLOSES THE CONVENTION
Three Hundred Phi Psis Sing
Songs and Give College Yells
at Biennial Dinner.
OVATIONS FOR GUESTS
George Bramwell Baker New Pres
ident of Fraternity-Washing-
ton Next Meeting Place.
OVATIONS FOR GUESTS

The climax OF the Twentythird Grand
Arch Council of the Phi Kappa Psi frater-
nifty. held at the Claypool Hotel. and the
most successful in the fraternity's history,
came last night at the banquet, TO which
nearly 300 Phi Psis, from young college
men 70 gray-haired alumni. sat down in
the assembly hall of the Claypocl-
The banquet followed day of impor-
tant business, chief of which was the elec-
ton of the fraternitys officers for the en-
suing two years. George Bramwell Baker,
a well-known Indiana man. formerly of
Warsaw, Ind, and a graduate of De Pauw
University, but now of Boston, was elected
president: the Rev. w. L. Alexander, of
Washington, d. c., vice president; Ora L.
Monnette, Of Toledo. secretary for the
fourth term, and L. NJ. Mccoy, of Chicago,
treasurer.
Last nights banquet was served at three
long tables, extending the length of the
assembly hall, and a fourth shorter table
at their head. The sumptuous menu in
cluded twelve courses and took from
o'clock to nearly II o'clock in the serving.
So much greater than the expectations was
the attendance that number of local and
Indiana Phi Psis relnquished their seats
at the banquet board for the accommoda-
ton of visiting brothers, and enjoyed an
impromptu overflow banquet in the Clay
pool cafe returning to the assembly hall
in time for the programme of toasts that
followed the menu.
MEMORY WILL LIVE LONG.
With the assembly room decorated with
the banners and pennants of all the col
leges and universities represented at the
board, and with the Phi Psi colors of pink
and lavender, and with the memory of the
successful dance of the evening before
fresh in the minds of the Greeks assembled
in the hall for a second but different occa-
sion, an evening was enjoyed that will
linger long. in the minds of all who par
ticipated.
From the moment of entry until the last
guest reluctantly left the hall in the early
hours of the morning, the beautiful room
resounded with the yells and songs of the
institutions represented-by from two 10
several dozen Phi Psis-with Phi Psi songs
and yeIls, and with cheers for the popular
and prominent members of the fraternity
present. II was an occasion to make the
oldest heart young again, and many an
elderly alumni, yielding TO the enthusiasm
of the occasion, sang and cheered until his
voice was husky and his noise-making ablN
ity taxed to the full. Songs and yells were
to be heard at all times, between courses
and in the midst of their serving, and to
this part of the programme almost more
attention seemed to be paid by some than to
the menu.
In the balcony or the assembly hall
number of women and young girls were
seated throughout the entire evening, en-
joying from that distance an occasion that
for its novelty and its spectacular features
could scarcely be surpassed. The long
lines of table seen from above made
beautiful picture, and the enthusiasm and
good cheer that were present in overflow
| ing exuberance made the interest or the.
event unfiagging. AT times the babel or
songs and cheers was such only college
men can make, representatives of half
dozen colleges attempting at times to make
themselves heard above ~Ie friendly rival
ry of noise that shook the walls OF the
hall. An orchestra, seated behind screen
of palms on the rostrum, played fraternity
and popular airs, and at times the BAN
queters Joined In with song and cheer and
the cinking of glasses. The playing OF
Dixie brought half the men in the room
to their feet, with white napkins waving
in the air. the Southerners leading in the
demonstration. but followed closely by
their Northern brothers.
EXTRA ON HAND.
At II o'clock, after coffee and cigars, an
unwonted disturbance was created in the
hall by the appearance of newsboys crying
Extra. the Midnight Shield.' Thereupon
each guest was given a copy of a remark
able newspaper, the like of which had
it is safe to say. will be treasured by
many for years 1t was clever burlesque
| ported to contain bits of startling informa-
tion about Phi Psis in general, and the
| G.. A. c. in particular. The front page of
the paper contained in glaring headlines
| the news of the Midnight Shields" VIC
tory over the forces or corporate greed in
| the election of Mr. Baker to the presidency
| of the fraternity. The plan was conceived
| and carried out by local newspaper men
| who are members of the fraternity and by
| George B. Lockwood, secretary to Governor
| Durbn. who is the editor of THE Shield"
| the monthly magazine of Phi Kappa Psi.
John l.. Griffiths, of this city, was the
symposarch of the programme of toasts
| that lasted until the small hours of the
morning. His PREDATORY remarks and those
| introducing eac-. speaker were in his we'll
known forceful and eloquent style, and the
programme of toasts was seldom sur
passed in this city.
OVATION FOR RILEY
| Perhaps the greatest ovation of the even
| ing was that given to James Whitcomb
| Riley, claimed by Phi Psis their poet
as we'll as THE Hoosier Poet" who re-
| cited his own poem. .'Nothin' More Pa
| theticker Than Just Bein' Rich" At the
announcement of hie name the men in the
| hall rose to their feet and stood upon
| chairs, cheering and waving napkins. and
| it was some moments before the din had
subsidized so that Mr.. Riley could begin:
Other speakers of the evening were Wal
| ter Holden. of Michigan Alpha, who talked
on THE Sense of Nonsense" Edward Kib-
| Ter. of Ohio Gamma, whose subject was
THE G. A. c. Habit Ernest II. Allen, of
| Nebraska Alpha, with beautiful tribute
| to THE Shield" the fraternity's emblem
and badge; James r. Williams. of Indiana
Beta member of the national legislature
| from the Twenty-fourth Illinois congress
sionall district whose theme was Politics."
and DIR. Edwin A. Schell the widely known
| Methodist clergyman of Indiana, who con-
cluded the programme with an eloquent
| toast to the general fraternity, Phi Kappa
Psi
PRESENTED WITH PINS.
During the course of the evening Z. Law
renee Fell of Philadelphia. the retiring
president of the fraternity, ard C. f. NJ.
| Niles. of Toledo. the rtiring treasurer. who
| had just completed four years service as
that official of the fraternity. were pre-
sented with beautifully jeweled Phi Psi
| pins. set with diamons. emblems of the
| fraternitys affection and gratitude for SER
| vices rendered 1t. Both Mr. Lawrence and
| Mr.. Fell responded feelingly, thanking the
| fraternity for its gratitude and love and
/ the manner OF its expression.
kilograms were read at the banquet
sending greeting from James T.. Watson,
| the Phi Psi Indiana congressman, and
| from the San Francisco, Denver and other
| Alumni Associations of Phi Psi
To-day viii see all of the delegates to the
Grand Arch Council on their homeward
tRatrt fn a arfc Of rho