Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-07

Following is the full text of the arti-
Gle by John Clair Minot of this cny
which won the first prize of Sc in the
New York Tribune contest on the sub
iect Of college fraternities. Many arti-
clcs were submitted by college men.
bOIn undergraduates and alumni. from
all paris of the country. The winning
article and many of the others were
published in the Sunday Tribune, Feb. ).
am Il member of an intercollesiate
Fraternity with chapters from Maine to
California, and from Canada to the
Calf. with Il central council of gradu-
a,es in charge of its affairs. with Il
quarterly magazine devoted to its in
terests and with many active alumni
associations. Such an ganiZation.
with sixty Years of prosperity ald use
fulness behind ii. and with many thou
sand naines upon its rolls. no more
needs defense than does the Americas
college itself 1t can be attacked only
through ignorance or malice. The
local societies or clubs which exist at Il
few OF our great universities are quite
another matter and are not to he con-
founded with the intercollegiate Greek
letter Fraternity system or discussed IN
connection with il. The latter has
justified its existence by thriving in
spite of the vigorous opposition which
marked its incenticn; by changing the
attitude Of college authorities from
one of active antagonism to one OF
cordial support; ana by retaining
through life the loyal interest of those
who were made members in youth.
Many OF the warmeSt friendships
know II today among men We're formed
years ago within the Fraternity circles
Of the small colleges. and a system of
which this can be said must have III it
much good and little evil.
The Fraternity gives its member a
home and cnnocnial associates when he
lers college; it sets before him noble
ideals IF manhood and high ince ntives
hirh help draw out the best that is in
him: il spurs him on to excel III schol-
arShiD ard other branches of under
graduate activity; it sets guard over
his conduct lest he bring reprO:Ch upon
the pin he wears with so much pride:
in the man igcment of its affairs, II
gives him practical business training;
in its hall he CTS Il drill in debating
and speaking which proves lasting
benefit; it's chapter house becomes al
most Il home for him. with all the IN
tiueice for good which this implies: its
intercollegiate feature broadcns his
view OF the educational world and len
dcrS douhly pleasant his visits To sis
ter colleges and his meetings with col
lege men al through his life; il gives
him as an undergraduate the benefit oi
the acquaintance Of many alumni. 4
circumstance which becomes Il Nulu-
allie asset " hen he enters upon his life
work; and it gives him precious friend
ships which will he cherished among
his dearest possessions while life re-
mains.
| have named 4 few OF the things
Which membership in a Fraternity
means to i college man. The bene-
fits viii, h the colIge receives from the
existence of Fraternities are by no
means only those gained by the in
dividual students. College presidents
have long since learned that the Fra
ternity is a ready and effective assist
ant in the enforcement of regulations
and the maintenance Of discipline. The
Fraternity has done much to wine oLt
the old rivalry between the lower class
cS which made haZing so serious mat
ter in former times: il solves the eating
club problem and by its chapter houses
saves the erection of new dorinitOries;
il gives the college desirable centerS of
social intercourse ami activity and pro-
vidnS n pleasant means of entertaining
prospective students and other visitors;
ii gives the college its most loyal
alumni because the man who does the
most for his Fraternity will do the most
for his college. both as student ana
in later years: it binds the alumnus
closer to his Alma Mater and gives him
a warm welcome and generous hOSpI-
tality when he returns at Commence
nent or at other times.
Tho early objections to the Frater-
nitv-that it would promote eXtraVa-
gance. that it would emphasize the
social side at the expense of the educa-
tional, that il would foster a snobbsh
spirit. that it would detract from col
leGe loyalty. and that there would be
drinking and gambling under cover of
its secrecy-have been shown to be
groundIess by the experience of many
years at many colleges. 1T the evils
feared have been realized. it has been
in an exceptional case here and there
and never to an extent which war
rants any general arrangement of the
Fraternity system or any assertion that
its detrincnts outw eigh its benefits.
Easing, his statement upon an expert
enre Of twenty years at the head Of a
good old New England college and upon
n wide knowledge of conditions and
tendencies in the college world, Presi-
dent Hyde of Bowdoin, himself nom
Fraternity man, said in an address,