New-York tribune., 1905-01-29
NO MORAL UPLIFT.
Fraternities Detrimental to Spiritual
Development.

70 the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Membership in a fraternity IS detrimental to
he social development OF the member. Two Of the
benefits Of a university course should be training
n the art OF making friends and the forming Of as
many choice friendships as possible Fraternity life
not conducive 10 the attainment OF either or these
lnds Upon entering fraternity student nnos ms
friendships ready made. He loses IN consequence
that most valuable training in the reading OF char-
,cter which he should have received II he hao oeen
-, IA choose his own friends. The number OF
,riendships formed is often limited by membership
n fraternity. because the natural desire for COM
,snonship IS satisfied by the narrow circle TO "mch
such membership admits.
Membership in a fraternity is detrimental TO high
scholastic attainnents. It is apparent to even a
casual observer that fraternities do not furnish
-,eir quota Of those who take scholastic honors
RE reason IS not far to seek. Fraternity life often
a. rnI,astzes the social part Of a students training
As seriously interfere with The more oliouil 'asA
NIem6ership in fraternity is detrimental 70
Ipiratllal development. This Is grave charee. ana
5 reluctantly made only after the most careIul Oo
servatioa one need not he a Puritan IN oTder 70
ind that chosen few in eacn uIlNeTsttfS & 20
actively and successfully engaged IN nais % ~
3 higher moral pare To this band agaln IrA,erIl- .
ios DO furnish their quota, SoI9e ot te .dofS
powerful leaders in the spiritual lie or stuqsnts
5ave been fraternity but this does not vitiate
g Te5v I,e 70 the overemphass OF social life.
Fraternities are detrimental TO non-ineInbers py
MONOPOLY is not complete. yet it is painfully ap-
parent Men who might he close irlenas II lIatet
les did NOT exist remain strangers because one ls
member of q fraternity and nnds no time TO cuiu-
gate outside friends. -.
FIaternities are detrimental 10 non-members& be be-
ra1lse Of the fostering of wealthy caste rev
fra+eTicv men VIII deny that their style OF living
IS as a rule expensive than the average IN
university circles. a result poor students are
MOI particularly desired in fraterniues, ana a
Trovredpe of this fact which is too often Icon
cealed adds 10 the already heavy burden OF the
poor student III. =.
large. because they interfere with the healthiuI
6evoIOrmcnt Of college politics. lnterfr ternlty
Epirit although not always cordial Is usually sucn
fkat a fraternity ticket will secure the conplneu
frsternitv vote The fact that this unanimity re-
suits from the candidates membership IN ira
ternitv rather tlssn from his personal ntness or
worth is a lamentable one. =,
Fraternities detrimental TO the proper rela..
lions between faculty and students. II has not
been many months since university presildenat la
l1Dou being serenaded by large body OF students
announced that. because his house would not ac-
cornrn0date an he would entertain those who were
roor0hers of fraternitics Members or faculty
who re also members Of fraternities are placed in
a position which Is trying, TO say the least
il IS true that the evils cited are in perhaps
every case the result OF the abuse of the fraternity
idea hut the question as to whether fraternities
are detrimental be decided by considering ira
ternities as they are, not they ought TO be-
ARTHUR c. BOGGESS.
No Ss4 Sauson-st.. Philadelphia.