Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-04
Influence Of Fraternities.

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I'VE encourage fraternity life here be-
cause OF it's good influence said President
Harris 1T is conducive to good morals
and aids in keeping up scholarship. When
ever l hear of young man being indiffer-
ent TO his work inclined to dissipation
always report him to the senior members
of his fraternity. who will look after him
much more effectively than any member Of
the faculty. not only because of their in
dividual interests. but because Of fra
ternity pride. Members of the different
fraternities frequently come to the faculty
for assistance when some of their members
going wrong. The older men look out
for the younger ones. The whole system
Is fraternal. The chapter houses furnish
the boys substitutes for homes and keep
them away from worse places There is
very little. IL any. gambling or drinking
in any OF them. The older members don't
permit their younger members to disspate
because 1t Injuries the reputation of the
fraternity. as we'll as that of the student.
at promotes scholarship also. There Is
a keen rivalry between the different fra
ternities for college honors and you will
hear the members boast how many they
have won without referring to the indi
viduals. II is the same in athletics; the
fraternites go In for everything that
counts in college career. The strong
help the weak along and when they find
one of their members has special qualifca-
lions they all turn in to encourage and
protect him, so that he can make the
most OF his opportunities
The social side of the fraternites is also
important, continued President Harris
The chapter house ia very different from
dormltory life; the members feel pride in
keeping 1t up and in making ii a center of
social interest. Every fraternity gives re-
ceptions at least once ami generally twice
during the winter season. to which they
invite the families of the faculty and other
ladies of the village: and they frequently
give dances from to 3 pm. in order TO
accommodate ladies' Suoith nd
Mount Holyoke Colleges. who are per-
mitted to come over for those hours These
social opportunities are a great thing for
country boys; IL Is a valuable part of their
education to meet refined and attractive
women: it cultivates their manners. de-
velops their social instincts and teaches
them the amenities of life"
A Sunday Singing Meeting.
The fraternities also effective in
promoting the personal relations and
mutual respect between the students and
the faculty, because in the chapter houses
they stand common ground.
Last Sunday evening / went to the Alpha
Delta Phi chapter house to attend a sing
ing meeting" they called II: regular
commencement custom. The rooms were
filled with ladies and gentlemen President
Harris and other members of the faculty
were there with their wives a large num-
Der OF odd grads" who had come back
for commencement. with their wives
graduating class. number of young
ladies' the members of the chapter and
others who, for an hour or more sang
familiar hymns with one OF the UNDER
graduates conducting and another at the
piano playing the accomplishments. Every
body seemed to enjoy It, and 1t was
novel form OF entertainment for a college
fraternity. After the singing meeting
was over the members of the chapter. both
alumni and undergraduates. gathered upon
the steps OF the chapter house and sang
fraternity songs the rest of the evening,
while their guests fingered about the place.
sitting at the open windows and scattered
about the lawn.
The SCARAB Club" is senior society of
twelve members, comprising the most
prominent and influential men in the col
lege elected by their classmates at the end
Of the spring term. as the representatives
OF the class in its relations with the faculty
and the alumni The object OF the society,
Is one OF them described 1t to me, is to
oster Amherst spirit to maintain and