The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-13


a tradition that no matter how many
honors come TO a graduate during bis
after life or how many public or secret
organizations he may join, he viii cherish
his membership in a university fratsr-
nifty above everything, and advise his
sons 10 wear the same Greek letters when
he sends him of to be educated.
In Washington, as In almost every big
city, those memories Of the campus are
kept green through yearly meetings OF
alumni fraternity men, but college grad
yates Of the Capital have the additional
advantage Of living in a city where there
are two institutions supporting national
fraternities. There are handsome frat
houses here where the "old boys" can
get out of the rut by dropping In at e
fraternity meeting TO quar- a cup with
the dear brothers" and roam back into
the spirit of student days just as often
as they please.
Nine Chapter Homes.
Nine national Greek letter societies
have pleasantly located and luxuriously
furnished chapter homes here Besides.
there are several local chapters that sup
port room suites in lieu OF a building.
just as comfortable and homelike as the
more pretentious quarters. Alumni mem
hers Of the big fraternlties such as Beta
Theta Pi. Delta Kappa Epsilon. and Psi
Epsilon. which have no active chapters
in Washington, have formed alumni
chapters and hold smokers every now
and then.
rTbara 20 orr,rn.yfrftq falxs q1O active fra
ternity members on the rolls Of the
George Washington and Georgetown
Universities. At a rough estimate there
are more than 900 alumni fraternity men
here, besides at least 500 sorority women
and 200 members Of local fraternities Of
both sexes.
Life at the frat houses is as nearly
ideal as a score of healthy, care-free
students can make it. and each afternoon
and night the homes are filed with
brothers mingling fraternally and
taking advantage Of every comfort such
as clubhouse holds out.
Much of Life Not secret.
Mysticism is no longer prominent part
of fraternity house life ard save for the
rites of Initiation, there is little in the
ritual of the Greek societies that is even
mysterious. It is the social part that at
tracts every freshman and makes him
want TO wear frat pin on his vest
whether he viii admit it or not.
The George Washington fraternities
are: Sigma Chi Kappa Sigma, Kappa
Alpha. Theta Delta Chi. Phi Sigma Kap-
pa, Delta Tau Delta. Sigma Alpha Ep-
silon. Phi Delta Phi, Psi Omega, Phi
Chi, and Alpha Kappa Kappa. George
town has only Delta Chi in the medical
college. and Phi Alpha Delta and Phi
Delta Phi in the law school
Alpha Beta Phi, Chi Sigma Eta, Kappa
Sigma ri. and Delta Phi are societies at
George Washington that have only local
chapters. Among the co-eds the national
fraternities here are; Pi Beta Phi, Chi
Omega. and Sigma Kappa
The Phi Delta Phi fraternity was
founded at the law school Of the Univer-
sity Of Michigan in 1869. With the idea
OF calling its chapters after distinguished
juTists statesmen. and lawyers. as an
inspiration TO enthusiastic law students.
the first chapter was named in honor OF
Chancellor James Kent and Prof Charles
q.
Kent chapter it has forty-two chapters,
including a chapter at the University of
Toronto.
The Phi Delta Phi fraternity numbers
among its honorary and alumni members
many OF the prominent men OF the coun-
try. OF the former, President Taft
Chief Justice Fuller. and Justices Harlan
Brewer. and Holmes. Of the Supreme
Court Of tho United States; United States
Circuit Judges Coke, Richards, and Van
Devanter. OF Mr.. Tafts Cabinet, Sec
rotary Richard A BaIlinger is an honor
airy member OF the local chapter. OF
the prominent Phis who were active
members during the law course. may be
mentioned ex-President Roosevelt. Post
master General Hitchcock, Commissioner
OF the General Land Office Fred bennett
both alumni Of Marshall chapter; Assist
ant Secretary Of the Navy Beekman
Winthrop, and former Secretary OF Com
merce and Labor McHarg.
The local chapter at George Washing
ton law department was established in
1884. OF the prominent alumni Phis,
Postmaster General Hitchcock. Secretary
Ballinger. Commissioner bennett, and
former Assistant Secretary Of Commerce
and Labor McHarg were members OF
Marshall chapter. It's representatives at
the Washington bar stand at the top OF
the profession. The chapter occupies com
modious quarters at 26 Iowa circle
The present membership of the local
chapter is as follows: Pleasant F.
Graves, consul; Frank F. Ford. pro-con-
sui; ". jefferson Davis. scripcor. and
John T. Swift, Charles F. Black. H. L.
Kitselman. ". c. Carpenter. W. E.
Blount, H p Du Bots, r. H. Tnton, D.
p. Herriott c. ". Smith, c. NJ. SINGER
beauX, F. NJ Warden, John G. Lerch
/. S McPhail. Birch Helms, John F.
Dulles. Spencer Gordon. R. G. Gamble
c. S Butler. John W. Clifton, and H NJ.
Humason.
Kappa Alpha.
Kappa Alpha fraternity, founded at
Washington and Lee University, Licking
ton Va. December q, 1865. is represented
in this city by the Alpha M chapter OF
George Washington University, with
headquarters at 1881 K street northwest
The local fraternity. founded at the
university in 1894. has an active member
ship Of sixteen, and since its first initi-
alton. 1853 members have been admitted
The charter members, John c. Good
fellow. ". B. McCammon. Robert Kelton.
and H H Westcott, first had rooms in
Seventeenth street for few years. until
the members increased and a house was
leased in Seventeenth street above K
street.