Evening star., 1924-05-04
William and Mary College
Phi Beta Kappa Birthplace

who closely co-operated with Mr.
Jefferson in founding the University
of Virginia, and John Heath, first
president OF the fraternity, who was
later member of Congress.
A large number Of the Phi Beta
Kappa men of various institutions
some years ago formed the Phi Beta
Kappa Alumni Association of the Dis
trict of Columbia. which last week
elected Representative r. Walton
Moore of Virginia as its president,
and made a substantial contribution
toward the erection at William and
Mary College of a Phi Beta Kappa,
memorial hall.
While Mr. Moore is not an alumnus
of the college, he has been for sew
eral years identified with it. He
served on it's board OF visitors under
the original charter granted by the
English king and queen before the
college was taken over by the state
His Phi Beta Kappa key was given
him by the college last June, and the
college conferred on him it's degree
OF doctor OF laws. He is the last
recipient of that honor, which was
first conferred on Mr.. Jefferson. Last
December he delivered an address a.
the college on the anniversary OF
the PRONUNCIATION OF the Monroe
doctrine, which has attracted wide al
tention. ...
Representing the Mount Vernon
Va, district Mr.. Moore entered
the Sixty-sixth Congress to fill q
vacancy, and in a comparatively brie1
time achieved national recognition.
He is being urged as a candidate foC
Governor of Virginia.
On December 5, 1875, the Phi Bets
Kappa fraternity came into being. a.
the college OF William and Mary. The
spirit of patriotism and zeal for the
promotion OF cultural activities
which marked it's founders then and
in after years, was notable, and is
a. treasured inheritance Of the FRA
ternity today. 4 few years after its
formation the society granted char
ters to Harvard and Yale univer-
stiles. thus beginning the growth OF
the fraternity to an organization OF
ninety-tuo chapters and more than
10000 members.
The desire to honor these founders
of Phi Beta Kappa by the erection
Of a memorial building at William
and Mary has long been cherished
by many members of the fraternity
and has been approved by the Pm
Beta Kappa senate.
Plans in contemplation for the
erection OF the Phi Beta Kappa
memorial call for the restoration, a
a part Of the building, Of the famous
Apollo room, where, tradition has It
was held the first meeting Of Phi
Beta Kappa. The minutes show that
many other meetings especially an
niversary celebrations, were held
there.
The Apollo room was the meeting
room of old Raleigh Tavern, famous
in revolutionary days as the ren-
devious of the notables who throns-
ed Williamsburg. the colonial cap
ital OF Virginia. Memb-rs Of the
house Of burgesses and patriots such
as George Washington, Thomas JET
ferson. Patrick Henry. George Wythc
and John Marshall were accustomed
to converse on weighty matters o.
state in this chamber. Public rather
ings were hold there.
1t is proposed to restore the Apollo
room in its original form. from exist
ing, authentic sketches, as a meeting
room for Phi Beta Kappa member
and as a museum for the prese<va-
tion of historical material and mem
III olox trc % -
ers whose connection with the famed
chamber was so intimate
Losing, the historian, in his Field
Book of the Revolution" wrote in
1S4s that "the Raleigh Tavern end
the Apollo room are to Virginia, reia-
lively, what Faneuil Hall is to Mas
sachusetts."