Evening star., 1925-05-10


for nearly $50 years supreme
i and unchallenged for intellec-
tual attainments and pubnc
leadership; that now has more than
100 chapters established in every
State in the Union and more than
1000 living members scattered all
over the worlds about to celebrate
it's sesquicentennial at its birthplace,
old Williams and Mary College, VIII
liamsburg, Va, which was nearly
century old before the Revolution.
Having furnished II Presidents of
the United States and 8 Vice PreSl-
dents, % members of the hall of fame,
&c justices of the Supreme Court or
the United States, of whom have
been Chief Justice, and 5 members
who have won the Nobel peace prize,
the Phi Beta Kappa feels 1t has taken
an honorable part in the history ana
progress of this Nation.
And this tells no part of the noble
work done by individuals among the
so founders, then boys in their teens,
during the historic years when TINS
Government took it's place among the
nations of the earth. Practically every
one of those 80 founders won honor
able distinction, and their descendants
are preparing to erect a memorial
building in their honor at old William
and Mary College. The corner stone of
this building will be laid this month.
The big celebration comes on Decem'
ber 8, 1926, and pretentious plans are
being made, but between now and
then practically every Phi Beta
Kappa Chapter will conduct pilgrim
age to the old shrine of learning and
patriOtism. These pilgrimages will be
started this month for the corner
stone. ceremonies by the Phi Beta
Kappa Association of the District of
Columbia, which has 106 members
from chapters scattered aK over the
United States.
Senator Beveridge, in his life of
Chief Justice John Marshall (who was
one of the 80 founders). speaks of 1775
as the epic year"-the year of the
Boston riots. Paul Revere's ride. the
battle of Lexington and Concord, of
VirSinia's preparation for the Revolu-
tion, armed resistance to the mother
country and Washington taking com
mand of the troops on Cambridge
Common. DR.. j. A. G. Chandler. presi-
dent of William and Mary College,
similarly calls 1776 "the epoch year.
in that it marked the organization and
formation of republican forms of gov
ernment by nearly all of the thirteen
original States and PRONUNCIATION of
the Declaration of Independence. 1t
was in December of that year. when
Washington was retreating with his
army across New Jersey, and il looked
as If the patriots cause was all but
lost, within less than a mile of the
historic capitol of Virginia, where Pat
rick Henry had offered his famous
stamp act resolutions, where Wash
ington sat as a burgess and where
even then the Virginia Assembly
1lniar q wis
rick Henry. was planning to raise
more troops for Continental service.
that the Phi Beta Kappa Fraternity
was born.
i; x = :.
TWENTY-S students had left
William and Mary College in the
Spring of 1876 at the close of the old
Hilary term palm Sunday to enter
Washington's Army. and among these
was James Monroe, afterward Presi-
dent of the United States
Thomas Jefferson, who drafted the
Declaration of Independence. was an
alumnus of William and Mary. and
had been member of the Flat Hat
Club OF that college. predecessor of
the Phi Beta Kappa Society. He
was preceptor, friend and adviser of
some of the leaders among these
founders. so that his strong and
beneficial influence helped to guide the
Phi Beta Kappa in it's formative years.
For nearly a century and a half
since the date of its foundation, mem
bers of this fraternity have shaped
the destinies of this republic. been
outstanding leaders in the legislative
executive and judicial branches of
Government and in public life. had
charge of the education of the youth
of the land, contributed the best of our
literature. led in their professions and
in scientific advancement and ex-
emplified in every respect the high
est type of American manhood.
The so founders themselves-those
ambitious, forward-looking, earnest
young men of surprising vision and
foresight who originated the first
chapter of this great fraternity that
has spread all over the world-set a
world record for public service For
group of college students, their rec
ord in the Revolutionary Army was
truly remarkable, for it is known that
80 of the so saw service, either in the
State militia or in the Continental
line. And there is a strong probability
that some of the 20 others were like
wise in the Revolutionary Army.
Never in the history of any college
organization of students did so large
a percentage attain to distinction in
after life as the members of this
group. Nineteen were members of the
Virginia Legislature. Ten had seats
in the convention of 1888 that ratified
the Constitution of the United States
on the part of Virginia. Two served
in the diplomatic service, one through
a long period of years. Two We're
members of the Continental Congress.
One became secretary and another
was in 1889 chosen the first secretary
of the national House of Representa-
tives. Two were members of the