^ -•'A' ^•^ ^ •» " .. "« 1^ fib ^ \ — t t * * w P3 >.*; ' : O \"'-. *.f-4 2 I 1 * y * W O >-• ••! Pi The SCROLL of PHI DELTA THETA. VOL. XII.—OCTOBER, 1887.—No. i. EUGENE H. L. RANDOLPH, MANAGING EDITOR. OLD FRATERNITY RECORDS. THE documents herewith published have been selected from the archives of the three oldest Chapters—Ohio Alpha, Indiana Alpha, and Kentucky Alpha—from the letters preserved by one of the founders, Robert Morrison, and from my own collection of fraternity papers. They throw a flood of light upon the early history of the fraternity, and it is exceedingly fortunate that they have survived the ravages of time. With a few exceptions, the papers are printed in the order in which they were written. WALTER B. PALMER. 1849. Fredericktown, Ohio, October 14,1880.—Mr. Walter B. Palm­ er, Dear Brother: I have been extremely busy since the recep­ tion of your letter of September 2d, but I have been trying to re­ call the past incidents connected with the early history of the ^ A 9, and so meager is my recollection that it is with great re­ luctance that I attempt to give them to you. When I left col­ lege I carried with me no papers relating to the order, excepting the Bond that is now in your possession. My recollection is that it was founded in December, 1848, consisting of six members, viz.: Robert Morrison, Ardivan W. Rodgers, Andrew W. Rogers, John McM. Wilson, Robert T. Drake, and myself. In the Au­ gust vacation of 1849 I came to Kenyon College, and by order of our (P A 6, initiated my brother, Joseph Lindley, and Columbus S. Doolittle, who were students of Kenyon, and graduated the next year. Our object was to found a Chapter at Kenyon, but other societies were so prominent that the project was aban­ doned. During the next college year we had several accessions from the new students, and Prof. O. N. Stoddard, Prof. Charles Elliott, and President Wm. C. Anderson were made honorary members. The Alphas and Betas both had their representatives in Miami University at the time of our organization, and mem­ bership was tendered some of our members, but their oflFer was 2 THE SCROLL. declined. The famous "snow rebellion" occurred about this time, which resulted in the expulsion of one-half the students, di­ vided the faculty, and well-nigh broke up the University. The members of the ^ A Q, both before and after its organization, stood up for order and the old University, and worked for her in­ terests, and we were permitted to see her old halls again filled with students. Two of our number—Morrison and Wilson— graduated in 1849, and Drake and myself in • 1850. I com­ menced teaching in Eastern Ohio immediately, and never met with the order but twice afterward—once in 1851 and once in 1853—and then for a long time I lost all trace of the workings of the order, and my interest was not again thoroughly aroused un­ til a year ago last June by the grand reunion at Wooster Univer­ sity. So you will not wonder that I have forgotten so much of the early workings of the brotherhood. You ask me who con­ ceived the idea. I think perhaps it was Morrison. Then we prepared the Bond and Constitution, and then put our heads to­ gether to devise the most appropriate name, which resulted in the one we bear. Then we concentrated our tastes to work out the neat badge we wear. Truly yours, J. W. Lindley. Warrensburg, Mo., December 15, 1879.—W. A. Black, In­ dianapolis, Dear Sir: I have neglected too long the answer to your letter. John McM. Wilson, Ardivan W. Rodgers, Robert Morrison, R. T. Drake, J. W. Lindley, and myself were the first members. John McM. Wilson drew up the Bond, with the as­ sistance of all of us except Drake. He (Drake) did not know of the matter until the Bond was ready for signatures. I think we were all a committee on Constitution. Bob Morrison and I were a committee on the badge (pin). Wilson ,was a regular antiqua­ rian book-worm, being posted on ancient history and customs, law, and theology of the old Covenanter's school. Hence he was considered the master spirit in giving shape to every thing of a permanent character. Bob Morrison was much the same; Ardi­ van W. Rodgers was not so well posted, but a man of sound judg­ ment and a very high-minded gentleman. There's one feature of our society, possibly not at that time, at least, found in any other, to wit: the recognition of the fact tbat moral culture is an essen­ tial to a finished education. Hence the embodiment of that prin­ ciple signified by the third letter, and hence the necessity which brought this society into existence more than any thing else. I may not be entirely correct about all the names. I have had no means of refreshing my mind for years. All my old catalogues of the college have been destroyed by fire, my office having beei\ burned twice since the war, and all contents destroyed. I recol­ lect distinctly about Drake signing the Bond, and how solicitous w^ all were lest he should refuse. Others were added to the list, I think, before we permanently organized; but lest I make a mis- THE SCROLL. 3 take, I will not attempt to write more. Yours truly, Andrew W Rogers. Oxford, O., June 4, 1849.—Dear Sir: Owing to circumstances over which I had no control, I am a little later in addressing you than I had expected to be, but I am now definitely on hand. The form and general appearance of the drawing last made meets with the approbation of those concerned. Let the thing be the size spoken of, viz.: that of the specimen drawn, except the border and the breadth made slightly less. It is to have a border proportionate in size and width to the drawing, neatly chased (as was spoken of) in the best style. The principal space contained within the border to be occupied by the scroll, the Greek letters 9 A Q \a have an appropriate place on the scroll, and if the scroll can be well and sufficiently represented, in order to preserve the proper relative proportions to the pin and the let­ ters and look in no wise cramped, place the all-seeing eye above, not in, the scroll. If that cannot be, leave out the eye entirely. The scroll is essential; the eye is not, though it would be appro­ priate if it and the scroll had proper room. The letters on the scroll, perhaps by the shading, had better appear to be raised, though if they could be rendered more prominent by being cut into the gold, and the space thus made filled with ever during changeless black, do that. The object is to have them appear as if on the scroll, and yet be the prominent thing thereon. The whole pin to be solid gold of the thickness of a new Spanish quarter-dollar, or thereabouts, the edge to be left at your discretion, keeping in mind that severe plainness and beauty is the thing de­ sired. The back to be left plain, as that will be the place for the wearer's name. The general outline, of course, to be, as the draw­ ing represents, a handsome shield. Please to make one of sixteen carats fineness, and when done let me know, in order that it may be examined before any others are made like it. AVe suppose that $8.50 (eight and a half dollars), or thereabouts, will be fine enough for us—not in any case to exceed ten dollars. The preceding letter fills a page of foolscap, but there is no sig­ nature. The sheet was forwarded to Robert Morrison for identi­ fication, and he indorsed the following on the back: Aurora Springs, Mo., July 5, 1887.—I recognize the words on the opposite page to be in my handwriting, and can identify the paper to a certainty. It was directed to J. P. Beggs, of the jew­ elry firm Beggs & Smith, in Cincinnati. I had seen ]Mr. Beggs, and had made an arrangement with him to do the work referred to in this paper, and this paper is only a written statement of my verbal or oral direction previously given. The scroll and ite Greek lettering were the joint work of Wilson and myself, and all the rest of the plan entirely my own thought. I think, in the letter of which this is one page, that the second page, containing 4 THE SCROLL. my signature, was torn ofi" and lost; that had on it also the direc­ tion. Envelopes were not in use then with letters as now. Rob­ ert Morrison. According to your direction to notify you of the completion of a pattern society pin made to your order, we have now the pleas­ ure of doing so. We would have sent it up to you had an oppor­ tunity presented itself. We think you will be pleased with it, and perhaps you may suggest some alterations, which can be made on the balance.—Beggs & Smith, Cincinnati, to Robert Morrison, June 12, 1849. By Rev. Mr. Rogers we send pin for you to look at. The scroll we think rather too small, but the engraver thinks it the proper proportion. We suppose it might be made longer and wider, so as to allow the Greek characters to be somewhat larger.