Denison University - Adytum Yearbook (Granville, OH)

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liiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiii lit: Theta, 1853 Ohio Wesleyan University. Iota, 1854 Hanover College. Kappa, 1847 Brown University. Lambda, 1845 University of Michigan. Mu, 1854 Cumberland University. Nu, 1881 Union College. Xi, 1873 Randolph-Macon College. Omicron, 18 ' )5 University of Virginia. Pi, 1845 .Indiana University. Rho, 1873 Northwestern University. Sigma, 1875 Stevens ' Institute. Tau, 1845 Wabash College. Upsilon, 1876 Boston University. Phi, 1880 University of Pennsylvania. Chi, 1860 Beloit College, Psi, 1859 Bethany College. Omega, 1879 University of California. Alpha Alpha, 1881 Columbia College. Alpha Beta, 1866 University of Iowa. Alpha Gamma, 1867 Wittenberg College. Alpha Delta, 1868 AVestminster (Mo.) College. Alpha Epsilon, 1868 Iowa Wesleyan College. Alpha Eta, 1868 Denison University. Alpha Kappa, 1871 Richmond College. Alpha Lambda, 1872 University of Wooster. Alpha Nu, 1872 University of Kansas. Alpha Pi, 1872 University of Wisconsin. Alpha Sigma, 1874 Dickinson College. Alpha Chi, 1878 Johns-Hopkins University. Beta Alpha, 1879 Kenyon College. Beta Beta, 1879 University of Mississippi. Beta Gamma, 1870 Rutgers College. Beta Delta, 1874 Cornell University. Beta Zeta, 1875 St. Lawrence University. Beta Eta, 1878 Maine State College. Beta Theta, 1880 Madison University. Beta Kappa, 1842 Western Reserve University. 17 lilililllililililllMlllililill

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-BETA THETA PL The fraternity of the Beta Theta Pi was founded at Miami Uni- versity, Oxford, Ohio, July 4th, 1839. Its founders all received invitations to join the Alpha Delta Phi, then the only fraternity in existence west of New York, but, with characteristic western pluck, they resolved to establish a new i: ' aternity on the basis of close and enduring friendship. At first the number of members was limited to nine in a chapter, and, while this restriation has been removed, the fraternity has always favored small chapters, believing in the rule Qualitas non Quantitas. Although there were several chapters in the east in early days, they were all withdrawn before 1850. After the close of the Rebellion, which crippled college interests everywhere, only six chapters were in existence. Since 1865, how- ever, the best of the dead chapters have been revived, and new ones have been started in favorable localities. An alliance with the eastern fraternity of Alpha Sigma Chi, in 1879, gave Beta Theta Pi a firm foothold in the east, and now the dominion of the wreath and stars extends from Maine to California, and Beta Theta Pi alone can claim the title of a National Fraternity, as the following chapter list will show : Beta, 1840 Ohio University Gamma, 1842 Washington and Jefferson College. Delta, 1845 Indiana Asbury University. Epsllon, 1842 Centre College. Zeta, 1850 Hampden Sydney College. Eta, 1843 Harvard College. 16

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Among the eminent sons of Beta Theta Pi appear the names of men prominent in every walk of life. A brief summary of Betas, who have held honored positions at different times, gives one Vice President of the United States ; 3 Associate Justices of the United States Supreme Court ; 8 U. S. Senators ; 30 Congressmen (5 at pres- ent) ; 3 Ministers Plenipotentiary ; 12 Governors ; 1 Secretary of the Interior; 12 Justices of State Supreme Courts: 19 State Officers ; 56 State Senators ; 121 Members of State Legislatures ; 50 College Presi dents, and 158 College Professors, besides many men eminent in lower walks of life. Of those we mention Hon. Schuyler Colfax ; Senators Voorhees and McDill ; Ex-Senators McDonald, Booth, Harlan and B. Gratz Brown ; the late Hon. 0. P. Morton, of Indiana; M. E. Latham, of New York, and others ; Governors Porter, of Indiana ; Crittenden, of Missouri ; and Nance, of Neb.; Ex-Governors Matthews, of W. Va.; and Hardin, of Missouri ; General James A. Beaver, and Hon. M. S. Qaay, of Pennsylvania ; John Bascom, President of the University of Wisconsin ; Ormond Beatty, President of Centre College ; W. T. Reid, President of the University of California ; C. N. Sims, Chancellor of Syracuse University; D. H. Moore, President of the University of Colorado ; A. D. Hepburn, Ex-President of Miami University, and President of Davidson College. Among College Professors the more prominent are: C. A. Young, of Princeton; Kirkwood, of Wooster; the late J. C. Watson, of Ann Arbor ; T. C. Mendenhall, of Ohio State University, and others. The Decennial Catalogue of the fraternity, just issued under the direction of Charles J. Seaman, Alpha Eta, 1871, is the finest frater- nity catalogue ever published, surpassing the elegant Psi Upsilon cat- alogue of 1879. It contains the names of about four thousand mem- bers, filling over four hundred pages, and is handsomly illustrated by armorial bearings prefacing each chapter ' s showing. The fraternity is now engaged in the preparation of a song book, which, like the 5atalogue, will eclipse every previous attempt of Greek Letter Societies. 18