Lake Forest College - Forester Yearbook (Lake Forest, IL)

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I6 THE FORESTER. HERE can be no true college, and no true college spirit, unless there ex- ists among the students some form of organization which is exclu- sively controlled by themselves, and which tends to contribute to their mental and social betterment. These organizations form the links which bind students so close to each otherg these make possible the associations and staunch friendships, without which but a small part of college life is en- joyed, and perhaps above all they are the source of the most pleasant rec- ollections of a college career, and recollections which last of all will fade away when memory finally refuses to perform her duty. THE FOUNDATION. Such unions most frequently take the form of fraternities or literary societies, and their formation has become to be almost co-ordinate with the dedication of a college. Lake Forest proved to be no exception to this ex- cellent custom, and while its future was a very uncertain quantity even among its most hopeful friends and staunchest supporters, the members of the first Freshman class took the initial step in the formation of a society which should develop the social and intellectual side of their nature. This move- ment resulted in the formation of the Athenaean Literary Society. Novem- ber 24, 1876, but two months after the opening of the College, this pioneer band of young people laid the foundations for the first college society. A paper was drawn up similar to the following: At Lake Forest University the members of the first Freshman class whose names are written below hereby organize themselves into an associa- tion to be called the Athenzean Lite1'ary Society: Anna Farwell, Josephine L. White, Oriella Schuyler, Allie E. Smith, joseph F. Kohout, Alfred E. Barr, Eben H. Wells, Charles F. Ward, Harvey VV. Converse, XVarner XV. Dickinson, VVilliam R. Scott, J. Dunlap Smith. joseph F. Koliout was perhaps the leading spirit in the work of construc- tion, but he was ably assisted by Eben H. Wells, Charles F. Ward and Anna Farwell. The constitution was written by Eben H. Wells who even then showed signs of that ability, which undoubtedly would have brought him to the front ranks of his profession, had he not been snatched from life at the very moment when fruit was promising to appear. THE FIRST MEETING. The first meeting of the Athenae-an was held in one of the recitation rooms in the only building then owned by the College. This building was

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THE FORESTER. 'Che Atlyenaean fitevarg Sociefg. SOCIETI' COLOREWBZM- and LL m'f.-. H. S. TIMEERLAKE, W. U. HALBERT, H. BETTEN, C. G. SMITI-I, I. E. CARVER, H. R. REYNOLDS, ARTHUR D. COULTER. JOHN G, COULTER. HERMAN I. BETTEN. MAURICE K. BAKER. JOHN E. CARVER, OFFICERS. MEMBERS. '95- ERNEST M. FRAIJENEURGH. WILLIAM R. NASH. '96. '97- HENRX' B. CRAGIN, IR. WILLIAM U. HALBERT. ARTHUR J. REID. '98. DONALD KENNEDY. BURXVELL S. CUTLER. WALTER A. GRAFF. FOSTER MCNARX'. HARRX' R. REYNOLDS. President. Vice-President. Secretary. Critic. Treasurer. Sergeant-at-Arms. CHARLES O. PARRISH. CHARLES G. SMITH. MARION VVOOLSEY. ROBERT L. ROBERTS. HABIILTON G. TIRIBERLAKE FREDERICK C. SMITH. IUDSON I. VVILLIAZKIS.

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rffa F0A'5sT1f1c. I 7 situated upon the Blair Lodge lawn. The regular time for meeting was fixed at 2:00 P. BI. on Fridays. There were no class scraps at Lake For- est in those days for obvious reasons, athletic teams were unknown, and the interests of all were concentrated in bringing up this infant in the way it should go. J. Dunlap Smith was elected the first President, but on account of leaving school he only presided at one meeting, Charles F. VVard being elected to succeed him. He, too, sad to relate, was called by his Maker when he had just entered the portals of a successful career. The other ofhcers were Anna Farwell, Secretary, Allie Smith, Treasurer, joseph F. Kohout, Critic, and the Misses Wfhite and Schuyler, Editors of the lipm Pff'1'm'1z!n. This paper, originated by the society's founders, has ever held, and still holds a warm place in every Athenaean's heart, and it is still issued at frequent intervals. It has been a true society paper, and there are few, indeed, who have not felt the weight of its fearless columns in well-timed hits THE SOCIETY I5 BURNED OUT. December 19, 1877, the College building was burned to the ground, and as the Athenzean was the College itself, it too was homeless. But, noth- ing daunted, a room was secured in the Old Hotel and work went on as before. Meetings were held there until june, 1878, when quarters were obtained in the Old Academy, which stood on the present site of the Durand Art Institute, and in the fall of 1878 the Society obtained temporary quar- ters in the new College Hall. THE ZETA EPSILON. The year 1878 was an eventful year in Lake Forest's history. The dis- tressing conditions caused by the fire of 1877 were righted through the efforts of Dr. Gregory, and the present College Hall erected. And in student cir- cles it was rendered historical by a split in the Old Athenaian and the forma- tion of the Zeta Epsilon Society by the rebellious faction. Laying aside the traditional reason for all such movements that they spring from a lofty desire for better literary work and more efficient training, it must be admitted that the rebellion was caused by nothing more romantic than a common quar- rel between members of the Athenzean. Out of the quarrel arose the Zeta Epsilon society. The leaders in this new movement were B. Fay Mills, John D. Pope and John Tarble. Not long before this, the ladies had de-