Nu Chapter at Hampden-Sydney College was installed on January 24, 1914. Located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, their installation marked Theta Chi's first chapter south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Hampden-Sydney, founded prior to the American Revolution in 1776, is the oldest private charter college in the southern United States and is currently the oldest of the three remaining all-men's liberal arts colleges in the country.
In January 1911, four students formed a local fraternity named Delta Delta (or Delta Deuteron, the names being interchangeable) and started a movement to revive the inactive chapter of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. In 1912, a petition was formally presented to Phi Gamma Delta but strained relationships with the nearby chapter of Phi Gamma Delta at the University of Virginia caused Delta Delta to withdraw its petition and reconsider its next steps. After meeting with faculty members Walter J. Young and William O. Beazley (both members of Kappa Chapter at the University of Pennsylvania; Beazley was Kappa's first President) Delta Delta chose to cast its lot with their professors and submitted their petition to Theta Chi Fraternity.
Following their installation, the men of Nu Chapter shared the same spirit of expansion as Professors Young and Beazley. Indeed, many of Theta Chi's earliest expansion efforts can trace their roots back to Nu members: William P. Hazelgrove (Xi 1916), a member of Delta Delta, was responsible for Xi Chapter at the University of Virginia, installed just two days after Nu on January 26, 1914. Dr. James H.C. Winston (1894) inspected both groups that became Chi at Auburn University and Tau at the University of Florida and attended Tau's installation. E.B. Bridges (1916) founded the local fraternity that later became the Alpha Eta Chapter at the University of North Carolina. James L. Thornton (1922) transferred to West Virginia University and aided the men that would install Alpha Kappa Chapter. Bernard A. McIlhany (1918) investigated the local fraternity that became Alpha Nu Chapter at Georgia Tech. McIlhany served on the Grand Chapter 1920-1924 and then worked for the Fraternity as a Traveling Secretary 1924-1926 and investigated 15 or more colonies and attended ten installations. Harvey Buck (1920) transferred to the University of Delaware and aided that local Fraternity in selecting Theta Chi and helped to install Alpha Xi Chapter. Finally, football player Henry "Hank" Crisp (1919) began a long coaching career at the University of Alabama. Not only did he aid in the installation of the Alpha Phi Chapter, he assisted with the recruitment of a young player named Paul W. Bryant - and later helped to recruit him to coach at Alabama.
Two of Nu's Charter members made notable achievements: Dr. Walter S. Newman (1916) was a founding member of the Future Farmers of Virginia, which was used as a model for establishing the Future Farmers of America. Newman later served as President of Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) from 1947-1962. Leigh Buckner Hanes (1916) was a reknowned writer and was appointed Poet Laureate of Virginia in 1949.
Congratulations to the alumni and undergraduate brothers of Nu Chapter on 100 years - and pioneering Theta Chi's expansion to colleges and universities in the South!
In honor of their Centennial Celebration, we are running the original article about Nu Chapter's Installation from the April 1914 issue of The Rattle. Included is the entire address delivered by National President Robert L. Irish, Alpha/Norwich 1889:
Installation of Nu Chapter
The installation of Nu Chapter at Hampden-Sidney College on Saturday, January 24, 1914, marked a new era for Theta Chi, for the South crossed, and its first chapter planted south of the Mason Dixon line. Now Delta Delta Fraternity, which was absorbed, is no more, but her members feel proud to constitute the Nu Chapter of Theta Chi, and hope to carry forward nobly, with the aid of Xi Chapter at the University of Virginia, the standard, the traditions and the aims of Theta Chi, which so long have existed alone for our brothers of the North, in the fair and sunny South.
Although we are geographically distant from the majority of our brothers, yet we feel as close as any would feel, for we know that the indomitable Theta Chi spirit and enthusiasm knows no bounds and recognizes no distance, however great it may be. This spirit and enthusiasm has reached us through the medium of the brothers who conducted and who were present at our installation, and – we are going to keep it.
Dr. Irish and Brother Huntley arrived at Hampden-Sydney on Friday, January 23, and Brother Clark followed the day after, thus completing the initiation committee proper. Brother W.J. Young, Kappa, ’11, arrived from Richmond early Saturday morning to be present at the exercises. Brother Young has been, perhaps, the most potent factor in the establishment of Nu Chapter; and we would have felt that the installation was incomplete, had he not been present. Also along with Secretary Clark came Brother E.A. Shrader and Brother R.S. Powell, both active members and delegates from Kappa. Also we have had with us all the session Dr. W.O. Beazley, Kappa, ’12, who has been of great assistance to us all along.
Saturday, the day of the installation, was a wet and gloomy day, although it was sandwiched in between two bright and beautiful ones. However, the gloom on the outside was fully counteracted by the cheer and good spirit which existed within. The installation exercises were commenced at 4 o’clock in the afternoon and lasted until 7 in the evening. The ceremonies were impressive, to say the least, and every man who participated. Whatever may have been his part, I am sure will never forget the 24th of January, 1914.
The meeting was adjourned at 7 p.m., all of the routine business being completed, and at 7:30 the whole company repaired to the “Grotto”, not far distant from the chapter house, where the banquet was served. Besides the above named visitors and members of Nu Chapter, there were present at the banquet Dr. H.T. Graham; P. Tulane Atkinson, national secretary of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity; Dr. W.J. King, the college pastor; Professor W.H. Whiting, George L. Walker and an active member from each of the four other fraternities represented here at Hampden-Sidney College. The details of the menu cannot be entered into, but suffice it to say that, from our standpoint, at least, the banquet was an entire success. The feature of the menu, allow me to say, was quail that had been killed for the occasion by loyal members of Nu Chapter.
After completion of the menu, Brother Payne, the toastmaster of the occasion, called upon Mr. Atkinson for some remarks. As a response Mr. Atkinson gave us a fine address, in which he reviewed the fraternity history of the college, the rise and fall of various fraternities and the status of each active chapter here at present; and, in conclusion, he heartily welcomed Theta Chi into the brotherhood of fraternities at Hampden-Sidney College. Next Brother Payne read to the company some of the numerous telegrams of congratulation and encouragement, received during the day from the sister chapters, all of which were received with applause, especially the one from California. Also he read a letter from the New York Alumni Chapter, expressing in essence the same sentiment as the telegrams. The next speaker of the evening was National Secretary E. Wesson Clark. Brother Clark discussed the relation of Theta Chi to the other fraternities, and also the progressive and, incidentally, southern movement of the Fraternity. The last man to speak was Dr. H. Tucker Graham, the college president. His speck dealt with the relation of fraternities to college life in general, and to the advancement of scholarship in particular.
After all of the guests had departed, the Theta Chi men returned to the chapter House, where an informal but extremely important meeting was held. The feature of this meeting, and I may say of the entire installation exercises, was the speech then delivered by National President Irish. In this magnificent address, he rehearsed in detail the history, with its fluctuations in both directions of Theta Chi. This history incidentally included much of the history of Norwich University which was quite welcome to all of us, since it was new to most, and of prime importance to us all, for the reason that at Norwich is the mother chapter of Theta Chi.
At the request of Nu Chapter the original address was given to us by Brother Irish, and will forever be preserved as one of the most cherished documents of Nu Chapter. At the request of Brother Powell of Kappa, a copy is to be sent to Pennsylvania. Short talks were also made by Brother Young, Brother Beazley and Brother C.E. Clarke, one of the Delta Delta alumni to be initiated along with the active chapter. When the meeting was adjourned, all felt that the day had been a momentous and significant one, we hope to Theta Chi, and we are sure to the former members of Delta Delta, now the active members of Nu Chapter.
Our visitors remained until Sunday morning at 12 o’clock, when the official committee left. Brother Young and the delegates from Kappa left that evening at 6. The day was bright enough to allow those who had cameras to make some snap shots, which, we trust, will be good ones and that they will make the events of the two days more impressive in our memories, if such is possible.
Ben D. Morton
Address delivered before Nu Chapter by Dr. Robert L. Irish, President of the Grand Chapter.
Brothers of Nu Chapter of Theta Chi: -- To say that I am glad to be with you this evening to assist in launching your chapter on its way is putting it very mildly indeed. It is for us few of her older brothers to welcome you young men to our Fraternity, whose underlying principles you have heard expounded this afternoon; and it is for you who are yet young in Theta Chi to now begin to realize their value and to learn to love and to honor her as we who have lived long years in her brotherhood have come to do. As we feel tonight, so may you in the years to come be brought to feel a just appreciation of blessings bestowed and benefits derived, of college life made brighter, of manhood developed, ad of results that count, achieved.
It is among my most pleasant duties to tell you something of the early history and life of Theta Chi; in doing so I most earnestly trust that I shall be able to inculcate in each one of you somewhat of this regard and of this love we each and all hold for our Fraternity; but whatever success may be my portion in this endeavor, time alone will enable you as individuals to develop it and to expand it so that you and we may receive the fullest benefits.
Let us start at the beginning, and even then go back a little further. (Pardon the bull, but remember my name is Irish.) In April 1856 at Norwich, Vt., Theta Chi was first established. For 47 years at that institution it existed as a local society, her life during this long period varying in prosperity as did the fortunes of that small college which gave her birth, that sterling institution now so firmly established among the “Green Hills”, as we call our mountains there, of Vermont.
The Fraternity was the masterly conception of Arthur Chase, ’56, and Frederick Freeman, ’57; the badge design and name of the Fraternity were suggested by Egbert Phelps, ’55. The young men did their work well, so well that until this day it has not been found necessary or desirable to change in the slightest their ideas, or to remodel the principles as at that time evolved and laid down to them, nor indeed could they be well improved upon. Additions, it is true, and a few minor changes have been made in the ritual and in chapter work, but in these it was found that the entwinement and embodiment of these ideas of Freeman and Chase served but to strengthen and to vitalize the work in hand. Without them Theta Chi would be no more; with them always in mind, her purpose is being fulfilled.
To understandingly follow the development of Theta Chi, you must bear with we while I tell you some things about Norwich University, the dear Alma Mater of all Alpha men. It was established in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge, a former commandant at West Point. It was known as the American Literary and Scientific and Military Academy from 1819 to 1834. Captain Partridge had met with unusual success in his administration of affairs at the Military Academy at West Point. His was the idea, and he has justly been credited with it, first tried out and found good at West Point, then instituted at Norwich, that a practical and scientific military training should be incorporated into the prevailing system of education; that he was right is proven by the almost universal adoption of the idea by the colleges of the country.
In 1834 the Vermont Legislature granted a charter creating this institution Norwich University. From then until the outbreak of the Civil War, its prosperity was marked, and the work done was of such high character as to warrant and secure the attendance of cadets from every State of the Union as well as from many foreign countries.
Here on April 10, 1856, Theta Chi was established, this early date ranking her among the older of American college frats. One year later, as all good things are imitated, the “hated rival,” Alpha Sigma Pi was founded and still exists at Norwich as a prosperous “local.” I mention this fact here because of the deep and undying rivalry existing between these societies at Norwich, and because many of our oldest and dearest traditions hang upon the warfare, for indeed it has always been such that has been waged between them there. For more than 50 years these two were the only fraternities at Norwich, and you will not force the imagination much to picture cadet life where practically all the corps being to one or the other. Today they have five fraternities there and as a result life is much more endurable.
Provision was made in the beginning for fraternity extension, but for various reasons no chapter was chartered until December 1902, when Beta at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was founded.
I think that you should all know that Theta Chi has seen her hard times, and I want you all to remember, that, no matter how hard she may have been pressed and whatever troubles it was her part to meet and to overcome, she has never swerved from her ideals, and that it is her proud boast that her principles have never been departed from. At the outset of the war of ’61, Norwich was well-nigh depopulated, 75 percent of her cadets leaving to take active part on one side or the other; 69 4-10 percent of her total enrollment from 1833 to 1865 saw active service in one or more of the wars of those years, and of these men 59 percent were commissioned officers. These included 27 generals, 57 colonels, 150 captains, and a host of officers of lower rank. The navy, too, had her share of Norwich men, headed by 6 rear-admirals, and a man who in later years was created full admiral, John Dewey. This is a record to be proud of, indeed, for one of the smallest of American colleges, and this is the stock from which your old Alpha Chapter was recruited; among them were the men who established your fraternity and gave to it as a goodly heritage that “do or die” spirit, that good old “Theta Chi spirit” of which we are all so justly proud.
The exodus of students from the college at the beginning of the war placed our Fraternity as well as the institution itself on a very meager basis, and as a result there followed four hard, trying, lean years, both for Norwich and for Theta Chi. Their struggles were fought and won, however, and with the close of the war prosperity came again, but not for long, as there shortly followed what seemed bound to prove a final and fatal blow. In 1866, just 10 years after the founding of our society, a disastrous fire at Norwich destroyed her buildings and what little the war had left seemed bound to die.
Then, in response to an invitation from the people of Northfield, Vermont, the institution was moved to that town, at that time one of the most prosperous in the State, and here Old Norwich is today. Here the very hardest times of all were met and conquered. Here at first, and for many years, were lived their most trying days, days of discouragements, days filled with doubts and fears, days, when, but for that indomitable spirit which knows no surrender, both would have gone to the wall for good and all. I want to tell you that no farther back than 1881 the roster of cadets was reduced to less than a score of men, and the membership of Theta Chi too just one man, James M. Holland, Alpha, ’83. He, returning to college in the fall of 1881, found, much to his dismay, that he was the only active Theta on the grounds, while the “Sigs” had many more than twice that number. This was a time when the hated rivals, to all appearances, had good old Theta Chi almost down and out, and the rivalry of 26 years seemed about to end disastrously for us—but this was not to happen. With that spirit of which we are all so proud, Holland went to work, undaunted, with back to the wall, alone and unaided, and such was the fame and good name of Theta Chi, that he had little trouble in enlisting the much needed recruits. The first man landed was Henry B. Hersey, who in later years became major of the United States Army, well-known member of the United States Weather Bureau, or aeroplane service, and known to fame in the “pole by balloon” expedition.
It is to James M. Holland that we owe a debt which can never be paid. His is a history unique in college fraternity life. He saved Theta Chi. He is a great traveler, and I doubt not that you will see him here in the near future; when he comes, bear in mind the facts recorded, and give him the welcome that is his due.
In 1885, three years after the events just recorded, I was initiated into the Fraternity. I was the sixth Theta in college, all the remainder of the corps, about 25 in number, were members of the other society.—But, listen to what I shall now relate to you! Theta Chi led every class in which she had a man. As we had no member in the Junior class, it took just 50 percent of our active frat to do the trick. In order that you may know that I am not telling this from personal vanity, I want to tell you that I belonged to the other 50 percent (which sounds much better than if I had said, the other 3.) Now I have come to the later history of the Fraternity. With the beginning of ’89 in college, Theta Chi began to assume once more the lead in membership as well as in scholarship, which position she still retains at Norwich, and today she stands head and shoulders, above all competitors. This is against even heavier odds than formerly, in view of the existence of five fraternities there.
Mighty things have been accomplished from very small beginnings; “great oaks from little acorns grow,” and many of the colossal figures in American history have been reared in the “little red school house,” while still others have emerged from the log cabin of the plains; so it is with Theta Chi. Born in that little, and more or less obscure college in New England, she has advanced, and is progressing with gigantic strides; endowed with the virility, her heritage of a vigorous and strenuous youth, she has perpetuated her existence while fulfilling her mission as a goodly brotherhood, the while growing more and more able each day to hold the position which is now hers by right of lawful possession, taken withal from an unwilling past—a position well to the fore of the van of the leading American Greek letter college fraternities.
Briefly I wish to tell you about our various chapters—
Beta, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, established in early 1902. From an experimental and very humble beginning she was grown and prospered with a steadfastness most remarkable, until at date there is no better Greek chapter at that fine institution. Housed in a palatial home on Beacon street in the Back Bay district, they pay $1800 a year rent. Beta is now making plans to build a suitable house of her own, when the Institute moves to its new grounds, as it will be in a year or so. Two years ago she graduated 12 men with honor, every one giving up for his degree making good.
Gamma, at the University of Maine, owns and occupies one of the finest houses on the campus. She was organized in 1905, and was the beginning of the “across the continent” movement, which we have so recently completed at Berkeley, Cal., in the University of California. Gamma is prosperous, and is on a firm financial basis, and the same may be said, in truth, of each and every one of our chapters.
Delta, in the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, N.Y. was founded in 1908. Here Theta Chi is most strongly entrenched. This is one of the most prominent institutions in the country, and the standard of scholarship is very high. Although Delta started with a positive handicap, as they had no previous organization and were gotten together for the expressed purpose of petitioning Theta Chi, they have built up one of our very strongest chapters. They are most conservative and at the same time most progressive—if you understand what I mean—and most thoroughly imbued with that spirit of which I am so prone to speak, and which we are going to leave behind us here, or perish in the attempt. They have, a year ago, gone into one of the most complete frat houses in Troy, and they get the men they bid. It has been my very good fortune to have met the heads of every institution in which Theta Chi has a chapter; and, while they have, without exception, nothing but good words for our boys, never have I heard such unstinted praise as was given to me at Troy one of these men of Rensselaer, whom we should all be proud to hail as our brothers of Delta Chapter of Theta Chi.
Epsilon, at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute at Worcester, Mass. Here our men own and occupy their own house, a beautiful little home, delightfully situated, well appointed, and successfully managed. Organized in 1909, they are now a power among the fraternities at Worcester. They have won with regularity the inter-fraternity baseball championship; nor are their powers directed entirely along athletic lines, for they have yet to have their first man plucked in his final examinations. During the past year we have had a strong alumni chapter organized in Worcester; they hold monthly meetings at the Epsilon house, and are bound to be or material benefit to the boys there.
Here I might as well say that we have also strong Alumni Associations in Boston, New York, Burlington, Vt., Providence, R.I., and Pittsburg, as well as two more in process of formation at Chicago, Ill., and Los Angeles, Cal. This is a most healthy indication, showing that we have united alumni, and that they are awakening to the fact that they may still be of service to the Frat and of benefit to each other.
Zeta, at the New Hampshire State College in Durham, N.H., is comfortably housed in an old colonial mansion and is the most prosperous fraternity there. Professor Foster at the college is the editor of our Frat paper, “The Rattle,” and is, as you may judge, a most enthusiastic Theta; he is of great assistance, and an ever present source of encouragement to the boys of Zeta.
Eta, at the Rhode Island State College, Kingston, R.I., also has its being in a colonial house. Houses of this kind in the average college town make ideal homes for fraternities because of their roominess and comfort. Eta was the first representative of a national on the ground, and as a result has things all her own there. I do not wish to be misunderstood in this; Theta Chi never abuses her power, she is an eternal advocate of fair play; if the best man for a collegiate honor is a Theta, see to it that he gets it, but if he is excelled by another then remember that it Alma Mater first and always. It is the knowledge of this fact that has helped to make Theta Chi so royally welcomed at every college in which she, so far, has a representation.
Theta, Massachusetts Agricultural College at Amherst, Mass. Here we find “our farmers,” as they are pleased to call themselves. They have a strong chapter, doing fine work, and sending out men who are bound to make high mark in their chosen lines of endeavor.
Iota, Colgate University at Hamilton, N.Y. They are in a new house this year, almost opposite the entrance to the college grounds, and initiated 8 out of 9 men bid. That tells the story succinctly. Read their letter in the Rattle, and you will see for yourselves what they are doing.
Kappa, at the University of Pennsylvania, has made most remarkable progress since their installation a little more than two years ago. They have a scheme at work that might well be patterned after by all the chapters that do not own their own homes. It is this: they set aside all initiation fees as a fund for permanencies, such as first-class furnishings for the present, ultimately for the building of a home. It will not be many years before they will be able to build a house suitable for their needs which will be a credit to our Fraternity-at-large. Their membership is picked from the best men in college—as you men of Hampden-Sidney have good reason to know—and without exception they all stand well both in their classes and in the various college activities.
Lambda, at Cornell University, that great institution at Ithaca, N.Y. It was installed more than a year ago, but it was an old local long before this, and was firmly fixed among the nationals at that place. They are in a home for which they are paying $2000 a year rent, and you know it takes “some” chapter to do that. I want to tell you that we have a request from another local there, owning a $25,000 house, to join Lambda in a body and bring their house with them—which request was rejected. Also, that the day we installed Lambda, two other locals at Cornell petitioned us to take them in.
Mu, at the University of California. Here on the 8th of last November, Theta Chi entered the largest institution of learning in the West. The Unity Club, which we absorbed, was one of the oldest of the locals there, established in 1903, and had a total membership of 70 men. Of these all except 13 were initiated at the installation of the new chapter, the others, with but a single exception, are to be entered on the roll of the chapter within a year. They are a wonderful lot of young men; to show the enthusiasm and spirit in which they joined Theta Chi, I want you to know that in many instances hundreds of miles were traversed in order that the men might be present on the all important day. They are housed in a beautiful home, and were left by Brother Huntley and myself thoroughly equipped to carry on the work of our Fraternity in the far West.
Now, young men of Theta Chi, I want to impress upon you that your Fraternity makes the proud boast of an ancient heritage as college fraternities go, of a successful and prosperous career, achieved often under most perplexing difficulties, of an “esprit de corps” which is unassailable, and of the most enviable fact that she has no dead, no dying, no disbanded chapters, and that it is the continuance of these most remarkable conditions which is of the utmost concern to her governing body. It is the desire to see perpetuated this grand record that causes us to scan with the minutest care and to consider with the gravest anxiety every new petitioning body. Many are the petitions which have been rejected, one from Harvard University being among the number within the past year. Theta Chi desires more chapters, but ever have we before us the fact that a chain has the strength of its weakest link and no more; never must we forget that this fast growing chain of Theta Chi can never in its might exceed in strength or excel in reputation that of its weakest member, that of its least active chapter.
As the national head of your Fraternity it becomes part of my duty at this time to still further impress upon you who have just undertaken the responsibilities and the duties of a life in Theta Chi, the importance and the gravity of your task.
We hope that you have accepted this trust in the spirit in which it has been bestowed; for one, I am compelled to believe that each and every one of you will take up your work in Theta Chi from this starting point, and that as a matter of pride at first, and later of love, will labor without ceasing to maintain at the level upon which you find them both the name and reputation of Theta Chi which from this day forth is your Fraternity as well as ours; nor must this alone be the object of your ambition, but, you are to live in such a manner and to so maintain the dignity or your living, that, in pursuing for yourselves a life worthwhile, still better and still greater things shall of necessity accrue to Theta Chi.
We want you to fully appreciate that Theta Chi has among its chiefest aims the extension of the H—H—of good fellowship to the end of making you better and more earnest students, increasing your loyalty to Alma Mater, and of moulding in each a character stable and true, fitting and creditable to men among men. Hard, indeed, will it be for you to realize and to appreciate the feelings of love and devotion which we older brothers in Theta Chi cherish for our Fraternity, we, who, through her hard and trying years, did service that she might live, and, the feelings of joy and satisfaction that are ours today when she enters the broad and fertile field of our Southern States, especially as this advent comes so soon after her extension to the Pacific coast. As to the future of Theta Chi I will say that we already see many openings in the middle West, and, as you well know, on Monday next we have the pleasure of installing another chapter in the good old State of Virginia in the institution of learning founded by the illustrious Jefferson.
This time is ripe for college fraternity extension; the demand was never so great, nor was the field ever so fertile as today. If college fraternities are to continue and to hold their own in spite of the present misguided but apparently ill directed opposition, then must the percentage of fraternity men in the total enrollment of our larger institutions be raised until it will be possible to include within its limits every available man. This can be done by increasing the total number of both chapters and fraternities. You will see that this is bound to come, and we desire to see that Theta Chi shall be in the van of the movement. If this is so, in the not very distant future, we shall have a Theta Chi of at least 100 chapters, not one of which but will measure up to the standard so wisely set by our predecessors, which standard is the chief asset of your Fraternity today. I see that I have departed somewhat from the field of my discussion and have opened up a question upon which pages might well be written. I know that you will pardon the slight disgression, and I hope that some time I may be able to discuss it at greater length with you.
Before closing what I care to say this evening, I wish to suggest that mutual congratulations are due the Delta Delta that was, and the Theta Chi that is. To you, young men, so lately of Delta Delta, I would say that your are to be congratulated upon the choice of your national fraternity, and upon the question of your acceptance I think that Theta Chi should be equally congratulated that such a representative body of young men have elected to cast their lot with our Fraternity; this is, indeed, a source of great encouragement to us older fellows who are so vitally interested in her behalf.
Again I assure you that Theta Chi welcomes you with a heartfelt greeting, and it is with feelings of intense pride, satisfaction, and happiness that Nu Chapter has been granted her charter today.
I wish you God-speed individually and Nu Chapter as a whole, unbounded success and prosperity; and our most earnest prayer this day is that never shall the slightest feeling of remorse or regret come to a single member of Theta Chi over the result, in any of its far reaching and never ending possibilities of the work done today in Hampden-Sidney for you and for our Fraternity.
THETA CHI IN THE SOUTH
This issue of “The Rattle” will find Theta Chi much the richer because of the recent increase in our family circle. We have been eagerly looking forward to this consummation since the day our family physician, Dr. Irish, announced the probability of the advent. And think of it, twins! Two finer babies could not be boasted of in all the land—strong, robust, or athletic build, and literary temperament. But, best of all, already they exhibit that devotion to Theta Chi which is the inspiring characteristic of all her sons. However, it was not my intention to dilate upon the excellencies of Nu and Xi babies, for I presume they will yell loud enough through these columns to be heard to the gratification of all our interested brothers.
I have alluded to our Southern chapters as twins, yet to Nu belongs the proud distinction of being the first to float a Theta Chi flag from a chapter house in this section of the country. We are persuaded that there is something more than a mere coincidence in the selections of Hampden-Sidney College as the starting point for Southern extension. In selecting an initiate, we are interested primarily in certain standards of excellence to which we must measure up. But when we install a chapter, the institution into which we go becomes a still greater concern, for, in addition to the admission as brothers of a group of new men, we are choosing a source from which our ranks are to be swelled through the coming years. In the instance of our recent acquisition the added problems of distance from the sister chapters and the question of an untried field precluded a consideration of any but the best. How appropriately this honor fell to Hampden-Sidney College will be better appreciated upon the knowledge of how we are received at this institution, and who they are that accorded us such a hearty and enthusiastic welcome.
It is bestowing deserved praise upon Delta Delta, out of which Nu Chapter was formed, in saying that her budding Theta Chi spirit burst forth into full blossom when they invited the college and fraternities here represented to join hands with them in good fellowship. The fraternities responded with choice representatives from their respective groups, the college President welcomed us in behalf of the college, the National Secretary of Pi Kappa Alpha gave us a cordial greeting in behalf of the fraternities; and, after exchange of many words of good fellowship, we parted in the midst of numerous assurances that the banquet was one of the best executed affairs of the kind the college has known. But the installation banquet maintained this distinction in the minds of Nu Chapter only a few days, for within the following week we received an invitation, signed by all the fraternities in college, to a reception on the evening of the 30th, at the Comity Club. On entering the club house our hearts were made to leap with joy as we beheld the room beautifully decorated in Theta Chi colors. But more significant still, every man from the other fraternities wore in the lapel of his coat a little red and white bow of ribbon. The inviting edibles, charming music, delicious smokes, and expressions of mutual interest and good wishes combined to make the occasion one of rare enjoyment. It seemed that every one was a Theta, and you had to be nudging yourself continually to keep from giving away the secrets. Whatever may be the problems of a new chapter, we have been made to feel at Hampden-Sidney that we have n ot only intrusted Nu to the group of young men who compose it, but that we have the best wishes of the college authorities, and the sympathy, interest, and co-operation of the select body of young men who compose the fraternity group in the institution.
Perhaps some brother in the far North, or the still farther West, is wondering who are these folk at whose hands we are receiving such a cordial welcome in the Southland. Well, they are sons of a college that began its existence in 1776, and whose record of continuous service through 138 years has been made illustrious by her remarkable achievements, both in peace and war. Five times she heard the battle cry¸ and three times responded with the entire student body enlisted as Hampden-Sidney Company. Space will not permit me to relate at any length the daring deeds of her sons. Suffice it to say, he who searches the pages of history in quest of names made immortal through unsullied service at the post of duty will not find Hampden-Sidney wanting. She has trained 31 presidents of colleges, theological seminaries, and universities, and provided 100 professors for like institutions. Seventeen institutions of higher learning has she established North and South, has given one president to the United States, furnished the Cabinet with some of its most efficient members, and can point with pride to a number of her sons who have been chosen as embassadors to the courts of Europe. Thirty-four of her alumni have been members of the Congress of the United States. She has trained nine governors, who have served in six States—from Maryland to Missouri. In addition to thos who have adorned the bench in other States from New York to Florida and California, and in the Philippine Islands, sixty-seven of her alumni have sat upon the bench in Virginia alone, and one hundred and twenty have served in the Legislature and in the constitutional conventions of the State. With no less distinctive pride, Hampden-Sidney records the names of eight hundred men who have gone out from her student body into the professions of law and medicine; and over five hundred of her graduates, representing five denominations, have given themselves to the gospel ministry in the United States, foreign countries, and the Islands of the sea. It is a large measure the issue from this noble stock who have discerned the enviable worth of our Fraternity, and from which Nu will be privileged to draw her quota of initiates.
It is befitting that the installation of Xi should follow so soon at the University of Virginia. This institution, a daughter of Hampden-Sidney by virtue of the indispensable J.C. Cabell played in its establishment, is in many respects the strongest school for higher education in the South. It is significant that the organization which became Xi Chapter was formed out of and fostered by alumni of Delta Delta. Thus it does not seem fanciful to predict that in the years to come the illustrious history of Hampden-Sidney College will find its parallel in the extension, perfection, and service of Theta Chi in the fraternity world of the South.
W.O. Beazley
Nu's first submission of 'Chapter News' appeared in the same April 1914 issue of The Rattle:
NU CHAPTER
By means of this method of communication, Nu Chapter wishes to extend to all other chapters and to every brother, individually, the high esteem in which we hold the kindly interest manifested by all at the time of our initiation in January, and also to thank each chapter for the most welcome telegrams received at that time.
Although our chapter roll may seem small and insignificant in point of numbers, when compared with those of larger colleges and universities, yet we have no apologies to tender to the other chapters, and merely ask that you consider the size of our college as a means of explanation. Also we are proud to state that our chapter roll is not excelled in numbers by any other fraternity at Hampden-Sidney, albeit we are the youngest of them all.
On the varsity football team this past season, Theta Chi was well represented by Brother Forbus at fullback, Brother Guthrie at tackle, and Brother Moore at guard, Brother Warwick was also a member of the football squad, played in a few of the games, and promises well for next year.
In the annual debate between the two literary societies of Hampden-Sidney College, which debate is the literary event of the college year, Theta Chi was represented by a man on each side. Brother Payne and Brother Morton were the men who opposed each other in the debate, and so Theta Chi won at any rate.
Brother John C. Moore is captain of the varsity baseball team for the coming season; and, since the prospects are fine for a winning team this year, we have reason to feel proud that Theta Chi has the pilot.
In the joint intermediate celebration of the two literary societies, held on the 20th of February, Theta Chi was represented by Brother Moore as senior orator for the Union Society and Brother Warwick as junio orator for the Philanthropic Society. For the final celebration of the societies, to be held in June, Brother Payne has been chosen senior orator for the Union Society and Brother Morton as junior orator for the Philanthropic.
On the staff of the Hampden-Sidney Magazine are Brother Warwick, assistant editor; Brother Moore, athletic editor, and Brother Morton, alumni editor. From the present outlook, it is very probable that Brother Warwick will be editor-in-chief for next year.
Brother Newman was the winner of the Freshman scholarship last session, and also Brother Warwick won the Sophomore scholarship, showing that Theta Chi here is strong for scholarship.
Brother Payne is President of the General Athletic Association for the second term of the present session.
Mr. Frank J. Brooke, an alumnus, of Delta Delta, and who is now a student in the Union Theological Seminary at Richmond, Va., was initiated as an alumni member of Nu Chapter on March 28.