1912–13 Volume 37 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

± ntj o\.^i\.\jijl-.ven editions of this book have been issued—in 1879, 1880, 1883,, 1905 and 1912, Each successive edition has been larger thanredecessor, and the last has grown to encyclopedic proportions—ky volume of 814 pages, as against 590 pages in the edition of. The publication of each edition has been an important eventle history of the fraternity system, and the seven editions haveilated the development of fraternities more than any other ince.The whole Greek-letter world is under heavy obligations toluthor for the work he has done during the third of a century1879,le 1912 edition is a marvel of comprehensiveness, completenessiccuracy; it would be hard for anybody to find anything, relatinge subject in which it is lacking. It contains a wonderful amountetail about each fraternity, many interesting things, many imintthings and many valuable things. It is brought down tothe preface being dated September, 1912, The book is absolutecessaryto general fraternity officers and to anyone who desires toire a general knowledge of fraternities, as necessary as a code ofstatutes is to a lawyer. It is indispensible to the separate chap-)f fraternities; as well might a church try to get along without a; as for a chapter to try to get along without Baird,le first section of the book relates to the origin of Greek-letterties, their progress, customs and peculiar features. The authorof the fraternity system, "It has become the prominent factore social life of American students, and as such is attracting thetion of publicists and educators," Fraternities are divided intonal fraternities and sectional fraternities, and Mr, Baird says:e national fraternities include those generally represented in all sections; country. Of these B 9 II, «A9, S A E, SX, K S, *K*, ATA andare prominent types. The sectional fraternities are eastern and southern,astern group consists of A A *, A *, 9 A X, 2 *, ^ T, K A (northern), A ^L X P. The southern group includes KA (southern order), UK* andL, although this last mentioned fraternity has placed its last chapters inorth. A K E, Z SE', X 4» and X ^, originating in the eastern states, havemight be termed a limited national development. A T fl, K S, S N and, originally distinctively southern, have completely lost that character.hile many fraternities have forged ahead at an astonishing rate,;hereby entrenched themselves in important institutions throughlecountry, some have neglected opportunities for extension whichnever be so favorable for them again, and some have been so;rvative that they have become fossilized. The author says::h of this inertia on the part of such fraternities is due to a false;rvatism. It has contributed largely to the rapid and it must beuccessful growth of some of the younger fraternities whose membaveseized golden opportunities spurned by their slower rivals."le marvelous development of fraternities is shown by an acanyingtable, condensed from summaries of the 1883, 1890,1905 and 1912 editions of the book. Another table shows the