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

206 THE SCROLLwere eloquent and inspiring, both emphasized the importance of livingup to high fraternity ideals and of cultivating a broad Pan-Hellenic spirit. Both declared that fraternities should not be conductedon a narrow and selfish basis, but that members should givefull recognition and extend friendly and helping hands to thosewho do not wear Greek-letter badges.The importance of chapters and members of Phi Delta Theta maintaining-highstandards of conduct was the theme of many speechesdelivered during the Chicago convention, of the eloquent responseby Pope to the address of welcome, of the speeches at the banquetand ,of more informal speeches at the business sessions. At thistime when criticism of fraternities is so widespread, it was opportunethat Phis should be reminded of their pledges to strive for the highestpossible standards of morality and scholarship. In the mostforcible terms the convention declared that it was the duty of everyPhi to endeavor to reach the ideals which are expresed so stronglyin the Bond.Among the acts of the convention were the repeal of the provisionof the code that circular letters of chapters shall be issued toalumni annually and that a year book shall be published by the Fraternity.For various reasons, chiefly because of the increasing expenseinvolved, this annual letter and year book plan has proven unsatisfactory.Provision was made for uniform accounting books to befurnished to each chapter. The annual dues of alumni clubs wereadjusted according to the active membership of the clubs. A committeeon ritual was directed to consider the revision of the ritualwith the view of making slight changes in the wording of the ceremonieswithout changing their character, and to report to the nextNational Convention. Baily's provision that the initiation of membersof preparatory or high school fraternities be prohibited afterfour years was adopted, but subject to the action of the InterfraternityConference.The committees of the convention which had the most work werethe committee on constitution and code, of which Murdock waschairman, and the committee on charters, of which Ruick was chairman.Many amendments to the constitution or code were proposed,and it was realized that some of them were so important that fullconsideration could not be given to them in the crowded conditionof the convention calendar, and therefore action on them was deferreduntil the next national convention.Eleven applications for charters were placed before the conventionand some of them were renewals of applications at previous conventions.The number was so large that much embarrassment wasfelt in selecting those that should be granted, but the committee oncharters recommended that charters should be granted to three localsocieties—the petitioners at the University of North Dakota, Colo-