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

THE SCROLL 209was done which in its result has caused much benefit to this country.In the past few years I think, Brother President, the brothers ofPhi Delta Theta have been more inclined than ever before to pauseand contemplate the wonderful development and growth of bur Fraternity.Beginning at Miami in 1848, Phi Delta Theta has developed withthe development of the college idea throughout this great country.She has gone east and finally established herself in that most wonderfulindustrial commercial center. She has gone west, even to theimperial state of Oregon, and today we greet for the first time a delegatefrom our baby chapter at Eugene. She has gone north intoCanada, where today she stands without an equal; and away downsouth in Dixie land where her honor is our religion and her principlesour law. Phi Delta Theta is the queen of southern fraternities.But its mere material and geographical development is the leastthat Phi Delta Theta has done. Through the medium of her principlesand ideals she has established between the college men of thenorth and the college men of the south, between the college men ofthe east and the college men of the west, a bond of brotherhoodwhich shall remain forever indissoluble.These delegates gathered here today, representing the best thoughtand sentiment of every section of our country are bound together heartto heart and hand to hand in a Bond of fraternal love.You have been anticipating the coming of this convention for manydays. You are in one sense to enjoy the hospitality of our brothersin Chicago, but beyond and above that you are here for a purpose,and that purpose is to know each other better, to strengthen the bondof our acquaintance, to see to it that the Phi Delta Theta Fraternityis the foremost college fraternity of the world; that she dominatesthe college fraternity policy in this country, and that she shall everstand forth clothed in the robes of principle and power in which themen who made her intended she should stand.My Brothers, the American college fraternity is on trial today. Itis on trial for its life. As one of the defendants we have acceptedservice and entered our appearance in court, and we stand ready tobe judged by our works. We demand equity, but we must alwaysremember that he who seeks equity must first do equity, and whenyou come into a court of equity you must come with clean hands.The record of this convention shall be written, it must be writtenupon the clean white sheet with no blot or blemish thereon to marthe fair fame we have enjoyed for these long years.It seems strange to me that after the great good that has been accomplishedby the American college fraternity it should now be attackedby those who seek its very life, but let us not forget that thestalwart tree, after a generous yielding of fruit and shade, must standbare in the cold of winter. Conscious of its strength and virtue, the