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

THE SCROLL 213forget this at times, can we not unite with other college fraternities toshow that in our hearts we believe in the democracy on which ourRepublic was founded and under which it must go forward to itsglorious destiny.We ought to find common ground for harmonious acton along thelines of human friendship. There we come close to the heart ofthe fraternity ideal. We have our Greek names representing certainmottoes. We claim certain fundamental things as the basis for ourfraternities. But they amount to nothing absolutely unless beneaththem and behind them is the tie of truest friendship. If there is onething I would urge upon those who are joined in the Bond of PhiDelta Theta, it is to cultivate warm friendships for your chaptermates. If I may advise any freshmen it would be to love those ofyour classmates who share with you the joy of wearing a fraternitybadge. I know well that some persons ridicule the idea of love amongmen. They call this a sentimental relationship which should existbetween men and women. I often think of the story told in the goodold Book where the prince and the peasant met in friendship. Thewords come to us: "And the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soulof David, and he loved him." On this story has been built a greatorder with thousands of members, who, generation after generation,find inspiration and encouragement from the sweet story of man'slove for man. I might cite you also another great order foundedon the story of Damon and Pythias, where one so loved the otherthat he was willing to give his life if need be, to save his friend.I often think of the story told of a Phi Delta Theta President of theUnited States. As his term of office drew near public men and newspapersbegan to build cabinets for him, but when the.list was finallypublished by himself some unexpected names were found. Then itwas noted that these were the names of men whom, as fraternityand college mates at "Old Miami" he had learned to love and trustin the golden student days. But friendship limited to the smallgroup in your own fraternity will not bring the richness of joy thatwill come from a larger circle. As life broadens before you, youwill find new friends and new fields of work. It is just possiblethat some one of you may want to marry the daughter of a BetaTheta Pi; or some Sigma Chi may want to marry your daughter;or in other ways members of different fraternities may be broughtclose into the intimate circles of the home.Finally we ought to find some common ground for friendly relationshipin the thought of human service. After all, that is whatlife is for. We are training ourselves in the schools and in the collegesin order to fit us the better to become leaders of life andthought in other days. The narrow confines of the chapter houseare altogether too restricted when it comes 'to the real business oflife. Friendship should be emphasized in the chapter and in the