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

352 THE SCROLLA X n was founded as a musical (though not a professional) sorority(it really calls itself a fraternity), but the convention of 1902voted it a musical-literary fraternity; the convention of 1906 votedthat one-third the active members of each chapter might consist ofstudents in the college of liberal or fine arts, and in 1908 the percentageallowed of such students was increased to 50 per cent. Onlya very small percentage is allowed to be drawn from the departmentof oratory.• A X n has several features that remind one of * A ®. It has aBond; Founder's Day is celebrated annually throughout the sorority;and the ritualistic ceremonies include opening, closing, pledging,initiaton, affiliation, installation, anniversary, valedictory and memorialceremonies. Beginning in 1911, the Lyre offered life subscriptionsto alumnae at $20.A X fJ has other features that arouse interest. Its patron goddessis Hera, and her bust in gold makes an "honor pin," adopted in1910, and awarded to retiring grand officers who have faithfullyserved one full term of office. In 1908 the holly was adopted as thesorority tree, and this is something entirely new in the way of fraternityemblems. A unique custom is thus described:A X t2 dedicates one day to sacrifice in the name of her patron goddess, asdid the ancient Greeks whose worship of Hera was solemn and universal. Inthe early spring, singular festivals, called "Heraea", were celebrated by wonderfulprocessions to her temples, where ceremonies and games were held andenormous sacrifice made, the meat afterwards being distributed to the poor.On the first day of March (which is also called "Matsonalia", Juno's greatfestival among the Romans), AXO too lays her gifts upon the altars of Hera—not with pomp and ceremony, but in actual deeds by her members, contributingto the happiness and welfare of others. As individuals or as chapters, eachparticular talent is consecrated to this noble idea. Some members sing, playor distribute flowers in hospitals; others give aid to the poor; and thus sunshineis poured into many hearts. Nowhere is the spirit lacking, and Marchthe first is a wonderful day in the calendar of A X O.Each chapter has an alumnae adviser, elected by it annually, andone member of the grand council is an inspector. The inspector,or a delegate appointed by her, visits each chapter in the interim.between the biennial conventions.During these visits she not only becomes closely acquainted with the active-members of the chapter and inspects their books, records and fraternity equipment,to see how the business of the chapter is being conducted, but she holdsconferences with the dean of women, the alumnae adviser, the chaperon, themothers (when possible) and with various instructors, in order to learn thestanding of the chapter in the college and the scholarship of the individualmembers. When possible, she meets the local Pan-Hellenic association, some-'i^'"?'^''^*^'"^ "'^' °''S''n'22''tm; for, being the fraternity representative inthe National Pan-Hellenic Congress, she is well versed in the matters of vitalinterest to those bodies. ' At least once a semester, a report from the dean ofwomen, and scholarship reports of the individual members of each chapter aresent by the chapter secretary to the inspector. The results of her investigationsare reported by her annually to the grand council and biennially to the grand