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

THE SCROLL 353The following explanation is given of the examination system inchapters:This plan provides for a pre-entrance examination to be given immediatelybefore initiation, a second examination to be given in the second year of fraternitylife, and another in the third year, the .members active for four or moreyears to be exempt from further examinations. The questions are not confinedto facts concerning A X fi, nor even to fraternity matters in general, but theyinclude points of general collegiate interest which every fraternity membershould know. The pre-entrance examination covers the organization and historyof AXii; the second covers the constitution, by-laws, ritual and ceremonies;while the third deals with policies, alumnae chapters, Pan-Hellenics and generalfraternity and collegiate matters.The examination in each chapter is conducted by its alumnaeadviser, who corrects the pre-entrance papers (as these examinationsare held at divers times during the year), and sends the other papersto the general sorority examiner, who corrects them and returns theindividual grades to the chapter. A report of chapter averages ispublished annually in the Lyre. Besides the Bond, constitution andritual that are furnished to each chapter,The chapters are supplied with officers' books, containing model pages andinstructions as to the proper method of keeping the books. Each chapter isrequired to keep an up-to-date record of its history; a roll-book, which givesin detail the personal history of each member; and a card index directory.Besides these records, most of the active chapters have interesting scrap-ibooks,containing programmes, photographs and other mementoes of chapter interest.A X n is raising a permanent fund to yield a sufficient income tofurnish one or more annual scholarships to members at PeterboroughHouse, the colony of artists at Peterborough, N. H., and has alreadyerected there a studio, which is thus described:The AX 12 Studio is an attractive studio, 18x20 feet, with a square colonialporch, tiled. The roof is of slate. There is a cordial fireplace, and a closetfor cooking and for cooking utensils. A basket lunch is served at noon fromthe Main House, where all the -artists in the colony repair for dinner in theevening. The studio is in a pine grove of splendid large trees.The Lyre was established in 1894 and is published quarterly. Thehistory mentions the principal contents of each issue since the beginning.The secret journal, called the Heraciim, was established in1911.Other customs of recent years are the awarding by the Lyre annually of aprize for the best undergraduate article in the Eklekta department of theLyre; the annual presentation of the Lyre loving cup to that chapter whichranks highest in its Lyre relations—the decision resting upon literary excellenceof contributions and upon promptness and business-like methods; the name ofthe winning chapter and the year is engraved upon the cup—and the presentationof a loving cup by fhe grand council to the chapter entertaining thegrand chapter—the cup to be retained until the following convention. In1909 Iota (Illinois) chapter inaugurated the custom which has been since followedby some other chapters, of awarding a loving cup, at the annual chapterreunion to the freshman having the highest scholarship for that year. Thiscup also rotates from year to year—each time having engraved upon it thename of the honored freshman.Editions of the songbook have appeared in 1894. 1904 and 1908.Registers of the members have been published in the Lyre, and in