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

46 THE SCROLL.any discussion of this point except to say that there is usually littlevalidity to the argument of the objectors along that line, it is proper towarn the several chapters that there is an aristocracy of brains andgood breeding from among which the new members of the fraternityshould be selected. There is no aristocracy of money that we cansafely recognize. The test for membership in Phi Delta Theta mustbe the man himself, his fitness and his individual worth. No amountof money can justify the initiation of any man not worthy to wear thesword and shield. Likewise no lack of money should keep from ouraltar those who, bom to the purple of real worth and manhood, havenot been blessed with wealth. A chapter that seeks the highest goodof its members and of the whole Fraternity will seek its recruits fromthose men who are the type of men spoken of in the Bond. RobertMorrison, our beloved founder, was a man of less than moderatemeans. Yet from his brain sprung the Bond and our Fraternity.Next to the question of the real qualification of the new memberis the question of scholarship. The real reason for a man being incollege is to learn. It is not to be on the eleven or the nine, to bethe leader of the cotillion or the tenor on the glee club. No matterhow beneficial the activity, or how harmless, the boy engages in, theend of his being in college will be defeated and the fraternity systemwill receive a set back if the standard of scholarship is not maintained.When one university after another takes action looking to restrictionson the fraternities with a view of improving scholarship, when oneinstitution after another finds it necessary to forbid freshmen beinginitiated or to live in the chapter houses, when such a condition obtainsit is time for the frateriiity to look the situation squarely in theface and meet the situation. The only thing that can be done is theright thing, to-wit: to make a rigid standard of scholarship and seeto it that such a standard is maintained. The founders of the fraternitywere honor men. They did not consider for an instant thepossibility of failure in their scholastic work. To do less than maintaina creditable standing in college is to shame those men to whomwe owe so much and to be false to the ideals of the Fraternity.The question of chapter house morals is one that we, in Phi DeltaTheta, have but little to trouble over. Almost, if not quite, withoutexception the chapters are above reproach in the way they conducttheir houses, in their house rules and the way that those rules areobserved. But they must be observed and the standing of the fra-