| Drolefille |
02-03-2011 09:29 PM |
From The History of Phi Beta Phi Fraternity, 1915
Quote:
In 1881, however, with the chartering of Nu Chapter of I. C., composed entirely of young ladies of the town of Clarinda, Iowa, mostly school teachers and prominent women of literary tastes, a precedent was established in the Sorosis, which was quickly followed through the state of Iowa. Omicron Chapter was chartered at Burlington, in 1881; Beta Omega at Fairfield, in 1882; Zeta Omega (Iowa Theta) at Ottumwa, in 1884. These chapters were styled associate chapters and were composed of women of high intellectual and social standing, and consequently added strength, collectively and individually, to the organization. Many were graduates of universities and colleges of good standing, but where no secret societies existed.
While these charters were granted by the proper officials of the Fraternity and were properly issued, there was no constitutional provision for them, and it was in violation of the fundamental idea of our Founders.
Kappa Alpha Theta and Kappa Kappa Gama, our two strongest rivals at that time, were initiating preparatory students, and the men 's fraternities maintained associate chapters. Our enthusiastic officials, through too liberal interpretation, and fired with over zeal, made the false step which caused much feeling and long hours of discussions in Conventions which followed, until the Convention of November, 1885, at Lawrence, Kansas, when by a vote of the Convention, all chapters not connected with an accredited institution of learning or not coming up to the college standard were withdrawn from active life. This devotion to the high ideals, greatest good and best interests of the Fraternity, was forcibly exemplified at this time, when members voted themselves ' ' inactive ' ' and went home to grieve over their loss of active life in the Fraternity. This ruling closed the active lives of nine chapters of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity, but it put us on the high plane held up to us as a standard by our wise Founders and the strong, progressive women of the organization.
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