I don't have my LXA history book on hand at the moment, but I do remember
reading about the last ThKN Grand Chapter (GA) in Birmingham. Right after
the vote for merger, the comments of the Grand Archon included something
like "You are no longer Theta Kappa Nu, you are Lambda Chi Alpha! Just
as soon as you get back to your chapter, take down your ThKN signs and
replace them with LXA. Our brothers at Birmingham-Southern have already
done so! (applause)"
I don't think anyone should wear the letters on a shirt like that. What
some in our (former ThKN) chapter do is get LXA jerseys/sweatshirts
in silver/black/red colors in honor of ThKN, but the letters are LXA since
we are LXA.
I think if I saw someone in a shirt with ThKN letters, I would be tempted
to challenge them....do they know the ThKN password?? handshake???
meaning of the letters??? (since I do
)
Some of our ThKN alums used to wear their ThKN badges to Homecoming
(I don't think any are left alive now who are able to go to Homecoming),
but since they were initiated into ThKN, I think that's OK. I have a ThKN
badge that I wear rarely, only to LXA events, and only below my LXA
badge. If I run into someone who doesn't know what it is and asks,
I tell them it is an "old LXA badge that is no longer in use".
I was in on discussions at GA 2004 about doing ThKN ritual at 100th
Anniv. celebration. Definitely part of the merger agreement was that
ThKN's ritual never again be performed, and I believe we are duty bound
to observe that.
But I had another idea that might not invalidate the agreement. ThKN's
ritual room setup (somewhat intricate) was used for all formal meetings, including regular
chapter meetings. Perhaps we could just set up a room decorated according
to script, and have brothers dressed in ThKN robes act as "tour guides"
to explain everything in the room, which would include a ThKN "museum".
It might even be fun to "require" brothers to give the ThKN handshake
and/or password to enter the room (which can be found in old Paed.s
and "Ritual What and Why").
Maybe too close to the line, a time could be set up to "read" the ritual
out loud to a group who wanted to hear it (but not act it out). It would
be educational enough to only read-out parts of the ritual, since it is very
repetitive (I have copies of a couple of versions). The most interesting
part is "part B" of the "fourth scene". I think reading the "first scene" along
with "parts B and C" of the "fourth scene" would be sufficient to give
everyone a good idea of what it was like.
The first three scenes and parts A,C of the fourth scene were condensed
into our AM ceremony (yes, it was renamed the "AM Ceremony" in 1972,
but that is identical to the "Pledge ceremony" adopted in 1939. It
was not re-written in 1972. You'll notice that, even though the AM Ceremony
is not secret and non-members may attend, during this "public"
ceremony, new members take an oath to never reveal and "secrets" they
learn during this "secret" ceremony....testimony to the fact it
wasn't changed in 1972!!)
Its always been my opinion that all LXA's share the ThKN heritage equally,
whether from "former" ThKN chapters or not. I would hope everyone
would respect that heritage as our brothers of 1939 intended.
P.S. (Edited...should have read the WHOLE thread before posting!) -
oops! I just realized this idea was already posted! Great minds
think alike, huh! lol!
God willing, I'll be at the 2009 celebration. I can bring the following from
my chapter (maybe I can dig up some more goodies before then):
- Official Badge (already plenty of those), official Ring, official Alumni Recog Button
- Actual "League and Covenant of ThKN - Kentucky Alpha Chapter"
(too delicate to touch, it falls apart easily, so will provide color copies of pages)
- Plaque with Coat of Arms (given as gifts for a Formal Dance we had in the 1930's)
- Member Certificate (probably plenty of those around too)
- Composites (or copies of). Our chapter had the idea of arranging brother's
photos in the shape of a letter for each year. So 1928 in the shape of Theta,
29 Kappa, 30 Nu, 31 K, 32 Y., 33 A. After that plans were for 34=l, p, h, a,
but those composites were never made (membership dropped significantly in
late 30's) or they were lost.
- Photos from the era
- Copy of THETA NEWS (fall 1928, has story of our chartering).
Some of these you won't need....Mike let me know if the committe would like
me to bring any of these. I'll need to dig them up over the next year---I plan
to accept a faculty position at another university by 2009 so I won't be
'local' to Gtown by then.
Linear Mode
