XXV. Fraternities
It will be recalled that there flourished at the University
of Virginia, during the early years of its existence,
a Greek letter society, whose principal object apparently
was simply the cultivation of powers for debate. The
first Greek letter society established there exclusively
for those purely social purposes which are indicated by
the word "fraternity," was the Delta Kappa Epsilon.
Then, in succession, were chartered the Phi Kappa Psi,
Phi Kappa Sigma, and Beta Theta Pi. Previous to 1861,
seven others were added to this number: the Chi Phi,
Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Gamma Delta, Delta Psi,
Theta Delta Chi, Delta Kappa, and Kappa Alpha. The
Delta Kappa Epsilon was a fraternity that traced its fountain-head
to Princeton College. The history of the chapter
established at the University of Virginia is practically
duplicated in the history of the local chapters of the
other similar associations, which, like itself, were, for the
most part, shoots transplanted from another soil. All
found a congenial spot for growth at the University, owing
to that tendency toward social groups which has already
been mentioned as an important feature of its scholastic
life. Moreover, this was the period in which the
masonic organization flourished most among the fathers
of these young men; and that secret association, perhaps,
had something to do, in spirit at least, with the rapid
spread of these college bodies, in spite of the fact that
their reason for existence was social and not benevolent.
It was in May, 1853, that Messrs. Abrahams, Rogers,
and others sought the Faculty's consent to the establishment
of a chapter of the Delta Kappa Epsilon at the University.
They candidly acknowledged that, as the purpose
of its organization were not disclosable, they possessed
no warrant to state what were its rules and usages,
except so far as to say that these were consonant with law
and order. The reply of the Faculty to this application
was expressed with equal frankness: they asserted that
they had no mistrust whatever of the motives of the petitioners,
but as the proposed society was admitted to be
covert in its by-laws and its aims, it was unquestionably
open to grave abuses, which might have a tendency to
nourish further that insubordinate disposition which had
so often flamed up among the students. For this reason,
the authorities refused, though with reluctance, to assent
to the request. The main influence that shaped this decision
is intelligible enough: that decision was really
only another proof of the lurking distrust which the Faculty
still felt, even as late as 1854, in the orderly spirit of
the student body acting as a whole or in segments,
whether organized into secret fraternities or into Calathumpian
bands. We learn from the history of Eta
chapter, written by Professor James M. Garnett, that
this offshoot was actually established on November 26,
1852, many months before the open application for formal
recognition was submitted and denied. This refusal
was afterwards very wisely recalled, for, during the session
of 1854–55, the brothers of the chapter were meeting
regularly and under no ban.
Hilary A. Herbert, who was Secretary of the Navy in
Mr. Cleveland's cabinet, was a member of the chapter
during the sessions of 1854–55 and 1855–56, and has recorded
his recollections of its working. "We had many
interesting debates and a number of fine papers read," he
says. "We strove to keep up a high standard, requiring
always both character and scholarship in candidates
for admission." The tests, it appears, were: fair abilities,
agreeable social qualities, and the disposition and
manners of a gentleman. "I remember," continues Mr.
Herbert, "being very much chagrined at the rejection of
a warm friend, because his class standing was not up to
the mark."
It was the supreme characteristic of the Delta Kappa
Epsilon fraternity, as of all its fellow associations, that
its proceedings were hidden behind an oriental veil. The
place of meeting was as scrupulously concealed as the
den of an untamed animal in the jungle. It was usually
a contracted attic-room under the roof of some college
building which was not often visited at night. The hour
for assembling always fell after dark, and as it drew near,
the members of the fraternity would leave their respective
dormitories with the furtiveness of conspirators, and
make for the place of rendezvous by a route that doubled
upon itself like the trail of a hunted fox. The members
of the other fraternities were always on the alert to detect
any suspicious movements on their rivals' part; and
in order to avoid detection, the latter were forced to
dodge in and out of those gloomy and tortuous alleys,
which so often offered a cover for the advances and retreats
of the stealthy rioters of those tumultuous times.
Indeed, so far, it is said, did the Eta chapter of the Delta
Kappa Epsilon fraternity stickle for its mole-like privacy,
that it protested against the publication of the official letters
that were, from time to time, sent in by it and its
sister chapters, because this was thought to amount to
the divulgence of the fraternity's secret history.
On the roll of this chapter, during the session of 1860—
1, there were found the names of at least eight members
who sacrificed their lives for the cause of the Confederacy.
Among them were the supremely knightly spirits
of Randolph Fairfax, W. T. Haskell, and Percival Elliott.
There were, during this interval, two members
who were destined to become bishops of unusual distinction
in their church denomination; two celebrated scholars
in ecclesiastical history,—Dr. Dubose, of the University
of the South, and Dr. Toy, of Harvard; several
professors in advanced seats of learning; members of
Congress and the State legislatures; prominent judges,
lawyers, and physicians; and equally conspicuous representatives
of other callings. Not less than eleven of
their number carried off the highest scholastic honor of
the institution, the degree of master of arts.
The Delta Kappa Epsilon enjoyed only one advantage
over its fellow fraternities: it had been the one the longest
established at the University, and it had thereby acquired
more time to swell the roll of its membership.
But in the achievements of that membership, whether
within the college precincts, or in the practical affairs of
the great world afterwards, its members were not more
distinguished, in proportion to their number, than the
members of the other fraternities that approached it in
age and rivaled it in social standing. Although they
were all founded simply to strengthen the bonds of friendship
within their respective circles, yet in spite of this
innocent and legitimate purpose, they were looked upon
by outsiders with a suspicion that occasionally went so far
as to attribute to them positive iniquities,—possibly not
to the discontent of some of the members, who may have
taken a Byronic pride in the possession of a reputation
far blacker than they deserved.
