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About Yale Alumni Magazine | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 1899)
188 Aa SLURS more in touch with the younger alumni who count too little in shaping the policy of Yale to-day. Col. Osborn, I believe, represents these requirements more fully than most of the names which have been men- tioned, and, being a resident of New Haven, and a loyal believer in Yale, in touch alike with student body and Faculty, could be counted on to aid most intelligently and effectively in a new and progressive policy. RESIDENT ALUMNUS. New Haven, February rith. —_—___4>>—___—_- Lectures by Prof. Phelps. Prof. W. L. Phelps will deliver six lectures on American Literature, in Warner Hall, on the following dates: Wednesday, March 1, 8 p. m—‘“Two Representative of Colonial Literature— Jonathan Edwards and _ Benjamin Franklin. Wednesday, March 15, 8 Pp. Mi—James Fenimore Cooper.” Wednesday, March 22, “Ralph Waldo Emerson.” Monday, March 27, 8 p. M.—‘‘Daniel Wooster,” Thursday, April 6, 8 ep. m.—‘Mark Twain. These lectures are practically the same as those given by Professor Phelps on Tuesdays in Course 115, and they will not be repeated this year. Although the lectures will. stand intelligible by themselves, it 1s sug- gested, to those who wish to derive the greatest benefit from them, to read the following works: First lecture— Franklin’s Autographical sketch of Edwards: Second lecture—“Thanatop- sige The “Flood of . Years’; 10.4 Waterfowl”; “Sella’; “The Death of the Flowers,” and “A Forest Hymn. Third lecture—“The Spy’; “The Pi- 8 Pp. Me lot's “The “Last: of sthe Mohicans’; “The Red Rover.” Fourth lecture— “Nature”; “The American Scholar, and “Napoleon.” Fifth lecture—“The Seventh of March Speech,” and the “Reply to Haynes: <The ; Sixth— “Huckleberry Finn.” This course of lectures will be de- livered in the New Haven University Extension Course, the tickets for which are $1.50. Single lecture tickets 35 cents. ———<$<$<$—$<$ The Sons of Sixty-Eight. On Tuesday evening, February 7, Henry B. Wright, ’98, invited all the men in the University who are Sons of ’68 men, of which Class his father, Dean Wright is a member, to meet him informally at his room in Dwight Hall. Invitations were sent to the folowing men: RoE «Hume P.G.; C:..D.: Berry, 0. 4 Ws Greene, Jt, "oe; Gu B. Tinker, ’99; F. F. Ferry, 1900;. C. R. Page, 1900; A. S. Williams, 1901; A. P; “Wright, toot; G. B. Kip, 1901; °L: Manierre, 1901; J. F: Ferry, 1901 S.; M. Ferry, 1901 S.; H. C. Thacher, 1902; D:. Viele, 1902: B: A. Welch, 1902; and A. E. Manierre, 1902. Light re- freshments were served and the even- ing was spent in a very informal way. Of the eighteen sons of Sixty-Eight men who are now in the University, thirteen enjoyed this opportunity of meeting one another. G. B. Kip, L. and A. E. Manierre and M. and J. F. Ferry were unable to be present. The Winter Pull. These But Knox hats are good work- The long term is on. are working days. ing day hats—stiff or soft, caps or derbies. Knox business or negligee hats are as good as Knox dress hats. PHT BETA KAPPA CHANGE, The Amendment Adopted—A Radical and Promising Move. At a meeting of the Phi Beta Kappa Society held on Feb. 15, the following amendment to the Constitution was adopted by a decisive vote: “The Society shall elect as members all men who have attained a philosophi- cal oration stand in the work of Fresh- man and Sophomore years; and, in ad- dition, a number from among the first fifty men in the class sufficient to bring the membership up to thirty. “All those not already members who, at the end of Senior year, have received a stand of 3.30 on the work of Junior and Senior years, shall then be elected members of the Society.” A third section provided for the methods of election, and also stipulated that no candidate should be elected without receiving a vote of the majority of the Society. The necessity for an amendment to the Constitution arose from the en- tirely arbitrary requirements which have hitherto determined admission into the Society. These requirements have been variously fixed at stands of 3.15, 3.20, and 3.30, they have been constantly changing, and have resulted in fluctu- ations of memberships from over fifty to under twenty. In view of these facts, the Society felt it imperative to provide for a fixed and constant membership of a size adequate to meet the needs of its social existence, while keeping strict- ly within the limits of high scholar- ship. Two amendments were recently pro- posed to ensure this result. The first was modeled upon the recommenda- tions of the General Council of Phi Beta Kappa, and provided for the elec- tion of thirty out of the first fifty men in a class, regardless of the appoint- ment list. The second provided simply for the election of the first thirty men in each class. Neither of these methods was found to be satisfactory. Tihe first was regarded as too radical a departure from the previous standards of the Society. It was argued that under its provisions the mere “grind,” however faithful, would always run the risk of missing his coveted key. Against the second a graver objection was felt, which can only be appreciated by an intimate acquaintance with the new conditions and living issue which the Society is to-day called upon to meet. THE SOCIETY'S CHANGE. Since entering upon its new life, Phi Beta Kappa has undergone what might be described as a process of self-realiza- tion. It has begun to discern the widest possibilities of influence and usefulness which lie within easy reach. It has also realized that the asquisition of a position of dignity and power involves the primary requisite of a certain degree of self-determination; that is to say, a voice in its own perpetuation. Without this power, it can never escape the danger of being the mere dead letter it has so often been in the past, when an election meant nothing more than the right to wear a Phi Beta Kappa key around the Campus. This condition was exactly what might have been expected from a system under which no man felt under any obligations toward a society to which he had been in no true sense elected, but which had been thrust upon him as an un- avoidable perquisite of an arbitrarily fixed stand. Even then, Phi Beta Kappa might be a coveted honor, but it could not possibly fulfil its great aim of promoting social intercourse, unity, and mutual help and_ inspirations among its members. In view of these facts, a third amend- ment was suggested in the nature of a compromise embodying the advantages of both the earlier proposes. This amendment secured the requisite stable membership, and secured it in a way which made the long elusive ideal ot a society an actuality. Through its harmony with the recommendations of the General Council it brought Yale into line with the great majority of other chapters, and furnished a basis for membership whose flexibility in- WEEKLY sured its permanence. It was radical only in avoiding the inherent and fatal weakness of the system which it has superseded, where the good of the in- dividual was assured, but no regard whatever was taken for the welfare of the Society. ‘The new Phi Beta Kappa recognizes two types of scholar. The student who devotes himself exclusively to his text-books, and succeeds in re- taining a certain stand is admitted to membership without let or hinderance. SCHOLARSHIP AND MARKS. But is true scholarship merely syn- - onymous with ‘Marks’? Is the man who, while eminently faithful and suc- cesful in his studies, throws himself heart and soul into other lines of col- lege activity and by effort and achieve- ment acquires the right to be called a representative Yale man, less of a scholar for the few points of “stand” he has sacrificed? Under the new dis- pensation, he too is to “have his re- ward.” The former type of scholar is not excluded, to the successful “grind” Phi Beta Kappa is as open as it ever was, but the latter is included. There is not subtraction, but addition. These were the general thought which, after earnest discussion, resulted in the passage of the amend- ment and the establishment of Phi Beta Kappa upon a new, and it is to be hoped permanent basis. It is a matter for regret that at a recent meeting of the graduate members, the action of the Society did not receive their formal sanction. Their omission undoubtedly rose from a misunderstanding of the true position of the Society, and from a failure to appreciate the changed con- ditions which have brought with them so much of promise and of responsi- bility. It is also worthy of note that before any action was taken by the Society the graduate officers were per- sonally interviewed and expressed their hearty approval of the step which the active members had under considera- tion. This step was neither hasty nor ill-advised. It was clearly seen to be the precondition of future progress, and its promoters feel very confident that it is in every way calculated to further a5 best interest of true scholarship at ale. H. C. Rossins, ’9o. pa te Graduates Against a Change. The graduate members of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, residing in New Haven, held a meeting on Thursday evening, February 16, to discuss the recent amendment to the Society con- stitution, passed by the undergraduate members. In the absence of the gradu- Vice-President, which office is now held by Professor Wheeler, Judge Simeon EK. Baldwin was chosen moderator. The following resolution was unani- mously passed by those who were present at the meeting. “Resolved: That in the opinion of the graduate membership of the Yale Chap- ter of Phi Beta Kappa, the recent amendment to the constitution concern- ing the election of members is unwise, an : “Resolved: That the active members be advised to reconsider the amendment and for the present to continue the method of electing members on basis of scholarship.” Mr. Charles Dudley Warner, ’72 hon., made afew remarks before the close of the meeting. A committee consisting of Dr. Edward B. Reed, ’94, and Dr. Charles P. Kellogg, ’90, was appointed to inter- view the bi-centennial committee in regard to the recognition of the Society in the exercises in IQOT. _ oS -- Yale and the Press. [New Haven Register. ] There is no question involved of catering to the “venal press’; it is altogether a question of giving Yale men information of what concerns them by means of the agencies they are most familiar with. Nor is it a question of recognizing the press as such an agency, though as a matter of fact, with but few conspicuous exceptions, Yale owes more to the press of New Haven and the country than it can ever repay. lines of: TheEnglish Square The phrase is historical—at least if you substitute British for English. Its present use, however, is to describe the new tie, which is running the Ascot out of the market. Some of the designs are stunning. Send for a few sam- ples. CHASE & CO., New Haven House Block. HENRY HEATH HATS. FRANK A. CORBIN, TAILOR TO THE STUDENTS OF YALE AND TO THE Gir A DEA TES in all parts of the country Address : 1000 Chapel Street, New Haven. Conn. These remarks are called forth by the fact that having determined upon a pro- gram of exercises, the Yale authorities left it to Professor Woolsey to make it public through the dinner of the Boston Alumni Association, which is one of the most enthusiastic branches of the old College in the country, but not the largest and, therefore, the best to select for such a purpose, if that is the round- about way Yale is to adopt of imparting its news. As might have been foreseen, the news value of the information which he gave in an entertaining manner was not appreciated by all the reporters present, as it would have been by the different desk editors had it been de- livered by the regular telegraph service. One reporter, apparently more anxious to obtain the speech of the gentleman representing the Yale government than his remarks for their own sake, pub- lished the program in a perfunctory way. It has attracted but little atten- tion, and up to date has secured very limited circulation. By this process of ignorantly suppressing news, the object of making the program public at all has been practically defeated. It will now be necessary for the authorities to invent some different method of gettine the facts before the public, if they desire. as of course they must, the graduates to keep up their interest in an occasion that will be both overwhelmingly inter- esting and historic. Now that we are upon the subject, which, by the way, is far from sympa- thetic, we feel impelled to remind the authorities at Yale that the newspapers deserve better treatment at the hands of those they have to deal with than they receive. There is no disposition to “poke the nose” into their private affairs, but there is the fair contention that such information as Professor Woolsey gave out in Boston belongs to the newspaper first, since it is expected that the newspapers will perform the service of publicity for them. No class support this contention more spiritedly than the alumni, who rely upon the press first for their news of Yale There should be a change in the tela. tions of the press and the Yale author: ties.
