Page 13 - 1913 November - To Dragma

18 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

fraternities there is a danger hi secrecy and definite evils have been
found, it is absurd to say that any sane person whose opinions are
worth consideration would think i l l of a group of right living, right
thinking young women, so accepted by the college community, so
proved by daily intercourse in the common college life, directed by
prominent alumnae equally respected in their homes and by society,
—because, forsooth, they have a secret bond or pledge. As to the
second, ask any fraternity girl in any college anywhere, whether she
is looked upon as a tempting and mysterious person because of this
secrecy alone,—or ask any non-fraternity girl i f she considers herself
unduly tempted by that fact alone. I f they have sense of humor, your
reply will be a shout of derision.

In fact, there is very little secret about any fraternity nowadays,—
simply something like a motto, a manner of greeting, an inspiring
ritual, a tender and idealistic pledge. These things are secret but
in the sense of being sacred, too deep and dear to reveal. Besides,
the fraternity relationship extends all through life and these sacred
and poetic signs and passwords have a very real value when we use
them in after years in meeting and greeting sisters in all quarters of
the world and under all circumstances.

I cannot think that anyone would object to our keeping these
secrets i f the constitution and purposes of the fraternities were made
public. There is no reason why they should not be put in the hands
of a properly accredited person in every college,—the Dean, for
instance,—and be open to examination by every other person who
can give her or him a real reason for wishing to see them. I am
sure that we have every reason to be willing to have our purposes
examined; there is every reason why we should rejoice to do so. And
the same is doubtless true of the other fraternities.

No one objects to the secrets of Masonry and other fraternal
orders, because the beneficence of their general purposes is under-
stood. Let us allow ourselves to be as frank and surely no one will
be stupid enough to demand the unnecessary sacrifice of our little
sanctuaries.

Some years ago there was a better reason for the hatred of secrecy,
for many fraternity members were silly and surrounded themselves
with an air of aloofness and would not speak of their society to "out-
siders". This absurd attitude, which was merely a weak imitation
of some men's secret societies, died a natural death. I f it survives any-
where it must be moribund. College women usually have a sense
of humor; so this pose could not long continue. Surely it is not
worth any faculty's consideration at this date. I f any chapter any-
where does put on such foolish airs either the student body is