Page 26 - 1919 September - To Dragma

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 19

/ R E P O R T O F T H E G R A N D H I S T O R I A N A I*1

STELLA GEORGE STERN PERRY

r T " s H E report of the Grand Historian to the Convention of 1919
I A/shows the need of both an adequate established History, bound

cheaply in pamphlet form, and a growing History, bound only with
staples to allow for yearly additions, both of which can be held as
ready reference in each chapter. I t has been proposed to cover the
field of work in the established History by the successive publication
of chapters in To DRAGMA, which will cover the Early History, The
First Period of Growth, The Period of Organization, The Second
Period of Growth, and finally The Period of New Idealism. The
growing History will cover the history of each chapter as well as the
yearly events of the future.

This report has been referred to the Executive Committee and in
all probability the work on the History will advance rapidly within
the next two years.

The report closes with the following vital message:
"We have just gone through a period in the world's history that
tried the souls of organizations as well as of men, women, and na-
tions. Alpha Omicron Pi has stood the test. The record of our
services in the crisis just passed is the only record with which we
could be satisfied—every chapter, every individual gave all she had
to give. No one who has seen Alpha Omicron Pi grow from its
infancy could look upon its record at this time without a pang of
joy poignant to the point of tears. But that is just what we expected
of ourselves and no more than we must have expected.
"The real test of what these trying times have done to us, the acid
test of our worth, is in the years immediately before us. I t lies, as
all real tests must lie, in our relation to our daily normal life and not
to the great moments or even the great years of high fervor. The
world has changed since our last meeting. How are we to keep
abreast of it? These are large times and in them no little thing can
survive. Here is a world calling for stalwart devotions in tremen-
dous services. Here is a body of hundreds of picked young women,
the very hope of the future. Let them f u l f i l l that hope. Rushing
cannot now be the big interest of any chapter. Exclusiveness and
aloofness are not only hateful to us now as they have always been,
they are impossible. Every day, every hour in the life of your col-
lege, of your community calls to you saying, "What have you to give
me, to my problems? What is your worth today? Are you on fire