Page 25 - 1925 November - To Dragma

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 105

2. Competitive bidding does not create unity of spirit in
local Panhellenic.

a) Creates antagonism between rival groups.

3. System of voting f o r members non-Christian.
a) Forgetful of fundamental spirit of love.

C. Alpha Chi Omega is unjust.
1. Drops pledges who cannot or do not make grades.

You have been very frank in criticizing the fraternity, so

I assume you expect me to be frank in my statements con-

cerning your reactions toward fraternities, and yourself.

To begin with, it seems to me you have confused the two
different forms of "fraternity." There is, as you know, f r a -
ternity in the larger sense, that ideal fraternity of which Christ
taught and of which we all strive to be worthy members. Then
there is, as you also know, fraternity in the narrower sense,
fraternity in the sense of an association of persons f o r some
common purpose.

Now, suppose we consider what Alpha Chi Omega means to
me—and it means to me now what it does because of what it
meant to me when I was active. I look upon Alpha Chi Omega
as a fraternity in the sense of an association of persons f o r
some common purpose, and that purpose is set forth in the
opening and closing ceremonies and the initiation ceremony of
the fraternity. To me, the fraternity seems a training school,
as it were, a training school for that other fraternity of which
Christ taught, the key of which is love. W e can love our
fellows and give the most of ourselves to them, understand
their motives, which means understanding both their virtues and
their weaknesses, and yet find our own most intimate friends in
a smaller group. The close associations and intimate friendships
of the fraternity, I believe, cannot be found anywhere else in
college life, unless it be in the dormitory—and even there it is
different. I f we strive to attain the ideals of the fraternity we
should be that much more able, both in school and after leaving,
tc follow that precept of Christ's wherein He taught: "Make
thv light so shine before men that they shall glorify thy Father
who art in Heaven."

The fraternity helps us to make the most of our opoortuni-
ties. I t not only helps and trains us to live with those about us,
but it also attempts to broaden us bv urging—no, more than that—
even compelling us to take an active part in campus activities,
and in that way we can extend our influence and the influence
and ideals of our fraternity among those about us, not by what we
say so much as by what we do.

I t seems to me that the fraternity might be considered in the
light of a medium, a restricted group, i f you please, but, never-