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secure, nevertheless, the introduction of undesirable men. The objections of an old member are often waived on the ground of relationship, old friendship, social standing and the appeal to the possibility of overcoming the objectionable quality. Sober judgment is almost unanimous in maintaining that none of these appeals should be listened to, providing the objection is really a serious one and one that would be valid under other circumstances. I know no way of obviating the difficulties arising under these heads except by impressing upon members of fraternities and urging within the fraternity the general recognition of the principle that the considerations above mentioned should not be allowed to secure the admission of a member as against an objection based on a serious defect in character or lack of qualities in harmony with the majority of the fraternity. Only the last consideration, the appeal to the hope of benefitting the candidate and overcoming the defect in question seems to claim more serious consideration. Everyone will recognize in the discussion of this question that there is a difference between persons of mature and settled character and those whose character is in a formative stage. Children are scarcely to be trusted as missionaries, on the ground of benefitting others' character, in associating with those who may have serious yet seductive defects in character. Young men and women in the years given to college and university life have uot always settled characters and may justly be treated, at least in a measure, as children, and may also justly and properly treat themselves as children in making rules for the guidance of their conduct. Again it is not by any means clear that the rules that apply to the relations of two individuals must be applicable to individuals when grouped together in societies.
I am inclined to say that it is not safe for a fraternity or any organization of the same character to admit to its membership one who is not known to have good sound principles. He may have disagreeable qualities to a limited degree; he may have some serious weakness approximating a vice, and yet if he be known
to recognize this defect and to deprecate it,it may be wise for the members of a society to admit him to membership with the hope of helping him overcome it. But if he is known to approve of or practice habitually and deliberately anything which the best conscience of the day regards as morally wrong,he is not a safe person to be admitted to the membership of a society whose avowed purpose is mutual helpfulness; and even though such exclusion is selfish, I believe it is essential to the existence of such societies and the fulfillment of their purposes.
The evils attaching to the fraternity in connection with a University are chiefly a tendency to mischief and questionable pranks somewhat stronger or at least somewhat more aggressive among fraternity members than that among the body of non-fraternity students; an unwarranted participation in college politics leading to waste of time and sometimes to the thwarting of the selection of the best student officers; and lastly an over indulgence in social dissipation. Of these evils our experience of the last few years shows that the last two, the overindulgence in politics and social dissipation, are not restricted to the fraternity organizations and therefore cannot be said to be the product of the fraternities, at least not altogether. There is no doubt that the fraternities have been leaders in both these unhappy indulgences and that the loss to scholarship and high standing in the University resulting is in a measure to be laid at their door. It is certainly true that some of the dissipation that has come to the notice of the University officials has been indulged in by other than fraternity students, and the most audacious gambler known here among the students was a 'barb.' Nevertheless it is fair to recognize what I have said above: that the secrecy of the fraternity affords an easy cover to these dangerous practices whenever they happen to take root among the members, and those who have this matter to consider must weigh the question whether, and to what degree, an antidote may be found.
A great responsibility for the character and