Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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co. 1 The Ho ' 'The following lecture was delivered - by Mv. John Gordon Hughes, a trustee c$ of the University, in chapel some time 44 ago. Through the kindness of Mr. 1 Hughes and by request of one interested in the subject matter of the address, the Gamecock is publishing the address. Nearly thirty-one years ago, immedi ately in advance of receiving my Bache lor of Art degree from the University of South Carolina, I stood on this ros trum and delivered a graduation address on some phase of "how to run the world." Now, I am here on your very kind invitation to give, - during the course of a few minutes, a little ad vice, gleaned from my years of experi ence, to a small, but very important part of the population of the globe. Since the University of South Caro li1a is a co-educational institution, what I shall have to say about the young men and fraterntities applies also to the young ladies and sororities ; and it is to be understood that in my remarks I am far from intending to ignore the young ladies. The subject assigned to tme is an excellent one and deserves much abler treatment than I am capable of givi1:g it. Further, I have been handicapped by lack of time to make preparation -mnd by the time limit I have set in order ,o ..void interference with your regular scholastic. dvties. The Honor System andd Fraternities are inextricably associated in the life of the University of South Carolina from the founding of which institution tthe Honor Princinle has exerted a most beneficial influence in shaping and guid ing the careers of the Unive-:sity's Alum ni. and through them, in moulding th, future of the State. As a rule, what a man is in college, so is he in after life along the lines of honesty, character, and ideals. This idea seems to have been in the minds of those who first charted the course of conduc.t for the students of this great i-nstitution, for in 1804. the first and main regulation as to dei - pline was adloptedl as follows:"h rewads and purshments of this insti tnt ion shall be addressed to the sen : of duty and the principles of honor and shame." This provis'on is still embnodie,l in the Iy-Laws of the University and the lo.g years have given no cause for the charge of a single word. It is said that Dr. Jonathan Maxey, the first presi dent, was a member of the Committee appointed by the Board of Trustees to draw up the By-Laws. and regardless of whether he or the other members were resnonsible for the birth of the honor -'rci"ple here, we all know it has served a great purpose in developing the young 'iminhr,od of the State. In later years T)r. Cooper, in commenting on dicipline hv way of report to the board, said: "Treating the students as gentlemen and worthy of confidence has succeeded so well that the fact,lty have no reason to rhanige it." Later on Francis Lieber said,. in speakinig of the students: "Not onice have I yet appealed to their honor ar d been disap)poinit ed.' Josenh Le flonte, the great Geologist, stated of the students: "I have never pireviously seen (nor have I since) so high a sense of honor among students in their e lations to one anothier anud to the. f:'euhty. No form of untruth fulness amn':e them selves or towvard the ine-iltv (such, for example, as cheating at examu ) w-is for a moment tolerated. Any student stir pected of such practices w,'s cut by his fellow students ar'd compelled to leave." About the time of the adhministration of Dr. James H-. Thornw-l1 in 1853 the Board added to the provisior,s as to dicinline the followinu: "It is earnestly desired that the students may be in fluenced to good c'nduct and diligence in study by higher miot ives than the co ersion of law;: and it mainty relies for the success of the institution, as a place for liberal education, o moor,1 a,i] re ligious principles, a sense of r1 tv and the generous feelings wvhi1b hvdog to young meni engagedl in honior,bl pur suilts." The principles of condtuct we-e laid down for the students of this inictitution ini the beginning and the uphuildinig of these principiles has hel-'ed in the past to develop men sent forthi by their almam mnaler to become powvers ir ev-ry field for the good and unhuilding of the State. The quotat ions I have tiadle show the opinions of the great leaders of thought in the past in reference to the honor principle at Carolina. and it may be notedrtihat niot ore of them was a native nor Syster Sci.th Carolinian or an Alumnus of this institution, though all served on its fa culty. Dr. Cooper was born in Eng land and was brought to this country through the influence of Thos. Jeffer son. Francis Lieber was a native -f Germany and had fought in the battl of Waterloo against Napolean; and Dr. LeConte was a native of Georgia, and in late life was Professor of Geology in the University of California', on whose campus stands the celebrated le Cotite Oak, named in his honor. The opi:ions of those men here in ante ellium days would apply to the time. I was a student from 1893 to 1897 and again from 1898 to 1900. During that time no infringement on the sudents' line of condrct was allowed in matters of honesty and honor, and those who violated the code received the penalties at the hands of their fellow students regardless of family connections and in fluence. Each class generally handled its own members. The only one that I recall who was suspected and escaped was one feilow who was said to have have had his text book with him on examination and then didn't have sense enough to use the book to make a mark above twenty-five. His case was more humorous than serious, and he never got out of the Freshman class. I believe we now have what is known as an "Honor System," adopted in 1909 and operated under certain rules. There can h:&rdly he any rules on the question :f the "principle" but I rndlerstand that these rules apply more particularly to proceedure. This age old princi-ple should cortinue to be enforced for the good of all-the preservation of a high standard of conduct and the develeip ment of the best that is in youn; man hood. I sircerely hope that in the in tervening years there has been no break ing down in this Honor Principle in I-erited fri i our fathers. It is to the fe of the student body what virtue is to a woman. It has given this institu ion the prestige and glamor that kniight haiol gave to its palmy age. It developed a type of mat.hood. in both public ard private life, that splendidly served the S tate in the forum and in every line of activity. \hetn we look back to those glorious old days of our Commmnwealth yi cann:ot separate the University fr<ni th! Ztate-their hisory is one. Now, after an absence of th rty years, Fraternities are with us again. l'hey are U.:t ''ew at ('ariolii:a. for thev were here prior to the Civil \\ar. and. with some intermission <htring Re-Construe.tion days. up to the close of the Sessii,", :n 1897. \With he circumstances of the Abolition Act if 1897. 1 am very famii liar--but that is a long story and need not he related here. WN-hat is the relation between the Ho nor System and Fraternities? It is close and important, if both operate as they are intended. The system may be called a law and each fraternity Chap ter should be an enfora.emerdI squad. F,very college fraternity is founded ont goodI principles, which should anneal uo the sense of honor of its members and aid wvonderfutlly in the dlevelopmtentt of character and high ideals. Thle prin ciples are not unlike thtose of fraternal orders in the ortside wvorld anid htarm can come only wvhent there is a v iolationt of obligation andl a prostituttioni oft iir pose, just as ortside fraternal orders are often utsed by the "ipea-mlit"f politi cian am'd the demagogue for the purpose of stirring up prejudice and dilutiire and soilitng ideals for rotteni political iends. The yountg mten of the University are reviving fraternities here and now is the time for them to start right. It is ini your power to make them great agencies for goodl. Ont the other hand yoit c:ar earse a failure i-n their real purpo'e. White it is true that a fraternity is tarcrely social in its naure, yet it is also ant organizatiotn of mututal helpfulnea~ to its membhers-aidrng one another a.s inv.ynt brothers in keeping up a hi"" ('"-terd of schtolarshin, in general d1' votonmpent andc in the effort to atta i th;~h irie,ls. In the accomplishment of( these enids three things must be kco in mind: one, youtr primary allegiatw-i is to the University; second, then come' loyalty to our Fraternity; and thir4. next in ordler should be a kindly treat - ment of your fellow students generally, whether they are or are not members of fraternities. No young man can he a good member of this student body tnless he .places the interests of the University abov" n and Fra all subsidiary organizations on the cam Pus. He who fails in this is lacking in appreciation of the opportunities given him by his parents and his State. The man who places a badge or button a bove his loyalty to Carolina is unfit to wear that emblem. If you wish to make your Chapter 'strong, you can do it only by making Carolina great. You must have that source strong and unfailing is to fight the battle for the University first. That is not only right, but in addition you reap the benefit. Your Chapter and its membership can be no better than the principles and ideals that pervade the institution and your Chapter will be rated in the fraternity world as your University is. You can not afford to be selfish and keep within the inner circle of your chosen few-if so you will (lie of dry rot. Sometimes you find a genius in some line who is selfish, but no really great man is-no real valuable and effective organization can be. I would be ashamed for a member of my Chapter to be made Cap tain of the baseball team or fullback on the football when he did not deserve. What glory is it for your fraternity mate, through incompetency, carrying yo-r college teams to humilating de feat ? What credit is it to you to have him editor of the magazine or annual, if he makes it a laughing stock and a disgrace to the University? What can you claim for yourself if you help make him president of your literary society when others are better qualified and more entitled to the position ? Such conduct injures the University, and yorr organization as well. Many of you have not yet joined or been pledged to a fraternity. Look well before you leap. Be sure you join only a congenial group, as otherwise you can expect little pleasure from your associa tion. As I have indicated the loyalty due your chapter can he largely shown by your interest in the University. The two stand or fall together. You can aid the University by seeing that no men become members of your chapter who need regulation-and if thev do. reg; late them before somebody else has to do it. :\ rotten egg can ruin a dozen good ones. Look for men of real worth. and by all means avoid the snob. He s fit for nothing and I believe God. \lm;-hty hates him. He appeals ;o nohody aInd is a mill-stone about any orranization that takes him in-or fron another point of view, we might call him the h~ll weevil of the fraternity world---he gives nothing and ruins every thing. Keep your own house clean and save trouble for everybody else and save trouble for everybody else and your sei f. It is the dtuty of your chapter to develop solid, well-rounded men who can honorably compete in all lines of college activity and can fairly claim recognition at the hatds ,f the'r fellow students. In doin this a friendly rivalry is created and the Un'versitv gets tl best in all WVhatever t-ernityv von j< in, do yov r utmost 1- s *e your chap ter answver lie erwe-in iisf i er:sit ieS by its conduct and accompillishmnenits. Another quality that should charaucter ize every fraternity' man is courteous and treatmenit of all his fellow students. You owe 'his to members of other fra ternities as well as to t hose who are not meimblers. The urirc'i)le's of l,onorsi anid d e"e'.cy demand t his c'ourse . Some yotme mien loin nio fraterrity, sinice te do i1 of wishi to. beca use thley lark thIi necese rv fiuds or fori the rea'o'' ther h"v ~e 110n met w;i t tue muembuershiio thbat h-osa mutual anneal. Yet tl'ev ar' v,ur fellows here in making prenarat i' sloir life work ard onlyv a snobi wool1' Uf,ii to accord t hem th1e considerat$is' hV' is their due. W\orthi while fra e"r"itv men atterdh college for a real and worthy purpose and they extend to others hevonnd their chosen circle thb. courtesies that ore rsentlemien extends to another along the wvalk of P-fe. For eehrlt years T had the honor of beinr 'lt executive head of Pi Kains; A lohn Fraternity and during that time myv effort was to e.ortiinally imorove the '-cho'arship. (rood conduct and general efliciency of the miembershin. Further, muy fellow officers joined me in keeping our chapteos clear of all forms of he huavior that cotuld reflect on a fraterniity. WVe knew there could he no opposition to fraternities on priniciple, but only by reason of the conduct of some of theI membership. In my adldress to the con, vention in Jacksonville, Florida, in 10 eeared these wnor1ds ternities "In many sections of our country there are being waged today fights against fraternities. Not in one case is the opposition justified as far as fra ternity principles are concerned. If every chapter lived up to the teachings of the constitution and ritual of its fraternity, you would hear nothing but praise for it. The delinquencies general ly may be summed up under the heads extravaigarce, dissi->ation, loafing, and sno bbishnless. liminate these, vhich are contrary to fraternity principles, and the opposition has not a leg to stand in. The worst part of tie sitration is that one or two chapters of fraternities in an institution can practice these vices and the fraternity system gets the credit for the short coming. Let all chapters. do nothing except what is for the inter ests of the Institution were located, let the members !e rightly guided in matters of college spirit and patriotism, let conrtesy and consideration always mark the conduct of chapter members in their relationship with other frater nity men and nonfraterity men, let them make good in scholarship and keep in view always the welfare of their college community-all this in addition to other duties as men-then they will be carrying out their obligation in a very large degree to their fraternity and themselves. If they do these thing;, which do not conflict with their duties to their inner circle, they have helped to win the fight and dissipate opposi tion.' Finally, just a word to those who may. for some reason not be invited to join one of the existing fraternities here. The fact that you are not invited to join one of the existing fraternities here should be no reflection on von. It merely means you do not happen to be congenial wilh the membership of these chapters now in existance in the University I f you are invited and do not care to join that is y,our affair. If you wish to join and are not invited, that also is your affair-one you cannot remedy by abus ii:g and fighting those who are members for that line of conduct does not help you or your University. You are a freeborn American citizen and have a right to select yonr own friends and an ply for a charter from a fraternity not already represented liere. Or you can Irit your own fraternity, which is your right and privilege, if yor choose to exercise them, as the Greek alphabet an I latguage are canahle of furnishing sti:l further names and combtinations. I woutld hate to admit that I was not ind petdetnt enough to chart my own course. if that of others (lid not appeal to me. or I did not appeal to it. E.ach chapter with the right man in it will make itself a power of good in fluence in the University and an en forcement unit in upholding the ideats of the institution and in supporting its honor prnciple and the system tinder which it operates. When you find - chapter that places its selfish interests ab)ove the good of the University, be w;.re of it, biecause it is ridlimn to a fall. The honor principle ineluides imore thai preveniting cheating on examiniiwt ions and means doimng your duty to the Umniversity. helping to uplift yor.r friends, bei ng courteous toi all you r fel lowv students being julst to yourself-itt short, followi intg the course that appteals to men hv ir g at senlse (of hoinor and shame. Phone ~66l Service CHARLIE / McGHEF TONSORIi~ WEILCOME~ CARO1 Where You Meet Your Frie '1128 Lady Street MOT )R COACH SE~RVl. Cohlumbia to Gre'enville l.v. Co1umbia: 7:30 am, 9 :30 am' 11:30 am, 2 pm, 3 :30 pm, 5 pm Lv. Greenville: Same Time HAYES BUs LINES ( Incorporaed ) 1800 Main St. Phone 8788R SYLVAN BROS. JELELERS AND DIAMOND MERCHANTS Most complete stock of sterling silver prize cups in the Carolinas I Class rings and pins of the better kind, made up to suit your own ideas. Come in and let's get acquainted. 1500 Main St. Columbia, S. C. "The Heose of Quouty" Estaished in 1844 The R. L. BRYAN COMPANY Binding, Office Furniture and Specialties Columbia, South Carolina Books, Stationery, Printing, CAPITAL CITY LAUNDRY Specialists it DRESS SHIRTS & COLLARS (One Day Service) 1119 Gervais St. Phone 9711 CAROLINA STUDENTS) A Good Place to Eat MRS. L. K. BEST 1012 Marion Street One - Iali Block From Campu: Phone 6963 1117 Washington St. OWEN & 'PAUL MERCHANT TAILORS Columbia, S. C. Cleaning. Pressing Repairing. Altering Suits & Overciats Made to Order THE SANITARY CAFE A Cordial Weclcome, Tasty Food Reasonably Priced Polite Service -- Always Open PhonIe 9138 1345 Main St. 'I Es Our Motto: Give Us a Trial a MONROE LINDSAY 1i. KINGS ,INA STUDENTS ids--Opposite Jerome H otel Next to Woman's Exchange For Fruit Drinks -- ---VISIT - HAMPTON'S Hlomne-Made Cat,dies 1218 Main St. Coluimbia, S. C. Receptions PFuished Only Plna of t.s in aa te Ca.