GREEK-LETTER SOCIETIES AND COLLEGE FRATERNITIES are found in nearly all leading educational institutions, par ticularly the great universities in the United States. Branches of the various societies are known as *chapters,* and are found in nearly every college as well as in every large city in the country. No society has more than one chapter in any one college. While these soci eties are secret in character there is seldom any over-emphasis of ritual or mystery in their conduct, the protection of meetings, constitu tion and mottoes and the inviolability of the society's building or *hall,* being all the secrecy involved. The Greek alphabet is generally used in naming a fraternity or a chapter. There are three types of badges worn by members, the name badge, monogram badge and symbol badge.
The oldest of these literary and social brotherhoods was established as early as 1776 and continued the sole society of its kind for 50 years. There were in 1915 society build ings of the American college fraternities 772 in number and valued at $14,326,915. That in cluded men's, women's, professional, local men's and local women's fraternities, in all 123 soci eties, with a total membership of 471,354 and with 2,854 active chapters in the United States. It has become quite the practice for students of a particular fraternity to reside together during their college course in their *chapter* house. Princeton is the only prominent college in the country where the fraternal society is prohibited, and the fact that all the other lead ing institutions permit these organizations to exist affords strong presumption that they are regarded with favor, and that their influence is for good rather than for evil.
Phi Beta Kappa.—This, the oldest organiza tion, is composed of 71 college chapters, and was founded 5 Dec. 1776, at William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Va. A chapter was formed at Yale, in New Haven, in December 1779, and soon after at Harvard, Dartmouth, Bowdoin and Amherst. The national council meets triennially. The badge of the society is
a golden key.
Kappa Alpha.— Founded in 1825 at Old Union College by four members of the Phi Beta Kappa. It likewise bad a golden key as a badge design. The first branch of this soci ety was established at Williams College. The society had 9,281 members in 1915.
Sigma Phi.— Founded at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., 4 March 1827, the society established branches at Hamilton, Williams, Hobart, Lehigh, Cornell and the universities of Michigan and Vermont. It had a membership of 2,929 in 1915. The badge of the society is of the monogram type; the colors are light blue and white. Among its members have been numbered Elihu Root, Andrew D. White and John H. Post.
Delta Phi.— Founded at Union College, 17 Nov. 1827, this society established branches at Columbia, Rutgers, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Cornell and other colleges. The badge is in the form of a Maltese cross; colors blue and white. The fraternity had in 1917 more than 4,440 members.
Alpha Delta Phi.— Founded at Hamilton College, Clinton, N. Y., in 1832, the society established chapters in 29 other colleges and had a membership of 12,260 in 1915. There were 19 houses owned by the society and 24 active chapters. The badge is of green and white, with the star and crescent as symbols.
Psi Upsilon.— Founded at Union College, 24 Nov. 1833, this society had four of its orig inal founders still living in 1902. The mem bership of the organization was (1915) 13,117, with 24 chapters in various colleges. The badge is of gold, diamond-shaped; colors garnet and gold.
Delta Founded at Williams Col lege in 1834, and had in 1915 chapters in 42 colleges and universities, w;th a membership of .13,209. It is an open, non-secret organiza tion and owns 28 chapter houses.
Beta Theta Founded at Miami Uni versity, Oxford, Ohio, in 1839, this was the pioneer society of the Middle West. It had a membership of 20,992 in 1915, with 77 active chapters. The badge is an eight-sided shield; the colors are light pink and blue.