Omega History and News - The Rattle, January 1933
As appeared in The Rattle - Vol. XXI No. 4 - January 1933
OMEGA, TYPICAL OF THETA CHI
In this history of Omega Chapter is the story of practically all Theta Chi chapters, that of a group of congenial students who wanted others to enjoy Fellowship that they Found good.
WHEN the history of Theta Chi Fraternity is written to take its place among the records of Greek-letter organizations that have played an important role in the educational life of this country, it will be an account not of one unit, but of the fifty active chapters that now compose the roll, of those that may be added in the years ahead, and of various alumni and associated groups that are, have been, and will become, a part of the fraternity. The success of that history will depend upon how well the events in the development of each chapter have been preserved by historians of today, not on the skill and literary power of the persons selected to put the volume in final shape.
Already it has been discovered that some vital history of the earliest days of Theta Chi has been lost, and the same thing will happen in the case of each chapter unless a serious effort is made to compile the history up to the present time now and then add the events of each year.
In order to inspire chapter historians, alumni and actives, to insure adequate representation in Theta Chi's future history, the National Council voted to have The Rattle reproduce at least partially one of the most satisfactory chapter histories that have been submitted to the national historian. The one selected is the story of Omega Chapter as written by various members and edited by George Chapman, '20. Told in clear, dignified fashion, with completeness of detail, it offers a standard that should prove of value to every Theta Chi chapter historian.
As prepared for the archives of the fraternity, it reflects imagination as well as desire for historical accuracy on the part of its authors from the carefully lettered title page to the complete membership roster with which the volume ends. Its pages are neatly typed. The book is attractively illustrated with pen and ink sketches of the coat of arms, badge, and pledge pin of the two organizations which preceded Omega Chapter and with well mounted photographs, maps, and drawings. In addition to the material reproduced in this magazine, there is the membership roll of the old Northeast Club, the officer list of the three organizations, the legal charter granted by the State of Pennsylvania, a brief illustrated history of Pennsylvania State College, and the membership roster.
Preface
With the realization that the Omega Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity, after six-teen years of existence, had no complete, accurate, and adequate written history, it was determined that such a history should be written and collected.
Every effort has been made to make this history both complete and accurate. The old minutes of the fraternity have been read, and old records and correspondence have been searched for information.
To a certain extent, some of the chapters overlap, but to tell the story of each era completely, this overlapping is necessary.
The editor takes this opportunity to express his appreciation and thanks to the following for their help, interest, and co-operation in making this history possible: Ellwood B. Cassel, '19, Norman C. _Horner, '16, John. A. Irwin, '16, and Raymond B. Poeppel, '20. In fairness to these men, it must be noted that their contributions as written were all impersonal. All names were inserted by the editor.
With the sincere hope that this history will fill a long felt want of Omega Chapter, it is herewith presented.
George W. Chapman.
Detroit, Michigan.
June 1, 1931.
Story of the Northeast Club (click here to see photos and more)
by Ellwood B. Cassel, ’19
Until April 6, 1918 the organization, which, within a year, was to be installed as Omega Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity, was known as the Northeast Club of the Pennsylvania State College. Membership in this club was restricted to those students enrolled at Penn State who had attended the Northeast High School in Philadelphia.
The birth of Omega Chapter and of its parent, Phi Tau Alpha, were each attended by appropriate ceremonies and formal announcement. The Northeast Club had more modest beginnings. Although the first minutes are dated May 31, 1915, its origin predates any organized meeting. It was born of an intangible something called “Northeast Spirit,” a loyalty to one s school and a natural brotherhood of an alien group with common home interests. Without doubt, this school spirit was merely the outward manifestation of love and respect for the man who typified the school, Dr. Andrew J. Morrison, principal for many years, whose “boys” always sensed his warm personal interest in their welfare. He was one of the old type educators who exerted a powerful influence for good on those who came into contact with him.
It had become a custom for a number of years for graduates of Northeast High School attending Penn State to return during Christmas and Easter holidays for the purpose of visiting Dr. Morrison and others on the faculty and also to interest seniors in the Center County institution. These pilgrimages, together with occasional informal gatherings on and near the campus, such as smokers, cider feeds, and annual football contests against a similar group with West Philadelphia High School, resulted in a desire to form a closer tie of fellowship.
It is not possible to give any one person credit for being the founder of the Northeast Club for the club was the idea of a group rather than an individual. However, all credit is due those men who composed this group and who included Emil Olbrick, Carl Bartle, Norman Horner, John Irwin,, Albert Mainwaring, Alfred Bechtel, and others, for their solid method of organization and their high ideals which made the future secure.
In the spring of 1915 steps were taken to form a coherent organization and to rent a clubhouse. Signatures were obtained in May from thirteen men pledging support for the year 1915-1916. Of this number only five signified intention of taking room and meals at the clubhouse. One pledged to take a room only, two to take meals only, and the others, merely non-resident membership. In spite of this apparent uncertainty, a three years’ lease was signed with Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson on May 31, 1915, for a house which would be erected at the northeast corner of Allen Street and Foster Avenue. This building was to be three stories in height with eight bedrooms of variable sizes on the two upper floors. This house remained the home of the Northeast Club, of Phi Tau Alpha, and of Omega Chapter of Theta Chi until June 1929.
When college opened in September 1915 the house lacked about two months of being completed. On September 15 a meeting was held at 200 South Atherton Street at which constitution and finance committees were appointed. All of the twenty-two members present signed a pledge to support the club for the college year. A meeting held October 16 in the Engineering Building served to acquaint those present with accomplishments of the preceding month. Optimism for the successful operation of the infant organization was reflected in an entry in the minutes for that date that instead of moving into the house, “It was suggested that those who are satisfied with their rooms volunteer to stay where they are this year.” During the year 1915-16 sixteen men roomed in the clubhouse. One was a non-member, a senior who had roomed in former years with one of our men, and whose presence was not unwelcome.
The Northeast Club moved into its new house about November 1, 1915, and the first meeting to be held there was on November 9, 1915. This was followed by others at weekly intervals during those months college was in session. A perusal of the minutes for the college years that the Northeast Club existed reveals three prominent topics of discussion. A continued interest in activities and personnel at the parent high school is reflected by reference to frequent contacts with it through the correspondent. An economy of administration is evidenced by frequent motions and recorded suggestions to minimize expenditures — for a number of the group were working their way through college. The third outstanding item in the minutes is the passage of amendments to Constitution and By-Laws from time to time in an attempt to perfect an organization to meet new or unforeseen situations.
These revisions show a definite trend of thought and policy, the final result of which was inevitable under conditions to which the Club was subjected, but which also contrary to the purpose originally intended by the founders. It was the intention, so recorded in the minutes of September 1915, that members of other fraternities might be eligible to membership in the club. A pledge to support it for the current year was all that was asked. Realizing that such a plan would result in uncertainty and confusion at the opening of each college year, an amendment was passed February 22, 1916, requiring a pledge to support the club for the full college course.
The question raised some controversy and was opened for further discussion during March and April, but the amendment stood. Those who were to be graduated the following June were not asked to sign, but signatures of fourteen underclassmen were attached to the pledge in April. In the following years, prior to initiation, nineteen other names were added.
The pin of the club was of distinctive design and very attractive. The N. E. was in red on a black background, the club colors, and the pin was set with twelve half pearls. It was designed by John Irwin and Francis Doan. The coat of arms of the Northeast Club was an adoption of the seal of the Northeast High School. The keystone was black with the N. E. in red. The date, 1914,
was used because first steps towards organization of the club began in that year. The pledge pin was red and black.
In the minutes of October 22, 1917, mention was made of a probable desirability of changing the Northeast Club to an unrestricted Greek letter fraternity. A week later a committee consisting of George Chapman, Francis Doan, and Robert Stevens was appointed to investigate and resort on reasons for changing the Northeast Club to an unrestricted local fraternity. This report, presented to the club at the meeting held on November 5, 1917 was as follows:
This committee finds that it is altogether feasible, and at this time extremely desirable to convert the Northeast Club, from a limited and discriminating preparatory school fraternity, into either a Greek letter non restrictive local or a similar local with a non Greek title.
The reasons from which this conclusion is drawn can be stated as follows:
1. Because of the location of the Northeast High School there must come a time when the number and quality of the graduates of said school who make Penn State their alma mater will become such that the club can not exist as a fraternity with a clubhouse.
2. Because of the limited number of Northeast men coming to Penn State practically all must be admitted into brotherhood regardless of their ability to be congenial, morally, mentally, or socially with the other members.
3. Rather than wait until necessity compels us to make this change, perhaps under adverse conditions, it seems more logical in every way to accomplish it now, when haste and confusion may be avoided and the changes stand some chance of becoming permanent.
4. Besides these considerations there might be mentioned the broader aspect of a fraternity containing men from more than one restricted district, the fact that if we expect to grow and ever get into a larger and more satisfactory clubhouse, we must take this step and at present war conditions threaten to lower our membership to a great degree.
To take the step suggested the following things must be considered and changed or regulated: 1. Name of fraternity; 2. constitution and by-laws; 3. ritual; 4. insignia; 5. charter.
The report was accepted as read, and a motion made and passed to make preparations for changing the Northeast Club to an unrestricted local Greek letter fraternity.
The actual vote on changing the Northeast Club was taken at the meeting held on March 19, 1917, and showed eighteen members in favor of the change, two opposed, and two declining to vote. The motion was passed.
Succeeding meetings were devoted largely to business pertaining to preparation for the installation of Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity, the name chosen from four submitted by the Investigation Committee. A constitutional committee consisting of Chapman, Poeppel, Gemberling, and Beaven wrote the new constitution and by-laws, and a ritual committee consisting of Poeppel, Cassel, and Segl wrote and prepared the ritual. These two committees were assisted by the so-called Investigation Committee of Chapman, Doan, and Stevens. The design for the Phi Tau Alpha pin was chosen as was the design for the coat of aims.
Early in the spring of 1918 the Northeast Club submitted the following petition to the college authorities:
"We, the members of the Northeast Club, do hereby petition the college authorities for a recognition as the Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity in the form of a charter, believing that in this manner the most amicable and beneficial relations can be sustained between ourselves and the college.
"In support of our plea, we might mention that the organization was established as the Northeast Club Fraternity in 1914 by Emil B. J. Olbrich, 1915, Carl A. Bartle, 1916, Alfred Rahn Bechtel, 1916, Norman C. Homer, 1916, and John Andrew Irwin, 1916, and has existed to date as mentioned. No charter has been applied for previously, as the members had in view the change that they now desire to make. Thus we are not forming an altogether new organization, but simply petition for a charter for a non-restrictive Greek letter fraternity whose prospective members are the members of the present Northeast Club.
By the president,
Winfield F. Smith."
This petition was favorably acted upon by the college authorities, and while there is no record of a charter ever having been issued, the Northeast Club was given official permission to change to the Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity.
The last official meeting of the Northeast Club was held on March 18, 1918, and on March 22, 1918 with the formal initiation of the charter members of Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity the Northeast Club ceased to exist, except in the memory of those to whom it had meant so much.
The Phi Tau Alpha Era (click here to see photos and more)
By Raymond B. Poeppel
During the early part of the school semester of 1917 and 1918, there were many heated, high-pitched and fiery meetings of the Northeast Club concerning the question as to weather that club, then a restricted local fraternity, should continue in that capacity or throw off its restrictions and become a local non-restrictive fraternity. The members for and against the change put every ounce of energy into swinging the decision to their respective opinions. After weeks of debate, which threatened the very existence of the war depleted membership, the vote was finally taken and the result was the establishment of the Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity. This was not accomplished without the loss of one or two members of the old Northeast Club who could not be convinced that making the change was the only logical course to pursue.
Events since that time have proved that the committee, which drew up the reasons for making the change, were farsighted and their conclusions entirely correct. The report of this committee is quoted in “The Story of the Northeast Club.”
After finally making the decision to become a local non-restrictive fraternity, which many members believed would be the most difficult thing to legislate through the firm-minded membership, it was found that the work had just begun and it was all uphill going.
The president, Winfield F. Smith '20, appointed committee to get facts and date and work up their recommendations on name, constitution, ritual, insignia, etc. It was the work of the members of these various committees that actually created the local fraternity of Phi Tau Alpha. Their work interwove and there were many joint meetings of the committees to create a name, constitution, ritual and insignia, which would dovetail into a workable organization. This task of revision and creation by the committees was difficult enough to attain in the committee membership, but to get their work successfully through the general meeting was another long discussion of opinions – opinions that were unbendingly obstinate on many points.
Home of the Northeast Club, Phi Tau Alpha and Omega Chapter - 251 South Allen St, State College, PA
This work of creating a new organization vastly different from the Northeast Club was carried on in the mid-winter of 1917-1918. While it was being accomplished operations were continued under the laws of the existing club, gradually changing in the form of meetings and getting ready to operate smoothly under a new name, constitution and ritual. When the Fraternity Committee of the General Faculty of the College granted permission to make the change on February 23, 1915, the new organization was practically ready to function, but it was not until April 6, 1918 that the formal change was announced to the college and other fraternities by a smoker and reception. Actual initiation of charter members of Phi Tau Alpha took place on March 22, 1918. On April 15, 1918 we were admitted to the Intramural Council, an organization of the local Greek Letter fraternities. This marked the final step in the official establishment of the Phi Tau Alpha fraternity and placed un on an equal basis with the contemporary local Greek Fraternities then at the college.
The name Phi Tau Alpha was selected with much care and deliberation, a committee had presented three to the general meeting. What the three letters stood for seems to fit best to what it was desired to create. They worked into ritual exceedingly well and if the local fraternity had existed many years they would have worn good it is certain.
When the new constitution was presented for approval it was acted upon in parts and each discussed and deliberated on. It apparently was a workable set of laws for it held during the most difficult of times without any record in the minutes of its being amended. However, during the war regime in the fall of 1918 it could not be followed in every respect.
The ritual was something that was absolutely new to be created without anything to use as a guide. It was a rather intricate proceeding. To be carried out it required a full week and when the candidates for membership had completed it, they surely must have decided they were joining a worthwhile fraternity.
The Coat of Arms was designed in the shape of a plain shield measuring about four and one-fourth inches in width and about seven inches in height. The body of it was divided into three segments. In the upper left portion was a lamp of knowledge in white on a red background and in the upper right section a skull and cross-bones in white on a background of black. In the lower part of the shield was a white candlestick having seven lighted candles. This was on a background of gold.
Note: On account of the length of this article it will be continued in the March issue of The Rattle
OMEGA CHAPTER NEWS
Omega Endeavors to Fill House to Capacity - Chapter Entertains Prominent Newspaper Editor
By John A Fay
Pennsylvania State College, Jan. 3. — In view of the fact that our house is not yet filled to its capacity, Omega will undergo an intensive rushing period immediately after the first semester. The period will extend for two weeks, and judging by the present enthusiasm we should get the necessary number of pledges.
Pledge Granville Evans will be unable to return to college next semester. However, this loss is offset somewhat by the return of Randall Skillen in February.
Omega had the privilege last month of entertaining Fred Fuller Shedd, editor of the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, and also president of the National Association of Newspaper Editors, probably the greatest honor that can be given a man of the journalism profession.
Members of Omega have been busy the last month redecorating their rooms. The walls have all been painted a light buff color, and most of the rooms are complete with rugs, easy chairs, and window draperies. Three of the rooms even contain radios, and many more are expected.
The Mothers' Club of Omega has been functioning in a very progressive manner. At a meeting held last spring they gave money for shrubbery, and this fall they donated money for rugs. They have also decorated the guest room in a very pleasing manner.
The annual Christmas banquet was held December 16. It started with a turkey dinner, and the festivities were ended with a play by the pledges and a visit from Santa Claus.
On December 16 Omega played host to sixteen children between the ages of four and fifteen. The children were picked by the Unemployment Relief Board as needy cases, and Omega did everything it could to spread the holiday spirit. The children were treated to a fine dinner, and upon leaving, were given bags of fruit and can-dy. It is hard to say who enjoyed the party the most, the children or members of Omega.