Judge Duke is Orator Before Phi Beta Kappa
Title
Judge Duke is Orator Before Phi Beta Kappa
Creator
Unknown
Identifier
WWP20915
Date
1915 December 5
Description
Judge Duke addresses the Phi Beta Kappa Society on its one hundred and thirty-ninth anniversary.
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
Judge Duke is Orator Before Phi Beta Kappa
_______
He Delivers Able Address Before Annual Celebration of Alpha Chapter.
_______
NEW MEMBERS ARE INITIATED
_______
RA Lancaster and JH Brent, of Richmond, Among Those Who Now Wear Coveted Golden Key—Dr. Grayson One of Neophytes.
_______
WILLIAMSBURG, VA. December 1, —The Alpha Chapter, of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, celebrated its one hundredth and thirty-ninth anniversary in the chapel of William and Mary College to-night. Robert Morton Hughes, of Norfolk, president of the society, presided, and introduced, with fitting tribute, Judge RWT Duke, Jr., as speaker of the evening.
Judge Duke spoke with power and charm. His address deeply impressed the audience and was among the ablest of those delivered before the mother chapter. A poem of unusual beauty and depth of thought, entitled “De Profundis,” was read by the author, Armistead C. Gordon, of Staunton.
An intitation was held after the conclusion of the public exercises, with the following as neophytes: As members causa honoris, Dr. James Sprunt, of Wilmington. NC; Howard B. Bayne, of New York, and Robert A. Lancaster, of Richmond; as alumni members, Dr. Cary Grayson, of Washington; Colonel Joseph E. Bidgood, John B. Terrell, J. Harper Brent, of Richmond; R. C. Young, of Missouri; A. R. Koontz, of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore.
A reception was enjoyed later in the portrait hall of the college library. The hostess of honor was Mrs. Lyon Gardiner Tyler, wife of the president of William and Mary.
Phi Beta Kappa is not only the oldest of Greek letter and undergraduate fraternities, but it was also in America the original of the college literary and debating society. The original society was founded at the College of William and Mary on . It included among its student members John Marshall, Richard Bland Lee, William Short and Spencer Roane. The agitation against secret societies after the Revolution caused its members to divulge the ritual of the order, but as a scholarship honor society it later spread throughout the best colleges and universities of America. A powerful influence in this growth was the chapter at Harvard University, established from the parent society at William and Mary, through one of its members, a former student of the college, Elisha Parmalee. Some of the most famous men of letters and statesmen of the United States have been wearers of the famous golden key of Phi Beta Kappa. Many of the presidents of the nation have also been members, President Wilson having the degree conferred upon him by his own university.
The organization is now represented in over eighty colleges of the United States which are organized into what is known as the United Chapters. The national organization has established a scholarship at William and Mary in honor of the founders. It can be held only by a son of a member of the society. The present scholar is Herbert Chandler, son of Dr. JAC Chandler, of Richmond, who is an alumnus member of the William and Mary chapter.
The present membership of the society at William and Mary is over 160, among whom are many of the most widely-known names in America. Some of those who wear the coveted key are Thomas Nelson Page, Robert Underwood Johnson, Charles W. Kent, Edward S. Joynes, Wycliffe Rose, Albert Shaw, Lyon Gardiner Tyler, Bishop AM Randolph, John Garland Pollard, Philip Alexander Bruce, John Skelton Williams, William Gordon McCabe, Henry Sydnor Harrison, Andrew Jackson Montague, James Brown Scott, Dr. AE Winship and Edward V. Valentine.
The William and Mary chapter differs from other chapters in electing no student members in course, but confers the honor of election only after an alumnus has graduated with distinction or achieved some noteworthy promise of public service. Honorary election to membership in the mother chapter of Phi Beta Kappa is prized by many as a higher distinction than an honorary degree.
The earliest secret society at William and Mary seems to have been the Flat Hat Club, of which Thomas Jefferson and St. George Tucker were members. That organization had died, however, before the birth of the first fraternity. The original minutes of the first meeting of the original chapter are among the most valued records of the ancient college.
_______
He Delivers Able Address Before Annual Celebration of Alpha Chapter.
_______
NEW MEMBERS ARE INITIATED
_______
RA Lancaster and JH Brent, of Richmond, Among Those Who Now Wear Coveted Golden Key—Dr. Grayson One of Neophytes.
_______
WILLIAMSBURG, VA. December 1, —The Alpha Chapter, of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, celebrated its one hundredth and thirty-ninth anniversary in the chapel of William and Mary College to-night. Robert Morton Hughes, of Norfolk, president of the society, presided, and introduced, with fitting tribute, Judge RWT Duke, Jr., as speaker of the evening.
Judge Duke spoke with power and charm. His address deeply impressed the audience and was among the ablest of those delivered before the mother chapter. A poem of unusual beauty and depth of thought, entitled “De Profundis,” was read by the author, Armistead C. Gordon, of Staunton.
An intitation was held after the conclusion of the public exercises, with the following as neophytes: As members causa honoris, Dr. James Sprunt, of Wilmington. NC; Howard B. Bayne, of New York, and Robert A. Lancaster, of Richmond; as alumni members, Dr. Cary Grayson, of Washington; Colonel Joseph E. Bidgood, John B. Terrell, J. Harper Brent, of Richmond; R. C. Young, of Missouri; A. R. Koontz, of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore.
A reception was enjoyed later in the portrait hall of the college library. The hostess of honor was Mrs. Lyon Gardiner Tyler, wife of the president of William and Mary.
Phi Beta Kappa is not only the oldest of Greek letter and undergraduate fraternities, but it was also in America the original of the college literary and debating society. The original society was founded at the College of William and Mary on . It included among its student members John Marshall, Richard Bland Lee, William Short and Spencer Roane. The agitation against secret societies after the Revolution caused its members to divulge the ritual of the order, but as a scholarship honor society it later spread throughout the best colleges and universities of America. A powerful influence in this growth was the chapter at Harvard University, established from the parent society at William and Mary, through one of its members, a former student of the college, Elisha Parmalee. Some of the most famous men of letters and statesmen of the United States have been wearers of the famous golden key of Phi Beta Kappa. Many of the presidents of the nation have also been members, President Wilson having the degree conferred upon him by his own university.
The organization is now represented in over eighty colleges of the United States which are organized into what is known as the United Chapters. The national organization has established a scholarship at William and Mary in honor of the founders. It can be held only by a son of a member of the society. The present scholar is Herbert Chandler, son of Dr. JAC Chandler, of Richmond, who is an alumnus member of the William and Mary chapter.
The present membership of the society at William and Mary is over 160, among whom are many of the most widely-known names in America. Some of those who wear the coveted key are Thomas Nelson Page, Robert Underwood Johnson, Charles W. Kent, Edward S. Joynes, Wycliffe Rose, Albert Shaw, Lyon Gardiner Tyler, Bishop AM Randolph, John Garland Pollard, Philip Alexander Bruce, John Skelton Williams, William Gordon McCabe, Henry Sydnor Harrison, Andrew Jackson Montague, James Brown Scott, Dr. AE Winship and Edward V. Valentine.
The William and Mary chapter differs from other chapters in electing no student members in course, but confers the honor of election only after an alumnus has graduated with distinction or achieved some noteworthy promise of public service. Honorary election to membership in the mother chapter of Phi Beta Kappa is prized by many as a higher distinction than an honorary degree.
The earliest secret society at William and Mary seems to have been the Flat Hat Club, of which Thomas Jefferson and St. George Tucker were members. That organization had died, however, before the birth of the first fraternity. The original minutes of the first meeting of the original chapter are among the most valued records of the ancient college.
Original Format
Article
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Collection
Citation
Unknown, “Judge Duke is Orator Before Phi Beta Kappa,” 1915 December 5, WWP20915, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.