The Psi Upsilon Epitome; Studies Addressed to Members of the Society Concerning Its Outward Growth, Characteristics and Results, from Its Origin in Th

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884. Excerpt: ... THE PSI UPSILON EPITOME. CHAPTER I. CHAPTER ANNALS. "Each group of ours shall gather round The strength of one Fraternity." J. D. Robinson (Alpha '51). Near the centre of the city of Schenectady stands a massive stone building, now used as a public school, but which, fifty years ago, was tenanted by students of Union College. In an attic-room of this edifice, Nov. 24, 1833, seven undergraduates met, and signed a formal pledge to organize a secret society. Their names and classes were--Class Of 1836. Samuel Goodale. I Edward Martindale. Sterling Goodale Hadley. George Washington Tuttle. Class Of 1837. Robert Barnard. I Merwin H. Stewart. Charles Washington Harvey. I The founders belonged to the Delphian Institute, a literary society, somewhat secret in form, which had been established fourteen years before by Southern aristocratic 15 influence, in opposition to the old societies,--the Philomathean and the Adelphic. Dr. Harvey, in whose room was held the "pledge" meeting, says that the idea of a new fraternity first occurred to him during a political contest; and Judge Hadley relates that the organization was formed almost in self-defence. The ruling motive, as the Rev. Dr. Goodale positively affirms, was the social one. The times were auspicious. It was the formative period of college societies. The few fraternities already organized at Union were in their infancy, and their members constituted but a small fraction of the many students whom Dr. Nott's great name had called to the quaint Dutch settlement on the banks of the Mohawk. To lead the new movement the " seven " were well qualified. Ex-President Van Rensselaer of Hobart College, who became a member while the founders were still in college, speaks in high terms of their character. Three of the four ...