History of
Lambda Chi Alpha
*All information displayed on
this page can be found in the 48th Edition of Lambda Chi Alpha's Manual of
Fraternity Education: The Paedagogus.
The Fraternity Climate
The early
1900s found North America in a state of rapid growth and development. The
college campus reflected the growth of the economy as more and more students
entered college and universities. By 1909, there were a number of well developed
collegiate fraternities, many of which were more than 50 years old. But
there were more young men interested in joining fraternities than were
memberships available.
The memberships of established fraternities were
usually comprised of wealthier students and those from more established
families. In many cases, these students were legacies to fraternities.
The first generation college student (whose parents had
not attended college) had little knowledge of fraternities, nor did he have the
contacts necessary to make membership a possibility. The time was right
for the organization of a new fraternity that would take as its members the
outstanding, ambitious young men who, in many cases, would have been excluded
from the organized fraternity system of the day.
Most college fraternities have had their beginning in a
small group of friends on the same campus who attracted youths of similar
views. As time went on, the original group would draw to it other groups
formed in a similar way on other campuses, and gradually a national organization
developed.
The Founding of Lambda Chi Alpha
Unlike
most fraternities, however, Lambda Chi Alpha began as the dream of one man,
Warren Albert Cole. He was born in Swansea, Massachusetts, and attended
high school at Taunton and Fall River. While in high school he was
involved with a preparatory fraternity. He entered Brown University for a
few weeks, but eventually matriculated to Boston University's Law School in the
fall of 1909.
One of his earliest ventures of starting a fraternity
took place at a meeting with his first cousin and a more distant relative on
November 2, 1909. The date was later selected as the first formal step in
Lambda Chi Alpha, but in later years, Cole said that the date had little
significance.
He was a young man of pleasing popularity, ordinary means,
limited experience, and no unusual talents except a dogged determination to
found an international college fraternity. It is hard to believe that all
alone he deliberately set out to challenge the prestigious fraternity world
which already boasted 46 strong, well established organizations. His
unquestioning faith in himself and unwavering belief in his mission are the only
explanations for his remarkable achievement.
Cole first made some unsuccessful attempts at starting
a fraternity, about which we know little more than names: "The
Lodge," "Tombs," "Lambda Pi," then it was Lambda Chi
Alpha "Loyal Collegiate Associates," until a new meaning was adopted
in 1913.
Cole boldly approached many local groups at colleges
and universities throughout the Northeast in hopes of finding others willing to
join his new fraternity. Before the acquisition of Lambda Chi Alpha's
first functioning chapter, Cole had corresponded with or visited 117
institutions.
Gamma
Early in
1912, Warren Cole, as was his custom in attempting to establish a chapter at a
school, wrote to a student in Massachusetts Agricultural College (MAC) in
Amherst (now the University of Massachusetts) asking the names of the Greek
letter fraternities on campus and the names of at least two "good,
non-fraternity men." Herbert E. Cole responded with the names of six
Greek letter groups and two names, including that of Lewis Drury. Warren
Cole wrote to Drury asking if he was interested in forming a Greek letter
society. Apparently Drury was quite interested, as he had his agronomy
professor write a letter of recommendation to Warren Cole.
The MAC petition was duly submitted and quickly
approved after all, it was Cole's first success in attracting a group after more
than one hundred futile efforts. Lambda Chi Alpha's first established
chapter, Gamma Zeta, was born.
Epsilon
During
the spring of 1912, Albert Cross, a student in the department of civil
engineering at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), received a letter from
Warren Cole indicating that he had received the name of Cross from a mutual
acquaintance and that he would like to form a chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha at
Penn.
Cross liked Cole's idea and began talking with some of
his friends. One of these friends was John E. "Jack" Mason, whom
Cross had met in a French class that summer. Mason, who had hardly been
interested in existing fraternities at Penn, suggested to another friend,
Raymond Ferris, that they "take a shot at" establishing a
chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha.
Thus, with colossal nerve, Cross, Mason, Ferris, and
five other men dared to launch a fraternity chapter on a campus with an
abundance of long-established national fraternities. But with
determination, Epsilon Zeta began.
Following the addition of Zeta Zeta at Pennsylvania
State College, the infant fraternity now felt confident in contacting
established local groups. Cole made the acquaintance of members of Sigma
Phi Delta at Brown and won its affiliation. A "picked
delegation" at MIT proved successful. By the beginning of 1913, Delta
Kappa at Maine was admitted as the seventh chapter.
The Second General Assembly
Lambda
Chi Alpha was now truly a national fraternity, even though most of its chapter
were still very young and not yet well organized. The first real efforts
at national solidarity were made at the Second General Assembly, held at the MIT
chapter house in Boston, March 22, 1913.
When Jack Mason found it impossible to attend the 1913
Assembly, he "pulled an all-nighter" in order to give a handwritten
letter to Albert Cross before his departure for Boston. The letter, which
Cross presented to the Assembly delegates, contained Mason's vision of the
ideals and principles of Lambda Chi Alpha and how they would be expressed.
His reason for the adoption of a new Initiation Ritual was based on the
following rationale:
"The first question is, what should be the highest aim of a college fraternity? The answer is - I think - to have men of sterling character, who are efficient workers along all the lines of human activity; not students with big, all-around sympathies, who can deliver the goods in whatever activity they take up. In other words we have to preach two doctrines, the doctrine of work and the doctrine of character; or, if you wish to join the two, the doctrine of mighty energy working toward a high ideal. Nothing else counts. It makes no difference how pleasant a chap he is, if he can't do good sincere work he's not good, and we don't want him for a brother. The people we do take for brothers we want to encourage along these lines all we can."
In
addition to the development of a new Initiation Ritual, the 1913 General
Assembly saw the adoption of the significance of Zeta and Lambda Chi Alpha and
revisions to the coat of arms and badge.
Because of the tremendous impact of the second annual
General Assembly held on March 22, 1913, this date has been chosen as the
Fraternity's Founders' Day. This was the date on which the spiritual basis
of Lambda Chi Alpha was decided by its early leaders and founders.
World War I
The
first World War, like the Civil War, restricted the activities of all
fraternities. As a young fraternity, a large proportion of Lambda Chi
Alpha's membership was in the armed services - about 2,500 or 90 percent of the
initiated members. Many fraternity houses were given over to military
authority to use as barracks.
When World War I ended, most fraternity chapters were
reinstated, and the demand for national fraternity affiliations remained
unsatisfied. At that time the National Interfraternity Conference fostered
the formation of two new societies comprised of local groups which desired
national affiliation. One of these new fraternities was Theta Kappa Nu.
Theta Kappa Nu
Theta
Kappa Nu Fraternity was formed by the union of 11 well-established local
fraternities on June 9, 1924. The first chapters of Theta Kappa Nu were
brought together in Springfield, Missouri, through the diligent efforts of four
men - all of whom recognized the need to bring together strong local chapters
with high standards into one national fraternity.
The pinnacle of the Springfield Grand Chapter was the
signing of the League and Covenant - the instrument that embodied the ideals of
various groups and would bind them together to form one organization.
Those present at the founding meeting were asked to come forward and sign the
document. Each delegate realized that the signature meant the end of his
local fraternity. In silence each delegate present came forward, removed
the badge of the local from over his heart, placed it on the table, and signed
the League and Covenant. Theta Kappa Nu was born.
With the help of the National Interfraternity
Conference in identifying local groups and Theta Kappa Nu's policy of granting
charters quickly to organizations with good academic standards, the young
national fraternity grew quickly, and boasted 2.500 initiates in 40 chapters by
the close of 1926. This record expansion remains unequaled in the fraternity
world.
Theta Kappa Nu placed a more consistent emphasis on high
academic standards than did most fraternities at the time. Scholarships
were presented annually to members who pursued graduate studies, and a
Scholarship Cup and Activities Trophy were awarded to the chapters with the
highest grades and the most active involvement on campus respectively. The
Scholarship and Activities Keys are also Theta Kappa Nu traditions that continue
today.
The Union
Theta
Kappa Nu, in contrast to Lambda Chi Alpha, maintained most of its chapters at
small colleges. The Great Depression hit the smaller schools, and thus
Theta Kappa Nu, harder than others. Many men simply could not afford even
modest "extra" costs of fraternity membership. The early 1930s
saw chapters of Theta Kappa Nu become inactive for the first time.
Simultaneously, the number of active members dropped by one-third. In
order to maintain strength of numbers, the Grand Council reduced fees in 1933
and again in 1935. Yet, it was not enough to counter the dire economic
times.
Although Lambda Chi Alpha was in markedly better shape
financially, it also clearly needed to expand its roster of chapters during this
same economic climate. Following cordial opening discussions between
leaders from Theta Kappa Nu and Lambda Chi Alpha in 1938, a formal negotiating
committee was formed.
The merger was widely supported by the leadership of
Lambda Chi Alpha. The union proposal was approved unanimously during the
September 1939 General Assembly. Meanwhile, at the Theta Kappa Nu Grand Chapter,
after considerable discussion of the details of the merger, the decision to join
with Lambda Chi Alpha unanimous as well.
The enlarged Fraternity following the union brought
Lambda Chi Alpha's membership to 27,000 initiated members and 105 active
chapters located in 39 states and one province. The union also permitted
the expanded group to endure the difficult years of World War II.
World War II
The
Second World War had a major impact upon colleges, and therefore upon the
college fraternity. The number of active members in all fraternities
dropped 73 percent with a 36 percent loss of chapters. In Lambda Chi
Alpha, 49 of the 129 chapters were inactive at some point in contrast to only
six of the 48 during World War I.
Again, chapter houses were used for military purposes,
conclaves were abandoned to reduce unnecessary travel, two General Assemblies
were canceled, and paper was hard to obtain for the Cross & Crescent.
Chapters that did function did so on a reduced scale - reduced chapter
publications; house repairs limited to essentials; no meat, no butter, and no
dessert days were common.
More than 13,000 Lambda Chis answered the call to arms,
totaling more than a third of the living membership. More than 400 died in
the service of Canada and the United States
When World War II was over, chapters immediately began
to respond. By 1946, all but two of Lambda Chi Alpha's 114 chapters which
existed before the war were active and alive.
Post-World War II
The
period since World War II has seen the greatest surge of fraternity expansion in
its history. The 20 largest North American men's general fraternities
alone opened more than 1,700 new chapters during the last 50 years.
The Korean and Vietnam Wars also had an impact on the
fraternity system. Most notably, the Vietnam War, coupled with the serious
student unrest of the late-1960s, had a psychological impact on the college
student. There was a waning of interest in all established organizations
and an emphasis placed on individualism. However, while membership and
general interest in fraternities by non-fraternity men were affected, most
chapters of most fraternities were able to continue to grow.
Fraternities, as well as other institutions dealing
with young people, were seriously challenged concerning their motives, ideals,
and purpose for existing. Significant changes were needed in order to
better serve individual fraternity members.
Lambda Chi Alpha recognized early in this period that
it must have a steady source of feedback from its undergraduate members.
Although undergraduates had always made the laws of the Fraternity through their
vote at the General Assemblies, more day-to-day communication at the General
Fraternity level was essential. By 1970, this need resulted in the
formation of the Student Advisory Committee (SAC), whose chairman serves as a
voting member of the Grand High Zeta.
Also during this time, Lambda Chi Alpha completely
re-evaluated its program of education and orientation, doing away with
pledgeship, pledges, and the second-class citizenship so often associated with
them. Twenty years would pass before other fraternities would take serious
steps to eliminate pledges and the accompanying hazing.
As the Greek world entered the 1980s, fraternity
professionals easily could acknowledge that standards in fraternity chapters had
greatly declined. In Lambda Chi Alpha, the decline was a fallout from the
1970s when virtually every segment of society dropped its standards.
However, as a means to allow chapters to "recover" from a loss of
standards and realize their potential, the Standards for Chapter Excellence
program was created. Program materials were developed in response to
undergraduate questions about how chapters could improve themselves.
At the Fraternity's 75th Anniversary in 1984, the Code
for Chapter Excellence was approved by the 40th General Assembly as a challenge
and commitment to all chapters and members to "strive diligently to achieve
the highest level of performance in each of the Standards for Chapter Excellence
and its prerequisites, and to seek to broaden the dimension of our chapters; to
foster the finest qualities of mind and body; and to encourage an ongoing
evaluation of our performance relative to the Standards for Chapter
Excellence."
By the late-1980s, another challenge faced fraternities
- the insurance and liability crisis. As society became more and more
litigious and a "boys will be boys" attitude no longer prevailed,
Lambda Chi Alpha was faced with two options: continue to allow blatant disregard
for personal responsibility and safety and face the elimination of our
Brotherhood, or take a leadership role in providing safe environments in which
our members and guests can interact. The result was a comprehensive
Resolution on Alcoholic Beverages adopted by the 1988 General Assembly and a
complete risk management program. In following its tradition, Lambda Chi
Alpha took a leadership role by being the first fraternity to implement the
chapter risk management officer (High Iota), crisis management plans, detailed
chapter house safety inspections, event planning forms, and insurance premium
allocations.
By the middle of the 1990's , Lambda Chi Alpha had set
is sights firmly on a prosperous future. The need to increase standards
and remain a leader among all fraternities were at the forefront of Lambda Chi
Alpha's agenda as the Fraternity's minimum grade point standard increased and
little sister organizations were eliminated by the 1990 General Assembly; basic
membership standards were adopted by the 1992 General Assembly, and minimum
chapter and colony standards were expanded by the 1994 General Assembly.
Our Heritage - Tomorrow's Foundation
What
started as the dream of one man, today stands as one of the largest men's
general fraternities in the world, more than 235,000 brothers strong. What began
as 25 members in three chapters has grown to more than 210 active chapters and
colonies in 44 states and three provinces. Today, the youngest of the 20 largest
fraternities is the third largest.
Lambda Chi Alpha's heritage-based on progressive
leadership, high standards, and a determination to overcome obstacles-is the
foundation on which the Fraternity's future will be built. As a member of Lambda
Chi Alpha, it is your obligation to see that the Fraternity meets its
challenges, changes when necessary, stands firm on its principles, and fulfills
its mission.
Brothers & Leaders
The early leaders of Lambda Chi Alpha were blessed with high ideals, youthful enthusiasm, and spirited ambition, but were lacking in age, experience, and financial resources. They acted on their ideals and goals and set high standards for all members to follow. And remember, they were no older than today's college students when they started Lambda Chi Alpha.
Warren A. Cole, Boston, '12, had the
aspiration, the burning desire to achieve something important: to found a great
international fraternity. Given his limited experience, this seems rather
outrageous. But in the face of overwhelming odds, at great personal sacrifice,
in spite of numerous crushing disappointments, braving sneers, and
condemnations, he persevered.
It took tremendous effort and discipline to type 40 to
50 letters per day in expansion efforts; it took dedication to personally type a
copy of the Constitution and several copies of the Ritual for each new
chapter. But it was done. Brother Cole's dream was made manifest,
and the 235,000 initiates of Lambda Chi Alpha are his undying legacy.
When Dr. John E. "Jack" Mason, Jr.,
Pennsylvania, '13, was initiated as a charter member of Epsilon Zeta at the
University of Pennsylvania, Lambda Chi Alpha had but 17 members. Some
eight months later, he was appointed to the Grand High Zeta.
The key to the spiritual success of Lambda Chi Alpha
lay in the ritualistic work of Jack Mason. If Brother Mason were to be a
part of this new Lambda Chi Alpha, it must be as near perfect as it was humanly
possible to make it.
Jack Mason delved into fraternal lore with a
vengeance. He studied all available material on college fraternities and
spent innumerable hours in libraries digging into histories of all kind of
fraternal organizations that had been established throughout the years.
"The ritual Mason wrote and the philosophical and
spiritual depth that it offered became the springboard for the new
fraternity," recalled Brush McIntosh, the Fraternity's first administrative
secretary. "Early members were joyously surprised at what they saw
when first witnessing the Ritual. The quality of the young organization
was personified by such a work.
"Many university authorities and leaders in other
fraternities were totally amazed at what small groups of individual members,
often unknown on their own campuses, were able to do when exposed to the great
ideals of Lambda Chi Alpha."
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