William Raimond Baird

“ Without entering into an argument for or against the secret society system, a large class of persons continually and habitually think and speak of the “evil tendencies” of the secret societies in a calm, exasperating way, as though the fact were established beyond dispute ”

“ In 1824 a small number of students at Princeton formed themselves into a society having for its aim the promotion of literary culture, but making its meetings secret and exclusive, and using the black ball in its elections. This society was called the Chi Phi, a Greek name, assumed doubtless in imitation of that of the honorary society of Phi Beta Kappa. The organization was promptly killed by the faculty. A little later, at Union College, a similar movement resulted in the foundation of Kappa Alpha, in which the social element was more prominent. ”

“ A conservative spirit in a large body of college-men, regret for the” good old times” of the flourishing days of the literary societies, handed down by college tradition, and a crusade directed against the new secret societies, led to the formation of another and opposing class of associations, professing to be the legitimate successors of the old polysyllabic societies, which were fast losing their influence. ”