William Raimond Baird

“ The council which met in Pittsburg in 1865 formulated the policy which has since governed the fraternity, and its extension from that date has been rapid.
The Pennsylvania Delta was consolidated with the Alpha when the colleges were united. South Carolina Alpha died a natural death from the decadence of the college. Mississippi Alpha and Beta, and Tennessee Alpha were not reorganized in 1863. Tennessee Beta has become defunct from lack of members. Kentncky Alpha, Illinois Gamma, and Wisconsin Beta have been killed by anti-fraternity laws. ”

“ The living chapters are generally in a good condition, except those in Indiana.
The government is carried on by means of the Grand Arch Council, composed of three delegates from each chapter, one of whom must be a graduate. A Grand Chapter is appointed to act as the executive during the recess of the G. A. C., and the Alpha Chapter of each State has jurisdiction in its own territory. Pennsylvania Theta is now the Grand Chapter. The fraternity claims to exercise the usual functions of the Greek-Letter fraternities, hut insists on a large literary element in its exercises. ”

“ Finding it impossible, he subsequently entered the Law Department in Virginia University, where he was instrumental in establishing the first branch chapter of the fraternity, the Virginia Alpha. It has been largely due to his efforts that the fraternity has been so widely extended. He is now a judge of the Supreme Court of West Virginia. In 1855 a large number of chapters were established, and since then the fraternity has grown rapidly. ”