Delta Tau Delta

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Delta Tau Delta (ΔΤΔ)
Founded	1858 Bethany College
Type	Leadership, Social
Scope	International
Mission Statement	"Committed to Lives of Excellence"[1]
Motto	"Labor for the beautiful and the good."[2]
Colors	Royal Purple, Gold, and White
Flower	Purple Iris
Chapters	119 active in the United States and Canada
Headquarters	10000 Allisonville Rd Fishers, IN, USA
Homepage	http://www.delts.org

Delta Tau Delta (ΔΤΔ, DTD or "Delts") is a U.S.-based international college fraternity and secret society.^[3] Delta Tau Delta was founded in 1858 at Bethany College, Bethany, Virginia, (now West Virginia). It currently has around 119 student chapters nationwide, as well as more than 25 regional alumni groups. Its national community service initiative is Adopt-a-School. The fraternity celebrated its 150th anniversary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the 2008 Karnea (international convention).

Contents 1 History 2 The Fundamental Principles 2.1 Truth 2.2 Courage 2.3 Faith 2.4 Power 3 Values 4 The Five Obligations 5 Organization of the Fraternity 5.1 Undergraduate Chapter Officers 6 Pledge Oath 7 Delt Creed 8 Founders 9 Famous Delts 10 All undergraduate chapters 11 External links 12 References

[edit] History

Delta Tau Delta Fraternity was founded in 1858 at Bethany College in Bethany, Virginia (now West Virginia).^[4] The social life on campus was typical of the small colleges of the day, with activities centered around the Neotrophian Society, a literary society.

According to a report by Jacob S. Lowe written in 1859, in late 1858 a group of students met in Lowe's room in the Dowdell boarding house to discuss means to regain control of the Neotrophian Society and return control to the students at large. The underlying controversy was that the Neotrophian Society, in the estimation of the eight men who formed Delta Tau Delta, had awarded a literary prize after a rigged vote.^[5] A constitution, name, badge, ritual and motto were devised, and Delta Tau Delta was born.^[6]

Important in the early history of Delta Tau Delta was the initiation of two men, Rhodes Stansbury Sutton and Samuel S. Brown, into the fraternity. Henry King Bell who was locate in Lexington, Kentucky, heard of the Civil War's effects on Bethany College and the membership of Delta Tau Delta. After riding to Bethany and realizing that the longevity of Delta Tau Delta at risk, Bell travelled to Canonsburg, Pennsylvania and found two men of distinction: Sutton and Brown. On February 22, 1861 they rode on horseback during a snowstorm of mythic proportions from what was then Jefferson College (would later merge with Washington Academy to become the present day Washington & Jefferson College) in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania to Bethany to be initiated and bring the designation of the Alpha Chapter and the governance of the Fraternity back to their home campus.^{[citation needed]}. As membership declined at the Jefferson Alpha Chapter, Jefferson College faced an uncertain merger with Washington Academy. In fact, the Jefferson College was going out of existence and its campus was being moved to Washington, Pennsylvania. Uncertain as to the stability and success of this merger, the men at Jefferson did the responsible thing by allowing the election of a new Alpha Chapter at the General Convention (later to be renamed the Karnea). Ohio Wesleyan then assumed the Alpha designation. Before the Alpha designation was finally transferred to Allegheny College (its current location), the Ohio Wesleyan chapter disappeared temporarily because of a lack of membership.

In 1886, Delta Tau Delta merged with the Rainbow Fraternity, a southern fraternity founded in 1848 at the University of Mississippi.^[7] This was in response to Delta Tau Delta's declining number of chapters in the South.^{[citation needed]}

After the Ohio Wesleyan chapter disappeared in 1875, Allegheny College chapter, the fourth and final chapter to hold Alpha designation, assumed control of the Fraternity. James S. Eaton, Alpha (Allegheny College) 1875, a “hero” of the Fraternity, traveled to Delaware, Ohio, to collect what remained of the organization’s records he could find. After discovering what little he could about the loss of the Ohio Wesleyan members, he brought the “Alpha” designation back with him to Allegheny College. There, a well-managed group of undergraduates handled their own chapter affairs as well as the supervision of the whole Fraternity. Delta Tau Delta flourished during Allegheny’s era of control; a magazine was established; 15 chapters were founded, of which eight survive (several others were reestablished later).

Delta Tau Delta now has 124 undergraduate chapters and colonies, more than 6,800 active undergraduates, more than 115,000 living alumni, and has initiated more than 157,000 members since its founding.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] The Fundamental Principles

[edit] Truth

Truth is fundamental to any organization, but truth is particularly critical to Delta Tau Delta because honest relationships are mandatory for Brotherhood. Telling the truth to yourself and others is fundamental to your commitment to a life of personal and professional excellence.

[edit] Courage

Courage means aggressively taking on challenges and being a leader in the face of adversity. It means caring for the lives of the people around you and understanding that sometimes saying, "No" is a necessary act of responsibility and love for your Brothers and the Fraternity as a whole.

[edit] Faith

Faith is a belief in yourself that what you are doing is right. Whether your faith comes from yourself, your parents or your God is up to you. Faith also means being loyal and trusting among people. It means knowing that people will make correct choices and decisions provided they have the necessary information and they understand the consequences of their actions.

[edit] Power

Power is the inherent ability and talents of each member as valuable resources. These qualities and talents give Delta Tau Delta the power and energy to continue looking and moving toward a grand future.^[8]

[edit] Values

• Integrity is Essential: Integrity means doing what you say you will do. Integrity establishes credibility for yourself and the Fraternity, and having it means that others can trust you, believe you, and count on you.

• Accountability is Fundamental to all Commitments: Accountability means holding to your promises, making you responsible for both your words and your actions.

• Life-long Learning and Growth are Vital: There is no status quo in the pursuit of excellence - you are either moving ahead through continuous growth and learning, or going backwards and slowly narrowing your choices and opportunities in life. There is no point in today's world where one can afford to stop learning and growing.

• Strengthening Community is Essential to our Vitality: The pursuit of a life of excellence must occur through constant interactions with many different communities. Therefore, a strong community is vital for your future, as well as the Fraternity's.

• Brotherhood Sustains Us: Delta Tau Delta is an organization that relies on Brotherhood to hold us together. Brotherhood involves individual responsibility to one's self and to others.^[9]

[edit] The Five Obligations

Delta Tau Delta presents its members with a myriad of opportunities. Before enjoying those opportunities, however, the Good Delt has several obligations to fulfill. Every Delt takes on these commitments when he joins the Fraternity.

Commitment to academic achievement

This obligation requires that your academic performance meet your personal potential.

Commitment to chapter involvement

This obligation includes your participation in chapter programs, fellowship with your brothers, and working together to fulfill your commitments to excellence.

Responsibility for honorable conduct

This obligation requires that you behave honorably, making certain that your words and actions convey your commitment to excellence.

Financial integrity

Your financial obligations are as important as any others; prove yourself a man of your word by paying your dues on time.

Responsibility to constantly seek new members to join our organization

This obligation means always being aware of potential members to invite into the Fraternity.

These five obligations are the base-level responsibilities of every Delt. You can take advantage of our benefits only after meeting these obligations. Falling short of these simple requirements means falling short of your commitment to excellence.^[10]

[edit] Organization of the Fraternity

[edit] Undergraduate Chapter Officers

• President- his main objective involves keeping the chapter focused and committed to the Fraternity mission.

• Vice President- his objectives are Ritual education, internal organization, chairman of the administrative committee, and to assist and fill in if necessary for the President.

• Treasurer- manages the finacial affairs of the chapter.

• Recording Secretary- responsible for recording the minutes of all chapter and administration meetings.

• Corresponding Secretary- responsible for informing the Central Office of membership status and submit articles for publication in the Fraternity's magazine, The Rainbow

• Recruitment Chairman- responsible for organizing rush and ensuring that all members understand their role in the plan.

• Director of Academic Affairs- responsible for maintaining and improving the academic foundation of the chapter.

• Risk Management Chairman- assesses all Delt functions for possible liability.

• Sergeant at Arms- insuring order at chapter meetings and serves as chairman of the Rules Committee.

• Guide- oversees the Ritual of the Fraternity.

[edit] Pledge Oath

I, (name in full), do hereby affirm and declare that I am desirous of achieving membership in Delta Tau Delta Fraternity; that I will devote my time and talents for her betterment; that I will obey her rules and regulations and respect her name; and that I will wear her pledge badge with pride and humility. To all of this I pledge my sacred honor. So help me God.^[11]

[edit] Delt Creed

I BELIEVE in Delta Tau Delta for the education of youth and the inspiration of maturity, so that I may better learn and live the truth.

I BELIEVE in Delta Tau Delta as a shrine of international brotherhood: her cornerstone friendship, her foundation conscience, her columns aspiration, her girders self-restraint, her doorway opportunity, her windows understanding, her buttresses loyalty, her strength the Everlasting Arms.

I BELIEVE in Delta Tau Delta as an abiding influence to help me do my work, fulfill my obligations, maintain my self respect, and bring about that happy life wherein I may more truly love my fellow men, serve my country, and obey my God.^[12]

[edit] Founders

The eight men considered to be the Founders of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity (who attended the two formal meetings which led to the founding in 1858) are:

	William Randolph Cunningham (Chair)	William Randolph Cunningham was only a freshman at the time Delta Tau Delta was formed. Because he was older and had become a Mason, however, he exerted much influence in the group. Cunningham, the picture of integrity, was probably responsible for much of the early language in both the Constitution and Ritual. He served as President of the Karnea in 1883. He was also a minister and held public office in the state of Washington.
	Alexander Campbell Earle	Alexander Campbell Earle, the youngest of the group of eight founders of Delta Tau Delta, went on to become a Captain in the Second South Carolina Volunteers, where he commanded his own company. For many years his whereabouts were unknown and he was believed dead, but he was finally located living in Arkansas. He later moved to Texas, and is buried in the State Cemetery in Austin, where the local fraternity still makes an annual pilgrimage.[13]
	Richard Havener Alfred	Richard Havener Alfred, at 26 the oldest of the group of founders of Delta Tau Delta, became a minister and a physician.
	Henry King Bell	Henry King Bell, a Kentuckian, lived only six years after graduation. His contribution to the Fraternity was immense; without him, there would be no Delta Tau Delta today. Bell responded to a call for help from the last remaining members of the Bethany chapter who were leaving to join the armed forces.
	John Calvin Johnson	John Calvin Johnson was a native West Virginian (although at that time the area was still a part of Virginia). He became a lawyer and politician. He was the political advisor to John W. Davis, the Democratic nominee for President in 1924. One of Johnson's favorite pastimes was conducting tours of Bethany and pointing out the room where Delta Tau Delta was founded. He outlived the other founders by eight years.
	Jacob Snedeker Lowe	Jacob Lowe hosted the first meetings of the group in his quarters in a rooming house which has now become an international shrine for the Fraternity. Lowe became a professor and later a college president.
	Eugene Tarr	Eugene Tarr was a "townie" whose home was only a short six miles from Bethany. He stayed in West Virginia after college. Tarr became a noted speaker, lawyer, and editor of the local newspaper.
	John Lucius Newton Hunt	John Lucius Newton Hunt was the scholar of the group. After graduating from Bethany, Hunt went on to become the valedictorian of his class at New York University's School of Law. He then served for several years as New York's Commissioner of Education.

[edit] Famous Delts

[edit] All undergraduate chapters

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Delta Tau Delta

• Official Delta Tau Delta page
• Official Delta Tau Delta Educational Foundation

[edit] References

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