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simply because they do not approve
of them !
While we grant that the ends of
these fraternities are probably litera
ry, we claim that in such a Universi
ty as this should be —of such liberal
principles —it is not necessary to re
sort to the veil of secrecy in order to
confer honors upon those who may
deserve them. We hold, further,
that this secrecy not only is not ne
cessary to securo the ends of justice,
but that in many instances, it thwarts
them. We feel satisfied that this
constant secret.association tends to
create unnatural friendships, which
cannot fail to bias and prejudice the
minds of the members. They be
come so wrapped up in their own
party, and so determined upon its
success, that they lose sight of the
merits of others, and in this way of
ten wrong those who do not consti"
tute a part of their body. No better
proof that this is the case, can be
given than the fact that at a recent
election in one of our literary socie
ties, where the two candidates were
respectively of secret society and of
anli-secret society persuasion—that
while they were allowed to be almost
if not quite equally matched in an
intellectual point of view, the secret
society candidate received the unan <«
imous r je of two of the secret socie*
; wjfile the votes of those who
wertU.«of members of these bodies
wore divided between the two candi
dates. This is not an isolated ins
stance of their party spirit either;
but one which is typical of their
whole course for the last four years.
And where they have been able to
decide the questions by ballot, they
have generally triumphed, by virtue
of their numerical superiority ! How
ever, time and space.will not permit,
us to refer to other instances at pre
sent. Such instances —such unani
mous support as they have givon can
didates from secret societies on every
occasion— such zeal as they show in
the cause of every member of a secret
society who chooses to offer himself
as a candidate for an honor—must
convince every sound and unbiased
imnd that they 11 labor for the success
of -their party rather than for thq,
general good of the College.
Npw, wwask, is it either generous
or just, to resort to such means as
the formation of secret societies, who
trinmph by virtue of their numerical
force, in order to secure the “ literary
ends” of their party? We ask, is
not such a spirit as they have mani
fested, calculated to destroy the har
mony of all social intercourse, and
. reduce our College to a more faction
ront body than the Legislature of our
unfortunate State?
The writer claims, in the next
ptlace, that these societies are right
and meritorious, because they are
sanctioned by the authorities. We
THE GEORGIA COLLEGIAN.
do not allow that this fact, of the
sanction of the authorities, is a con
clusive proof that they are right!
We are to remember that the autho
rities are probably ignorant of the
fact that |they are not now what
they were when they gave their sanc
tion. The Faculty of the Universi
ty, are, some of them, honorary
members of these fraternities, it is
true; but is it probable that none
of them have ever attended the meet 1 '
ings of the societies to which they
belong, since the nights of their ini
tiation ? They are probably entirely
ignorant of all their proceedings, and
of the bitter party spirit to which
they have given birth in our College.
While the authorities do sanction se
cret societies, when conducted with
propriety, we dare say, that did they
know what a source of discord they
have been in Franklin College, they
would unhesitatingly withdraw both
their co-operation and their sancs
tion. At one time in the history of
the College, the Trustees as well as
the Faculty certainly looked upon
secret societies with distrust; since
it was part of the oath to which the
student subscribed on entering Cols
lege, that he would not connect him
self wfth any secret organization.
Secret societies had been in existence
here previous to that time, and had
beeniprohibited because they were
found to be detrimental to the inte
rests of the institution. The same
element has been again introduced,
and with the same evil effects as be-*
fore !
The writer goes on, in his article,
to deduce an example in support of
his party, from the case of a College
in Virginia. There, he says, no se*
cret societies exist, and still bitter
strife and discord prevails in regard
to society elections. This, he claims,
proves that secret societies do not
occasion strife; and that there will
be strife whether secret clubs exist
or not. We do not claim that there
are no other causes of dissension in
Colleges save secret societies; but
we do claim that they are one of the
causes in every College where they
exist, and that in our College they
are the sole cause of the ill-feeling
among the students. At the Vir
ginia College, where they have stu**
dents from so many different States,
and in such large parties, we are not
surprised that party spirit should tun
high. Here, however, there could be
no danger of such an evil, since the
great majority of all the students are
natives of our State. That there
would be no such animosity among
the students, did not secret clubs exs
ist, is clearly proven by the fact that
there were no such dissentions , previous
to their introduction!
Since the writer has referred us to
an instance where secret societies
efid not occasion strife, let us refer
him to another where they do occa
sion it. At Penfield, a secret society
has recently been introduced, and
the tranquility of the institution has
already been greatly disturbed by
their presence. Among students,
who before, were associated in peace
and good will, a violent party spirit
has suddenly been engendered, which
has marred that unity of friendship.
There, these organizations have met
with firm and decided opposition, by
some of the very first men in the Col
lege. At Connel University, in N.
York, they became so intolerant that
the other students were driven to the
necessity of passing resolutions in
opposition to them. At Yale, they
have been sharply condemned. At
Harvard, Princeton, Union, Jeffer
son and West Point, their existence,
we learn, has been positively prohib
ited.
Here, in our own University, they
have become so powerful and op
pressive in their sway that forbear
ance has long ceased to be a virtue.
Consequently, have arisen an anti se
cret society party, who differ from
them in the openness aud scope of
their principles, and whose sole ob
ject is to secure to themselves that
justice of which they have been so
long debarred.
upon your space.
We leave the subject with you for
the present, and await a reply.
I. R.
University of Ga., March , 1870.
For the Georgia Collegian.
Unintentional Enemies,
Ho not be angry, kind reader, if
anything I should happen to say ap
plies to you individually, for I intend
to hurt the feelings of no one, but to
make a few general remarks about a
great evil that has always existed
and done much harm ; but which, to
day, I think, is doing more harm
than has ever been known before,
and especially in this in which
our University is situated.
You may bo th enemy of no one,
personally, and intend to do no one
any harm ; but when you say, in
conversing with your friends, that
“ Mr. Jones is a very clever fellow,
but (oh, these condemning buts,) he
will drink o’er nights; anu though
be moves in the first circles of socie
ty, you really don’t see how he man
ages to do so.” You are then, unin
tentionally, his enemy; and worst
of all, his secret enemy ; a viper in
the grass. For if your heart had not
some maliciousness in it, you would
not speak of Mr. Jones’ vices or mis
fortunes, (if he really has them); but
on the contrary, praise his virtues or
bridle your tongue and be silent. Or
perhaps, when Mr. Jones is mention
ed in company, you tell something
that Mr. Busybody, your intimate
friend, told you, that Mr. Anybody’s
business (but his own) told him that
ho heard Mr. Somebody-else say, ve
ry much to Mr. Jones’ dircredit; all
of which, coming through so many
bands, is utterly false.
Now, you see the necessity of find
ing out the truth of what you hear,
before ever repeating it, and never
telling anything from hear-say ; for
reports, like a house on fire, will en
velope a man’s character in ruin, be
fore the good firemen of truth are
able to put out the flames. And, as
in many cases of fire, so tn reports—
the incendiary is not known.
You cannot bo too careful of what
you say of others; for a very slight
remark, repeated a hundred times,
and by another person than yourself,
will become to be a .very serious
thing; and though you may not
have intended any harm, you do a
great deal.
When you hear a thing said about
a person, examine its probability and
truth, and then act or speak as the
conjecture may require. Don’t speak
and act first, and then when it is too
late, begin to examine, as silly gos*»
sips do—of whom the world would
do well to be rid.
If you wish to get on peacefully
and harmoniously with your fellow
men, do no one harm; and to prove
yourself no one’s enemy unintention
ally, keep your own counsel. Learn
to biidie your tongue, and if, as I am
sure you have been told before, you
can say nothing good of ary one, say
nothing at all. If you have heard
such and such a t|ing concerning
any one, why repeat it? It does you
no good, is none of your business,
and may do that one some injury;
you will find it better, and as much
as you can well do to attend to your
own affairs. Deport yourself in such
a way that you will not deserve re
proach, and let other peoples’ busiv
ness alone.
No character is so detestable and
mean as of a Gossip or Tale"
bearer, who. tries to make himself
agreeable by being meddlesome and
officious, and only makes himself de
testable and odious to every sensible
person,
And now, my friend, yon should
wish to have the good opinion of all
worthy people; and to gain that,
speak kindly of every one. Be care
ful of what you say; tell nothing
you hear, unless you are sure it' is
true, or you may unintentionally be
somebody’s enemy; and always re
member to do unto others as you
would have them do unto you. and
you will gain not only the good will
of men, but the approbation of the
Divine Ruler. Affectionately,
, Adelpiios.
...The man who ate his dinner
with the fork of a river has been try
ing to spin a mountain top.
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