THE NINTH TRIENNIAL COUNCIL OF THE UNITED CHAPTERS OF PHI BETA KAPPA*

The Ninth Triennial Council of the United Chapters of Phi, Beta Kappa met on Thursday, September 12, 1907 at Williamsburg, Va., under the auspices of the parent chapter at the College of William and Mary. The invitation to meet on this historic spot was extended to the Senate by the Alpha -Chapter of Virginia through Senator Colonel William Lamb of Norfolk, Va. It was heartily seconded by the ladies of Williamsburg, to whom the thanks of those present are due for making the meeting so successful socially and adding to the profitableness of the occasion by opening their homes and acting as guides to the many points of historic interest in the region. The invitation was accepted by the officers of the Society with full appreciation of its appropriateness, but with fear as to the attendance. In this, however, all were happily disappointed for the attendance actually exceeded that of previous Councils, about fifty of the sixty-three chapters being represented by delegates, while Senators, delegates, and friends of the Society together numbered about one hundred. Accommodations were severely taxed, but inconvenience and delay were forgotten in the enthusiasm of the gathering and the cordial hospitality with which all were received.

The delegates began to arrive early on Wednesday, September II. A meeting of the Senate followed in the afternoon, while those who were free to do so visited points of historic interest in the village. At eight o'clock a public meeting was held in the College Chapel, at which Colonel William Lamb acted as presiding officer in the absence of the Vice President, Rev. Eben B. Parsons of Williamstown, Mass. The exercises were as follows;

Address of Welcome, President Lyon G. Tyler LL.D., Williamsburg, Va.

Historical address, Rev. Oscar M. Voorhees, A.M., High Bridge, N.J., "Our Phi Beta Kappa Fathers in Fraternity and Public Life."

Poem, Prof. J. Leslie Hall, Ph.D., Williamsburg, Va.

Oration, Prof. Edwin A. Grosvenor, LL.D., Amherst, Mass. "Philosophy the Guide of Life."

Phis meeting was followed by a reception given by the ladies of Williamsburg to the delegates and their friends.

The business meeting of the Council was held on Thursday, September 12, in the College Chapel. It consisted of morning and afternoon sessions. The following officers for the next three years were elected: President, Prof. Edwin A. Grosvenor, Amherst, Mass. ; vice president, Col. John J. McCook' New York City; secretary and treasurer, Rev. Oscar M. Voorhees, High Bridge, N. J.

Colonel William Lamb was elected Senator for life, and the following were elected to the Senate for the term 1907-1913: Prof. Henry L. Chapman, Brunswick, Me. ; Prof. Edwin A. Grosvenor, Amherst, Mass.; Rev. Edward Everett Hale, Roxbury, Mass. ; Pres. Charles F. Thwing, Cleveland, Ohio; Rev. Oscar M. Voorhees, High Bridge, N. J. ; Prof. Eben Alexander, Chapel Hill, N. C. ; Pres. Nicholas Murray Butler, New York City; Pres. George E. MacLean, lowa City, lowa, Pres. Mary E. Woolley, South Hadley, Mass. ; Prof. Augustus T. Murray, Stanford, Cal.

Among the Senators whose term will expire in 1910 vacancies had been caused by the recent death of the President of the Society, Dr. John A. DeRemer, the declination of President Arthur T. Hadley, and the election of Col. Thomas W. Higginson as Senator for life, to fill these vacancies the following were elected : Pres. Charles Cuthbert Hall, New York City; Prof. Edward B. Reed, New Haven, Ct; Hon. Oscar S. Straus, New York City.

These with the following constitute the group of Senators whose term will expire in 1910: Dean Edward A. Birge, Madison, Wis. ; Hon. Theodore E. Hancock, Syracuse, N. Y.; Prof. Samuel Hart, Middletown, Ct.; Editor Hamilton W. Mabie, New York City; Col. John J. McCook, New York City; Pres. James M. Taylor, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. ; Editor Talcott Williams, Philadelphia, Pa.

In the matter of securing greater uniformity for membership in Phi Beta Kappa and the question of requirements for such membership, it was the sense of the meeting, after discussion, that conservatism should.be shown in granting charters, but that great freedom should be allowed each chapter in laying down rules for membership.

An object of interest to all was the book containing the original records of the parent chapter from its foundation by students of William and Mary in January, 1777, till its discontinuance in January, 1781. By vote of the Council these records are to be reproduced photographically and published, at least in • part, in such form as to be easily available.

Upon their own application and on recommendation by the Senate, charters were granted to eight institutions as follows : University of Illinois, Urbana, Ill.; Tulane University of Louisiana, New Orleans, La.; University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.; lowa College, Grinnell, Iowa; Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa.; Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio; Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.

A reception at the "Powder House" followed the adjournment of the Council at about four o'clock.

The next meeting of the Council in 1910 will undoubtedly be held with another chapter of the Society, thus continuing the custom so happily suggested by William and Mary.

Delegates to the Council from the Dartmouth chaPter Prof. George D. Lord and Prof. John M. Poor.