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The First Non-Sectarian Fraternity
The history of Pi Lambda Phi can be divided into two periods. The first period,
which we shall designate The Founders' Period, begins with the inception of the
fraternity at Yale in 1895, flourishing in opinions within a few short years to
a position of enviable promise and achievement only to totter and collapse with
equal suddenness. The second or Revitalization Period, dates from 1908, when the
Alpha chapter was established at Columbia University. It is from this chapter
that the present Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity has developed, young, vibrant and
energetic, and destined in due time to be named among the great collegiate
fraternities.
The Founders' Period
The early period of Pi Lambda Phi is wrapped in a veil of mystery and has, thus
far, defied all efforts to penetrate it adequately. Most of the early archives
have either been lost or destroyed. The responsibility for this condition can be
easily attributed to the spasmodic character of the fraternity's early career.
Chapters sprang up over-night and disappeared with equal celerity, leaving scant
records of their short-lived careers. Not even membership rolls have been found.
Very little is known of the Delta chapter, which existed between 1895 and 1900
at the University of Pennsylvania, of Epsilon Chapter at Harvard, Lambda at
Cornell or Nu at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "The Microcosm", a
yearbook published by the College of the City of New York, class of 1899, has a
page devoted to Pi Lambda Phi, whereon are listed the chapters as named above.
We acquired a letter dated October 3, 1896, to Myer Solis-Cohen, then a student
at the University of Pennsylvania, from the Grand Master of Pi Lambda Phi, Louis
S. Levy, and Frederick M. Werner, Secretary Grand Council. Both of these men and
Henry Mark Fisher were the three men who founded the Alpha chapter at Yale and
are, therefore, regarded as the Founders of Pi Lambda Phi.
The purpose of the letter was to re-assure Brother Solis-Cohen that the existing
chapters were non-sectarian, in reply to a suggestion that it would be a good
idea to have twice as many Gentiles as Jews in chapters. The Founders went on to
advise Brother Solis-Cohen as follows: "Your argument (for rushing) should
consist of your principles, your cause and your aim. To back this up we will
send you the record of our successes at other places. But set to work, get your
men immediately, determine your own course of action and constitute yourselves a
living active branch of Pi Lambda Phi." In writing of the 1897 convention in New
York, the Founders continued, "If your delegation goes to New York in a body,
our representatives will be on hand to receive you. This will be our first
chance to establish that brotherly feeling, which we mean to exist between every
individual member of Pi Lambda Phi."
It is interesting to note that the same ideas expressed to chapters during the
late 19th Century, areidentical with those found today in Pi Lambda Phi's
Rushing Manual and convention material.
During the Founders' Period of most fraternities, the guidance and advice on a
National scale came from the "Father" or "Parent" chapter and gradually, as the
fraternity grew in size and responsibility, the desire for continuity caused the
establishment of a National Office and governing body.
Why Founders Werner, Levy and Fisher, representing three different faiths, felt
a need for Pi Lambda Phi is best explained by the following "rush" letter
presumably written and circulated during the school year of 1895-6 at Yale:
"Dear Sir --
In the early part of this year a number of students at yale met to consider a
college fraternity on lines broader and more liberal than those employed at the
present time.
It appeared feasible to found such a fraternity, having for its cardinal
principles non-sectarianism and the recognition of men on the basis of ability
above all consideration. Appreciating the obstacles that present themselves to
the success of such an unprecedented undertaking, they proceeded with the utmost
caution.
Yet their purpose was such as to elicit the enthusiastic interest and
co-operation of many liberal men.
The following article, which appeared lately in the C.C.N.Y. "Mercury",
briefly explains our position:
'The long-felt-want in college life has at last been filled. The influence
and workings of college fraternities, admirable as they are, have up to now been
limited in their scope. And this, not because of the ineligibility, or
non-qualification of those not reached, but rather by some narrow and illiberal
clause utterly at variance with the original fraternal idea, has defeated the
purpose and aim of fraternity. To counteract this, there have been at times
other fraternities founded by sects not included in the existing fraternities.
These naturally have served as counter-irritants, rather than as remedies. Now,
however, there has been founded the fraternity which seek only the most
broad-minded, liberal, and progressive men. As will be seen in the account of
this fraternity in another part of this issue, the organization does not present
itself as an experiment, but as an established fact. The fraternity seeks no
members save those seeking it. And only the best of those who are progressive,
industrious, and non-prejudiced, can seek it successfully.'
Considerations of this character led to the establishment of a chapter at
Yale, which was followed by the formation of chapters at Columbia University,
University of Pennsylvania, College of the City of New York and New York
University. Others are being established at the University of Chicago, Union and
Harvard. The Undergraduates constituting these chapters are young men who have
gained distinction during their college career. They have been prominent in
classical, scientific and literary studies. Moreover many of them are athletic
and social leaders in the respective institutions.
Now the fraternity is striving to extend its influences that it may
ultimately be represented by all the larger universities and colleges. In the
undergraduate world, the success and acceptability of the organization is
assured. However, we are especially desirous of securing the support of college
graduates who have gained distinction in their particular departments.
Your name has been suggested and it is in accordance with this purpose that
you are heartily invited to extend us your cooperation by becoming a graduate
member. It is expected that graduate members will be in accord with principles
which occasioned the establishing of the fraternity and they shall be allowed
every privilege usually enjoyed by fraternity members no longer in undergraduate
life.
The committee trusts that you will approve of their efforts and will honor
them by submitting your name for membership in the near future.
Respectfully,
Frederick Manfred Werner
Louis Samter Levy
Henry Mark Fisher"
Several noteworthy inferences may be drawn from the content and tone of this
letter. The Founders recognized, from the birth of Pi Lambda Phi, the necessity
of having mature alumni guiding an undergraduate chapter and providing the
continuity needed to keep a chapter alive as its leaders graduated year after
year. They were without alumni members and therefore found it wise to rush and
initiate older men into their brotherhood to fill this void.
It is also apparent that Pi Lambda Phi was established as a protest and living
example against the tendency of fraternities to discriminate against students
for religious and racial reasons. Discrimination had been growing in colleges
and the result was the formation of sectarian fraternities by members of the
minority groups who were being discriminated against. This action was frowned
upon by many who saw in it the widening of the social breach between students.
The "general" chapter at Yale was known as Alpha; Columbia (1896) was designated
Beta; the CCNY (1896) chapter was lettered Gamma. According to the C.C.N.Y.
"Microcosm", Lambda Chapter at Cornell and Nu at M.I.T. were the next two
chapters and no further information of the early University of Chicago or Union
College chapters can be found.
It appears that internal difficulties presented themselves to the chapters at
the very beginning, for we found in correspondence between Founder Werner and
Rex Max Lowenthal or Beta (Columbia), that Beta's charter was revoked and the
chapter disbanded in order that two "undesirables" might be gotten rid of. The
chapter was immediately reorganized as Beta Deuteron (Second), minus these two
"undesirables".
According to a minute book of the collegiate year 1896-97, we have found
reference to a chapter at the University of Pennsylvania with mention as members
of Brothers Myer Solis-Cohen (1897), Walter Felisher (1898), Lowenstein (1897),
Harry E. Cohen and Keim.
On October 17, 1897, according to the minute book, a meeting was held in rooms
which had been rented at No. 3 East 42nd Street, and "after the meeting eighteen
gentlemen went to the Marlborough Hotel and enjoyed a meal. Toasts were
responded to and a very enjoyable evening was spent." The original lease for
these meeting rooms is on file in the archives.
It was from meager sources as these that we must glean our information about the
Founders' Period. Exactly when each of the several chapters was established, who
presided at the installation, when and why each chapter disbanded - these are
questions which remain unanswered.
We do know that Yale and CCNY chapters ceased to exist after 1898, Columbia and
N.Y.U. presumably struggled along until 1901. Pi Lam was dormant until 1906 when
an attempt was made to revive the Columbia chapter. Though it failed, it paved
the way for the more successful attempt of 1908, with which the Revitalization
Period begins.
The Revitalization Period
In 1908 the Columbia Chapter was revived by Walter Weil, Paul Charles Werner,
George Rosenthal, and Aaron Galewski, with the help of H. Arthur Diamant. They
wanted to establish a non-sectarian fraternity, and they obtained permission
from Brothers Demand and Arthur Shore to use the name of Pi Lambda Phi. Shortly
thereafter in 1910 a local fraternity known as Sigma Iota became the Gamma
Chapter at N.Y.C., and in 1911 Cornell was installed as Delta Chapter, and from
there Zeta at Pennsylvania, Epsilon at Michigan, and Gamma Sigma at Pittsburgh,
along with Lambda at Lehigh were chartered.
During the fall of 1916 a group of alumni organized a convention to discuss
centralization of authority, administration, and general national policy. The
result was a new national constitution, which provided for government of the
Fraternity by a National Council much the way we operate today.
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