election and initiation. All social events took place in the private rooms of the members, while the literary exercises were held in the society rooms. The first public celebration of the society occurred July 20, 1855, in the First Church at Cambridge. James C. Carter was the orator of the occasion; Elbridge J. Cutler, the poet; and Rev. F. D. Huntington, the Plummer Professor at Harvard, and later the Bishop of the Diocese of Western New York, officiated as president of the convention. The class of 1859 took an almost unprecedented stand, and pledged themselves not to become members of any secret society. This proved a stumbling-block for all secret year a second petition was presented to the Faculty, which met the same unqualified refusal, so it was still necessary to continue as the "Honorary Yale Chapter." A room was obtained over the Porcellian Library; and here the members met for social and literary enjoyment. From this time until 1846, the society enjoyed so excellent a reputation that a third petition to the faculty was granted; and in March, 1846, the Alpha Delta Phi became an authorized organization, inaugurating regular forms of "Running for the Dickey." organizations, and it was soon rumored that they had been dissolved. As a matter of fact, however, the Alpha Delta Phi continued to flourish as an unrecognized society, and members were elected and initiated as before. In order that its existence might be unknown, the members referred to the society as the A. D., choosing this combination of letters as it closely resembled Alpha Delta and also the name of a college boat, the Haidee. Thus a member would recognize the reference, while the uninitiated ear would be deceived. A few names should be mentioned to show the class of men the Alpha Delta Phi attracted to its membership. On its records may be found the signatures of Rufus King, James Russell Lowell, Samuel Elliot, James Gore King, Ellicott Evans, Samuel Longfellow, Edward Everett Hale, John Lowell, Francis James Child, George Martin Lane, John Brooks Felton, Charles MDA ACAD by members. This is the rule with the other clubs as well. A curious feature of clubs and clublife at Harvard is that, instead of having several distinct rival organizations, with few exceptions each club is an inner circle of another. Thus the "Dickey," as has been stated, is an "inner circle of the Institute of 1770; and the Alpha Delta Phi, the Zeta Psi, and Delta Phi are Seal of the Pi Eta Society. Franklin Dunbar, Christopher C. Lang- The early history of the society shows Medal of the O. K. Society, tem is carried still farther, and the A. D. club exists as the select inner circle of the Alpha Delta Phi; and the Porcellian as the select few from the Zeta Psi. The Zeta Psi and the Delta Phi rank equally with the Alpha Delta Phi in popularity and numbers, and between them all there exists the closest relations of friendship. The Pi Eta Society has had a comparatively short, but exceedingly varied career. It was instituted by the class of 1866, with the intention of devoting it to literary and social purposes. The faculty allowed it to exist conditionally. for one year; its lease of life being extended annually until 1869, when perma (Custom has now done away with the words, the syllable la being sung instead.) ularity will undoubtedly increase. There is room enough in college for two strong rival senior societies, and in future years this may fill the long-felt want. Sto The initiations to the Pi Eta are more secret than the "Dickey," but are understood to be hardly less formidable. ries are told of long rides where the victim is blindfolded and taken to a lonely spot, there to play the part of a corpse until he really believes the coffin which encloses him has been deserted, and that his last hour has come. One man was blindfolded and made to run at the top of his speed between two members, who suddenly let go of him, as he went tumbling over an embankment. The more humorous forms of initiation consist of compelling the men to climb small saplings; to call on young ladies with members, and propose marriage; and other requirements which are also employed by the "Dickey." Every member is compelled to go through some form of initiation where a bandanna handkerchief, an iron bar, and a stout rope are called into use. The victim is blindfolded with the handkerchief, and bound with the rope, holding the iron bar in both hands. Everything possible is done to make him drop the bar, such as pretending to throw him into a pond of water, etc. If he does drop it, he is disgraced. For many years the senior members of the Pi Eta society have given their members having to rank in the first half of their class. Essays and conversation took the place of orations and debate; and theatricals were strictly forbidden. The principal part of the initiation was made to consist of the presentation by HASTY PUDDING CLUB. My dear Mr. Smith of their membership in others counting neither for nor against them. In 1872, the Signet gave the "Class Breakfast" in Massachusetts Hall, to the Faculty and members of the senior class on Class Day morning. This was done It gives me great pleasure to inform you of your election. You will receive the privileges of the club upon signing the constitution and paying to the Treasurer the initiation fee. You will be initiated at the next regular dinner, when you will be expected to Joke WCammin Secretary. Cambridge, Uch.23rd 1891 Notification of Membership, Hasty Pudding Club. out of compliment to its president, who was the Class Day orator. The society emblem consists of a signet ring inclosing a nettle. These are supposed to signify unity and impartiality. The token of membership is made up of these symbols with the words Signet, 1870" on a field of white satin, the whole framed in black. The colors are gold and black. As the Institute of 1770 is a feeder to the other social societies, so is the Signet the opening wedge to the smaller and more select junior literary society, the O. K. The formation of this society was due to the reaction, already referred to, against the Greek letter societies by the class of 1859. It was intended at first to form a temporary society, but its remarkable success induced its founders to make it permanent. The aim of the society has always been literary, and great precautions have been taken to keep the social element from predominating. For this reason no clubrooms have ever been obtained, the meetings taking place in the members' rooms. For several years a strong rivalry existed between the O. K. and the Hasty Pudeach member of what he considered his ding Club, during which the members best literary production. of one society did not belong to the other. This was undoubtedly the result of the introduction of theatricals into the exercises of the former, as the animosity apparently died out when these were given up. The number of members has always been limited to sixteen men. It was originally intended to run the Signet Society as a rival of the Hasty Pudding Club, but it was found that this was impossible, and the idea was given up. The men are now elected with no reference whatever to other societies, the fact |