The following is a list of those present: Rev. Theo. A. K. Gessler, D. D., John D. Thomson, Delta Delta, '94. Sam'l A. Weikert, Theta, '71. W. W. Schenck, Alpha Delta, '88. Leonard S. Homer, Alpha Rho, '98. Dr. Chas. Grandy, Psi, '89. Arthur Dillon, Alpha Theta, '92. O. L. Sigafoos, Theta, '94. Marion M. Miller, Beta, '85. W. H. Burtner, Jr., Theta Theta, '94. Dr. E. P. Hayward, Alpha Epsi- E. W. Herrick, Alpha Theta, '88. F. Hedley Jobbins, Nu Nu, '95. Wm. H. Peer Conklin, Alpha Phi, Frank L. Evans, Alpha Gamma, '92. F. E. Brewer, Alpha Phi, '92. W. G. Irwin, Rho, '89, of Columbus, Indiana, came in at the close of the dinner and responded for the western Sigma Chis. Letters of regret were received from Reginald Fendall, Epsilon, '64, of Washington, D. C., Grand Consul of the fraternity. Alfred Taylor, Kappa, '66, of New York City. David Porter Leas, Kappa, '63, of Philadelphia. W. W. Baylor, Alpha Kappa, '88, of Scranton, Pa. New York City, January 25, 1895. MARION M. MILLER, BETA, '85. Editorial. THE CHAPTER HOUSE QUESTION. One of the most hopeful signs that Sigma Chi is pushing the policy of internal development and fortifying the points of vantage already won, is the quite general fight now being made for the erection of chapter houses. A good deal has been accomplished, but much more remains to be done. In fact, we have reached a critical condition in regard to the chapter house question. The time has come when we must build houses for several chapters, whose rivals all occupy their own homes, or we will lose our hard-earned prestige at those institutions. It is gratifying to read the encouraging news in Alpha Phi's letter in this issue that a house at Cornell is becoming more assured every day. Alpha Alpha deserves great credit for the plucky fight it has made at Hobart, and it is to be hoped that the fraternity will come to the aid of this worthy and lusty young stripling and assure the retention of its handsome house. Two good houses at such close points as Ithaca and Geneva, New York, would be a tower of strength to our cause not only in progressive Cornell and the venerable Episcopalian college, but would do us good all through the East. Alumni, these houses are needed; in fact, for the permanent high standing of these chapters houses are indispensable. We understand that the Eta Eta men are planning to build a house at Dartmouth. That, too, is a good move. Of the other chapters in the first province Theta owns its handsome lodge; Alpha Theta, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Alpha Chi, Pennsylvania State College, and Alpha Rho, Lehigh University, occupy rented houses; and Epsilon, Kappa, and Omicron, three old war horses, will undoubtedly not be behind their rivals in building, and on the contrary ought to lead them; Nu Nu at Columbia College ought to put on its short clothes in a house. The second province is composed of the chapters in Virginia and at. the University of North Carolina. In this region the chapter house system has not made so much progress as in the New England states, New York, and Pennsylvania. But we have a strong alumni membership in Virginia, and it is loyal, too. If the next Grand Chapter is held in that state, chapter house building will undoubtedly be stimulated as one of the ultimate results of the enthusiasm engendered. The third province finds us in Ohio and Kentucky. Mu has talked of a house at Denison University, and when Gamma grows stronger numerically something will probably develop from its plans for a house. Our chapters at Ohio State, Cincinnati, Miami, Centre, and Kentucky State are full of power, and the older of them ought to take action on the subject at once if they have not done so already. In Indiana, the fourth province, Chi owns its tasteful home at Hanover, and Delta Delta has procured plans for an elaborate and beautiful house at Purdue, which deserve the earnest consideration and generous support of all of its active and alumni members. Lambda at Indiana University, Xi at De Pauw, and Rho at Butler have unusually handsome halls, and the alumni aid given in their expensive fittings shows that it is in good training for support to house-building. In the fifth province, Alpha Pi owns its substantial lodge on the campus of Albion College; Omega has pledged several thousand dollars for a good house; ex-Grand Consul Orville S. Brumback, of Toledo, holds notes for over a thousand dollars for a house at the University of Michigan; Kappa Kappa is earnestly canvassing the question at the University of Illinois; Alpha Zeta at Beloit and Alpha Lambda at the University of Wisconsin occupy good houses, and know the value of the system. Alpha Iota at Illinois Wesleyan ought to begin to pull the wires. In the sixth province, Alpha Beta at the University of California, and Alpha Omega at Stanford know today what it is to live in chapter houses; Alpha Upsilon at Los Angeles has agitated the question and is only awaiting its opportunity, for it is quite a young chapter in a young institution. Alpha Xi at the University of Kansas and Alpha Epsilon at the University of Nebraska are good western "rustlers" and ought to be in the vanguard in the building of houses. In the seventh province, Eta at the University of Mississippi, Alpha Omicron at Tulane, and Alpha Nu at the University of Texas are all allowing themselves to be outstripped by the young giant Alpha Psi at Vanderbilt, which is making strenuous efforts to build its own home. The Vanderbilt fellows have gotten about everything they ever went after, and we sincerely recommend their enterprise to the co-operation of the fraternity. In some of the institutions where we have made no efforts toward the occupation of houses, the system may be impracticable and undesirable. But in such, a lodge might be a good means of insuring the sta bility and efficiency of the chapter. The time for action in some chapters, where no action has as yet been taken, has undoubtedly arrived. In those chapters, where the effort to secure a house or lodge is being made, it deserves the warmest encouragement on the part of the alumni. Every one can do something. A few large subscriptions are desirable, of course, to give confidence in the start, but if every alumnus will do what he can when the appeal reaches him, no matter how small the aid may be, all of the houses now planned can be secured. Chas. H. Eldridge of Delta Delta suggests that any alumni who can give only lesser amounts, but who wish to be remembered by their gifts, can put them into the shape of mantel-pieces or other interior furnishings, with their names engraved thereon, if that be preferred by the donors. Subscriptions of twenty-five dollars, or even less, may seem small, but suppose they can be gotten from a majority of our four thousand alumni? That amount, together with five hundred dollar and larger subscriptions which can always be secured from a few loyal men of large means, would insure the building of all the houses we are now working for. Alumni, do not turn a deaf ear to these appeals. The fraternity has done a good deal for you, has been the means of many a noble friendship and happy hour of sociability. Will you not do what you can to show your appreciation of what Sigma Chi has been and is to you? After you have given what you can speak a good word to the fellows you knew when you were in college. They depend on your endorsement and enthusiasm in such matters as this more than you think they do. One exhortation from you may be worth more than fifty printed circulars from the active chapter, which is always struggling against many discouragements and needs your friendly aid among your old chums. Let us do what we can for one chapter at least. We may not be able to help them all. But let us do all we can for every worthy effort to put Sigma Chi under its own roof the college world around. THE NEXT GRAND CHAPTER. The letters from active chapters in this issue reveal quite a divergence of opinion as to the best time and place for the holding of the next grand chapter. But perhaps out of this expression of opinion further suggestions will be made to the Grand Council which will clarify the situation. Gen. Ben P. Runkle, Alpha, '57, suggests that the meeting be held at Los Angeles, Calif., where a ball, banquet, and excursion over the surrounding country will be provided for the visitors. But the Grand |