Page:The Fraternity and the College (1915).pdf/37

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college now desires anything that even simulates home life he must make it for himself. No institution has done more in recent years to throw around young fellows just entering college some of the atmosphere and the influences of home than has the fraternity. In fact the chief justification of fraternities in my mind is not that they make for higher scholarship, or greater social prestige, or stronger political influence, but that they aim to furnish for their members a lodging place and associations that are something more than those of a mere boarding house but which have many of the restrictions, and safeguards, and influences of home.

Mr. Norton T. Horr, in a recent address before the eightieth convention of Delta Upsilon, expresses something of this idea when he says: "The college fraternity, aside from its social features, is designed to provide by organization such restraints upon individual conduct as will directly add to the good order, harmony, discipline, and general welfare of the school, but which would otherwise be lacking. The choice of associates for the years of college life may well be the most momentous event of the young man's career. His fraternity is to provide him with playmates, frequently with a home, and his associates, particularly the upperclassmen, become the only active supervisors of his fidelity to the serious business