In 1858 Delta Tau Delta was founded
at Bethany College. Eight undergraduates, angered by a fixed vote
for a prize in
oratory to be given at the Neotrophian Literary Society, the only
real forum for
students to practice and demonstrate skills in poetry, public
speaking, and
writing essays, responded by forming a secret society. The purpose
of the new
society, known by the Greek letters Delta Tau Delta, was to see that
the
Neotrophian Society was returned to a normal democracy, and
delivered from the
hands of the group of students who seized it..
The Fraternity was founded to right an unjust situation; Delta
Tau Delta was
born of the knowledge that integrity is essential. Its eight
founders', outraged
that one group of students would and could choose in advance the
candidate they
favored, then join together to swing enough votes for that man to
win,
regardless of his actual performance in the contest, presented the
first
opportunity for Delts to realize the importance of
accountability.
The second chapter of Delta Tau Delta was established at West
Liberty
College, Virginia (now West Virginia), in the fall of 1859. A year
later, a
third chapter was initiated at Monongalia Academy (later West
Virginia
University) when John R. Thornton of the West Liberty chapter
enrolled at that
institution. By the end of the school year in 1860, the Alpha
Chapter at Bethany
had enrolled a total of twenty-six members.
During the year 1860, however, a disastrous fire demolished much
of Bethany
and destroyed all of the early Fraternity records. The impact of the
Civil War
thinned the ranks of the three Virginia chapters to such an extreme
that the
future of the Fraternity was in grave danger. Two young men of
Canonsburg,
Pennsylvania, Rhodes S. Sutton and Samuel S. Brown, rode horseback
down to
Bethany to be initiated into Delta Tau Delta. These two men then
established the
fourth chapter at Jefferson College in Canonsburg.
When Civil War conditions ultimately caused the three Virginia
chapters to
suspend operations temporarily, the historic ride of Sutton and
Brown proved to
be the means of saving the continuous existence of the Fraternity.
The founders of Delta Tau Delta
Alexander C. Earl was the youngest of the group of eight founders, went on
to become a Captain in the Second South Carolina Volunteers, where he commanded
his own company. For many years his whereabouts were unknown and he was
believed dead, but he was finally located living in Arkansas. Earles' spirit
of courage is one we emulate today. He also set an excellent example for
us through his commitment to lifelong learning and growth by attending
three Karneas.
Richard H. Alfred, at 26 the oldest of the group, became a minister
and a physician. His involvement with Delta Tau Delta stemmed from a sense
of moral duty to the truth, and his activities later in life continued
this commitment.
William R. Cunningham, 25, was only a freshman at the time Delta Tau
Delta was formed. Because he was older and had become a Mason, however,
he exerted much influence in the group. Cunningham, the picture of integrity,
was probably responsible for much of the early language in both the Constitution
and Ritual. He served as President of the Karnea in 1883. He was also a
minister and held public office in the state of Washington.
John L.N. Hunt was the scholar of the group. Yet another testament
to the value of lifelong learning and growth, after graduating from Bethany,
Hunt went on to become the valedictorian of his class at New York University's
School of Law. He then served for several years as New York's Commissioner
of Education.
Jacob Lowe hosted the first meetings of the group in his quarters
in a rooming house which has now become an international shrine for the
Fraternity. Lowe, who became a professor and later a college president,
helped facilitate the initial bonds of brotherhood which still sustain
us.
Eugene Tarr, a "local boy" whose home was only six miles from Bethany,
stayed in West Virginia after college. A strong proponent of strengthening
his community, Tarr became a noted speaker, lawyer, and editor of the newspaper.
John C. Johnson was also a native West Virginian (although at that
time the area was still a part of Virginia). He became a lawyer and politician,
a career which clearly displayed power. He was the political advisor to
John W. Davis, the Democratic nominee for President in 1924. One of Johnson's
favorite pastimes was conducting tours of Bethany and pointing out the
room where Delta Tau Delta was founded. He outlived the other founders
by eight years.
Henry K. Bell, a Kentuckian, lived only six years after graduation.
His contribution to the Fraternity was immense; without him, there would
be no Delta Tau Delta today. Bell responded to a call for help from the
last remaining members of the Bethany chapter who were leaving to join
the armed forces. It was Bell's faith, integrity, and understanding of the
importance of maintaining brotherhood and a strong community that lead him
to two Jefferson College students. Bell initiated Rhodes Standbury Sutton
and Samuel S. Brown during a raging snowstorm on February 22, 1861. Upon
the collapse of the Bethany chapter following its' members departure, the
new Jefferson chapter took over management of the Fraternity.
