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The aim of Alpha Chi Rho is to secure a membership of the highest standard, thoroughly homogenous in quality, and permanent in its allegiance and effort for the Fraternity, not merely during college days, but throughout life. The Fraternity protests against the type of men who prefer the society of dead books to that of living fellow-beings, but at the same time urges good scholarship and attention to study. It encourages athletic endeavor and literary effort - in fact, all manner of student activity, but at the same time recognizes that it cannot make such activities tests of membership in Alpha Chi Rho.
A society or organization usually has a platform of principles stating more or less in detail its distinctive aims, characteristics, and ideals, which distinguish it from all other societies and organizations. Alpha Chi Rho has such a platform of principles and ideals, called the "LANDMARKS" of the Fraternity. The Landmarks are among the oldest and noblest of the traditions of Alpha Chi Rho, for they represent what our Founders conceived to be the basis for an ideal brotherhood.
The Landmarks are the key to understanding the Fraternity, for without them there could be no Alpha Chi Rho. Four in number, they are summarized as follows:
• Membership from among those who are prepared to realize in word and deed, the Brotherhood of all men.
• The insistence on a high and clean moral standard.
• The paramount duty of Brotherly love among members.
• Judgment not by externals, but by intrinsic worth; no one is denied membership in Alpha Chi Rho because of race, creed, or nationality.
These are the Landmarks of Alpha Chi Rho, its foundation and its heritage. The ideals they express are to be lived out by every member of Alpha Chi Rho, not only during his college days, but throughout his life. They are epitomized in the exoteric motto of the Fraternity which is:
"Be Men"
(Pronounced An-drééth-es-táy)
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Official
Website of the Epsilon
Phi Chapter of
Alpha Chi Rho Fraternity |
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he Reverend Paul Ziegler graduated from Trinity College in 1872. In the 1890s, he sent his son, Carl Ziegler to Trinity. Early on, Carl became friends with two other men, William Rouse and Herbert Sherriff. These men were not invited to join Paul's old fraternity Beta Beta. This prompted Reverend Ziegler to write our first exoteric manual. It was 6 pages of printed material. This short manual put forth the purpose, beliefs, and ideals of Alpha Chi Rho.
This first chapter was made up of our founding fathers: Paul Ziegler, Carl Ziegler, William Rouse, Herbert Sherriff, and William Eardeley. On June 4th 1895 the four undergraduate brothers exchanged vows of brotherhood in Northam Towers at Trinity. This first chapter was named Phi Psi.
By the time Carl and Herbert graduated graduated in 1897, there were 17 brothers. That made them one of the largest fraternities at Trinity. They included some of the top students and athletes the school had to offer. The first chapter hall was a rented room at Trinity, and offered a meal plan. After leaving Trinity, Carl and William were living in New York. They wanted to start the expansion of AXP, and approached a man from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. Three men started the Phi Chi chapter there, making it the second chapter. William then went to the University of Pennsylvania and met with a student by the name of Howard Long. Together, they formed the third chapter, Phi Phi.
By the end of 1900, there were five chapters, a national magazine named Garnet and White (after the primary colors of AXP), and held a national convention. In 1903, the National Council was formed, consisting of graduate brothers in charge of running the fraternity as a whole. The first national president was Henry Blakeslee. He helped to form Alpha Chi Rho into what it is today. He served as president until 1908. The fraternity motto became "Slow but sure", referring to the expansion. By 1909, there were 11 chapters. Although small, they attended the first meeting of the National Interfraternity Council, and have remained an active member ever since.
World War 2 drained the colleges of men, and chapters had to turn in thier charters due to lack of members. However, Alpha Chi Rho was able to stay alive through the war through the work of the national president, Robert B. Stewart, the national secretary/national director Wilbur "Curly" Walden, and the continued publication of the Garnet and White. After the war was over, men returned home. Through the GI Bill, more men than ever wanted to attend college. This boosted
Greek membership, and brought fraternities back to
their previous luster.
Fraternities were seen as "The Authority" during the 1960s and 1970s. Due to this, membership dropped
significantly, and growth slowed. By the 80s, however, the wounds were healed. On August 20, 1983, Robert B. Stewart National Headquarters was established in Neptune, NJ. This gave a permanent center for Alpha Chi Rho. In 1989, the fraternity adopted a risk management policy. This allowed chapters to purchase liability insurance at reasonable rates.
After over 100 years, Alpha Chi Rho has come a long way. It's beliefs have remain practically unchanged, and brothers continue to live by the landmarks. It has grown incredibly fast in such a short time, currently with over 40 active chapters.
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