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The Chi Phi Society
It was on December 24, 1824, that the first Chi Phi Society was born at
Princeton University, then known as the College of New Jersey. This date
marks the formation of the first Greek social fraternity, making Chi Phi the
oldest social fraternity in existence today. This was started by Robert
Baird and is now referred to as the Princeton Order of Chi Phi. This society
continued until 1825 when this branch ceased to be active.
Thirty years later, John MacLean Jr. found information outlining the
original Princeton Order amongst the papers of his uncle, the President of
Princeton University. With this he was able to recreate the Chi Phi that
ceased to be, and in the fall of 1854 a Chi Phi was reborn at Franklin and
Marshall College.
The Chi Phi Fraternity
On August 21, 1858, at the University of North Carolina, an interesting turn
of events occurred as another Chi Phi came into existence. This happened
independently of the first and was organized by six students to perpetuate
their friendship. They called it the Chi Phi Fraternity. This is now known
as the Southern Order of Chi Phi. This expanded quickly, but with the
American Civil War came an end to all but the parent chapter.
The Secret Order of Chi Phi
Almost two years later in Hobart College, yet another Chi Phi came into
existence. On November 14, 1860, two college students, dissatisfied with the
fraternities that existed at their college, decided to form their own. And
thus formed what is now known as the Secret Order of Chi Phi.
The Chi Phi Fraternity - Today
They all continued on, not knowing of each other’s existence for five years.
But fate would lead them all together. In 1865 the Secret Order of Chi Phi
and the Chi Phi Society at Franklin and Marshall College learned of each
other. Two years later, the two societies formally united, creating the
Northern Order of Chi Phi.
Also in 1865, the Hobart alumni learned of the existence of a Chi Phi
Fraternity in the South. Negotiations started but languished in the
post-Civil war era until 1872, when they were restarted. Then in Washington
D.C. on March 27, 1874, the two organizations combined. The unified
organization inherited their new name, the Chi Phi Fraternity, from the
south, and kept the traditions and rituals of the north.
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- written by Brother
Thomas Preisner, Theta 2005 |
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