L0?1£ 
 
 fc 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ffYfpsiLON Chapter, 
 
 Dsi Upsilon Fraternity. 
 
 

/ 
 
A HISTORY 
 
 UPSILON CHAPTER 
 
 PSI UPSILON FRATERNITY 
 
 V, 
 
 READ AT THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
 
 FOUNDING OF THE CHAPTER, FEBRUARY 
 
 TWELFTH, EIGHTEEN HUNDRED 
 
 AND EIGHTY-THREE. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE CHAPTER. 
 MDCCCLXXXIII. 
 
 
?6 
 
 COPYRIGHT BY 
 GEORGE A. COE 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 npHE only excuse the writer has to offer for the 
 appearance of this pamphlet may be found in a 
 resolution of the Upsilon, of January 15, 1883, 
 requesting him to prepare a History of the Chapter, 
 to be read at our Quarter-Centennial Celebration, 
 and also a resolution of February 26, 1883, request- 
 ing that the history be published. 
 
 Without approving of the choice of historian, it 
 may be said that the action of the Chapter, in provid- 
 ing for such a history as this is intended to be, is 
 highly commendable. Both the knowledge and the 
 inspiration to be gained from the study of an honor- 
 able career are of great advantage to the members of 
 such an organization as this. 
 
 But, however profitable a history of the Upsilon 
 may be, the task of compiling this little volume has 
 been, by no means,' slight. Facts recorded only in 
 the memories of men lose much of their vividness in 
 the course of twenty-five years. I have been obliged 
 
 to 
 
iv. PREFACE. 
 
 to rely entirely upon the memories of participants for 
 an account of many of the events of our history. I 
 have been unable to find even a scrap of a record of 
 the whole period previous to the Convention of 1857. 
 The collection of facts concerning this period has 
 been begun not a year too soon. They are too valu- 
 able to be lost, and should have been put in perma- 
 nent form long ago. 
 
 I have attempted to make this work as accurate as 
 possible, but it will not be strange if some errors have 
 crept in. Such information as I have been able to 
 acquire has been drawn largely from living witnesses. 
 I have also consulted the various Records of the 
 Chapter, besides numerous manuscripts and printed 
 documents. 
 
 I wish to express my gratitude to the following 
 brothers for the assistance they have rendered me in 
 the preparation of this history : 
 
 AUGUSTUS H. STRONG, D. D., 
 THEODORE BACON, ESQ., 
 JOHN C. OVERHISER, Ph. D., 
 HENRY C. MOREHOUSE, D. D., 
 HON JOSHUA GASKILL, 
 JOHN P. COLB Y, LL. D., 
 REV. A. J. BARRETT, 
 CHARLES A. DEWEY, M. D., 
 BELDEN S. DAY. 
 
A HISTORY 
 
 UPSILON CHAPTER 
 
 PSI UPSILON FRATERNITY. 
 
 Chapter I. 
 
 EFFORTS TO OBTAIN A CHARTER. 
 
 f\NE of the most interesting periods in the life 
 of a married couple is that in which the court- 
 ship takes place. As we have assembled to cele- 
 brate the marriage of a certain Rochester party with 
 the coy maiden Psi Upsilon, it will not be out of 
 place to recall the courtship of that worthy couple. 
 The story cannot fail to be interesting, for the maiden 
 
 was 
 
UPSILON CHAPTER OF THE 
 
 was not easily won. Longfellow's lines might be 
 applied to Psi Upsilon : 
 
 " I know a maiden fair to see, 
 
 Take care ! 
 She can both false and friendly be, 
 
 Beware ! Beware ! 
 
 Trust her not, 
 She is fooling thee !" 
 
 To find the very beginning of the Upsilon' s history 
 we must go back not twenty-five, but thirty, years. 
 The project of having a Chapter of Psi Upsilon in 
 the University of Rochester was conceived about five 
 years before it met with success. The University was 
 then in its infancy, having been in operation but three 
 years. It occupied a building on West Main (then 
 Buffalo) Street, which had formerly been used as a 
 hotel. The hotel dining room had been metamor- 
 phosed into a chapel. Above the chapel and lecture 
 rooms were several apartments which were used as 
 dormitories. The old University is still standing. It 
 is the second building east of the Erie Canal on the 
 north side of West Main Street. It is a four story 
 brick block painted a dingy drab. The ground 
 floor is occupied by various stores, and the upper 
 stories are used as tenements. The building may be 
 known by two small pillars in relief, one of which 
 stands each side of the principal entrance. The 
 
 grimy 
 
PSI UPSILON FRATERNITY. 7 
 
 grimy old block has no suggestion of classical asso- 
 ciations about it, yet it is of quite a little historic in- 
 terest. 
 
 At the time of which we speak, our venerable and 
 beloved President Anderson was in the prime of life, 
 and had just entered upon the duties of the office 
 which he has so long and honorably filled. The 
 Chapters of A. A. $., A. W., and A. T. were al- 
 ready organized. Psi Upsilon had eleven Chapters, 
 the Alpha being the youngest. 
 
 Such was the condition of things when the ques- 
 tion of having a Chapter of Psi U. in Rochester was 
 first agitated. The honor of fathering this idea must 
 be accorded to Dr. JOHN C. O VERHISER of 
 New York. This brother matriculated at the Uni- 
 versity of the City of New York, entering the class of 
 1854, and became a member of the Delta Chapter 
 of Psi Upsilon. After finishing his Junior year, he 
 entered the University of Rochester, and graduated 
 in 1854. During his stay in this city, it occurred to 
 him that there ought to be a Chapter of his Fratern- 
 ity here. This desire was strengthened, no doubt, by 
 the course then pursued by A. A. <P., which, he says, 
 "in the early history of the University, ruled things 
 with a high hand." Bro. O VERHISER communi- 
 cated his ideas to several other students, and the re- 
 sult 
 
8 VPSILON CHAPTER OF THE 
 
 suit was the formation of a local society, whose prin- 
 cipal object was opposition to A. A. <P.* but which 
 also had in view the establishment of a W. T. Chap- 
 ter. Prominently associated with Bro. O VERHISER 
 in organizing this movement were RAND OLPH C. 
 BRANT (1854). GALUSHA ANDERSON 
 (1854). now President of the University of Chicago, 
 and A. J. BARRETT (1854), of this city. All 
 three of these gentlemen graduated before the Upsilox 
 was organized, and only one, Bro. BARRETT ever 
 became a member of the Fraternity. 
 
 The founders of this society were, with one excep- 
 tion, in favor of having a Chapter of W. T. here. 
 The exception was GALUSHA ANDERSON 
 who had lost confidence in secret societies by reason 
 of some trouble he had had with the Delta Psi's.* 
 
 This organization was christened the Innominata 
 Society, and its name was never permitted to appear 
 with those of other societies in the University. The 
 Innominata seems to have become immediately pop- 
 ular, for it began its career with a membership of 
 about twenty of the best men in the University. 
 
 Although the Innominata was not, as we shall see 
 hereafter, strictly speaking, the origin of the Upsilox, 
 yet it rendered material aid in the formation of that 
 
 *The brothers -will find, among our archives, an interesting document relating to the 
 affair. 
 
 Chapter 
 
PSI UPSILON FRATERNITY. 9 
 
 Chapter. It kept alive the idea of having a Chap- 
 ter of Psi U. in Rochester, and prevented several 
 of those who became the founders of the Upsilon 
 from joining any of the secret societies then in 
 operation. It "rushed" men just as the other 
 societies did, and held oat the inducement of possible 
 future membership in Psi U. Its meetings were of 
 a literary character, and were conducted like the 
 meetings of the Fraternity Chapters. Its mem- 
 bers were inspired with a genuine loyalty. For in- 
 stance, Dr. CHARLES A. DE WE F, who became 
 one of the early members of the Chapter, was rushed 
 for W. T. by his tutor, a member of the Innominata. 
 Bro. BARRETT, after graduating in 1854, became 
 Principal of the Nunda Literary Institute, where he 
 displayed his loyalty by rushing the sub-fresh. One 
 of these, JOHN P. COLBY, was thus induced to 
 join the Innominata, and became one of the charter 
 members of the Upsilon. 
 
 The Innominata occupied rooms on the east side 
 of State Street, probably in the building which stands 
 on the south corner of Market Street. I have not 
 been able to find any traces of the records of the old 
 organization. It would be a piece of good fortune if 
 they could be found and put into the possession of the 
 Chapter. 
 
 It 
 
io UP8IL0N CHAPTER OF THE 
 
 It is probable that a petition for a new Chapter was 
 sent to the Convention of 1854, but, as I have not 
 had access to the records of Conventions prior to 
 1857, I have not been able to verify this impression, 
 which I received from one of the founders of the In- 
 nominata. 
 
 The A. K. E. Fraternity established a Chapter 
 here in 1856. The men who organized it first peti- 
 tioned the Convention of W. T. for a charter, and, 
 being refused, turned to A. K. E. y where they were 
 successful. These men were somewhat different from 
 those who organized the Upsilon. One who remem- 
 bers the circumstances understands that our Conven- 
 tion denied their petition " because of their promis- 
 cuousness, or something of that sort." A letter from 
 Bro. COLB Y, of St. Louis, shows how the Conven- 
 tion received its information. He says : 
 
 " I have heard of unsuccessful applications. * * * 
 One of these was by a junto of the boys of our time, 
 * * * who finally decided that Psi U. grapes were 
 probably sour, and that nothing was quite so nicely 
 suited to their taste as crab -apples of the A. K. E. 
 variety. It has sometimes occurred to me that their 
 preference for crab-apples might be largely due to a 
 confidential correspondence, which sprung up, while 
 their application was pending, between the subscriber 
 
 and 
 
PSI UPSILON FRATERNITY. i . 
 
 and WM. P. WARNER (our old townsman), of the 
 Chapter. Indeed, the latter has, on more than one 
 occasion, admitted his share of this rather grave re- 
 sponsibility, and, instead of being depressed with its 
 consideration, he seemed to find in it a deep source 
 of satisfaction." 
 
 I have said that the Innominata kept alive the idea 
 of having a chapter of Psi Upsilon in Rochester. 
 Several circumstances united to prevent this society 
 as a body becoming a Chapter of our Fraternity. 
 Bro. COLBY details these circumstances as follows : 
 
 "It had been a legend of that worthy organization 
 that its founders were secretly W. Vs., who only de- 
 ferred turning the society over to W. T. until it could 
 be done with safety, they having a very wholesome 
 regard for the opinions entertained by the Faculty on 
 the subject of secret societies. 
 
 The growth of a sentiment hostile to secret socie- 
 ties among the ' Innoms ' rendered this a task of con- 
 stantly increasing difficulty. 
 
 Moreover, there were a few ' Innoms' who did not 
 seem to be particularly cherished by their own breth- 
 ren, and who were not able to add materially to the 
 strength or the popularity of a new organization. 
 There was much discussion among the ' Innoms' — all 
 of an informal kind — which ended in nothing. No 
 
 resolution 
 
i2 UP SILO N CHAPTER OF TEE 
 
 resolution was passed or offered. There was no little 
 feeling elicited, but it was all of the right kind, and it 
 proceeded only from mutual respect and genuine af- 
 fection. 
 
 As the only solution possible, IRA. C. CLARK, 
 GEO. IF. HOUGHTON and myself resigned 
 from the ' Innoms,' with a view to organize a new 
 society, W. T. if possible. This was the first step 
 toward the founding of the T. Chapter." 
 
 The desire of Bros. CLARK, HOUGHTON 
 and COLBY for a Chapter of W. T. was shared 
 with several others, for we find them petitioning the 
 Convention of 1857 for a Charter. There were eight 
 signers to the petition, whose names are as follows : 
 
 EGBERT HURD, 
 H L. MOREHO USE, 
 I C CLARK, 
 J. P. COLBY, 
 JOSHUA GASKLLL, 
 E. P. GOULD, 
 G. TV. HOUGHTON, 
 E. A. WILLIAMS. 
 
 All of the petitioners, excepting Bros. HURL) 
 and MOREHOUSE, had been members of the 
 Innominata, which fact shows a pretty close connec- 
 tion 
 
PS1 UPSILON FRATERNITY. 13 
 
 tion between that society and the Upsilon. Bro. 
 MOREHOUSE performed much of the clerical 
 labor in procuring the Chapter. 
 
 This petition was favored by resident Psi LPs, 
 especially Bros. STRONG and BACON. The 
 Beta, from which they had recently graduated, cham- 
 pioned the cause in the Convention. 
 
 In the record of the Convention of this year, 1857, 
 it is stated that : 
 
 " On motion of Bro. MIDDLE TON (B), the 
 application from the University of Rochester, N. Y., 
 for the establishment of a Chapter, was referred to 
 the Committee on New Chapters." 
 
 A similar application from the University of North 
 Carolina was also referred to the Committee on New 
 Chapters. A little further on in the record occurs 
 this passage : 
 
 " The following Report was presented by Bro. 
 COBB (F), Chairman of Committee on New Chap- 
 ters, which was accepted. 
 
 We have considered the different applications 
 made for the establishment of New Chapters. The 
 one presented by Bro. HALL (2), coming from 
 North Carolina University, we do not regard with 
 favor. The fact that we are ignorant of the men 
 who make the application, together with the geo- 
 graphical 
 
i 4 UPSILON CHAPTER OF THE 
 
 graphical position of the University, it being remote 
 from us, makes the case so unfavorable that we recom- 
 mend the Convention to pass it over without action. 
 The application from Rochester University, N. Y., 
 we recommend to the favorable action and consider- 
 ation of the Convention. In view of the present 
 prospects of that Institution, its geographical posi- 
 tion, having direct and easy access to our several 
 Chapters in New England, and, above all, in view of 
 the character and scholarship of the men who make 
 the application, we earnestly hope the Convention 
 will see fit to grant them a charter for establishing a 
 Chapter of the Psi Upsilon Fraternity in that place. 
 (Signed) 
 
 £. G. COBB (F), 
 R. W. THATCHER (W), 
 J T TAYL OR (A), 
 JOHN PETERSON (£), 
 JOHN C HOLLEY(B\ 
 Motion was made by Bro. TA YL OR (A) that the 
 report of the Committee on New Chapters be 
 adopted. 
 
 The petition from the University of Rochester for 
 a Charter and the correspondence of one of the peti- 
 tioners were then read, after which the motion to adopt 
 the report was carried. 
 
 Bro. 
 
PSI UPSILON FRA TERNITY. 1 5 
 
 Bro. CONKEY (JT) then moved that a Commit- 
 tee of three be appointed by the Chair, who shall pro- 
 ceed to establish the Chapter in due form when the 
 action of the Convention has been ratified by all the 
 Chapters. 
 
 To this motion an amendment was made by Bro. 
 TA YL OR (A) that the said Committee be appointed 
 by the Beta Chapter, to which the application was 
 made. 
 
 The amendment having passed, the motion of Bro. 
 CONKEY [T) as amended, was carried." 
 
 The hopes of the petitioners were now in a fair 
 way to be realized. Nothing was needed but the con- 
 sent of the various Chapters. There was no Pi or 
 Upsilon to interpose its veto, and, before long, all the 
 Chapters rendered an affirmative decision, which, we 
 believe, they have never regretted, and for which a 
 generation of classes in the University of Rochester 
 is profoundly grateful. 
 
 Four classes had graduated since the organization 
 of the movement for obtaining a charter. Besides 
 Bro. BARRETT, who has been already mentioned, 
 only two of those who had graduated from the In- 
 nominata subsequently joined the Fraternity, viz. : 
 DANIEL BO WEN (1856), 
 and MEL FIN JAMESON (1856). 
 
Chapter II. 
 
 ORGANIZATION OF THE UPSILON. 
 
 TT will be remembered that the Convention of 1857 
 authorized the Beta Chapter to appoint a 
 Committee, who should establish the new Chapter 
 in due form, when the action of the Convention 
 should be ratified by all the Chapters. This Com- 
 mittee was to consist of three persons, but it seems 
 only two were appointed, viz. : 
 
 THEODORE BACON{B, 1853), 
 and AUGUSTUS H. STRONG {B, 1857). 
 
 These two brothers, who had been the influential 
 friends of the petitioners, now proceeded to make 
 preparations for organizing the new Chapter. Bro. 
 STRONG was, at this time, a student in the Theo- 
 logical Seminary of which he is now the honored head. 
 
 The leaders in the matter seem to have proceeded 
 on the principle of having " the best of everything, 
 and everything the best," for we find that they ad- 
 mitted only the best members of the Innominata, and 
 took in several who did not belong to that society. 
 The Innominata did not long survive. It had finished 
 its work and now had nothing to live for. Those of 
 its members who failed of being elected to Psi U. 
 were much dissatisfied, but there was nothing left for 
 
 them 
 
PSI UPSILON FRATERNITY. 17 
 
 them but " wailing and gnashing of teeth," for the 
 Upsilon was to be a select body. 
 
 The next step after selecting the members was to 
 initiate them into the mysteries and joys of Psi Upsi- 
 lon. This was done by the Committee of the Beta, 
 Bros. STRONG and BACON, at the Osburn 
 House, on the evening of February 9, 1858. It is 
 probable that Bro. EDWIN S. GILBERT (JT, 
 1855) was present. Other Psi U's were probably 
 present also ; but, as I can find no record of the 
 meeting, it is uncertain just who were there. Four- 
 teen men were initiated, whose names are as follows : 
 
 A. C. BACON, 
 
 EGBERT HURD, 
 
 HENRY L. MOREHOUSE, 
 
 IRA. C CLARK, 
 
 JOSHUA GASKILL, 
 
 EDWARD P. GOULD, 
 GEO. W. HOUGHTON, 
 
 SYLVANUS S. WILCOX, 
 
 ERANCIS A. WILLIAMS, 
 
 HORA CE B ELD EN, 
 
 HENRY COOPER, 
 CHARLES A. DEWEY, 
 GEORGE E GARDNER, 
 
 IRA HOLMES. 
 
 JOHN 
 
1 8 UPSILON CHAPTER OF THE 
 
 JOHN P. COLB Y, one of the petitioners, was 
 away teaching at this time and was initiated several 
 weeks afterward. 
 
 After the ceremonies of initiation, a banquet was 
 indulged in. Dr. STRONG relates that the land- 
 lord, supposing a crowd of college fellows would be 
 likely to " irrigate " pretty freely, had a large supply of 
 wine and champagne in readiness at the door ; but 
 when he heard a blessing asked, concluded that there 
 would be no market for his liquors that evening, and 
 ordered them earned away immediately. This very 
 simple little incident is related to show one character- 
 istic of the founders of the Chapter. They were not 
 only bright students and congenial companions, but 
 also strictly moral young men — just the right kind of 
 young men to constitute a Chapter of Psi Upsilon 
 which should be an honor to the Fraternity. 
 
 The new Psi "LPs did not display their badges im- 
 mediately, partly because they wished to get in two 
 or three more members before " swinging out," and 
 partly because of a delay in obtaining the badges. 
 All the Psi IPs appeared with their badges for the 
 first time at a Junior Exhibition held some time after 
 the initiation. 
 
 The next step was to give this raw material the 
 organic form of a Chapter of Psi Upsilon. This was 
 
 accomplished 
 
PSI UPSILON FRATERNITY. .9 
 
 accomplished on the evening of February 15, 1858. 
 As the young Chapter had no apartments of its own, 
 it met in the room occupied byBro. HURD, No. 12, 
 Baker's Block. This building is still standing, corner 
 West Main and Fitzhugh Streets. Bros. BA CON 
 and STR ONG were present and the latter presided. 
 A full set of officers was chosen, and a committee 
 appointed to prepare a code of By-Laws for the 
 Chapter. 
 
 The newly fledged Chapter was now fairly started 
 on its flight. Whether it should fall, fluttering to the 
 earth, or, in the spirit of our motto, soar toward the 
 sun, was hardly a matter of question. It was especi- 
 ally in view of the " character and scholarship " of the 
 men who made the application that the charter was 
 granted. A Chapter started and sustained by men of 
 good character and scholarship has no doubtful des- 
 tiny before it. 
 
Chapter III. 
 
 FROM THE ORGANIZATION OF THE UPSILON TO THE 
 PRESENT TIME. 
 
 BEGINNING with February 15, 1858, the Upsi- 
 lon assembled regularly once a week. The 
 second meeting was held in the same place as 
 the first, No. 12, Baker's Block. For about two 
 months thereafter the Chapter met in the " Clinton 
 Hotel, Room B." During these two months, 
 arrangements were made for renting a Chapter 
 Hall, and on the third day of May, 1858, the 
 first meeting was held in the Hall of the T Chapter. 
 This room was in a block situated about where 
 Powers' Block now stands. The Chapter occupied 
 these rooms nearly two years, and then moved 
 into a room just across the hall from our present 
 rooms. Afterward the Chapter rented a room in 
 Powers' Block, but, as the boys were not allowed to 
 hold banquets in the building, they moved into the 
 Martin Block, 59 State Street. The Chapter here 
 
 had 
 
PSI UPSILON FBA TERNITY. 2 1 
 
 had the privilege of occupying the whole of the fourth 
 floor ; but this advantage was more than balanced by 
 the fact that a leaky roof permitted the water to dis- 
 figure the walls and ruin the carpets. The Chapter 
 moved into its present luxurious quarters about a year 
 ago, the new Hall being dedicated on the evening of 
 October 31st, 1881. 
 
 It will thus be seen that the T has occupied five 
 different sets of rooms. The Ellwanger & Barry 
 Block seems specially favored by the Chapter. We 
 are now within a few feet of where many of our pre- 
 decessors became acquainted with the mysteries of the 
 order, and it is probable that many more will here, for 
 the first time, kneel at the altar of Psi Upsilon. 
 
 The Chapter enjoyed the smiles of fortune from 
 the very beginning of its career. It began to initiate 
 new men before it was a month old, and several new 
 members were admitted before the end of the college 
 year. The new society was popular in the University. 
 It had no difficulty in getting good men, and became 
 at once a formidable rival to the other societies. 
 
 The letters written to other Chapters during this 
 period are quite interesting, because of the insight 
 they give into the spirit of the young Chapter. They 
 are full of hope and enthusiasm, and yet display much 
 of the conservatism that has characterized the sub- 
 sequent 
 
** UPSTLON OHAPTEB OF THE 
 
 sequent history of the Chapter. As proof of this, 
 notice the following passage from a letter to the Sigma, 
 dated March 20, 1858 : 
 
 "Although we number more acting members al- 
 ready than any other society here, we could, I am 
 sure, increase our number to three times its present 
 force by practicing the loose habits of some societies ; 
 but, whatever else we may fail in, we are determined 
 that missteps in the l recruiting ' operations of oiu 
 Chapter shall rarely, if ever, occur." 
 
 The same spirit is shown in a letter to the Xi, dated 
 March 27, 1858 : 
 
 " We have started with the principle to supply the 
 T with the best stock, both in ' the material ' and ' the 
 intellectual,' even if, by this policy, we run the hazard 
 of requiring years to perfect our plans." 
 
 These musty old letters reveal another commend- 
 able feature of both the new Chapter and the older 
 ones. I refer to the warm, brotherly feeling which 
 they manifest. The older Chapters cordially wel- 
 comed the T into the Fraternity, and the T replied 
 with hearty expressions of regard. Indeed, the pages 
 of these old missives fairly glow with fraternal devo- 
 tion and love. 
 
 Of course, the early members of the Chapter were 
 prominent in their classes and the various desirable 
 
 positions 
 
PSI UP8IL0N FRATERNITY. s 3 
 
 positions in the University. This is shown by the old 
 Interpres Universitatis, the first number of which was 
 published in June, 1858 — just after the T was organ- 
 ized. Our modern Interpres would find it difficult, I 
 think, to recognize in this old sheet its immediate an- 
 cestor. This is a clear case of evolution. For a 
 number of years the Interpres Universitatis appeared 
 in the form of a diminutive four-page newspaper. It 
 contained lists of the members of the faculty, the sec- 
 ret societies, the literary societies (Delphic and Pi- 
 thonian), the various musical organizations, ball clubs, 
 chess clubs, etc. These lists occupied all of the paper 
 excepting about two columns, which were filled with 
 two editorials of a semi-humorous character. These 
 old sheets show that the Psi U. boys ranked well in 
 college. One of our early alumni says that, although 
 out-dressed by one of the competing fraternities out 
 bragged by another and out-numbered by a third, the 
 Psi U's " regarded their relative position, in all that 
 makes true society success, with naught but compla 
 cency." 
 
 It will not be out of place in this connection, to 
 quote from a recent letter from Bro. J. P. COLB Y, 
 a passage which shows clearly the effect of member- 
 ship in a Fraternity upon the early members : 
 
 " The 
 
a 4 UPSILON CHAPTER OF THE 
 
 " The wisdom of our action in organizing a new 
 and a secret society was attested in numerous ways. 
 A high standard of scholarship possessed new attrac- 
 tions, now that the society reputation was at stake. 
 Public efforts were characterized by the college society 
 critics as vastly superior to any that we had made be- 
 fore we ' swung out/ and we found a sweeter sympathy, 
 a closer companionship in the secret bond than we 
 had ever known before." 
 
 The customs of the Chapter during its childhood 
 were not essentially different from those now in vogue. 
 For several years the meetings were opened with 
 prayer. This custom, which was inherited from the 
 Innominata, seems to have been discontinued during 
 the year 1863. The Chapter began literary work im- 
 mediately after organizing. A Committee was ap- 
 pointed to examine all literary productions that 
 were not submitted to the Chapter as a whole. The 
 essays produced in this period treated quite largely of 
 abstract subjects. Debates were frequent. The Uf- 
 silon Medley, a Chapter paper, was read for the first 
 time November 1, 1858, by Dr. W. S. ELY. The 
 Medley was succeeded by the two papers which are 
 still flourishing. 
 
 As 
 
PS1 UPS1L0N FRATERNITY. a 5 
 
 As early as March 15, 1858, the proper officer re- 
 ported no money in the treasury — a custom which has 
 never been discontinued. 
 
 The banquets of these early days were furnished 
 by the families of the members, as Isaac Teall had 
 not yet made his debut as a fashionable caterer. It 
 is said that the Kremlin was much patronized by the 
 boys during the oyster season and in strawberry time. 
 
 That the pioneers of the T were not deficient in 
 humor is evident. Its character may be inferred from 
 the following record of a Chapter meeting : 
 
 "Feb. 9, 1863. 
 
 Again did the Bros, of the Fraternity, gravitating 
 towards this common center, and restrained in their 
 several orbits by its attraction, illumine with their gen- 
 ial light the firmament of student life. 
 
 Then, as if by a common impulse, all flew off at 
 the same tangent, and darkness reigned supreme, i.e., 
 they adjourned and put out the gas." 
 
 Still better is the record of the preceding meeting : 
 
 " Upsilon Hall, Feb. 2, '63. 
 
 No literary exercises. The sons of Psi Upsilon 
 
 were once more clasped in her affectionate embrace. 
 
 and, after sucking from her maternal bosom the honied 
 
 sweets of social joy, and imbibing a full supply of the 
 
 lacteal 
 
*6 UPSILON CHAPTER OF THE 
 
 lacteal fluid of human benevolence, slid down from 
 her lap, and went forth into the world refreshed and 
 revitalized by the elysian draught." 
 
 The War of the Rebellion was an event of no little 
 interest to the boys, and the T was not slow in fur- 
 nishing its share of men for the service of Uncle Sam. 
 Nearly one-quarter of all the men initiated from the 
 organization of the Chapter to the close of the war 
 served in the army. How this affected the Chapter 
 can easily be imagined. From the middle of May to 
 the first of July, 1865, the excitement was so great as 
 to practically suspend the work of the Chapter. The 
 following extract is taken from the Medley of January 
 26, 1863: 
 
 " We cannot refrain to-night from using the editor- 
 ial columns for a slight retrospection of past scenes 
 and faces. We miss, to-night, those who, one short 
 year ago, were here and shared in these exercises. 
 The sledge-hammer earnestness of one, the subtle 
 logic of another, the genial bearing and cordial, friend- 
 ly grasp of another, now, perchance, by the dim camp- 
 fire thinking of us — yes, we miss them all.'' 
 
 The Upsilon has had the honor of entertaining two 
 Annual Conventions, the 33rd and the 45th. The 
 former was held in July, 1866. The Convention 
 dinner was served at the Osburn House. The 
 
 secret 
 
PSI UPSILON FRATERNITY. * 7 
 
 secret sessions were held in the chapel of the 
 First Presbyterian Church. The public exercises 
 were held in Corinthian Hail on the evening of 
 July 6. Dr. C A. DE WE Y presided and JOSEPH 
 K KING, D. D., Principal of Fort Edward Institute, 
 delivered the oration. His subject was " The New 
 Nation and its Scholars." The Poet, Judge GUY 
 H. Mc MASTER, of Bath, was absent, but his poem 
 was read by Bro. GEO. S. TUCKERMAN 
 
 The 45th Convention assembled in May, 1878. It 
 made the Brackett House its headquarters and held 
 the banquet there. The public exercises were held in 
 the First Baptist Church. Hon. STERLING G. 
 HADLEY, one of the founders of the Fraternity, 
 presided. Ex-Gov. DANIEL H CHAMBERLAIN 
 delivered the oration, and Rev. JOSEPH A. EL Y, 
 the poem. 
 
 The Upsilon has initiated 1 80 men — an average of 
 6 in each class. 
 
 The Chapter has seen some dark days, of course. 
 She has twice been called upon to exercise her pre- 
 rogative of expulsion. But the shadows have been 
 followed by the sunshine, and the sunshine has been 
 better appreciated because of the shadows. 
 
 In general, it may be said that the Upsilon Chap- 
 ter of Psi Upsilon has maintained an honorable posi- 
 tion 
 
si UPSILON CHAPTER, 
 
 tion in the University of Rochester, and in the Fra- 
 ternity. 
 
 I have attempted to sketch the principal events in 
 the history of our beloved Upsilon, whose silver wed- 
 ding we celebrate this evening. But silver weddings 
 do not consist merely in expressing congratulations 
 and recalling the past. One of the principal features 
 of such occasions is the presentation of gifts — a cus- 
 tom which might properly be observed to-night. 
 Brothers, shall not each of us bring an offering appro- 
 priate to the occasion ? Shall we not bring that which 
 is more precious than silver and gold, even the fer- 
 vent devotion of the heart ? 
 
 If the history of our Chapter has shown us any 
 examples worthy of imitation, let us imitate them. 
 If we find in that history cause for regret, it is for us 
 to see that the same cause is not revived. 
 
 The Upsilon has finished twenty-five years of use- 
 ful existence. We congratulate the Upsilon and the 
 Fraternity. May many who are present have the 
 pleasure of attending the Upsilon's golden wedding. 
 May our glorious old Fraternity flourish and surpass 
 all competitors. But, brothers, let us remember that 
 College Fraternities are subject to the law of the sur- 
 vival of the fittest. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 list of the upsilon's honor men. 
 
 Daniel Bowen, '56. 
 
 1st. Senior Essay Prize. 
 Almon C. Bacon, '58. 
 
 1st. Prize for translation from English into Latin hexa- 
 meter. 
 Joshua Gaskill, '59. 
 
 1st. Soph. Latin Prize. 
 
 2nd, Junior Greek Prize. 
 Ira C. Clark, '59. 
 
 3rd. Soph. Latin Prize. 
 Norman A. Barrett, '60. 
 
 1st. Fresh. Math. Prize. 
 Francis A. Williams, '60. 
 
 Hon. Mention for Fresh. Math. 
 
 Hon. Mention for Studies in Latin Poetry. 
 
 3rd. Soph. Latin Prize. 
 Seneca Coon, '61. 
 
 Hon. Mention for Latin. 
 
 2nd. Senior Essay Prize. 
 William S. Ely, '61. 
 
 1st. Soph. Ex. Prize. 
 Daniel S. Benjamin, '62. 
 
 Hon. Mention in Greek. 
 
3° A PPENDIX. 
 
 Albert W. Grand all, '62. 
 
 2nd. Fresh. Math. Prize. 
 Keuben T. Pettengill, '62, 
 
 Hon. Mention for Soph. Latin. 
 
 2nd. Soph. Ex. Prize. 
 
 KUSSELL M. TUTTLE, '62. 
 
 Hon. Mention for Soph. Latin. 
 Chables W. Wood, '64. 
 
 1st Prize on Methods of Investigation and Proof. 
 Alvln L. Barton, '65. 
 
 2nd. Soph. Latin Prize. 
 Philip L. Jones, '65. 
 
 3rd. Soph. Ex. Prize. 
 Chables M. Allen, '67, 
 
 Fresh. Greek Prize. 
 
 2nd. Soph. Ex. Prize. 
 Eobebt S. Mc Arthur, '67, 
 
 2nd. Soph. Latin Prize. 
 
 1st. Soph. Ex. Prize. 
 
 1st. Davis Medal. 
 Albert T. Barrett, '69. 
 
 1st. Davis Medal. 
 Sardius D. Bentley, '70. 
 
 Hon. Mention for Math. 
 
 Hon. Mention for Greek. 
 Lawrence T. Jones, '71. 
 
 Hon. Mention for Greek. 
 Peter E. Schoonmaker, '71. 
 
 One-Half of 1st. Junior Greek Prize. 
 William H. Shaffer, '71, 
 
 Hon. Mention for Graduating Oration. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 William W. Webb, 71. 
 
 1st. Soph. Latin Prize. 
 Charles M. Williams, 71. 
 
 1st. Soph. Ex. Prize. 
 
 1st. Paris Medal. 
 Jacob Weed Munro, 75. 
 
 1st. Soph. Ex. Prize. 
 
 2nd. Davis Medal. 
 Frederick W. Young, 75. 
 
 Hon. Mention for Greek. 
 Joseph T. Alllng, 76. 
 
 Hon. Mention for Greek. 
 
 2nd. Davis Medal, 
 James L. Cheney, 77. 
 
 One-half of 2nd. Junior Greek Prize. 
 
 Hon. Mention for Graduating Oration. 
 
 Townsend Scholarship. 
 Francis W. Forbes, 77. 
 
 Hon. Mention for Soph. Latin. 
 Theodore A. Lemen, 77. 
 
 1st. Soph. Ex. Prize. 
 
 1st. Davis Medal. 
 George M. Forbes, 78. 
 
 1st. Davis Medal. 
 
 Townsend Scholarship. 
 John F. Forbes, 78. 
 
 2nd. Davis Medal. 
 
 Sherman Scholarship. 
 Frank W. Kelsey, '80. 
 
 1st. Soph. Latin Prize. 
 
 1st. Junior Greek Prize. 
 
 Sherman Scholarship. 
 
 Hon. Mention for Sanskrit. 
 
32 APPENDIX. 
 
 Benjamin F. Miles, '81. 
 
 1st. Soph. Latin Prize. 
 
 1st. Davis Medal. 
 
 1st. Senior Essay Prize. 
 George W. Northrup, '81. 
 
 Hon. mention for Italian. 
 
 Hon Mention for Sanskrit and Comparative Grammar. 
 Elmer C. Tracy, '82. 
 
 Hon. Mention for Graduating Oration. 
 Irving Washington, '83. 
 
 3rd. Soph. Ex. Prize. 
 Charles A. Strong, '84. 
 
 One-Half Fresh. Math. Prize. 
 George A. Coe, '84. 
 
 2nd. Soph. Ex. Prize. 
 
 The Davis Medal, the Senior Essay Prize and the 
 Sherman and Townsend Scholarships are the most 
 desirable prizes given in the University. Upsilon 
 men have taken one-quarter of all the Davis Medals 
 and one -third of the First Davis Medals; one-sixth 
 of the First Senior Essay Prizes ; one-third of the 
 Sherman Scholarships, and one-third of the Townsend 
 Scholarships. 
 
 Upsilon men have also taken very nearly one-fifth of 
 the First Sophomore Latin Prizes and the First Dewey 
 Declamation Prizes, besides numerous second and 
 third prizes and honorable mentions. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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