Page:BairdsmanualofAmericancollegefrate8.pdf/26

6 There were generally two such societies in each college, and the entire body of students was divided about equally between them. Sometimes they held joint debates for prizes, but they were usually too large to promote the cultivation of close friendships. In some colleges they have ceased to exist, in others they still carry on their work.

Such were the societies existing in the colleges when, in the autumn of 1825, the "Κ. Α.," or Kappa Alpha Society was formed at Union by John Hunter and other members of the class of '26. This society, in its external features, at least bore a close resemblance to ΦΒΚ, which had been established at Union in 1817. It was secret, it had a Greek name, it confined its membership to upperclassmen, it displayed a badge of similar shape, and it named its chapters on the same system. The new society, though exceedingly small, met with much opposition, but was secretly popular with the students, who paid it the sincere compliment of imitation by the foundation in the same college of ΣΦ, March 4, 1827, by ten seniors, and ΔΦ, November 18, 1827, by nine seniors. These three fraternities, called sometimes the "Union Triad," were the founders of the existing fraternity system. Imitation of them or opposition to them will account for the establishment of nearly all of the general fraternities.

In 1829 the I. K. A. society, similar in aims and purposes to these societies, was established at Washington (now Trinity) College, Hartford, Connecticut, but it has remained a local organization. ΣΦ was the first of the fraternities to establish a branch organization, and, in 1831, calling itself the Alpha chapter of New York, it