Page:The Fraternity and the College (1915).pdf/220

 these principles the basis of their own conduct and character. It is more often those who have active membership for a few months only—the probationers as it were—who fail to get the spirit of the organization, and who while they are in college and when they return at intervals to help celebrate college functions take their fraternity ideals lightly.

As I have said in another paper, the undignified details which in many chapters precedeor accompany initiations do much to detract from the moral effect of the initiation service, and too often give to the initiate the impression that the ideals presented in the ritual, like the "rough stuff" that has accompanied the initiation, are all a part of a big joke none of which he is to take seriously. The whole psychological effect of an initiation is lost if the initiate does not come away from the ceremiony with a distinct conception of what the fraternity ideals are and a definite feeling that he must embody these in his own daily life.

The fact that young men are bound together in an organization such as is a Greek-letter fraternity, sometimes helps to hold them to ideals and sometimes hinders; it very often depends upon who the leader happens to be. If he happens to be strong and self-reliant and high principled, the organization is a great help; if he is unscrupulous or thoughtless and impulsive, it may be a detri-