Page:The Fraternity and the Undergraduate (1923).pdf/216

 methods of fraternity management is seldom a good one. Factions are created almost at once, and unity of action is next to an impossibility. It is as nearly impossible for an affiliate to refrain from telling the fellows how much better things were done in his home chapter as it is for a man who has been married twice to keep from referring to the admirable qualities of his first wife, and the effect of such reference on the harmony of the home is not particularly different in either case.

As I have seen for the past fifteen years the effect of affiliation upon our local chapters I am convinced that on the whole it is not a good thing. There are a few instances in my mind which would prove the contrary, but these are overwhelmingly in the minority. I could cite many instances where it would have been far better for the chapter if the transfer could have been kept away from the house excepting upon special occasions when he was invited. I am sure that in most cases it is far better that the transfer be not invited to eat regularly at the house, though with us it is usually easy for the fraternities to take care of all their transfers in this regard if they wish to do so. There are few places about the fraternity house where the home life is more strongly emphasized than at table during meals, and no better chance to promote harmony or introduce discord than during the half