149 years ago...
Celebration rooted in fundamental principles of Deltism
TRUTH
While the complete truth about our founding and our founders may be lost to the ages, the important thing to remember is that we were founded.
The reason for our founding is forever linked to our motto, making our mission and our purpose timeless for future generations to enjoy.
In those years the principle of truth was not only important, it was essential. Personal honor and integrity were all that kept us alive. In many instances, the entire future of the Fraternity would rest on the shoulders of one man or a small group of men.
The challenges of distance and communication were daunting.
But through the first 50 years we would merge with another Fraternity, establish chapters in Texas , Colorado and on the West Coast. A wilderness would be breached and our flag would proudly fly from coast to coast.
The search for truth leads Henry Bruck, our first President, to do the first serious research on our early years and helped us piece together our ancestral identity. Reconnecting with our past gave our purpose new meaning and set the stage for dramatic growth.
But would truth be enough? Our second 50 years would require so much of our nation, our young men and our Fraternity. Three wars and a worldwide economic depression lay ahead.
Courage would be required.
COURAGE
Courage marked every major event of the Fraternity during the period from 1908-1958. Rather than shrinking from the challenges of this period, the Fraternity thrived. Men such as James B. Curtis, Stuart MacLean, Hugh Shields and Norm MacLeod loomed large throughout this period. The programs and organizational structures they pioneered would vault Delta Tau Delta from a young upstart to a recognized leader in the fraternity world.
Our legacy of service to our fellow men and of shaping events on the world stage would allow us to emerge from World War I as an organization that shaped the bedrock values of political leaders and showed our dominant trait as a maker of ethical businessmen.
The Loyalty Fund was our ingenious endowment of the 1920s that allowed us to assist house corporations and salvage potential foreclosures in the 1930s. When the world went to war again in 1941, our chapter houses emptied and Delts took their place in the defense of freedom. Thirty percent of our then living alumni found themselves in uniform.
These 10,000 warriors returned home. Through the GI Bill, many finished their degrees. Others would be the first in their families to attend college and would become Delts.
Lives interrupted became men in a hurry to get on with their careers. They ushered in one of the largest economic expansions in world history. Delts helped lead the way.
Hugh Shields, always a disciplined planner, put much of the strategic planning he learned in the military back into the Fraternity. He hired extra field secretaries to help get chapters restarted and we were ready for the returning veterans.
The Victory Karnea of 1946 was the largest Fraternity convention of any Fraternity at the time with more than a 1,000 registrants.
Two fresh faced businessmen named John Fisher and John Nichols would meet during that Karnea and form a business and personal friendship that has lasted 60 years to this day.
While Delts again were caught up in a War in Korea , the expansion of the country and the Fraternity were profound. It took courage to make the tough decisions, to stay the course, to not shrink from responsibility or from our timeless motto that helped us end our first 100 years as a fraternity juggernaut.
Every vocation - politics, the military, business, the arts, sports and religion all seemed to have Delts in leading positions. Our chapters were rich fields from which grew Delts of remarkable character and commitment to community, family and their Fraternity.
Sacrifice for the greater good came from our Creeds and a deep abiding influence for fellow Delts. Former National President Fran Hughes coined his famous phrase about personal Delt accountability when he said, “What kind of Fraternity would this be, if every Delt were just like me.”
At the Centennial Karnea in Pittsburgh all things seemed possible.
No one could have imagined the changes that would lie ahead for the Fraternity and the world in just a few short years. The early 1960s held such promise. It would soon be clear that Truth and Courage would not be enough.
Faith would be required.
FAITH
Faith carried us through these times. Faith in our fellow brothers. Faith in our founders, our creeds and our Ritual. The definition of a Delt became clouded and again faith would play a major role in moving us ahead.
During this time we would even clarify that faith was not exclusively limited to one religion. While there were never membership restrictions based on religion, we went even further to make sure that our definition of faith was in the eye of the member.
While we believe the influence of a supreme being has been evident throughout our history, it was determined that each member should define for himself that relationship.
During this period we reached the heights of our largest number of chapters and undergraduate members, and came within sight of questioning if there would be a future for fraternities at all.
Faith carried us through these times.
The period from 1958-2006 was a period of unprecedented change, discovery and invention—on a personal, national and organizational level.
This period brings us to the present.
Start the party…
While truth, courage and faith have carried us to this glorious time, the power is now in your hands to decide our future.
POWER
While our 150th is two years away we have decided this is a birthday party that is going to take two years to celebrate.
Honor the Legacy – Look Beyond
Over the next two years, we want every chapter to celebrate this great milestone. Our incoming members will be known as Sesquicentennial initiates. Every chapter should re-connect with its alumni to join us in this celebration. From our oldest chapter to our newest, you all share our common heritage.
This is Your Legacy
We are not a great Fraternity because of a great Arch Chapter, Central Office Staff or Foundation. We are blessed with good leadership because we have great chapters. We have great leaders because they learned their lessons of being a Delt when they were undergraduates.
We are a great Fraternity because of the actions of individual Delts. What honors you honors it.
You honor that legacy in your thoughts, deeds and actions.
May your actions make our founders smile.
Where will we be in the next 150 years? No one can possibly know. If our first 150 years are any indication, we know it will be an exhilarating journey.
But we can see over the horizon the next 50 years.
There are living Delts who were at our Centennial in Pittsburgh in 1958. They witnessed the past 50 years.
Undergraduates and young alumni today will see our bicentennial in 2058.
What changes will take place?
How will our Fraternity change and adapt to new challenges?
How will we remain relevant? That is also what we want to discuss during this period of celebration.
Look Beyond
You have the Power!
You have the power to shape our next 50 years. It is in your hands. The future belongs to you.
Power through Excellence – It is a part of the motto for the Hugh Shields award.
Look beyond what is possible – Look beyond what is ordinary. Honor our legacy that has been a part of our heritage for 150 years.
Part of our two-year celebration is not just to honor the past. It will also be the determination of our future.
While Truth, Courage and Faith have carried us to this glorious time—the power is now in your hands to decide our future.
Honor the Legacy--Look Beyond
