100 years ago on January 26, 1914, Xi Chapter was installed at the University of Virginia.
Xi Chapter at the University of Virginia was installed on January 26, 1914, two days after Nu Chapter's installation at Hampden-Sydney College. Their installation marked Theta Chi's second chapter south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Located in Charlottesville, the University and Grounds were conceived and designed by U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, and established in 1819. UVA's initial Board of Visitors included former Presidents of the United States Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe. Xi has been continuously active since installation.
Xi Chapter is forever linked to the brothers at Hampden-Sydney College beyond the proximity of installation date. In 1911, students at Hampden-Sydney College formed a local fraternity named Delta Delta. One of the men that joined Delta Delta, William P. Hazelgrove (1916) transferred to the University of Virginia. In 1913, while in Charlottesville, Hazelgrove encountered 7 men who had started a new fraternity called Eta Pi Rho. Knowing that his friends back at Hampden-Sydney were pursuing to affiliate with Theta Chi Fraternity, Hazelgrove was instrumental in steering the young fraternity to also align with Theta Chi.
On April 7, 1913, a petition by Eta Pi Rho was signed by William A. Adams , Leland L. Miller, G. E. Gwinn, T. E. Didlake, L. G. Burton, R. Guy Leebrick, S. M. Jett, Jr. was presented to the Grand Chapter.
The petition was granted, and the installation of Xi Chapter was held January 26, 1914, following the installation of Nu Chapter at Hampden-Sydney College on January 24. The installation committee was composed of National President Dr. Robert L. Irish, Alpha/Norwich 1889, National Vice President Edwin D. "Nick" Huntley, Alpha/Norwich 1907, and National Secretary E. Wesson Clark, Alpha/Norwich 1892.
One year and one day following their installation, the men of Xi initiated a law student named Wirt Peebles Marks, who was elected to the Grand Chapter in 1926 and as National President in 1929.
The brothers of Xi Chapter held their Centennial Celebration in conjunction with UVA's homecoming on October 25-27, 2013. Over 350 brothers and guests were in attendance.
The brothers were able to show off the recent improvements and renovations of their chapter house - all a part of Xi's Centennial Plan. The brothers unveiled a large plaque listing all donors to the Centennial Plan, a bronze 100th Anniversary plaque, a permanent digital monitor which displays decades worth of composite photos and three plaques memorializing distinguished brothers Hovey Dabney (1949), Grady Lewis (1965) and alumnus initiate Willie Alexander (2006). All alumni who attended received a copy of a commission painting of the remodeled chapter house and a commemorative koozie. Members also signed a 100th Anniversary banner which will be displayed at future homecomings and other events.
A Resolution was presented by the Grand Chapter to Xi Chapter which states:
WHEREAS, The Grand Chapter proudly recognizes those chapters which, by their longevity, have demonstrated their historical significance to Theta Chi Fraternity; and
WHEREAS, Xi Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity at the University of Virginia was installed on January 26, 1914; and
WHEREAS, Xi Chapter has brought great prestige and honor to Theta Chi Fraternity since its installation; and
WHEREAS, Xi Chapter has had many outstanding undergraduate members who have gone on to be very productive members of society as scientists, doctors, teachers, lawyers, farmers, actors, engineers, statesmen, military leaders and CEOs; and
WHEREAS, Xi Chapter produced for Theta Chi Fraternity such extraordinary leaders as Wirt P. Marks, class of 1917, who was elected to the Grand Chapter in 1926 and served for four years, including as National President 1929-1930; and
WHEREAS, From 1941-1943, during the early years of U.S. involvement in World War Two, Xi Chapter’s Charles H. Mann, Jr., class of 1930, served as President of the National Board of Trustees; and
WHEREAS, Both Wirt P. Marks and Charles H. Mann, Jr. are recipients of Theta Chi Fraternity’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award; and
WHEREAS, Norman R. Pond, Jr., class of 1934, Neeley C. Lewis, class of 1968, and Laurence J. Burke, class of 1986, each served Theta Chi Fraternity as a Regional Counselor; and
WHEREAS, Xi Chapter brothers fought in every major war for our country in the last 100 years, including World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, and most recently, the war against terrorism in both Afghanistan and Iraq; and
WHEREAS, Several members of Xi Chapter have died protecting our freedom; and
WHEREAS, Xi Chapter has remained open and continuously active for one full century, and is currently the 6th oldest continuously active chapter on the Fraternity’s roll; and
WHEREAS, Xi Chapter’s lovely home at 600 Preston Place near the Grounds of the University of Virginia has been a home away from home for more than forty-five years; and
WHEREAS, Xi Chapter has twice received the Most Improved Chapter Award first in 1939 and then in 1952; and
WHEREAS, The Grand Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity recognizes that the Xi Chapter experience provided and continues to provide the inspiration necessary for such great contributions;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, that we, the members of the Grand Chapter, on behalf of the 224 chapters and over 175,000 initiated members of Theta Chi Fraternity, take great pleasure in wishing the members and guests of Xi Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity a joyous centennial celebration; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we, the members of the Grand Chapter, wish the undergraduate and alumnus members of Xi Chapter our very best for future success as they enter their second century as a chapter.
Alumni and Undergraduates gather at the Chapter House during Xi's Centennial Celebration. You will be able read more about this great event in the upcoming Winter 2014 issue of The Rattle!
Congratulations to the alumni and undergraduate brothers of Xi Chapter on 100 continuous years on the Grounds of Virginia!
In honor of their Centennial Celebration, we are running the original article about Xi Chapter's Installation from the April 1914 issue of The Rattle:
Installation of Xi Chapter
In a State that is famous for her love of traditions and among a people with whom sentiment counts for much, the twenty-sixth of January, 1914, has been added to the number of days revered and loved. Side by side with the natal days of great men and of great events, we of Xi Chapter have placed the day of the installation of Theta Chi Fraternity at the University of Virginia. Surely, then, we may be pardoned for giving a rather extended account of the occasion.
On January 25, our pleasant anticipation began to be realized by the arrival of Dr. Irish, Mr. Clark, and Mr. Huntley, just from Hampden-Sidney and the installation of Nu Chapter. En masse we met these gentlemen at the station and conducted them in the hotel where they were to be entertained during their brief sojourn.
The brevity of our guests’ stay, with the consequent necessity of the initiation on the afternoon of the 26th, made material changes in our plans for the great day.
We had hoped to show our visitors a few of the historic places of which Virginia is so justly proud—the far famed home of Thomas Jefferson, the less known, but beautiful dwelling of James Monroe, the university itself. We were able, however, to give our guests little evidence of our hospitality beyond a warm greeting. We were glad that our welcome included not only Brothers Irish, Clark, and Huntley, but also Brothers Shaeffer, of Delta. Warrick and Lawson of Nu, and Shrader and Powell of Kappa.
With the very dawn of the 26th, we began to experience what we now know is Theta Chi spirit; for from North and West came messages of fraternal greeting—voiced in telegrams, banners, and letters. The forenoon sped by the reception of such welcome courtesy and in the preparation of the great event of the afternoon.
The formalities began at three o’clock, lasting until seven. During this interval, eight members were initiated and the officers of Xi Chapter were elected and installed. With all our anticipation and speculation, we had not been able to forecast the dignity, simplicity, and depth of the occasion.
The installation over, we sealed our vows and cemented our friendships, by the time honored banquet. The messages from the chapters and alumni were read; then followed speeches by Brothers Huntley, Clark, Irish, Shaeffer, Powell, and Warrick, Brother Jett, ’14, acting as toastmaster.
It was with great reluctance that we said goodbye to our guests, when the time for departure came. Their visit will ever be a source of pleasant memory as well as of inspiration by the members of Xi. They left us with a purpose that strongly endures—to make Xi worthy of the great name she bears.
TO VIRGINIA
The visit to Virginia to institute Nu and Xi Chapters was most inspiring and the results achieved most satisfactory to Theta Chi. At Hampden-Sidney, the delegates were entertained by the members of the faculty and prominent townspeople, the Grand Secretary being entertained by the National Secretary of Pi KappaAlpha, an arrangement much appreciated by the Grand Secretary. The petitioners were found in a comfortable house, conveniently located and in excellent standing with the faculty and the student-body. A feature of the menu at the dinner following the ceremonies, was the quail shot by the boys for this occasion, on which pleasant duty, their spokesman was diligently engaged when the telegram announcing the time of our arrival reached Hampden-Sidney. Representatives of the other fraternities and the president and members of the faculty were present at this dinner and we were made to feel that Theta Chi was warmly welcomed, most encouraging feature, especially in a college, small and isolated as in the case of Hampden-Sidney.
The whole body of petitioners met us at the train at Charlottesville and escorted us to the hotel. The next morning we were shown over the grounds and buildings of the University of Virginia and in the afternoon we met our victims at the University Y.M.C.A. where they became a loyal chapter of Theta Chi. A dinner followed in the evening, a strictly fraternity gathering when the history, customs and policies of Theta Chi were further discussed by the delegates. Brother Sheafer, Delta ’11, came over from Charleston, West Virginia. After seeing him off for home at 2:15 a.m. we turned in, to be awakened again for the 7 a.m. train for Washington that finally left at 8:45, which we boarded, feeling that our trip had been worth while for ourselves and of importance to Theta Chi.
E. WESSON CLARK
Xi's first submission of 'Chapter News' appeared in the same April 1914 issue of The Rattle:
XI CHAPTER
Xi Chapter, the last born, lifts up her voice for the first time in the family circle—not to make the night hideous and sleepless however, as is characteristic of the last born, but rather to announce and give evidence of her independent circulation, which makes her heir to family traditions and to declare herself ready to make more of them for those who follow.
The well qualified Doctor came down from New York to see that she got the proper attention. He is a splendid physician. There were also nurses to match.
Xi is teething now—don’t imagine a full set or anything like it—but the symptoms are that the critical period will be successfully passed. At the first of the session, a separate nursery was attempted. Circumstances, not to have been anticipated, however, rendered its continuance inadvisable. Having recovered from the first attempt at establishing a house, and profiting by past experience, a more timely movement has been started to secure quarters for next year.
The members of Xi are working hard to select proper material to increase the numbers for next year, Fifteen good men are wanted to begin the year 1915. Three men have recently been elected but are not as yet pledged. They are to be “bid” at once.
The difficulty of competing with so many old and established fraternities is realized. These difficulties are gradually being overcome. It is fully realized that quality beats quantity, especially where there is such keen competition coupled with a conservatism supreme and inimitable. A false step would be fatal now. The University students number less than a thousand. There are twenty-three general fraternities and more than a score of ribbon societies, honorary, and departmental fraternities.
It may be of interest to the brothers to hear a little of the members of Xi Chapter. There are at present only eight active members. Of that number one has received a V in football three times and has been mentioned for all South Atlantic center; another was editor of the alumni magazine last summer, was one of the two candidates for the presidency of the law class (he lost by only a few votes) and is a Phi Beta Kappa, and belongs to several other organizations. Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity included; another represented the University in the oratorical contest, was on the debating team, and is now pledged to the Delta Sigma Rho forensic fraternity; another is leading his class in medicine being one of the eleven out of a class of over forty that made all tickets; another is a chemist of great promise; two are instructors as well as students, one in economics, the other in engineering.
Xi is trying to live up to her present standards and the traditions of the fraternity, and hopes to perpetuate herself by taking in men of a very high type.