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AMERICAN COLLEGE FRATERNITIES

their name or aid to any scheme which would seem to tend toward relinquishing any authority to a central body.

In 1883, a meeting of representatives from several of the fraternities was held in Philadelphia, to consider matters of mutual interest, and a further meeting was arranged for, but it failed to take place, because the agreed number of fraternities did not give notice of their intention to take part. The movement was discussed in the fraternity journals, under the name of the "Pan-Hellenic Council." The discussion itself served to bring about many of the results which it was hope’ might be accomplished by the meeting. Since that time, in several colleges, the chapters of the different fraternities therein established have held an annual Pan-Hellenic banquet. Tacit agreements and in many cases written contracts have been made regarding the initiation of certain classes of students, and a number of customs have grown up relative to matters of common interest. Pan-Hellenic clubs, composed of members of different fraternities, have been formed in many cities.

In connection with the World’s Fair at Chicago, in 1893, a meeting was held of representatives from several fraternities under the title of the College Fraternities’ Congress. At this meeting several interesting papers were read. A meeting of the editors of some of the fraternity journals took place also at the same time. While no concerted action was taken, the meeting certainly was of value. A similar and somewhat informal meeting took place at the Atlanta Exposition a short time afterwards