Gamma Rho Chapter of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity

In 1858 Delta Tau Delta was founded at Bethany College. Eight undergraduates, angered by a fixed vote for a prize in oratory to be given at the Neotrophian Literary Society, the only real forum for students to practice and demonstrate skills in poetry, public speaking, and writing essays, responded by forming a secret society. The purpose of the new society, known by the Greek letters Delta Tau Delta, was to see that the Neotrophian Society was returned to a normal democracy, and delivered from the hands of the group of students who seized it.

The Fraternity was founded to right an unjust situation; Delta Tau Delta was born of the knowledge that integrity is essential. Its eight founders', outraged that one group of students would and could choose in advance the candidate they favored, then join together to swing enough votes for that man to win, regardless of his actual performance in the contest, presented the first opportunity for Delts to realize the importance of accountability.

The second chapter of Delta Tau Delta was established at West Liberty College, Virginia (now West Virginia), in the fall of 1859. A year later, a third chapter was initiated at Monongalia Academy (later West Virginia University) when John R. Thornton of the West Liberty chapter enrolled at that institution. By the end of the school year in 1860, the Alpha Chapter at Bethany had enrolled a total of twenty-six members.

During the year 1860, however, a disastrous fire demolished much of Bethany and destroyed all of the early Fraternity records. The impact of the Civil War thinned the ranks of the three Virginia chapters to such an extreme that the future of the Fraternity was in grave danger. Two young men of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, Rhodes S. Sutton and Samuel S. Brown, rode horseback down to Bethany to be initiated into Delta Tau Delta. These two men then established the fourth chapter at Jefferson College in Canonsburg.

When Civil War conditions ultimately caused the three Virginia chapters to suspend operations temporarily, the historic ride of Sutton and Brown proved to be the means of saving the continuous existence of the Fraternity.

Our Founders:

Alexander C. Earle was the youngest of the eight founders and went on to become a captain in the Second South Carolina Volunteers, where he commanded his own company. For many years his whereabouts were unknown and he was believed dead, but he was located living in Arkansas. Earles’ spirit of courage is one we emulate today. He also set an excellent example for us through his commitment to lifelong learning and growth by attending three Karneas.

Richard H. Alfred, at 26 was the oldest of the group and later became a minister and a physician. His involvement with Delta Tau Delta stemmed from a sense of moral duty to the truth.

William R. Cunningham, was 25 and only a freshman at the time Delta Tau Delta was formed. Because he was older and had become a Mason he exerted much influence in the group. Cunningham was probably responsible for much of the early language in both the Constitution and Ritual. He served as President of the Karnea in 1883. He was also a minister and held public office in the state of Washington.

John L.N. Hunt was the scholar of the group. After graduating from Bethany, he became the valedictorian of his class at New York University’s School of Law. He then served for several years as New York’s Commissioner of Education.

Jacob Lowe hosted the first meetings of the group in his quarters in a rooming house that has now become a shrine for the Fraternity. Lowe, who became a professor and later a college president, helped facilitate the initial bonds of brotherhood.

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Eugene Tarr, a "local boy" whose home was only six miles from Bethany, stayed in West Virginia after college. A strong proponent of strengthening his community, he became a noted speaker, lawyer and editor of a newspaper.

John C. Johnson was a native West Virginian (although at that time the area was still a part of Virginia). He became a lawyer and politician and was the political advisor to John W. Davis, the Democratic nominee for President in 1924. He outlived the other founders by eight years.

Henry K. Bell, Kentuckian, lived only six years after graduation but his contribution to the Fraternity was immense. Without him, there would be no Delta Tau Delta today. Bell responded to a call for help from the last remaining members of the Bethany chapter who were leaving to join the armed forces. Bell initiated Rhodes Standbury Sutton and Samuel S. Brown from Jefferson during a raging snowstorm on February 22, 1861. Upon the collapse of the Bethany chapter following its members’ departure, the new Jefferson chapter took over management of the Fraternity.

Published on: 2008-11-27 (1817 reads)

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