Lambda Chi Alpha was founded at Boston University on November 2, 1909 by Warren Albert Cole. In 1914, as Grand High Alpha, Cole wrote this for the Lambda Chi magazine. Although a century has come and gone, the sentiments are as true today as they were then:
To my mind it means a lot in the future history of our chapters just how seriously the initiate is made to realize the responsibilities which he is taking when he affiliates with our brotherhood. I ask you to keep intelligent supervision over all new members that our standards may be properly conveyed to them, their impressions must be such as to awaken feelings of respect and afford an inspiration to accomplish something worthwhile; not only within the chapter but out around the campus and the outside world, in after life. Truly this can never result if we follow the custom of serving them mostly with foolish and puerile tricks that some of our older fraternities have to descended to. The trials and tests must present something which will bring out the initiates’ qualifications to be developed for manhood and scholarship ability, instead of producing a ‘mere good fellow.’ We are here to develop men and not to issue medals of reward, for some popularity, which an initiate may have attained, It is the principle you stand for, and the manner in which that principle is interpreted and carried out by the initiate which counts, for ultimate success. With success in other directions the social end will care for itself, but if the determination to contribute seriously to college work is not developed first, let me tell you that your ‘social prestige’ will be a sorry fizzle.
Careful and constant attention must be taken by the younger Zetas to their system of financial management, delinquency in this respect as we learn from all the fraternities has caused the downfall of once successful chapters. My one wish is to see Lambda Chi Alpha well developed along all lines as a fraternity which may set an example, along with the older and larger fraternities, in a movement avoiding all looseness in government and developing newer standards of firm, stable and well governed units.
The college fraternity is steadily taking a more important part in every day in assisting and solving the problems confronting the undergraduate. What better ideal is possible for us is a fraternity than that scholarship? The college affords us the opportunity for work along intellectual lines and our Brotherhood exists because the college was here first and supply our initiates. There is no bigger thing that you could do for Lambda Chi Alpha than to encourage a brother to ‘get busy’ and keep at his daily work. You would perhaps stir up a little persistent energy if you kept at it long enough to distract his mind from wandering into outside matters which gradually grip a man unless halted and insidiously instill into his with a ‘don’t care’ feeling.
Let your efforts be spent in doing things from a sense of duty and not merely for the pleasure of distinction an accomplishment. Promote a democratic spirit, and above all, efficiency in scholarship. Give your initiates the right start and set them out along paths leading to a true realization of what constitutes college life. Bend your energies towards the cultivation of truth and lasting friendships, worthy ideals and impelling inspiration. Remember you have a duty to perform; be a good college man and you will be a good Lambda.
Warren Cole
