I received the note below from the Chairman of DKE International:
Dear Brother De Lisi,
Today is June 22nd.
It was 168 years ago today that 15 Yale sophomores held a meeting at #12 Old South Hall on Yale’s campus, and founded the Brotherhood of Delta Kappa Epsilon. From Yale the Fraternity quickly spread, and its influence has been felt far and wide across the collegiate landscape all across the North American continent. I am sure you are proud of the day you were initiated at the Rho Chapter at Lafayette College.
The founding principles of those 15 men were embodied in The Objects of Delta Kappa Epsilon, and I repeat them here:
“The cultivation of general literature and social culture, the advancement and encouragement of intellectual excellence, the promotion of honorable friendship and useful citizenship, the development of a spirit of tolerance and respect for the rights and views of others, the maintenance of gentlemanly dignity, self-respect, and morality in all circumstances, and the union of stout hearts and kindred interests to secure, to merit its due reward.”
Their founding principles remain with us today – we are a society of Gentlemen, Scholars, and Jolly Good Fellows.
DKE has been such a positive factor in the lives of so many men in the 168 years since that auspicious beginning. Please take just a moment today to reflect on what DKE has meant to you in your lifetime, and if you’d like, even if only symbolically, please “raise a cup of ruby wine to the health of DKE.”
Best wishes to you, as all Dekes celebrate this meaningful day in the history of our great Fraternity.
In the Bonds,
Stanford McMillan
Chairman of the BoardP.S. If you’d like to publicly state what Deke has meant to you, please visit our Facebook page and enter your thoughts there.
Leave a Reply