THE LITERARY SOCIETIES
By G. W. PASCHAL

The Philomathezian and Euzelian Literary societies were organized on February 14, 1835, shortly after the beginning of the second session of Wake Forest Institute. At that time the students numbered about seventy. These were divided by lot between the two societies, Mr. James C. Dockery, of Richmond County, casting the lots for the Philomathezian Society, and Mr. Hiram K. Person, of Moore County, casting those of the Euzelian.
Great interest was taken in the societies from the first. Soon an intense rivalry had developed. A writer in the Biblical Recorder of September 16, 1835, says: "A very unhappy state of things existed among the students during the latter part of last term. The two societies absorbed all feelings and all interests. Jealousies arose, and then " antipathies, and hostilities were carried so far that violent prejudices divided brethren of the same profession. This state of things became quite alarming, and the question frequently occurred, Tantaene animis caelestibus irae!" An armistice came with the great religious revival of 1835, but throughout the remainder of the nineteenth century the halls of the two societies were much like two armed camps. There was always a bitter fight for new members, and many a stratagem to get them. On the institution of the celebration of Anniversary in 1854, as there were at first only orations, society was clearly pitted against society, and hostilities came out into the open. When, in 1872, the public debate was added precaution was taken to arrange the 5peakers so that a member of one society might have as his colleague a member of the other. Under any other arrangement there would have been danger of a much more serious battle than one of words. This rivalry, however, had its better side, and society men of former days have looked upon its weakening as an evidence of decadence. It created and maintained a strong devotion of the members to the societies. Under its influence students would attend long sessions of debate without grumbling, often in the early days, as President Poteat says, sitting through long winter evenings in unheated halls, wrapped in heavy overcoats, and with hot bricks at their feet. Men of the upper classes were faithful to attend, and, as sympathetic critics, lend the advantage of their experience to the training and development of the neophytes. Another very valuable feature of the societies until recent years was the business meeting. This was a pure democracy. It was here that the character of the men became known. If one was a weakling, he could not conceal it; if he had the qualities of leadership they soon became manifest; if he was lacking in moral fibre his fellows found it out. One's society mates also knew his financial status; if he had money, they used him with a will where individual expense was involved; if he was a poor fellow struggling to make his way through college, they were lenient and sympathetic and sometimes able to help. The society chastened every member with its firm but reasonable discipline, and in the humblest stimulated respect for himself as worthy to he a member of a brotherhood in which everyone was set for the improvement of himself and every other. There was a mutual loyalty which was not forgotten outside the society hall.

The first public appearance of the societies was on July 4. 1835. The exercises of that day were in their charge. and the oration was by Mr. James C. Dockery of the Philomathezian Society, At eleven o'clock in the morning the two societies formed in line and marched to the residence of President Wait, where now stands the Administration Building, and received their banners. from the hands of Mrs. Wait, who with Dr. Wait and the presidents of the societies, was standing in the balcony, so high up that the standard bearers had to he raised on the shoulders of their mates, These Banners, probably designed and made by Mrs. Wait. were of silk. the Philomathezian white instead of red as at present, the Euzelian blue. As is evident from the speeches of presentation made by Mrs. Wait and the closing paragraphs of Mr. Dockery's oration, these banners were already painted with their present symbolic designs. and contained the society mottoes, Inventiam viam aut faciam (Eu.). and Esse quam videri malo (Phi.), Something of the enthusiasm of the occasion may be understood from the following words of the chronicler of the events of the day: "The banner was then handed to the standard bearer (Phi,); the hand played "Hail Columbia," The speech, the silken folds of the banner gracefully waving in the breeze, the countenance of the young men intensely interested, the music, the silent wave of the hat, produced a sensation that forced eyes to glisten with tears." Until 1854 the societies celebrated their anniversary each in its own hall. In that year, as has been said, was the first public celebration. with orations, one by a representative of each society. With the addition of the Public Debate in 1872, the celebration has continued unchallenged to the present day, except that beginning with 1925 the day was changed to February 1-2. The Society Day, consisting also of a public debate, and orations, about the last of October, was added in 1914. In 1897 was the first intercollegiate debate. This was in Raleigh with representatives of Trinity College. The list of men who have participated in the public functions of the societies is in itself sufficient evidence of the value of the society training. It would be hard to make up another list of North Carolinians who have none a more beneficial and honorable service to church and State. Among the preachers are White, Pritchard, the Dixons. E. M, Poteat; amongst the lawyers Covington, Gulley, Meekins; among the statesmen the Kitchin, Bickett, Webb; among the teachers and college executives Poteat, Riddick, Sikes. And there are five hundred others.

To the societies is due also the beginning of the College Library. Until the completion of the Heck-William.. Building in 1879 the societies each had its own books on shelves around the walls of its hall on the top floor of the old dormitory building: halls which had been assigned to the societies on the completion of the building in 1838. On moving to their present halls the societies donated their books, numbering nearly eight thousand, to the College, and turned over to the College the collection of library fees.