Saturday night, April 22, 1848, was the date on which "The Immortal Six" gathered in John Templeton McCarty's dormitory room at Jefferson College to establish a society "founded upon the principles of secrecy."
Here are the minutes from that first meeting:
Messrs. John Templeton McCarty, James Elliott, Daniel Webster Crofts, Samuel Beatty Wilson, Ellis Bailey Gregg and Naaman Fletcher, students at Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pa., at a social meeting and while conversing on the subject of association came to the conclusion that a society founded upon the principle of secrecy into which none but men of distinguished talents and acquirements endued with a high sense of honor and possessed of a laudable ambition and who were members of some college (at the time of their admission) should be admitted would be of incalculable benefit to those thus uniting, thereupon determined to organize and establish such an association, whereupon Mr. S.B. Wilson was called to the chair and N. Fletcher appointed secretary. After many suggestions on the part of those present a committee of two was appointed to draft a constution and report at their next meeting. Committee, Messrs. S.B. Wilson and James Elliott. On motion the meeting adjourned to meet on Monday evening May 1st at 9 o'clock precisely.
- N. Fletcher, Sec.
On May, 1, 1848, the official founding date of the Fraternity, the Constitution was ratified and the six began discussing the feasibility of establishing chapters on other campuses. About one month later, in June of 1848, the Beta Chapter was chartered at Washington College (these two colleges went on to form what is presently known as Washington and Jefferson College). All Founders, except Naaman Fletcher, graduated in 1848. Brother Fletcher took over the Alpha Chapter and served as President. As the years went on, more Chapters were chartered. Some of the first ones included: Nashville University (Gamma) 1850, Union University (Delta) 1851, and University of North Carolina (Epsilon) 1851. To this date, there are 130 active Chapters in Fijiland.
The Immortal Six
JOHN TEMPLETON McCARTY
Nickname: "Johnty" or "Mac"
Born August 28, 1828 - Brookville, Indiana
Died February 4, 1860 - Marysville, California
Designed the Badge
Graduated in 1848
Transferred from Miami University
"The Spirit of the Delta Association"
His room was used for the first meetings
SAMUEL BEATTY WILSON
Nickname: "Sam B."
Graduated in 1848
Born February 20, 1824 - New Castle, Pennsylvania
Died January 17, 1889 - Beaver, Pennsylvania
Wrote the Constitution
First President
The greatest scholar of the "Immortal Six"
NAAMAN FLETCHER
Nickname: "Nancy"
Graduated in 1849
Born February 27, 1824 - Zanesville, Ohio
Died December 20, 1864 - Wabash, Indiana
First Secretery
Second President
Only Founder not to graduate in 1848
DANIEL WEBSTER CROFTS
Nickname: "Dan'l"
Graduated in 1848
Born December 3, 1828 - Columbiana County, Ohio
Died January 1852 - Clinton, Louisiana
First Founder to die, at the young age of 23
Died poor and needed to sell his badge to defray his costs of burial
JAMES ELLIOTT, JR.
Nickname: "Jim"
Graduated in 1848
Born December 6, 1824 - Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania
Died November 10, 1883 - Chicago, Illinois
Only Founder to wear a soldier's uniform in the Civil War
First to wear the Badge
ELLIS BAILEY GREGG
No Known nickname
Graduated in 1848
Born August 17, 1827 - Carmichaels, Pennsylvania
Died December 18, 1854 - Carmichaels, Pennsylvania
Moved to Peoria, Illinois to start a law firm
A direct decendent of the kings of the Scots and Picts
The Five Values
We are united by FRIENDSHIP. It is the basis of our Brotherhood. Because of it we accomplish far more than we do as individuals. Friendship is the sweetest influence.
We promote the pursuit of KNOWLEDGE. It is the key to a fuller, richer life. We gain it through education, the harmonious development of the powers of the individual.
We encourage SERVICE. We have the ability, the opportunity, and the duty to serve our fellow human beings. Our reward is the satisfaction that comes from serving.
We believe in MORALITY. As gentlemen of quality, we must do what is right as individuals and as a group. Moral behavior is the basis of society's existence.
We strive for EXCELLENCE. It is attained only when we fulfill our total potential. Mankind benefits when each of us becomes all that we can be.
