Dialectic Senate and Philanthropic Society Merge After 164 Years of Separate Meetings

Hobart Steele

Daily Tar Heel, May 19, 1959

 

The Dialectic Senate and the Philanthropic Literary Society have merged to form the Dialectic and Philanthropic Literary Society.

 

Action came Tuesday night when Di President Gary Greer madea fervent appeal to the Phi for incorporation of the Di into it. Phi President John Brroks followed the appeal with a bill for incorporation which would clarify the merger.

 

Greer's appeal was made with a realization that the membership of the two Societies might dwindle to complete uselessness. At the time of his presentation, the Di had 12 members, the Phi, 20.

 

After a series of story debates last week the new Society was formed by unanimous vote, and the Phi Constitution was amended as prevailing basis for the organization.

 

The first president of the new society is David Matthews from the Phi; the first President Pro tem is Gary Greer of the Di. Other officers of Di-Phi are recording Clerk Hobart Steele, Critic Glenn Johnson, Sergeant-At-Arms Fred Parker and Parliamentarian Ron Pruitt.

 

Di Hall and its offices are to be used by the Di-Phi, and the Phi pin and cuts have been adopted.

 

The Forensic Council, which approved the merger, and its member organizations (including the Carolina Forum, State Student Legislature and Debate Squad) will use the Phi offices.

 

The Di-Phi will retain complete jurisdiction of the hanging of portraits and retain ownership of the portraits and other furnishings. Any changes or additions to the merger will be jointly approved by the Di-Phi.

 

The Dialectic Senate and the Philanthropic Literary Society were both organized in 1795, the year when the doors of the University were open for students. About 1813 the two societies merged into the Concord Society which met in a room in the Library.

 

The Societies later occupied separate halls when New East and New West were built in 1858. At this time the walls were adorned by portraits of their members who had obtained honors in the world. The life-size oil portraits are the largest and most important collection in North Carolina of eminent men.

 

In 1925 the old halls were renovated, and the old chairs and lights removed. The Di was furnished desks and chairs while the Phi was furnished with folding chairs, which are still in use.

 

Years ago membership in one or the other of the societies was compulsory. Today membership in them is voluntary, but limited to fifty.