The Dialectic Literary
Society
[North Carolina University Magazine Old Series Vol. XXIX no. 2, Dec. 1898, New Series Vol. XVI P.85]
by T. G. Pearson '99
The
first recorded account e find of a literary society at the university of North
Carolina is under the date June 3, 1795, about a month after the college first
opened. It was a meeting of "The Debating Society," which had
probably been organized at some previous date. We learn that this society lived
and flourished and that its meetings were held on Thursday night of each week.
The literary exercises were about equally divided between reading, speaking,
and giving exercises in composition. The membership fee was twenty-five cents.
It
was evidently thought that two societies could do better work than one, for on
July 2nd of the same year a division took place, the new
organization bearing the name of "Concord Society;" this later
becoming the Philanthropic Society. The original body remained with its name
unchanged until August of the same year when it was given the name
"Dialectic." The change of name however did not affect the internal
workings of the society, and the laws and constitution of the Dialectic Society
to-day are, with some changes and additions practically the same as those in use
in the "Debating Society."
The
names and duties of the officers are now about as they were a hundred years
ago.
The
societies originally had no halls of their own, but on different nights of the
week held their meetings in Person Hall, the Old Chapel. In 1815 the South Building was completed and
two halls were provided for the societies on the third floor. The library
occupied the walls of the rooms. Here the young men held their literary
meetings for thirty-three years. To meet the growing needs of the societies,
better halls were provided for them by building additions to the north ends of
the Old East and Old West. In the fall of 1848 the Dialectic Society occupied
it new quarters on the second floor of the Old West building.
The
first meeting, which was held in the new hall on September 9th, was
presided over by Kemp P. Battle. This seems to have been quite a memorable
occasion. The following paragraph is taken from the minutes of that meeting:
"It being the first time the Society had assembled in this Hall, the rev.
Dr. William Mercer Green opened the exercises with a prayer, which was
immediately followed by a Dedicatory Address by Samuel F. Phillips, Esq. To say
that it was eloquent and racy, abounding in pathos and replete with solid
instruction, noble exhortation and excellent advice, is but paying a faint
tribute to this effort." The minutes go on to speak of the "affecting
and interesting" scene produced by James Mebane, who had bee on e of the
founders and the first president of the Dialectic Society, fifty-three years
before, who having returned to witness the dedication of the new hall,
addressed the audience.
A
library room was provided for the society on the third floor of the Old West
directly over the hall. It was open to students twice a week, on Wednesday and
Saturday. The colors often Society are blue, and it was at this time the custom
on commencement occasions or the members to distinguish themselves from others
by wearing blue bows and ribbons. The seniors who spoke on commencement wore
long black silk gowns, which were the property of the society.
From
this time until the breaking out of the Civil War the Dialectic Society shared
in the prosperity of the University. In the spring of 1861 the fine, large hall
in the New West Building was first occupied. The formal dedicatory ceremonies
were never held owing to the sudden and exciting turn of political affairs. The
large debt incurred in furnishing the hall was never entirely paid until the
re-opening in 1875. The library occupied a large room on the floor above the
hall. During the war the membership dwindled in numbers until at one time there
was not enough to fill all the offices without using some Freshmen. In 1868 the
doors of the University were closed.
After
the refounding of the Society its growth in numbers and usefulness has steadily
increased with slight exceptions until the present time. In 1886 the two
societies united in placing heir body of books in the University library. The
collection owned by the Dialectic Society at this time numbered about 8,000
volumes. Much of the discipline of the University was at an early date placed
in the hands of the two societies. So well was the move received that much of
this self-governing spirit is exerted by these bodies to-day.
The
objects of the Society in the past have ever been to stimulate a love for
literary work and knowledge of parliamentary law, to develop the power of
extemporaneous speaking to the extent of being able to form thoughts quickly
and accurately while on the floor and give expression to these in good form.
At
the present time its meetings are held each Saturday night of the collegiate
year. Besides the usual weekly debates each member is required to prepare and
deliver an oration to the society during his senior year. There are three
inter-society debates which give the opportunity for one Freshman, two
Sophomores, two Juniors, and one Senior to debate in public. There is a public
society debate in the spring of the year in which any member may compete for a
handsome prize. The annual University debate with the University of Georgia
gives the members an opportunity to strive for the high honor of crossing
swords with opponents from another state. On Washington's birthday the Society
has an orator represent it. Four
members are annually chosen as editors of the University Magazine, and in other
ways as well is the literary ability of the society given an opportunity to
develop. The hall is a very beautiful one. Last year a new carpet costing
several hundred dollars was spread upon its floor; thirty oil portraits of
illustrious members adorn its walls. Among these one may see the faces of
college presidents, men who became famous in war both by land and by sea,
prominent men in business and philanthropy as well as political men high in the
Nation's favor. Legislators, governors and senators are there and the
President's chair is not without its representative.
With
a large membership of strong courageous young men the Dialectic Society is ever
moving forward with its grand work, calling with cheer and good will to its
sister society, while its members proudly bear aloft the ancient banner of
their fathers bearing the motto: "Love of Science and Virtue."