Hello!
100 years ago this week a group of guys hopped into a car and headed to Bloomington on an adventure to add a new club to campus. In this posting I would like to share the story of the founding of the Sphinx Club. This is from The Bachelor of December 16, 1921.
“Packed in a large motor ‘bus and filling a large Buick touring car, twenty men from Wabash traveled down to Bloomington yesterday afternoon, where they were initiated into the Sphinx Club. The party left here about two o’clock and arrived at Indiana at about eight-thirty. The entire Indiana club turned out to initiate the Wabash chapter. It was said by one of the initiates upon returning that the very best treatment was accorded them by the Indiana men.
The organization, founded purely for social purposes, will not allow college politics to enter it and the men chosen are supposed to be the best from the fraternity to which they belong. The men who compose the Wabash chapter are: E. K. McComb, R. H. Bostwick, J. K. Ruckelshaus, H. E. Perkins, F. H. Cox, G. W. Stasand, R. P. Cushwa, L. E. Cast, W. H. Acheson, R. A. Porter, P. M. White, J. R. Lauman, E. E. Gullett, J. A. Cragwall, F. M. Taylor, C. N .Smith, J. C. Gauld, M. M. Ellingham, N. S. James, and K. H. Wells.
It is the plan of the club to add to its membership until thirty Wabash students are members of the Sphinx Club. The men are pledged and initiated twice each year.
The Sphinx Club insignia consists in the spring and fall, of black and white hats, and in the winter of black and white toques. The insignia of the Wabash chapter has not yet been secured, but it is thought that it will be ready for distribution among the members within.
It is probable that three dances will be given by the Sphinx Club each college year, one of which will come immediately after Christmas. As yet, however, there has been no definite action taken by the Club in this regard. Meetings will held each Sunday afternoon and at the next meeting it is understood that definite plans for the Wabash club’s activities during the coming year will be outlined.
The men planned to leave Bloomington last night at about four o’clock, but due to an accident to the truck which necessitated it being delayed quite a while, a few of the men returned on the train, and others, in the Buick, had not yet arrived late this morning. The trip was without serious mishap, however, and proved popular with all of those making the journey.”
The following spring, the club held its first, on campus, initiation. From their start on campus the Sphinx Club has been a promoter of campus unity and spirit.
Again from the student paper, The Bachelor of October 09, 1923, “At the last meeting of the organization held at the Sigma Chi house Friday evening, Dean (of the College, George) Kendall, who is an honorary member of the club, made a short speech to the members. Expressing an optimistic view regarding the future of the club, he stated that the organization could do much towards the promoting of friendly relations among the different campus groups, especially fraternities. The club will act as a receiving committee for the returning alumni at Homecoming, it was announced.”
Today the Sphinx Club is very active on campus, supporting our athletes. Coordinating the Chapel talks, while never an easy task. has been made more difficult by the pandemic. The Club at Wabash persists to this day, 100 years later.
All best,
Beth Swift
Archivist
Wabash College
