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Univ. of Miss. [University of Mississippi], Oxford, Miss.,
March 20, 1869

Α.Κ.Φ. [Alpha Kappa Phi] Fraternity

Brothers,

Your kind favor of the 5th inst., was received by my successor in office some days since, and now the pleasant duty of responding devolves upon me.

Truly do we regret that the efforts of "our noble order" to extenuate itself have been so unsuccessful. But still let us be hopeful. We know that it's benign influence is such as to be apparent to the world and that it will be commended by any just tribunal.

One of our members left us a short time since, going to the "Southern University" Greensboro, Ala. He writes me that clubs are allowed to exist there and that up to this time none have been organized, that being as you know a new Institution. The brother of whom I speak is rather young and inexperienced but in every respect worthy of our order. He tells me that he is desirous of estab-

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lishing a chapter of our order, but up to this time his diffidence has prevented him from applying for a chapter. From my knowledge of the Institution I think we would do well to have a chapter there. On this subject you will hear from me again as I have written to our brother particularly on this point.

Our own chapter (Ε) [Epsilon] is perhaps as prosperous as we could expect. We number thirteen. Our members are all good men. There are ten different clubs at this place and we have surprised them all with our success. Our members as a general thing stand well in their classes and above all, with us, are gentlemen of high social qualities. In reference to us but one thing is to be regretted, that is, we are nearly all from the same vicinity, thus to some extent localizing our influence. We are, with but one exception from South Mississippi, but we know that portion of the state will always be sufficiently well represented in the

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University to insure our success.

Ours will be a glorious fraternity if we will bring to bear that energy which should characterize us. As the harvest field is not reaped with a single stroke of the scythe so laurels are not won without labor. Let us then, since it is in our power, make our order what it should be, what we would like to see it, the honor and the pride of its numbers.

Remember that in all of your efforts "Ε" [Epsilon] chapter is with you, "in life she will stand by you and in death she will not desert you".

I have the honor to be truly yours in α.α.π. [alpha alpha pi]
R.H. Thompson,
Grand Mod. [Moderator]
Ε Chapter

To
C.P. Cullone [Cornelius P. Cullom],
Vice Gr. Mod. [Grand Moderator]
Gr. [Grand] Order
etc., etc