Belles Lettres Society, 1869 - 1887

Founded in 1859.

"History of the Belles Lettre Society: Some grateful member of Belles Lettres has left recorded upon our records a few pages of her early history from which we obtain our knowledge of her origin and struggles up to the time when the sweet, song of peace began again to thrill the soul of the Belles Lettres society as well as of the whole nation. At the opening of the fall term, 1859, Baconian society held its lonely sway with none to dispute its right. At that time eleven of its members, of whom Prof. DeMotte was one, withdrew and adopted a constitution that brought into existence the Belles Lettres society. From that constitution we learn that the society meetings were conducted secretly and all members required to answer in the affirmative the following: "Do you pledge your faith to this society that you will not under any pretext divulge what you may see or hear transacted in its meetings ?" The president would then address them as follows: "In extending to you the rights and privileges of fellowship, it is proper that I ask your attention to a few appropriate reflections. To you, student by profession, to prove the praise of letters would seem unnecessary labor. It is our boast as it is our honor that the foremost men of all this world have been, must be, students; that the haunts of learning are always everywhere, the homes of refinement." Where the society held its first sessions we are unable to ascertain from our historian. However, in January 1860, the Belles Lettres and Baconian societies established a reading room, which at its premature death left a few relics which became the first addition to our small library, recently donated to the Uni- versity. The first public performance was given by the society in Royce Hall, the last Friday of the winter term, 1861. All records from February 28th, 1862, to April 28th, 1865, are missing. Nevertheless, our historian asserts that during the stormy days of the war, the society was not inactive, as it gave two very successful exhibitions between 1862 and '65. About this time it fitted up its first hall in the old university building, at an expense of about $200. The sixth annual exhibition was given in Phoenix hall in 1866; and the seventh in Schroede 's Opera house, 1867; at which the question was discussed: "Who shall be our next president." The names of Grant, Chase, Davis, and Johnson, were presented to the piublic. Even in those stormy days the society did not, as it should not, refrain from discussing political questions. At the close of the year 1866, 179 members had been received into the society. In 1877 the hall was carpeted at an expense of $250, and enough new members enrolled to raise the entire membership to about 200, since its organization in 1859. In 1868, the money raising genius of the Belles Lettres societies again broke forth and $200 was expended for chairs, wall paper and chandalier. About this time the pictures of George and Martha Washington were presented by two faithful sisters of the society, which gifts are still gratefully treasured. On the 22nd of May, 1868, the society accepted a challenge from the Munsellian for a contest, on the 5th of June. The contest was held between one orator, one essayest and two debaters from each society. This seems to be the first contest ever held between Wesleyan talent. The judges awarded the Belles Lettres society the first place in all the above named production, a victory of which she then certainly felt proud, and the knowledge of which arouses our own enthusiasm to rejoicing. Since that time, over 500 members have signed our constitution. Altogether 95 of its 750 members have been called to fill the duties and receive the honors of its presidency. In 1872, the society was granted the south room in the third story of the University building and fitted it up at large expense. Since that time the society has prospered as our university has prospered, keeping pace with her rivals, sometimes weaker than them and again stronger. It would be useless to ,undertake to even make mention of those she has sent out into the busy world with the honors they have fairly won. At present, the society is prospering fairly, with many earnest workers who are always ready to enlist in its cause." -Wesleyan Bee, 1883-04-01, pg. 6