Euphradian Society facts for kids

The Euphradian Society, also known as Phi Alpha Epsilon (ΦΑΕ), is a student group at the University of South Carolina. It was started in 1806. This society is a place where students can practice debating and improve their speaking and writing skills.

History of the Euphradian Society

The Euphradian Society began in 1806. It was formed when an older student group, the Philomathic Society, decided to split. The Philomathic Society had almost all the students at the college. In February 1806, members voted to create two separate groups. One became the Euphradian Society. The other became the Clariosophic Society.

A coin toss decided which new group students joined. Later, students joined a society based on their home county. The Euphradian Society was also called Phi Alpha Epsilon. We don't know much about how its name was chosen. The society's old meeting notes are missing.

Its first president was William Harper. Other leaders included a vice president and a secretary. The state of South Carolina officially recognized the society in 1820.

Challenges and Restarting

The society stopped meeting on February 25, 1862. This was because of the Civil War. After the war, former members and supporters helped restart the society. This happened on January 13, 1866.

However, money problems in the South after the war made things hard. The society did not become as successful as it was before the war.

During the 1870s, the society became inactive again. A small group of members was put in charge. They were asked to protect the society's important papers. They also wanted to make sure new rules for the college did not change who could join the society. One member, Colonel Fitz W. McMaster, took the society's records. He wanted to keep them safe from the government at that time.

McMaster tried for nine years to restart the society. He was not successful at first. Another group, the Ciceronian Society, started instead. They even used some of the Euphradian Society's old rooms. The Euphradian's library lost some books and had damage during this time. But after a year, new rules helped protect the society's old and rare book collection. McMaster finally restarted the society on February 19, 1882.

By 1986, the society was not active anymore. Its space in Harper College was renamed the Gressette Room. This was in honor of Marion Gressette, a former member and politician. In 2010, former members of the Euphradian Society brought it back to life.

Symbols and Traditions

The name "Euphradian" means "good speech" or "speaking well." The society chose a special symbol in 1815.

Its badge was a six-pointed star. It had the Greek letters ΦΑΕ on it. It also showed the year 1806 and the saying "Amicitiae Sacrum." This means "Sacred to Friendship." The society also had a gold key. It showed two hands clasping. Below the hands were the words "Euphradian Society" and "Amicitiae Sacrum."

Harper College, where the society had its hall.

Society Hall

At first, the society met in the College Chapel. In 1820, they got rooms on the third floor of DeSaussure College. This space was used for meetings. It also held the society's collection of books.

In 1848, the college grew. The college leaders gave the society space on the third floor of Harper College. The society decorated this new space. It was officially opened on December 7, 1848. A member and professor, James H. Thornwell, gave a speech. One visitor said the hall looked "beautiful, attractive, brilliant, and imposing." It made a big impression on people.

Activities

The Euphradian Society met on Saturday nights after dinner. Their meetings always included at least one formal debate. Topics for these debates were given out two weeks ahead of time. Also, one member was chosen to give a long speech each month.

The society often debated with other student groups on campus. They discussed important topics of the day. These included political and social issues.

Notable Members

Many important people were members of the Euphradian Society. Here are some of them:

• Robert Woodward Barnwell – a politician who served in the United States Senate
• William H. Brawley – a United States representative and judge
• Theodorus W. Brevard – a state financial officer and judge
• John Campbell – a United States representative
• James Henry Carlisle – President of Wofford College
• M. E. Carn – Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina
• James Ronald Chalmers – a United States representative
• William F. Colcock – a United States representative
• George W. Dargan – a United States representative
• Josiah J. Evans – a United States Senator and judge
• John B. Floyd – Governor of Virginia and U.S. Secretary of War
• William Alexander Graham – Governor of North Carolina and United States Senator
• Marion Gressette – a politician
• James H. Hammond – Governor of South Carolina and United States Senator
• William Harper – a United States Senator
• Isaac W. Hayne – Attorney General of South Carolina
• Henry Washington Hilliard – a United States representative and general
• Francis Lieber – a legal expert and professor
• John Lawrence Manning – Governor of South Carolina
• Henry McIver – chief justice on the South Carolina Supreme Court
• James Rion McKissick – a journalist, lawyer, and president of the University of South Carolina
• William McWillie – Governor of Mississippi and a United States representative
• Stephen D. Miller – Governor of South Carolina and United States Senator
• Franklin J. Moses Sr. – Chief Justice of South Carolina
• Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (Honorary) – a famous French general
• John Murphy – a United States representative
• Madison S. Perry – Governor of Florida
• William C. Preston – a United States Senator and president of the University of South Carolina
• John Peter Richardson II – Governor of South Carolina and a United States representative
• Thomas J. Robertson – a United States Senator
• Charltes Henry Simonton – a United States judge
• J. Marion Sims – a pioneering surgeon
• James Henley Thornwell – a religious scholar and professor
• Samuel W. Trotti – a United States representative
• John A. Wharton – a lawyer and general
• Samuel Williamson – President of Davidson College
• Thomas Jefferson Withers – a politician and judge
• Isaac Donnom Witherspoon – Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina