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Kappa Alpha Order

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Kappa Alpha Order ΚΑ
Motto: Dieu et les dames (Of God and Women)
Nicknames: KA, The Order

225px The Coat of Arms''
Founded: December 21, 1865 at Washington College Lexington, VA

Founding Fathers:
  • James Ward Wood
  • William Archibald Walsh
  • William Nelson Scott
  • Stanhope McClelland Scott
Practical Founder:
  • Samuel Zenas Ammen
Spiritual Founder:

Knight Commander
  • Ben W. Satcher, Jr.
Executive Director
  • Larry S. Wiese

National Philanthropy Muscular Dystrophy Association

No. of Undergraduates Approx. 6,000
No. of Alumni Approx. 100,000
No. of Active Chapters 128
No. of Alumni Chapters 103

Official Colors: Crimson and Old Gold
Official Flowers: Crimson Rose and Magnolia Blossom
Initiate Badge: 50px
Flag: 150px

[Kappa Alpha Order Website]

The Kappa Alpha Order (KA) is a collegiate fraternity, though its modern members staunchly refer to it as an Order of Christian Knights. It is not to be confused with the Kappa Alpha Society.

Kappa Alpha Order was originally founded as Phi Kappa Chi on December 21, 1865 at Washington College in Lexington, Virginia. The four founding fathers included James Ward Wood, William Archibald Walsh, and brothers William Nelson Scott and Stanhope McLelland Scott. Soon after the founding, the local chapter of Phi Kappa Psi protested the name "Phi Kappa Chi," due to the similarity of the names, leading Wood to change the name of the fraternity to K.A. by April of 1866. The popular old Kuklos Adelphon society had gone defunct during the Civil War, and it is suspected that Wood selected the letters K.A. to attract those familiar with the old society. Within one year the fraternity's ritual would be expanded upon and given a new vision by "practical founder," Samuel Zenas Ammen. In the years that followed, the Order spread throughout the Southern United States, a distinguishing factor that separates it from the smaller, northern-based Kappa Alpha Society. KA is also one-third of the Lexington Fraternity Triad, along with Alpha Tau Omega and Sigma Nu.

Contents

Kappa Alpha Order trivia

Definition of a Gentleman

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The Definition of a Gentleman By Robert E. Lee:

The forbearing use of power does not only form a touchstone, but the manner in which an individual enjoys certain advantages over others is a test of a true gentleman.

The power which the strong have over the weak, the employer over the employed, the educated over the unlettered, the experienced over the confiding, even the clever over the silly; the forbearing or inoffensive use of all of this power or authority, or a total abstinence from it when the case admits it, will show the gentleman in a plain light.

The gentleman does not needlessly and unnecessarily remind an offender of a wrong he may have committed against him. He cannot only forgive, he can forget; and he strives for that nobleness of self and mildness of character which impart sufficient strength to let the past be but the past. A true man of honor feels humbled when he cannot help humbling others.

The Ten Obligations

The Ten Obligations of a Knight of the Kappa Alpha Order:

Old South

For many chapters, Kappa Alpha Order's largest social event is the Old South formal. It is designed to celebrate the fraternity's southern history and to honor the southern ideals of hospitality, courtesy, and chivalry. The event has its roots at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. The brothers of Kappa chapter at Mercer were inspired by the release of Gone with the Wind (film) in 1939 to hold the "Dixie Ball", a celebration of Southern pride[[Citing sources citation needed]]. The event quickly spread to other chapters across the country and evolved into the modern Old South formal. Though traditions vary by chapter, many have chosen to make the event a "trip back in time" to the Antebellum South, prior to and during the American Civil War. A common feature is for brothers to dress in Civil War uniforms, and for their dates to wear antebellum dresses. Occasionally, invitations to the event will be delivered by brothers on horseback, or in a manner similar to what was customary in the 19th century. At many chapters, Old South has been expanded to comprise a full week of social events, culminating with the traditional Old South ball.

Notable Members by Chapter

Sports Entertainment Business Government Military Education Religion

References

External links


North-American Interfraternity Conference
Acacia | Alpha Chi Rho | Alpha Delta Gamma | Alpha Delta Phi | Alpha Epsilon Pi | Alpha Gamma Rho | Alpha Gamma Sigma | Alpha Kappa Lambda | Alpha Phi Alpha | Alpha Phi Delta | Alpha Sigma Phi | Alpha Tau Omega | Beta Chi Theta | Beta Sigma Psi | Beta Theta Pi | Chi Phi | Chi Psi | Delta Chi | Delta Phi | Delta Psi | Delta Sigma Phi | Delta Tau Delta | Delta Upsilon | FarmHouse | Iota Phi Theta | Kappa Alpha Order | Kappa Alpha Psi | Kappa Alpha Society | Kappa Delta Phi | Kappa Delta Rho | Lambda Chi Alpha | Lambda Phi Epsilon | Lambda Sigma Upsilon | Lambda Theta Phi | Order of Omega | Phi Gamma Delta | Phi Iota Alpha | Phi Kappa Psi | Phi Kappa Sigma | Phi Kappa Tau | Phi Kappa Theta | Phi Lambda Chi | Phi Mu Delta | Phi Sigma Phi | Pi Kappa Alpha | Pi Kappa Phi | Pi Lambda Phi | Psi Upsilon | Sigma Alpha Mu | Sigma Chi | Sigma Nu | Sigma Phi Delta | Sigma Phi Epsilon | Sigma Phi Society | Sigma Tau Gamma | Tau Delta Phi | Tau Epsilon Phi | Tau Kappa Epsilon | Theta Chi | Theta Delta Chi | Theta Xi | Triangle | Zeta Beta Tau | Zeta Psi

 

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