The Society of the Seven

The Society of the Seven is a senior or secret society established by J.W. Harrington in 1922 at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC.
History
The society, according to various records and books, was began in 1922 by Harrington as the “East Carolina College Men’s Social Club.” It is for this reason that most members of the society still refer to it as “The Club.” The ECCMSC was originally founded as a non-secret social group, which met twice per month to have dinner and engage in social activities. At this time in its history, East Carolina University was still predominately female and few organizations existed for men on campus. Harrington and Morgan would go on to graduate and the men’s social club would continue to grow and prosper.
It was not until the fall of 1947 that the men’s social club decided to become a secret society at the University. The ECCMSC would continue to exist now known as simply, “The Club.” The Club eventually changed its name in the early 1950’s to the “Society of the Seven” and members became known as "Sevens." This is most likely due to the fact that in 1951 the organization had only seven members. Following 1956, no further public records of membership or meetings were published in the East Carolina University yearbook or newspaper.
In 1953, when the Arthur J. Eames Building was constructed on the campus of East Carolina University, the fourth floor was allocated for the use of the Society with a generous grant donated from Arthur J. Eames, IV whose son, Stewart had been a member of the Society. Eames constructed a Lodge Room for meetings, dining hall, library, study rooms, and private guest rooms for members. The Lodge Room was constructed with a 52-stop Reuter pipe organ and for years students claimed they could hear strange music coming from the fourth floor of the building. The School of Music approached the Society in 1992 about purchasing the organ for a substantial amount of money, but the Society refused with a letter simply stating, "SORRY, NO DEAL."
Members still meet Sunday nights during their senior year in the Society's Lodge, a Renaissance-style Lodge Room on the fourth floor of the Arthur J. Eames Building. Though little is known of what transpires at meetings today, in early years, members often gathered for a meal or to play a game of poker. Poetry and songs were often a part of the evening’s festivities.
Tax records show an endowment worth several hundred thousand dollars under the name of the “Perkins-Wells Memorial Trust Association.” The members of the Trust manage the property and financial matters of the Society and have given generous sums of money to the university over the years in the form of scholarships and endowments.
Membership
Membership in the society is kept secret. It is only until after one graduates that he may or may not elect to reveal his membership. In recent years, members have been frowned upon for public announcement of their membership, especially for financial or political gain. Each January, sixteen juniors are selected or "tapped" by the senior class. The "taps" then undergo a pledge period of approximately two weeks before they are initiated into the Society.
Though pressure has been put upon the society for its male-only membership, it has refused to amend its Constitution and admit women as have many secret societies at Ivy League institutions. The society has also been criticized in years past for its sole tapping of white candidates with few or no minorities typically being selected. In recent years, however, memberships have been extended to minorities, Jews, and Catholics.
Notable members
Business Leaders
*John A. Allison IV - Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, BB&T
*Marc Basnight - N.C. State Senator, President Pro Tem, Restaurant Owner
*Vince McMahon - Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc
*James Maynard - Founder of Golden Corral Restaurant Chain
Entertainment
*Kevin Williamson - Producer/Director/Actor
Politics
*Robert Morgan - U.S. Senator, North Carolina Attorney General
*Marc Basnight - President Pro-Temp of North Carolina Senate
*Scott Thomas - Former North Carolina Senator
Sports
*David Garrard - Quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars
Other North Carolina Collegiate Secret Societies
The Society of the Seven is the one of three secret societies at East Carolina University, the other two being The Secret Order of the Circle and The Order of the Cupola. Two secret societies are also found at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Order of Gimghoul and Order of the Gorgon's Head.

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