Seven Society (The Club)

The Seven Society or "The Club" (as it is colloquially known by members) is a collegiate secret society for senior men at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. Established in 1927, it is the oldest of the three secret societies at the University, the other two being "Order of the Circle" and "Adelphic Club" founded in 1969 and 1973, respectively.

History

The Seven Society was founded as the East Carolina Men’s Social Club or ECMSC in 1927 by J.W. Harrington, a sophomore at East Carolina University (then East Carolina Teacher’s College). Harrington and five other men established the organization “because East Carolina lacks suitable clubs or organizations for men” East Carolina was a predominately female teacher’s college at the time, and the ECMSC was the first all-male organization of its kind at the school.

The organization started as a social outlet for men, meeting once per week for a poker game or meal, and charged dues of $20 per semester. Early meetings were held upstairs in the Whichard Building. As time progressed, The Club (as it came to be called) functioned more as an unofficial fraternity throwing parties and social events for members and their dates. This social atmosphere would lay the groundwork for fraternities and sororities at East Carolina University and would create the moniker of East Carolina as a “party school”.

The Messick Incident

In 1947, John Decatur Messick became fifth president of East Carolina University. A lover of the arts and conservative in politics, Messick was largely against fraternal organizations at the University and their subversive activities. In the fall of 1947 a party was held by the members of the ECMSC. At this party, large amounts of alcohol were served resulting in several students becoming highly intoxicated. Though this was not illegal (as the drinking age in 1947 was only 18), Messick’s daughter (who was home visiting her parents from college) attended the party with friends and became quite inebriated. Angered by the debauchery and ill-respect of the Club, Messick sought to dismember the organization.

In the spring of 1948, Messick issued a memorandum to the ECMSC stating that they would have to become co-ed or disband. Angered by these actions, the Club pleaded with members of the Board of Trustees that “male only” organizations were a vital part of ECU, but to no avail. Thus, in the spring of 1948, the ECMSC was officially expelled from campus for failure to comply with Messick’s co-ed policy for the organization and it subsequently became an independent organization not affiliated with East Carolina University.

Messick was quite infuriated the organization continued to exist off campus and thus threatened any male student with membership in the organization to face expulsion. As a result, the ECMSC became a secret society and kept its membership and activities clandestine.

In 1958, at the end of Messick’s presidency, allowance was granted for the chartering of four national fraternities at East Carolina University. After this development, most members of the ECMSC joined fraternities and debated whether or not it was viable for “The Club” to continue existence. After much debate, it was determined the organization would function as a “senior only drinking and eating club”. In 1962, the name was changed to “Seven Society” for unknown reasons. Today, the organization is officially known as the “Mystic and Noble Order of the Secret Society of Seven”.

In 1965, the Seven Society purchased its first house on Library Street, which it resided in for a number of years until the First Church of Christ, Scientist was purchased in 1973 as a permanent meeting hall for the Society. Nicknamed “The Crypt”, the Greek Revival structure hosts a lodge room for meetings, a dining hall, kitchen, library, and recreation room.

The Society also owns a brick colonial-style home donated by former Grand Master Edward J. Harper, II. Bequeathed to the Society in 2005, the home is over 5,000 square feet with five bedrooms and 4 baths. The Harper House is used to host out of town alumni members during Homecoming, Convocation, and other key events.

Membership

Membership is limited to “male seniors of East Carolina University, distinguished faculty, alumni, and honored guests who through their merit and achievement have given to the benefit and perpetuity of East Carolina University”. Each January, sixteen juniors are tapped for membership by the senior members. After a period of approximately two weeks they are initiated and serve as associate members until May when they become senior members. In the fall of their senior year, the members elect four officers to govern the undergraduate club for that academic year.

Faculty, alumni, and honorary members are elected by the Board of the Perkins-Wells Trust, which governs the activities and funds of the Society. In June, at the Society’s Annual Convocation, these new members are initiated into the Society in a similar, yet somewhat altered ceremony to that of the undergraduate members. No limit as to how many alumni can be initiated is in place, though traditionally no more than seven alumni or honorary members are initiated.

Since 1948, membership in the Society has been kept secret. No lists or rosters of membership have been published or announced; however, the membership of several members is known publicly due to positions held within the Society, such as the Grand Master, who is also the chairman of the Perkins-Wells Trust, a public position. Traditionally, membership is made public at the funeral of a deceased member by the Society placing a wreath in the shape of a "7" upon the grave of that member and the Chancellor of the University announcing publicly the member's death at Board of Trustees meetings.

As previously stated, the Chairman of the Perkins-Wells Trust holds the title of "Grand Master" in the Society. The Grand Master is elected by the general membership to a seven-year term. The current Grand Master is James G. Sullivan.

Controversies and Activities

For years, the Seven Society has been seen as a highly influential force at East Carolina University. In the 1970’s and 1980’s, it was believed that some 20 percent of ECU’s male faculty were members, thus creating accusations of favoritism toward male students who were in classes under these faculty. Furthermore, Society members were often promoted to the highest levels of university administration creating accusations of cronyism. Every East Carolina University Chancellor since Leo Jenkins and nearly all male members of the Board of Trustees of the University have been members of the Society.

It is estimated that nearly 80 percent of male SGA presidents since 1960 have been members of the Society, thus creating accusations and conspiracies of election fraud. By virtue of their office, all male SGA presidents are eligible for membership as is the editor of The East Carolinian, ECU’s student newspaper. Coupled with the numerous administration and faculty members, the Seven Society at ECU can be likened to influential organizations such as “The Machine” at the University of Alabama, Florida Blue Key at the University of Florida, and Scarabbean Senior Society at the University of Tennessee.

The Seven Society is generally known as a philanthropic organization like its counterpart at the University of Virginia. It is the major contributor and financier of the S. Rudolph Alexander Performing Arts Series at East Carolina University, begun in 1962 by former member of the Society, S. Rudolph Alexander. The Annual “Black and White Scholarship Ball” is a charity event held each year at East Carolina University to raise funds for the general scholarship fund of the University. Over 1 million dollars in scholarships have been raised in this event, since its inception in 1968.

Past Grand Masters

• J.W. Harrington - 1950–1968
• David Whichard - 1968–1975
• S. Rudolph Alexander - 1975–1982
• John Ayers Perkins - 1982–1989
• Edward J. Harper, II - 1989–1996
• Phillip Dixon - 1996–2003
• James G. Sullivan - since 2003

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
• David S. Brody – Former CEO of Brody Brothers Dry Goods Company

Entertainment

• Kevin Williamson - Producer/Director/Actor

Politics

• Robert Burren 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
• Skip Holtz – Former Head Coach for the East Carolina University Pirates football team

See also

• Collegiate secret societies in North America