Cross & Crescent

Editor’s Note: The following is reprinted from Lambda Chi Alpha: A Historical Perspective.

Raymond Henry Ferris (Pennsylvania 1912), an important figure in some of the major areas of Lambda Chi Alph’s early development, died Saturday, April 8, 1972, at his home at 240 S. 45th Street, Philadelphia. He had suffered a stroke four years to the day from the time of his death and subsequently spent approximately 30 weeks at various times in hospitals and rehabilitation centers.

Ray Ferris came into the Fraternity when there were only 17 other members–nine registered on the rolls of Alpha at Boston, and eight on the rolls of Gamma, which had been installed at then Massachusetts Agricultural College only a few weeks earlier.

He was No. 7 on the rolls of historic Epsilon, and with him in the charter group were two other men who had exceptional influence in the development of Lambda Chi Alpha: Albert Cross, No. 1, and John Edward Mason, Jr., No. 6. Cross was a prodigious worker in early expansions and organization efforts; Mason was exceptional in his work on ritual, emblems, publications, and many other Lambda Chi Alpha programs and also served as Grand High Alpha from 1930-33. Ray Ferris worked somewhat in the shadows of these two Lambda Chi Alpha giants, but his extensive and valuable collaboration was always appreciated.

When Ray received the Fraternity’s Order of Merit after his election as one of the first five members, he was described as “one of the earliest workers in the Fraternity in the fields of emblems, ritual, and organization.” The Fraternity magazine continued: “Ferris…is further declared to have exerted a most constructive force in the development of Lambda Chi Alpha, has been a stabilizing guide in the administrative work of his chapter at Pennsylvania…and in alumni work generally in the Philadelphia area.

In the period of World War I, he and Dr. G. D. Hadzits took care of the delicate negotiations that saved the Pennsylvania house and led to quick rehabilitation of the chapter after the signing of the Armistice. He was chairman of his chapter’s rushing committee in 1912, the first year of the groups existence; was a member of the Epsilon (de facto national) emblems and ritual committee from 1912-13; and actively contributed to early songbooks.

For a number of years he was the Fraternity’s ritualist and directed ritualistic work at general assemblies and seminars. He was also a prolific contributor to the Fraternity’s magazine in the days when it was difficult to produce a creditable periodical.

Brother Ferris was a scholarly individual who had an extensive knowledge of Greek and Latin. He has been credited with making the first suggestions that led to substitution on the badge of the Greek letters ‘Delta Pi’� for the previously used ‘Delta Phi,’� redesigning the badge, and suggesting the motto “Naught Without Labor.”

Ray and Mrs. Ferris traveled overseas on several occasions, and at one time their itinerary took them to the scene of activity of the Order of the Crescent, which figures in the legendary background of the Fraternity’s Ritual. While on that visit, Mrs. Ferris, a skilled artist, made a painting of the castle of King Rene–head of the Order–which subsequently was presented to the Fraternity’s Office of Administration.

Always interested in educational matters, Ray was for several years an assistant to the dean of the University of Pennsylvania, and was also a frequent contributor to periodicals and vocational texts. In addition, he also did some extensive broadcasting for local stations around Pennsylvania. Most of Ray’s working years were spent with the Sun Oil Co. at Chester, Pa. After his retirement from business life, he was for several years connected with the offices of Drexel University.

The Philadelphia native received an A. B. at Penn in 1912 and a master’s degree in English and anthropology two years later. He was a member of the Zeolosophic Society and Anthropological Society of the University.