From the 1901 petition to Phi Delta Theta, as written by the Founders:
“The local fraternity, Knights of Classic Lore, originated in Illinois Wesleyan University
during the winter term of the college year 1899-1900. The originators were J. L. Settles,
1902; O. I. Truitt, 1902; J. C. McNutt, 1901; C. Roy Atkinson, 1900, and Clarence A.
Mayer, 1903. The purpose of these men was to form a brotherhood of earnest students,
of good character and congenial qualities, for intellectual, social and moral culture. With
this aim mutually and specifically agreed upon they began to meet fortnightly in the
evenings in their respective rooms. These meetings were at first informal, and there was
no constitution nor organization of any kind. Later, however, a committee consisting of
Truitt, McNutt and Settles, drew up a constitution recognizing the objects above stated,
providing for officers, and making the conditions for membership in the organization a
unanimous vote of election on men whose names were previously submitted by the
members, the invitation to join following the election. This constitution after some three or
four weeks' deliberation was adopted, and, with the exception of a single revision made
some months later, is the present constitution of the K. C. L. It provides for seven officers,
as follows: Princeps, Primus, Secundus, Amanuensis, Sacerdos, Mensarius and Servieus
ad Arma. Mr. Roy Atkinson was the first Princeps. The meetings during this year were led
by the members in the alphabetical order of their names...Occasionally a member would
be appointed to "post up" on some scientific topic or recent discovery, as, for example,
liquid air, and report to his brother Knights the results of his reading. Hamlet was read
and discussed within circle of the Knights; and these programs varied with an occasional
initiation, as the organization grew, constituted the work of the first year. The following
year the Amateurean Hall, a large room on the third floor of the main hall of the university,
was rented, in which the organization held its first meetings for the year. Then the present
quarters, a room on the second floor of the main hall, was secured, by petitioning the
trustees of the university, for the exclusive use of the Knights. This room has now been
occupied about a year and has been fitted up with new furniture, tapestry and wall
decorations, and contains other belongings of the individual Knights. The organization
has now won a secure place as a factor in the college life, and a charter in a national
Greek letter fraternity, which had been talked of from time to time, is one of its recognized
aims. We wish, in closing, to give especial credit to Mr. Martin, who has largely
represented the organization to the fraternity to whom this prospectus is sent, for the
fidelity, zeal and sacrifice with which he has labored in this behalf.”