Torch Honor Society, also known as Torch, is a student secret society at

Yale College Yale College is the undergraduate college of Yale University. Founded in 1701, it is the original school of the university. Although other Yale schools were founded as early as 1810, all of Yale was officially known as Yale College until 1887, ...

that was initially established in 1916 and reformed in 1995. Its members include former president

George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker BushBefore the outcome of the 2000 United States presidential election, he was usually referred to simply as "George Bush" but became more commonly known as "George H. W. Bush", "Bush Senior," "Bush 41," and even "Bush th ...

and William F. Buckley Jr.

History

Two seniors at the

Sheffield Scientific School Sheffield Scientific School was founded in 1847 as a school of Yale University, Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut, for instruction in science and engineering. Originally named the Yale Scientific School, it was renamed in 1861 in honor of Jos ...

of Yale College established the Torch Honor Society on March 8, 1916. However, the establishment of the group was kept secret until December 20, 1916. It was formed as an honor society to recognize the achievements and merit of undergraduate students. Its ideals were "enlightening leadership and beneficent service". The founders selected a charter class of ten men from the junior class and two professors. These charter members were recruited based on both literary and athletic prominence. The group secured rooms in Strathcona Hall. The society continued to recruit or tap ten juniors each spring but eventually expanded its number to fifteen. Selection for membership in Torch became "one of the most important extracurricular campus honors". In 1915, society members began to advocate for a student-edited publication for science and engineering. The result was ''The Yale Scientific Magazine'' which first published on May 3, 1917. The society was incorporated in the State of Connecticut on January 21, 1922. In January 1950, Torch started a controversial campaign to reduce the emphasis on sports at Yale and other

Ivy League The Ivy League is an American collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference of eight Private university, private Research university, research universities in the Northeastern United States. It participates in the National Collegia ...

schools. The society disbanded in the 1960s. Torch Honor Society was reestablished as a secret society for seniors in 1995. Unlike most of Yale's secret societies, it is non-landed and does not own an off-campus building. The society met on the 4th floor of Sheffield-Sterling-Strathcona Hall (SSS), across from

Aurelian Honor Society Established in 1910, the Aurelian Honor Society ("Aurelian") is the fifth oldest landed secret society at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. It is a member of the Ancient Eight, which also includes Skull and Bones, Scroll and Key, and ...

, but was banned from this space for damaging university property in 2005. It now meets off campus in the

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building on Temple Street.

Symbols

The society's badge consists of an uplifted torch, representing devotion to its ideals and its allegiance to Yale University's motto Lux et Veritas (Light and Truth). The torch is backed by a broad circle that represents comradeship and equality in mutual endeavors. On top of the torch is the

Roman numeral Roman numerals are a numeral system that originated in ancient Rome and remained the usual way of writing numbers throughout Europe well into the Late Middle Ages. Numbers are written with combinations of letters from the Latin alphabet, ea ...

X, representing the original ten members. The society's motto is "Simus Lux Obscuro in Mundo" or "Let us be Light in a Dark World".

Members

Historically, Torch selected or tapped a delegation of ten juniors each spring. Because it was an honor society, Torch could tap members of other societies or fraternities. The society occasionally selected Yale faculty or graduates for honorary membership. After its reformation In the 1990s, the society started selecting sixteen members for each delegation during "Tap Night" with the other secret societies.

Notable alumni

* William P. Buckley Jr. – author and commentator *

– former president of the United States * Raymond C. Clevenger – judge *

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– aviation pioneer, airplane manufacturer, and author *

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– actor * William H. Donaldson – former

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– venture capitalist *

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– historian and educator * William Rogers Herod – president of International General Electric Company and vice president of

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– president and chancellor of the

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and dean of

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– historian * Tony Lavelli – professional basketball player * Cord Meyer –

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official * Irving S. Olds – lawyer * Francis Warren Pershing – businessman, military officer, and son of

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* William C. Plunkett – politician *

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–

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, and

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References

External links

Torch Honor Society photo, Yale Archives
{{Authority control Honor societies Yale University Secret societies at Yale Student organizations established in 1916 1916 establishments in Connecticut