While addressing the Grand Chapter, Isaac M. Jordan said:

             “Let me say here, that in my judgment, our fraternity has grown to be what it is, by adhering to the principle with which we started in the beginning, of admitting no man to membership who is not believed to be a man of good character, of fair ability, of ambitious purposes, and of congenial disposition.  In a word, by the admission of none but gentlemen; and in no other way can such a society be continued.   It is much more important that we should have but few chapters and have them good ones, that we should have but few members and have them honorable ones, than to have many chapters  or many members.”