The German Club Ritual
Written in 1935 by member Mel Jeffries, The Ritual distills the German Club into six words: Gentlemen, Earnestness, Reputation, Manhood, Aim, and Name. More than a set of bylaws, it is a charge passed from one generation of members to the next — a reminder that the Club's legacy is not inherited passively, but earned through conduct, character, and care for the name we carry.
Melville Lewis Jeffries, '26 (familiarly called "Mel") is remembered most often as the author of the "German Club Ritual" which, introduced in the 1936/37 academic year, would serve as a timeless set of standards for all German Club members and prospects to come. Mel is also remembered as the devoted husband of Mary Lewis Ingles; both served the German Club as advisors, ardent counselors and dearest friends until their deaths. Mel remained active after graduation in 1926; he served as Publicity Director for the Athletic Association until his retirement in 1948. The Jeffries Society was established in 1988 to recognize those alumni who exemplified the essence of the Ritual and the integrity, the character, and devotion of Melville L. Jeffries, '26 and who have provided conspicuous and dedicated service to the German Club, the Alumni Foundation and the University.
