The Quest Is Never Over
From five founding members to more than 650, from the rental of a small house to the ownership of a large one, from obscurity to a place of prominence on the University of Illinois campus, from what might have been just another fraternity to an organization unique in the annals of college life, from a group that could have failed to an organization with a great past and future-- that, briefly, is what has happened to Nabor House Fraternity since its founding 75 years ago.
The broader history of Nabor House has been, is now, and will continue to be written by teh fortunate few men who have become part of this unique fraternity. They have written history well with a superb performance in the classroom, on the playing field, in the leadership arena, and in service to others. To achieve this excellence has not been easy. It has required goals, cooperation, commitment, dedication, and hard work.
However, the quest for excellence is never over. Nabors cannot rest on their laurels of the past. There is work to do, and there will be goals to reach. There are challenges to meet, old ones will remain, and new ones will arise. But challenges are not new to Nabor House, and one of the organization's trademarks is rising to meet the challenge. Some of the challenges to come will obviously be different. Society has changed, and moral values have been altered.
Finding enough of the right kind of men to pledge will continue. The challenge to not become "just another fraternity" can be met if the men dare to be different and stand for what is right. Nabor House will retain its distinctive character if the men have the inner strength to exemplify the tenets of Christian fellowship and service to fellow men. The ever-present problem of maintaining and improving the property will require on-going attention. And, of course, the challenge to achieve the level of excellence of the past or to reach even higher will be a perennial one.
To meet those and other challenges to come will require the combined resourcefulness and dedication of both the alumni and the actives. Unanticipated changes will be needed over the next 75 years, just as they have over the past 75. If Nabors do not succumb to the "everybody else is doing it" excuse, they can meet those changes and keep Nabor House the distinctive organization it is. May the men passing through Nabor House today and those who are yet to come, work through those changes successfully so that they may be able to look back in the year 2039 and say, "Look what we accomplished in 100 years!"
And finally, in the words of the late Walter L. Fehrenbacher: "May God grant this organization the grace to nurture and grow steadily stronger in its quest for greater education, cooperation, and recreating through intelligent Christian living."
The broader history of Nabor House has been, is now, and will continue to be written by teh fortunate few men who have become part of this unique fraternity. They have written history well with a superb performance in the classroom, on the playing field, in the leadership arena, and in service to others. To achieve this excellence has not been easy. It has required goals, cooperation, commitment, dedication, and hard work.
However, the quest for excellence is never over. Nabors cannot rest on their laurels of the past. There is work to do, and there will be goals to reach. There are challenges to meet, old ones will remain, and new ones will arise. But challenges are not new to Nabor House, and one of the organization's trademarks is rising to meet the challenge. Some of the challenges to come will obviously be different. Society has changed, and moral values have been altered.
Finding enough of the right kind of men to pledge will continue. The challenge to not become "just another fraternity" can be met if the men dare to be different and stand for what is right. Nabor House will retain its distinctive character if the men have the inner strength to exemplify the tenets of Christian fellowship and service to fellow men. The ever-present problem of maintaining and improving the property will require on-going attention. And, of course, the challenge to achieve the level of excellence of the past or to reach even higher will be a perennial one.
To meet those and other challenges to come will require the combined resourcefulness and dedication of both the alumni and the actives. Unanticipated changes will be needed over the next 75 years, just as they have over the past 75. If Nabors do not succumb to the "everybody else is doing it" excuse, they can meet those changes and keep Nabor House the distinctive organization it is. May the men passing through Nabor House today and those who are yet to come, work through those changes successfully so that they may be able to look back in the year 2039 and say, "Look what we accomplished in 100 years!"
And finally, in the words of the late Walter L. Fehrenbacher: "May God grant this organization the grace to nurture and grow steadily stronger in its quest for greater education, cooperation, and recreating through intelligent Christian living."