Banquets & Pig Dinner I

Our fraternal brotherhood was in the past, and it remains today, the proudest fraternal brotherhood at the University of Maine. Since 1874 we have forged a strong identity and purpose. We proudly remember our fraternal past because we are a historic fraternal brotherhood in so many ways, and we are all keenly aware of that fact, proudly so. We are, rightly so, proud of our long-rooted fraternal history at the University of Maine. Upon that fact there is no debate, and I am unequivocally sure that we are all thankful for whatever motivation, coincidence, circumstance, brought all of us to the front door of the Castle to start the pledging-initiatory journey to become Omega Mu brothers. In any case, thank God you went through the front door to become Omega Mu brothers, and in so doing becoming part of the historic lore of our fraternal brotherhood at Maine, steady and true since 1848, 1874, 1899. And as such, it is meaningful commitment that we all share to return to Castle to joyfully celebrate Pig Dinner. 

Matter-of-factly, our sustained history is a wonderful testament to each and every brother and our collective perseverance and determination over 123 years, and in two years we will celebrate our 125 anniversary, as well the 100th anniversary of the Castle. It is impossible not to get nostalgic when you set foot inside the Castle again because we are the historically unique fraternal brotherhood at the University of Maine. Quite simply, we have a winning fraternal history. What lessons can we draw from our fraternal history? Simple, past and present, and for all the years to come, we will always be the preeminent fraternal brotherhood at the University of Maine. 

The fraternal evidence of our enjoyable history is overwhelming for all of us. It is always wonderful to return to reminisce and enjoy brotherly fellowship and the common bond of the years since our undergraduate years. We had a very happy life living in the Castle, to say the least. Happily, we walked through the front door of the Castle. Happily, we all lived together in the Castle. Happily, and with deep gratitude, we return to the Castle to see life-long friends in the Castle. Our Omega Mu brotherhood and the Castle, our historically durable union through life, and that cannot be measured. It is a never-ending gift. That is a self-evident truth, a fraternal beatitude, that started with our Q.T.V. catchphrase: “Enjoyment, sociability, and the best interests of the brothers through life.”

Our Q. T. V. - Omega Mu fraternal brotherhood has always coalesced and evolved around many wonderful traditions. These Omega Mu traditions, in various modified forms, have defined our fraternal culture since our Q.T.V. founding in 1874.  They have given us meaning and shape for over one-hundred years. At a minimum, these traditions were popular and fun, and at a maximum they created, and continue to create, our historic continuity that is 148 years strong. They helped create our active and eventful fraternal life on a daily and seasonal basis. Some rites, traditions, and events were formal, while some were more playful and casual. Combined, they each comprise the rich heritage of our fraternal history, and they clearly show the ongoing vibrancy and energy of our Omega Mu brotherhood, still. And, perhaps, it is not too far-reaching to say that the traditions, rites, and events did shape us for the better; I believe they did. Our good fraternal life would simply not have been what it was without them, and there is no way of overstating that reality. And so, there is perhaps no more generationally compelling tradition than our most celebratory, warm-hearted tradition that overflows with reverent generational regard and celebratory joy than our Omega Mu Pig Dinner.  One could even say that it is our primary fraternal sacrament-tradition that brothers always look forward to, abidingly so. After such a prolonged period, I hope that all of you, like I, look forward to, with grateful enthusiasm, the warm-hearted fraternal tradition, fraternal hospitality, and raucous fraternal fun of Pig Dinner, again, on April 30th. Looked at through the lens of the historic continuity of our fraternal of banquets, reunions, and Pig Dinner, I believe that we will find satisfaction in our return to the Castle to recommence the enduring fun, beauty, strength and fraternal, human grace of Pig Dinner. We will find real satisfaction in our return to the Castle for Pig Dinner. We cherish our history, our land, the Castle, and our historic brotherhood. You get the picture, come home for Pig Dinner. It is the unique fraternal tradition that beautifully encapsulates our Phi Gamma Delta life throughout life. But most of all, we will be simply happy to be back inside the unmistakable grace and charm of Castle with generations of Omega Mu brothers, again! It will be nice to celebrate Pig Dinner once again. And, when all is said and done, that is what really matters. Perge. 

Q. T. V. Banquets

​Omega Mu Brothers at
Our Initial Fraternal
Banquets

Horace M. Estabrooke, 1876

Fred C. Mitchell, 1900; and Frank McDonald, 1900

Perley F. Walker, 1896; and Walter Flint, 1882

Howard L. Maddocks, 1900

Horace M. Estabrooke, 1876

Albert H. Brown, 1880, Harvey D. Whitney, 1903

Wilbur A. Bumps, 1875; Herbert T. Sewall, 1902

Toastmaster, Allan Rogers, 1897

John H. Hilliard, 1903; Horace M. Estabrooke, 1876

Perley F. Walker, 1896

Pig Dinner

..."Fijis know him best for the taste of pork at Norris Pig Dinners."

Bringing in the Pig

Kissing the Pig

Clifton E. Chandler, 1913

Theodore T. Curtis, 1923

Frank W. Danforth, Jr., 1946

David L. Smith, 1961

“What if the space be long and wide,
That parts us from our brother’s side
A soul-joined chain unites our band,
And memory links us hand in hand.”
(Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song)

Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82
Perge