The following is an exerpt from A Ritual of the Phi Beta Kappa (1928) read at the PBK initiation ceremony at UND.

The Phi Beta Kappa key of today bears the insignia of the medal adopted December 5, 1776. The three Greek letters, Phi, Beta, and Kappa, are the initials of the Greek motto, Philosophia Biou Kybernetes, which is interpreted to mean, the love or quest of wisdom, the guide or inspiration of life. The three Stars indicate the three fundamental principles of the Society---Fraternity, Morality, and Literature---and the index finger pointing to the stars indicates the high aspiration of the members. On the reverse the letters S P are the initials of the Latin words, Societas Philosophiae, which are in harmony with the Greek motto on the obverse.

Front and back views of the Phi Beta Kappa key given to Peyton Short in 1780 by the Alpha Chapter at the College of William and Mary. (Courtesy, Swem Library, College of William & Mary)

The date, December 5, 1776, is engraved on the medals, and indicates the time of the Society's formal organization. All wearers of the key are thus assured that they belong to one of the oldest college organizations in the country---the oldest society formed for the encouragement of scholarship and the union of those engaged in scholarly pursuits.