The Philomathean Society of Phillips Academy is the second oldest secondary school debate union in the United States. Founded in 1825 the Philomathean Society, familiarly known as "Philo," meets weekly in the historical Debate Room of Bulfinch Hall. The earliest record of Philo's doings, preserved, bears the date January 5, 1825. [1] The Philomathean Society was founded by Horatio Balch Hackett and Ray Palmer. The Philomathean motto is Scire Est Regere; To Know is to Rule.