From the Desk of Herman "Skip" Mason hmason1906@aol.com Iota Chapter, Spring 82(Morris Brown College/Atlanta, Georgia) Eta Lambda Chapter since 1984 Historian, Pastor, Author, Entrepreneur and Lecturer

Vol. 1. No. 23 Tuesday, May 18, 1999
Circulation-1,500+

A FEW HISTORICAL GEMS:

The Members of Alpha Chapter held their first "entertainment' at the local
AMEZ Zion Church in 1905. The pastor was Rev Theodore Augustus Auten who
actually extended the invitation to C.C. Poindexter for the young men to
come. Rev. Auten, a native of Sommerville, New Jersey graduated from Lincoln
University receiving both Bachelors and Theological degree from the school.
He was assigned to Ithaca after 1899.

ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RITUAL AND INITIATION COMMITTEE:
Following the first initiation, Lemuel Graves was later added to the
Initiation Commitee(Wesley, p.53) . At the first general convention, Brothers
Roscoe Giles and Graves presented the "first Ritual." The following year
Brother Numa P. G. Adams worked with Graves and Giles.
Wesley cites the following:
"The original copy of the notes made by the Ritual Committee is in the
archives of the fraternity in the handwriting of Broher Giles and shows the
extent of the committee's labor,"
Now the 2nd General President(1909), Brother Roscoe Giles sent a letter
citing the imporance of the ritual. He described it "As the most fundamental
thing after the constitution." The brothers were urged to keep sacred all of
its information and its practices was to remain solely within the fraternity.
By 1912, the Committee on Ritual recommended that a ciper be adopted to
safeguard the secrets.
A cipher ritual was used following the adoption of that report. Throuhg
painstacking typing, copies of the ritual was sent to each chapter.
It was in 1914, when the explanation for the fraternity pin and the Greek
letters of Alpha Phi were added to the ritual. By 1916, the code for the
ritual had changed.
In what was a profound move, the Ritual Committee recommended that each
chapter should appoint some member(who was qualified) to research the early
development of African civilizatiton. In 1919, more changes were made in the
ritual.


FROM THE LIPS OF A GENERAL PRESIDENT
"We take it that each fraternal group of our day seeks to enroll the best
minds and the noblest characters among the youth. Their aim is to develop and
direct these minds along proper channels to the end that they may be the
minimum in liability and the maximum in asset to civilization

B. Andrew Rose, 1929

FROM THE LIPS OF A JEWEL:

"In 1956, 50 years after the founding of Alpha Phi Alpha at Cornell, many are
saying what type of men were the Jewels."

Jewel George Biddle Kelley, !956

AND NOW A WORD ON
THE
BOOK


“Without this particular sacrifice on your part and on my part, the
fraternity may never have an account of its life and history. Unfortunately,
this is one of the common neglects of the Negro group in America, the
disregard for our past. Let it not be for those who have seen the light."
Charles H. Wesley, c. 1927


THE TALENTED TENTH:
THE FOUNDERS AND 30 GENERAL PRESIDENTS
OF Alpha

By Skip Mason
Foreword by Brother Andrew Young


Dust Jacket comments from:
Brother Lenny Wilkens, Coach, Atlanta Hawks,
Brother Maynard Jackson, former Mayor of Atlanta
Brother Dennis Kimbro, author of "Think and Grow Rich" and "What Makes the
Great Great?
Brother Dr. Thomas W. Cole, President, Clark Atlanta University

Published by Four G's Press, c. 1999
Winter Haven Florida


472 pages; 23 cm, 100+ photographs
ISBN#- - Application submitted
$25.00 (soft back)
$32.00 (hard back)

In the fall of 1905, seven unique AFRICAN-AMERICAN men found themselves on
campus of Cornell University laying the foundation for the first
AFRICAN-AMERICAN fraternity for College men. Who were these men? Where did
they come from? What did they do after Cornell? What were their thoughts
and beliefs on the fraternity that they created? Now for the first time in
print, brothers may experience through text and photographs the Jewels
phenomenal careers, family histories, speeches and letters. In addition, for
the first time collectively, the biographies of the 30 men who served as
General President are also included. Over 100 photographic images (many
never before seen photos of the Jewels and their families), documents,
bibliography and index are presented in this volume every member of the
fraternity should add to his collection. Written and edited by Herman “Skip”
Mason, Jr., former National Archivist of the fraternity, Mason has spent the
last seven years researching the lives of the founders. From interviews with
family members to research at the Library of Congress, the Schomburg, the
Moorland Spingarn and other repositories, this compilation will be a welcome
addition to the literature on these 20th century pioneers of Greek life for
African-Americans.


WHY AM I DOING THE BOOK?

A few years ago, I found that statement made by Jewel George Biddle Kelley
that was so profound. He said "In 1956, 50 years after the founding of Alpha
Phi Alpha at Cornell, many are saying what type of men were the Jewels."
It is my fervent prayer that this book the Talented Tenth, will answer that
question.
Skip Mason


On the back of the book cover:
"Brother Skip Mason takes us back to a time when God gave us men. Men
with strong minds, humble hearts, and true faith. Men who maintained
the courage of their convictions. Men who were larger than their
calling. Men who could stand in the presence of their God and say "The
place I occupy does not need reforming." Men who could look their
struggling brothers and sisters in the eye and whisper with love "Follow
me." Men who became the rocks upon which so many others leaned. As
only he can, Skip shares the historical, moral, and spiritual
significance of such men: The Seven Jewels and 30 General Presidents of
Alpha Phi Alpha. From my college days at Zeta Zeta to my writings that
have taken me around the world, I am still overwhelmed to think that I'm
a part of such a grand organization. Thank you, Skip!

Dennis P. Kimbro
author, What Makes the Great Great

".....Those lasting values of the Seven Jewels mandate that we bring meaning
and vision to our lives and to lives of other by being Men of Alpha who
engage in an obstinate, daily revolt against the ordinariness of our lives."

Maynard H. Jackson, Alpha Rho '56
Chairman/CEO
Jackson Securities


ORDER FORM, PLEASE PRINT, FILL OUT AND MAIL . BELOW ORDER FORM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS REGARDING BOOK
_____________________________________________________________________

$25.00 (Soft back) $32.50 (Hard back)
This is still pre-publication price. So get it while it last!

ORDER FORM
Please send me ______ copies at ___________. Total enclosed: $____________
(add $3.20 for shipping for each copy/ 6% sales tax each copy)

Ship books to:

NAME________________________________________________________

ADDRESS_____________________________________________________

CITY STATE ZIP_________________________________________________

email address__________________________________

INDICATE IF YOU WANT BOOK SIGNED AND TO WHOM_______________

_____________________________________

To order, send order form, check or money order made payable to Skip Mason
to:
Skip Mason/The Talented Tenth 564 Blake Avenue, SE Atlanta, Georgia 30316

_____________________________________________________________________

So many of you have asked questions regarding the book. I have attempted to
answer some of them below:


QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

How does this book differ from the previous one published in 1997:
A- There is no comparison. This new book is being professionally published,
edited with a slick, glossy cover and additional researched content and
photographs. The first book was a work in progress and did not include the
section on the General President. In this book, the Section on the Jewel has
been updated extensively and included excerpts from their speeches and
writings. There is an appendix with full text of several of their speeches.
It was important to me that you had a chance to read first hand their
thoughts about the fraternity they founded and where it was headed. But hold
on to your first copy. Who knows maybe it will become somewhat of a
collector's one day.

Are Skip's Historical Moments Coming Directly from the book?
Absolutely not. While a few of the subjects and quotes are, the majority of
the moments are not included in the book in the manner in which you received
them. The book has a compilation of information on the Jewels that you will
not find anywhere in print. I am a master researcher (Not bragging, just
recognizing a gift God has given me). I teach Research Methodology to my
freshmen history students. Not looking at the traditional sources, but
finding those non traditional sources to pull material. As a certified
genealogist, I was able to do extensive research on many of the Jewels
families. As a Certified Archivist (graduate of the Jimmy Carter
Presidential Library Archives Institute and Black Studies librarian (Master's
in African-American Studies/Library and Information Sciences) , I was able to
utilize my network of resources. The director of the Schomburg Research
Center in Harlem, Howard Dodson is a fraternity brother and friend as well as
the Director of the Tuskegee University Archives Danny Williams. The
director of Fisk University Special Collection is a dear friend. I had full
access to the material at the Auburn Avenue Research Library in Atlanta which
has an extensive microfilm collection of material which I used. I say all of
that that to say that these persons and their staff opened their resources to
me. While there is still a lot of information to locate, I feel very good
about this effort. And as Wesley so often did, this book will undergo in
future years revisions and updates.

When will the book be ready?

Okay, I know what I initially said, but then the publisher did not realize
that I had such a mammoth manuscript. Nevertheless, the manuscript has been
professionally edited and typeset. I am no editor nor do I claim to be. I am
a historian who likes to write but needs to have a good copy editor.
Currently I am doing my final review of the typeset proofs. I will be
meeting my publisher/editor next week to deliver the proofs. After the
changes have been made, it will go the printer and blue lines will be made.
>From that point it will take three weeks to do the Soft covers and five weeks
to do the hard back copies. The soft covers will have a glossy finish.
A- The soft back copies will be ready in the middle of June
The hard bound copies will be ready the first of July

Who is the publisher?
A- The publisher is George Grant, owner of Four G- Publishers, Inc. out of
Winter Park, Florida. It is African-American owned and operated. He has
published over 30 book and caters to African-American authors who chose to
self publish. George Grant, the owner is recognized professionally in
academic and library circles throughout the country and is a co chair of the
Black Librarian Conference in Las Vegas in July in which I will be attending,
lecturing on documenting community histories and participating in the
Author's Booksigning. As I have mentioned, I have published four books on
Atlanta's African-American History with Arcadia Press and one with Longstreet
Press. I will also be introducing Civil Rights Legend and Best Selling Author
John Lewis (a good member of Phi Beta Sigma) and Tavis Smiley( a good member
of Kappa Alpha Psi) at breakfast entitled "A Few Good Men."

What has been the delay in the book?
A- Several factors have contributed to the delay, some partially mine and the
other the publisher. The manuscript underwent extensive professional editing.
There were over 472 pages to edit. When I initially told you six week, my
publisher told me I was out of my mind. Several weeks were lost when the
publisher relocated and had death in his family and then the editor was
delayed due to personal reasons.
In addition, additional research material which was uncovered after the
manuscript was presented was added. For example, I located after the
manuscript was released information on Cornell in 1906, Vertner Woodson
Tandy's son, that I thought was important to include. The same goes with the
other Jewels. I am still constantly researching even though the manuscript
has submitted and the book is partially complete.Prior to that point (while
it was in editing) when I found something that needs to be included, I did.
While there was a cut off point, I felt that this information was important
to include. Those who have preordered will have their copy long before the
convention.

What if I have already ordered a copy of the book?
A- To those who have paid the initial $25, you will get you a soft cover copy
which was what the original plan was. If you desire a hard copy (with dust
jacket), please forward the difference($7) plus shipping and handling($3.20)
for a total of $10.20. As I stated, initially the plan was to do a Soft
Cover edition only, but the publisher was able to work with me to get a
limited number of Hard Cover books done. Remember if you have already
ordered, you do not owe anything (even though I failed initially to include
shipping charges early on). Nevertheless, I will absorb that cost and you
will receive your copy of the book in the spirit of the brotherhood. The cost
(both soft and hard) is reflective of the number of books that I am
ordering. If the quantity was much larger, the price could be reduced
substantially. Remember brothers, I do not have the luxury to publish 10,000
copies. If that was the case, the cost would be much lower. To those of you
who answered my initial plea, I am so grateful to you. You made it possible
to get it started but I still have a lot of books to sell. So if you have not
placed your order, please do so right away.

What about other fees?"
I plan to pay the required licensing fee to the fraternity to sell
merchandise. I also plan to pay vending fees for Dallas should I decide to
take book to the convention.

Is there a web site?
My website is almost completed. On the site, you will be able to see what
Skip Mason is about. It includes my company, excerpts from my books on
Atlanta as well as this book on the Jewels and General Presidents. You will
also be able to retrieve back issues of Skip's Historical Moments.

No 1- Callis's First Wife
No 2- The Ties That Bind: Lyle and Hedgeman/APHIA/AKA
No 3- Charles Chapman, A Poet?
No 4- The APHIA/Delta Connection (Most requested issue)
No 5- Frederick Douglass: He was the Spirit of the Fraternity
No 6- Rev. A Wayman Ward: The Author of the Fraternity
No. 7- Abram L. Simpson, Author of the Fraternity Hymn and other Alpha
Songwriters
No. 8- Revisionist Fraternities: The Omega, Kappa, Sigma Conspiracy
No. 9- The Daughter of Jewel Ogle
No 10- How Alpha is Portrayed in Current Literature
No. 11- Duke Ellington and Alpha Phi Alpha
No. 12- Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy's Connection to Tuskegee
No. 13- The Mothers of the Jewels, Part One
No. 14- Jewel Jones Mother: Mrs Rosa Kinckle Jones/ Dr. Roscoe C. Giles
No. 15- Jewel Murray Mother: Mrs. Anna Evans Murray
No. 16- Jewels Ogle and Tandy's Mothers
No. 17- Mrs. Annie Singleton and the Mothers of Ithaca
No. 18- Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones: Truly A Servant of All
No. 19- Alpha and Sigma Pi Phi(The Boule)
No. 20- The Sphinx Club and Pledging 1906-1930
No. 21- Masonic and other fraternal ties to the Seven Jewels
No. 22-DuBois and Alpha Phi Alpha: Was it the pride of his heart

Why are you doing Skip's Historical Moments?
A- Simply so the brothers on the Internet can know that I am serious about my
commitment and love for this organizations history. That I am not selfish in
sharing it and most importantly it does not belong to me, but to the
collective bond of brothers who eat up Alpha's history as much as I do and
there are so many of you whom I have heard from that still have that passion
in their heart. Let me say (contrary to anything that you may have heard, I
am not in it for personal gain. If you think that is the reason, then you
really don't know Skip Mason.
I have for the last 17 years, have been collecting information on the
fraternity. You can ask anyone in Atlanta, Georgia, the South and those
brothers who have known me since college days at Morris Brown College in
Atlanta where I was initiated into Iota Chapter on April 4, 1982.
Immediately after I went over, I located the founder of my Chapter and sat
down at his feet to gain knowledge. As my students say, "It's been on ever
since." I have always hung around the Senior Alphas at conventions, just
absorbing their knowledge. I have not missed a General Convention since 1983.
The Dallas Convention will be my 16th consecutive convention. Brother Dr.
Charles Wesley was and still is my fraternal idol. Raymond W. Cannon and I
used to correspond with each other before he died. I still have his typed and
hand written letters. Lionel Newsom, the 21st General President was also my
mentor. He and his wife Maxine got in their car and drove down to Atlanta to
attend the unveiling of my first book. Before he died (and I was not the
Archivist) he gave me a copy of the last chapter that Wesley had written and
asked me make some comments. Brothers long gone like Andrew
"Generalissimore" Lewis, Sidney Jones, Father Henry James Charles Bowden,
Frank Dee (who told me the correct password), Moses General Miles (whom many
of us during the early 80's when we were college brothers called "the Eight
Jewel'), Hobart Jarrett and so many others that when they talked, I
salivated. I used to write General Presidents Teamer, Ponder when they were
in office and asked them when they were going to appoint a historian, update
the book. Don't believe me, I have copies of the letters and their responses.
I have probably read every available issue of the Sphinx going back to the
1920s. Zeroxing pages, marking notes. Long before Brother Milton Davis
appointed me as Archivist, I had been hungry for information. Once again on
April 15, the spirit of the Lord sat me down and I wrote the first Skip's
Historical Moment. The response, overwhelming. It's sometimes unexplainable
other than the fact that it is the historical intuitive in me to want to know
more and why, but not only that to share it with the brothers. Wesley's
phenomenal book left many unanswered questions from me.
Well, from a couple of hundred addresses to now over 2,000 and growing, the
Historical Moments have been well received. The majority of the email
addresses are of non financial brothers. Oh how I have enjoyed talking to the
brothers. I feel so blessed to be in contact with so many brothers. I try
answer every email. While it was not the intent to use this as a tool for
reclaiming, that has been the most consistent response I am getting from
brothers. I am surprised but am glad for it. I ask God to use me as a vessel
to do his work.(by the way, I am pastor of the St. James C.M.E. Church) and a
college professor formerly at Morehouse College. In the fall, I will return
to my Alma Mater Morris Brown College to teach and direct the college's
archives and museum. I am aware of my gifts and talents and thank God for
the abilities. Most importantly I try to remain humble.

WHAT THE BROTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT SKIP'S HISTORICAL MOMENTS:
(this is but a small sampling of letters and comments that I have received)

Skip: First, kudos and thanks for the insight you provide. You have
taken our great history from the backrooms of rumors, inaccuracy, and
legend to the light of truth, analysis, and scholarship. Thank you.
Brother Ronald Rice


Brother Mason,
Thank you once again for spreading the light of Alpha and sharing African
American history with us all. I am burning the midnight oil for a class on
Bro. DuBois. Your most recent e-mail was very insightful.
With your permission, I would like to use excerpts from a few of the
"Historical Moments" on our chapter site. I was also wondering if you are
taking part in the "Alpha University" initiative? It seems your knowledge
would make a great impact.

Fraternally,
Russell Malbrough, Vice President / Webmaster


Good morning Brother Mason:
My name is Brother Roderick J. Alfred. As I said before I love reading
SHM's. I learn more about our prestigious fraternity everyday. This is the
kind of information I think should be taught to in coming aspirants/members.
Before I sit down to read SHM's, I forward it out too as many Alphas whom
email address I have access to. There's always a discussion afterwards about
what we've read. Knowledge is meant to be disseminated on all levels, so we
all can learn. Skip, again keep up the good work and Hold High The LIGHT.

Brother Roderick J. Alfred
Delta Theta Lambda "Spr" 98

P.S." did you ever comment on the significance of the gorilla to Alpha Phi
Alpha fraternity, Inc. That is one of the burning questions I have, please
comment.

"Love the updates. America needs the fraternity more than ever! I am glad
that you wrote the book. Where do I send my money for a hardback copy?"

Greetings Brother Mason,
I hail from the great state of Tennessee and the city of Nashville. My name
is Jerry Moss, I pledged at Western Kentucky University in the Fall semester
of 1988. I am glad to see a publication of this sort, it promotes thought
and interest into our fraternity, the best fraternity in the world. I would
like to know more about your sources and your book, if it can be purchased
and how. I know there's quite a bit more about the fraternity. I talk with
'old heads' to gain a little more knowledge of our fraternity, but more often
than not, the story changes. I am just trying to get a little more
consistency and I ask your help in this matter. If you have any questions of
me, I would be more than happy to answer them at the below number. I would
greatly appreciate your assistance in raising the dark mysteries of our
fraternity, so that I may become a better influence on younger brothers
entering our illustrious organization. Thank you.

Fraternally yours,
Jerry Moss

Thanks again. History is so important "A tree without roots cannot
survive!"
I wish the guys going through the intake could get these lessons. What
a foundation! It would really provide an appreciation for the "LEGACY"


"Keep searching for answers and questions. It's that sort of work which
makes men's heart swell with pride and brains swell with knowledge."
Horace T. Jones

Skip,
One of the many reasons I so anxiously sought to become a member of
this fraternity almost 10 years ago was because of the rich history
and men that have made it. This past week has given me additional
insight above and beyond our history books and stories from brothers
past. Thank you and keep it coming !!!!
Brian


Bruh,
I hope nationals isn't trying to juice you for money. If so, please let me
know.
I know we are a corporation but this is obviously not about money. It's about
preserving history and you have given freely of your time to educate us all.
If anything the national office should be in full support of your efforts.
We are all shareholders in this corporation and if i have to use the
convention
forum to remind our leadership of this -- then look forward to seeing me in
July...

Keep the faith bruh!


ORDER FORM, PLEASE PRINT, FILL OUT AND MAIL
_____________________________________________________________________

$25.00 (Soft back) $32.50 (Hard back)
This is still prepublication price, so order it while it last.

ORDER FORM

Please send me ______ copies at ___________. Total enclosed: $____________
(add $3.20 for shipping for each copy/ 6% sales tax each copy)

Ship books to:

NAME________________________________________________________

ADDRESS_____________________________________________________

CITY STATE ZIP_________________________________________________

EMAIL ADDRES______________________________

INDICATE IF YOU WANT BOOK SIGNED AND TO WHOM__________________

_____________________________________________

To order, send order form, check or money order made payable to Skip Mason
to:

Skip Mason/The Talented Tenth 564 Blake Avenue, SE Atlanta, Georgia 30316
hmason1906@aol.com

_____________________________________________________________________