| 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 |
 |
"We shall carry in mind his genial temper, his persistent loyal purpose, his unostentatious service to others, and we shall endeavor to have these qualities live again in us."
Charles Harris Wesley on the passing of Jewel Charles Henry Chapman,
December 1934
For over 15 years, Chapman did not attend a convention nor was he affiliated
with any chapter because of his relocation to the Deep South. There
were no chapters in Jackson, Miss., or Huntsville, Ala., where Chapman
resided during his years of teaching prior to joining the faculty at Florida
A&M University in Tallahassee, Fla. General President B. Andrew
Rose contacted Chapman, who was now in Tallahassee, and invited him
to be the guest speaker at the Twenty-second General Convention in Atlanta
from Dec. 28-31, 1929. Chapman accepted. He would deliver the Founder's
Address at the afternoon session at Big Bethel A.M.E. Church
on Auburn Avenue. As he prepared the speech, he wrote Brother Wesley
a note:
"President Dr. B. Andrew Rose, of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity informe(sic)
me that you are compiling the history of the fraternity. He further
informs me that the same will be available after the first of December.
Permit me to request that you forward me a copy of this history as soon
as it is off the press. An explanation is probably necessary. I am
a participant on the program of the next convention and want this manuscript
for the sake of bringing to the attention of the fraternity some facts
that I contributed to the history.
Thanking you in advance, I am fraternally and sincerely, C.H. Chapman."
Twenty-two years had passed, and Jewel Chapman needed reminding of his role in the development of the fraternity. It is unknown whether Brother Wesley responded to his request.
His participation at the Atlanta convention rekindled his involvement
with the fraternity. Jewel Chapman attended the Twenty-third General Convention
in December 1931 which celebrated the 25th Anniversary in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Jewel Chapman delivered the fraternal address and remarked about the
fraternity's purpose:(text of speech is in book "The Talented Tenth").
Brother Mal Goode, who was present recalled seeing tears in Jewel Chapman
eyes as the brothers circled around him Jewel Callis, Chapman, Murray and
Kelley to sing the fraternity hymn.
The following year in 1932, Chapman helped to organize the Beta Nu Chapter at Florida A & M. (A copy of the initiation program is included in the book, The Talented Tenth) Two years later he died from kidney disease. His grave and headstone is intact in Tallahassee. It -- like the graves of Kelley, Murray, the recently located graves of Jewel Ogle and the unknown graves of Jewel Jones and Tandy -- should be shrines visited by all Alphas. (Jewel Callis was cremated.)
SKIP'S WEB SITE ALMOST COMPLETE
I had numerous offers from brothers to design my web site after my first Historical Moment. The first offer came from Brother Rod Robeson at Baylor University in Texas . He has worked diligently and patiently with me on it. Because so many of you have asked for information about me and back issues (which you can retrieve from this site), you may view the website at this temporary address:
http://www.baylor.edu/~Roderick_Robeson/skip
My permanent site should be up and running within the next week or two.
Please understand that the web site is still under construction and the
"bugs" and typos are being ironed out. If you have any comments, you may
email me at hmason1906@aol.com or Roderick_Robeson@baylor.edu
HOW TO LOCATE INFORMATION ON YOUR CHAPTER FOUNDERS
Lately, I have been getting numerous request from brothers on ways to identify information and locate the whereabouts of local chapter Founders. It is very important for a chapter to have a file on the founders of their chapter.
1. Every chapter should have a charter that lists all founders. The Alpha Archives records only goes back to the 1940's and did not include any charters.
2. Back issues of the Sphinx become the next best source. Most academic libraries on campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities should have back issues. The Moorland Spingarn Research Library on the campus of Howard University has a decent collection, but there are some years missing.
3. Upon making a list of founders, determine what graduating classes they were in (assuming they graduated).
4. Go to the school's library and use yearbooks for further identification.
5. Check with the Office of Alumni Affairs. It should have a database of all graduates of the institution.
6. There should also printed directories that will list individual by classes.
7. Identify hometowns for the founder's from yearbooks and directories.
8. Check the school's archives for commencement programs.
9. See if there are back issues of the school's papers.
For chapters founded before 1920, once a name and hometown of a Founder
has been found, you can research the 1920 census records for the state
in which that he lived. The census records are available at
the local archives in the Capital of each state. There are also regional
branches of the National Archives that contain censuses for the entire
United States. Here in Atlanta, I was able to track down most of
the Jewels' families in the 1880 and 1900 census record. The 1890 census
for the entire United States was destroyed, so this record is not really
useful. You should also be able to acquire microfilm through interlibrary
loan. Your librarian will show you how to use the census.
to be continued...
ALPHA IN THE 1920's
(If you haven't figured it out yet, I am very interested in the fraternity during the decade of the 1920's and 30's. In my research I have found it to be one of the most interesting periods in the history of the fraternity. Listen to some of the voices of brothers during those years as they reflect on various fraternal issues.)
WHY I PLEDGED?
"Alpha meant something to me in college because it served a definite
purpose. Ten years ago, a student had to join a frat to get his money's
worth out of college. Not only was the fraternity the best possible
source of congenial social contact, but it was a powerful force in stimulating
rivalry in the classroom, on the athletic field and in all extra curricular
activities. "
Brother J.E. Oakes (Alpha Pi 1926)
ON THE USE OF THE TERM DOGS(identifying Sphinxmen)
"We, the Neophytes, have found that before one can be recognized by
the renowned Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and before his name can sparkle
on the glorious pages of its history, he must slowly but surely wind a
solitary way through the valley of the shadow of Dog Days."
James H. Taylor(Beta Tau) 1936
ON THE ANTICS OF PLEDGING
"I see no useful purpose being served in requiring a prospective member
of a fraternity to remain up all night; to do work of menial character;
to run the risk of bodily injury by being blindfolded, placed in an automobile
and driven miles into the country, there to be left to find his way back
to the college campus best he may."
unidentified brother, 1936
INITIATION BANQUETS
"On Sunday, February 11, our initiation banquet, which was undoubtedly
the finest in the history of Tau Chapter, was held. After a relishing eight
course dinner, the following addresses were delivered:"The Support of Each
Round in the Ladder of Success" "Alpha Phi Alpha-Its Aims and Ideas" Your
Duty to Alpha Phi Alpha, Your Duty to the Community. Impromptu speeches
by the new inititiates concluded the program. Upon each program was inscribed
the mottos of the "Sphinx Clubs: "Dum vivimus vivamos" and Ad finem esta
fidelis."
Harold D. West, Editor to the Sphinx, 1923
SKIP'S NOTE- Any latin scholars out there? Send me the meaning of these mottos. By the way, I am convinced that chapters should reinstate the Initiation banquet. I believe that this formal setting following the initiation helps to bind the fraternal spirit in a awesome way. The trend has been to go out and celebrate and step(which is okay in its place). But after having gone through the process and ritual, new brothers need to hear from the seasoned brothers. Isn't that what our Jewels did after their first initiation? Are there any chapters who have banquets following the initiation. Let me hear from you.
SMOKERS
(The original intent for smokers were for brothers to gather in an
informal and relaxed atmosphere and discuss the issues of the fraternity.
Yes, there was smoke (pipes, cigars primarily) and beverages. Often when
a guest brother was in town, a smoker would be thrown.
Brother Thomas Pawley, former Historian remarked:
"We had a smoker after his(Duke Ellington) concert in the home of a
Morris Brown graduate, Assistant Lincoln University Librarian Mary McAffee
Turner, Zeta Phi Beta, who continued to hear from him thereafter."
FROM THE LIPS OF A JEWEL
" Just as I have obtained one of the most cherished memories of my life
through participation in this brotherly venture, so I will have the greatest
disappointment of my life if I should see this organization lose sight
of the
principles that it has always maintained."
Jewel Charles Henry Chapman, December, 1931
FROM THE LIPS OF A PAST GENERAL VICE PRESIDENT
"The founders and those working close to them, in those days of uncertain
and difficult beginnings, cannot help but feel proud that though they began
under such great handicaps and discouragements, their efforts are today
bearing fruit beyond their greatest expectations."
George W.A. Scott, General Vice President of Alpha Phi Alpha, 1910-1911
SKIP'S FAVORITE QUOTE FOR TODAY
"On the day of victory, no one is tired."
Shared by Terence L. Reece /SP85 Zeta Pi 9K#2
SKIP'S FAVORITE SCRIPTURAL QUOTE
Whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of
Jesus.
Colossian 3:17
LETTERS FROM THE BROTHERS:
THE FORMER HISTORIAN SPEAKS ON HOW DUKE ELLINGTON' BECAME AN ALPHA
Brother Mason,
I was just given a copy of your email sketch on Brother Duke Ellington.
He was initiated in the church of Brother Rev. C. Anderson Davis, later
Midwestern VP and Editor of the Sphinx. It must have taken place in 1955
because Brother Davis informed me that the Midwestern V.P. Julius Judkins
was furious at the chapter and threatened it with disciplinary action.
He was elected at the 48th Anniversary Convention in 1954.
Brother Davis now resides in Houston. In 1952, when I was a delegate
to the Midwestern Regional in Bluefield, West Va., I was told that Duke
frequently visited Brother Dr. Higginbotham, his friend, in whose house
I was attending a party. Brother Higginbotham was initiated into
Beta Chapter so that he may have known Duke in D.C. I believe he
was responsible for his initiation into the fraternity.
Fraternally,
Tom
Skip's Note- The distinguished Brother Dr. Thomas Pawley served as Historian
of the fraternity during the administration of General President Milton
Davis. He continues to write a column for the Sphinx and is a wealth of
information. I appreciate him sharing this information with me, therefore
enabling me to share it with you.A few of the articles written by Brother
Thomas Pawley in past issues of
"The Sphinx:" Alpha Phi Alpha and Historically Black Colleges
and Universities, Fall 98
The Great Sphinx at El Giza: The Fraternity's Emblem, Spring 1998
Our Heraldic Emblems, Summer, 96
Our Highest Awards, Spring 96
The Coat of Arms, Fall 96
The Shield, Summer 96
Honorary Membership, Fall 95
The Struggle to Eradicate Brutality, Summer 95
A BROTHER SHARES ABOUT DUBOIS
Skip:
As you are always giving us much needed information, here is a bit
for your edification:
...."W.E.B. DuBois' eighty-third birthday dinner will long beremembered...Belford
Lawson, national head of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, volunteered and
made a fighting speech, Paul Robeson sang and spoke, Professor Franklin
Frazier presided and spoke."
-- from "His Day Is Marching On: A Memoir of W.E.B. DuBois," by Shirley
Graham DuBois, J.B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia/New York, 1971, pg.
144
Fraternally,
Ronald C. Rice
#2-N.A.S.T.Y. Nu Beta Chapter/Askia the Great /alias Revelation
*******************************************************
THE COAT OF ARMS
Skip,
As a recent reclaimed brother, I decided to re-read the fraternity history book. I must admit that I am as inspired now as I was when I first read it almost 13 years ago. Nonetheless, I still have questions concerning the crest or coat-of-arms that adorns a lot of our fraternity paraphernalia. What is the origin of the crest/coat-of-arms? What do the images symbolize? How long has the crest/coat-of-arms adorned fraternity paraphernalia? I hate to ask such basic questions, but the crest/coat-of-arms is not referred to in the history book -- at least not in the 1981 edition. Thanks in advance for your help.
Fraternally,
Vince Truett/LM# 8866
Skip's Note- Brother Pawley wrote a very detailed explanation on the Crest in the Summer '96 and Fall '96 editions of The Sphinx. Find a copy of it and read it.
THE DIMINISHING ROLE OF COLLEGE BROTHERS
Dear Skip:
I share your observation about the diminishing role college brothers
are playing in the Fraternity. While I agree that we must adhere
to the calling of Brothers such as DuBois and Paul Roberson and remain
"relevant"
to the struggles of our people, it seems that our primary goal now
is to become a national organization that is similar to the Urban League
and not to meet our original mission: to mold and enrich the lives of
brothers in college. There must be some balance. That is why my true
allegiance will always be primarily with my undergraduate chapter.
Will college brothers one day have to leave the fold and form another
Alpha to
get their needs met once more?
Brother Julius Hall
**********************************************
Brother Mason, I must take a moment to convey the gratitude with which I have received your writings, and been greatly inspired by them. The reading of each segment you've sent out has rekindled the stirrings and commitment with which I first embraced Alpha Phi Alpha 28 years ago at West Chester State College, West Chester, Penn.
Thanks for your efforts, and the sharing of the fruit of those efforts. I look forward to the release of your publication, and to distributing copies to those who were inspired by the light to cross the burning sands, but have fallen away from the fraternal bonds of brotherhood.
Brother Jaru Ruley
4/17/71 - Zeta Psi/Nu Mu Lambda, Decatur, Ga.
Bro. Mason,
Blessings and Fraternal greetings, I am so intrigued by your historical
Moments. As a neophyte bro, I feel the urge to learn as much as I
can every day. The true spirit of the fraternity truly runs through
your veins, and I
hope that I may meet you in the near future to share in some of your
in-depth knowledge. In response to the brother who only wanted an
email a week, I would love to have one every day. Thank You,
'til next time - '0000006
Brother Ryan McDavis
Skip,
Keep doing what you are doing. There is no confusion in providing
the historical Alpha facts the you freely type up and email everyday.
You are waking up the true spirit of our fraternity which should be in
our hearts.
We use the slogan, "First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend
All." But, some chapters and brothers could be guilty of the slogan, "First
of all, Harder than all, We shall respect none others at all." O.K.
That may have been a little harsh, but it's hard to be a servant if you
are not Christ focused. All we have to do to measure up to the first
slogan listed above is to study our first example of servanthood, Jesus
Christ, and then read again the sayings and facts that you have provided
about our own Jewels, and truly take those to heart. It's not about
who runs the yard [even though its nice to say that the Alphas are running
things :-) ], but this
fraternity is much deeper than that, at least in our founders' eyes.
Talk about a reclamation tool. I feel proud again to be a part of
Alpha Phi Alpha. That one brother really challenged me to get my
dues together and
get involved again. Skip, keep raising the consciousness of the
true spirit of Alpha so that it may rule our hearts, guide our thoughts
and control our lives so that we may become, with the Lord's guidance,
servants to all.
Brother Virgil Sensabaugh
******************************************************
Brother Mason,
I am humbled, but I do believe that the history you are uncovering
is the history that fills one with pride
and not simply informs one of factual happenings. Within this
substantive history, we can see the soul of Alpha. By sharing with
us the backgrounds of the Jewels, we can fill in the unspoken words which,
when condensed, comprise our fraternity motto (first of all, servants of
all, we shall transcend all). By understanding the relationships
between and the struggles of our Jewels and first brothers as they moved
toward
the aims of our fraternity (manly deeds, scholarship, and love for
all mankind), we can see what illuminates that great light of Alpha.
Indeed, you have opened a Pandora's box which cannot (and should not)
be closed. As several brothers have pointed out, THIS is precisely
the kind of thing new initiates should be exposed to. We ought to
have a
"historical moment" at the conventions where we talk about THIS history.
As you mentioned those giants of our fraternity, I came to see you as a
link between our past and our present. Had it not been for you, we
may
have never been exposed to this, and we as a brotherhood would not
have been increased. Just like family members (and oftentimes chapter
brothers) know each others' heritage, we ought to know the heritage of
our
fraternity. After all, it is a brotherhood.
I can't say enough about what you're doing. I wish I had more clout to get this type of thing to be a more integral part of our "official" goings on. Maybe one of your readers is a RVP or on some committee and can make things happen. I don't see why the national organization would even care about political gain when the fraternity is being uplifted! You aren't taking anything away from THEM (the bureaucracy), and you're not looking to toot your own horn. You REALLY care, and as a result of your efforts, we have been rejuvenated!! (Accidentally, deleted the letter thinking I had copied the brother''s name. If you wrote this please email me.)
Skip,
I'm pleased that you are doing what you are doing. I am very impressed
with the number of Alpha men that were called to the ministry since its
existence. Even though OUR notorious initiation process sparked legal
controversy, it amazes me that all of the degree of 'hazing' that occurred
through the years that so many 'bruhs' became 'men of the cloth.'
I always felt that the 'traditional' hell week and 'turn back' night..
and the 'death march/walk' had a Christian allegory. For someone like yourself
that was initiated in the same school year as I, you can 'kinda' get a
feel for what Our Lord faced. You know what I mean. That experience
itself was very spiritual. To gain life there is a price to pay.
When a mother gives birth to a child, there is pain but joy comes shortly
there after. After Calvary there was Easter. It's an experience
I'll never forget. I love the frat.
Unfortunately, the true meaning of initiation was lost.
Fraternally,
Lawrence Jones II/AH '83
Kappa Phi Lambda Chapter/ Columbia,MD
Skip's Note: Special thanks to Brother Eugene Harper, who now serves
as my editor. If there are spelling or grammatical errors, I now have someone
to blame. SMILE. Greatful appreciation to Brothers Parks, Byrd, Callaman,
Gresham who have sent me over 1,000 email addresses of Brothers from across
the country. )
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BOOK ORDER FORM:
THE TALENTED TENTH:
THE FOUNDERS AND 30 GENERAL PRESIDENTS
OF Alpha
By Skip Mason
Foreword by Brother Andrew Young
Published by Four G's Press, c. 1999
Winter Haven, Florida
480 pages; 28 cm, 100+ photographs
ISBN: 1885066-63-5
$25.00 (soft back)
$32.50 (hard back)
To be released in June '99(hardbacks in July)
ORDER FORM, PLEASE PRINT, FILL OUT AND MAIL .
_____________________________________________________________________
$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_____________________________________________________
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email address__________________________________
INDICATE IF YOU WANT BOOK INSCRIBED 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
_____________________________________________________________________
Skip's Historical Moments is a bi weekly newsletter used to dialogue
and discuss issues of historical importance to men of Alpha. This newsletter
is sent to over 3,000 brothers. If every brother would send
this to ten brothers this communication would reach a network of
30,000 or more. If you don't want to forward, please forward to me email
addresses and I will add them to the list. The list is growing
by leaps and bounds. Send your Questions, queries, comments to hmason1906@aol.com
Advanced apologies to you if you are receiving each issue more than
once. Some names appear twice on the email distribution list.
DISCLAIMER: THIS PAGE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE NATIONAL
ORGANIZATION. ALL
COMMENTS ARE THOSE OF THE EDITOR. SOURCES ARE AVAILABLE UPON
REQUEST.
APOLOGIES IN ADVANCED FOR ANY SPELLING ERRORS.
