The SPHINX | Spring February 1927 | Volume 13 | Number 1 192701301 by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity

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EXECUTIVE COUNCIL President, Raymond W . Cannon, 3400 Oakland Avenue, Minneapolis, Minn. First Vice-President, Charles W . Greene, 4654 Fraser Street, S.E. Atlanta, Ga. Second Vice-President, B . A n d r e w R o s e 202 S.B&nk S t r e e t , D a y t o n , Ohio Third Vice-President, R o b e r t P. D a n i e l , 734 N. 3rd Street, Richmond, Va. Fourth Vice-President, M a r i o n R . P e r r y , 9 0 4 Broadway, Little Rock, A r k .

Secretary, Jes. H . B. Evans, 935 Beck with Street, Atlanta. Ga. Treasurer, Percival R. Piper, 3807 Kirby Ave. W., Detroit, Mich. Editor, THIC S P H I N X , Oscar C. Brown, 225 E . 53rd S t r e e t , Chicago, 111. P e r r y B. J a c k s o n , 6912 C e n t r a l A v e . , C l e v e l a n d James H. Hilburn, 1944 Druid Hill Ave., Baltimore, Md. i Peyton F . Anderson, 61 W. 130th Street, New York

I N S U R A N C E E N D O W M E N T COMMISSION M. S. D a v a g e , C h a i r m a n J . G a r l a n d Wood, S e c ' y W. F. Jerrick C l a r k University, Atlanta, Ga. 3763 S. W a b a s h A v e . , C h i c a g o 1813 C h r i s t i a n St., P h i l a . , P a . Chapters. A L P H A C H A P T E R , Cornel! University, Ithaca, P I C H A P T E R , Case School of Applied Science and Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. N. Y. President, Geo. E. CoHron, 4608 Central Ave. President, Paul Logan, P . O. Box 141. Small, 2:>.,4 E. 4uth St. Secretarv, \V. M. Banks, P. O. Box 441. R I I O C H A P T E R , Temple University ami PhilaB E T A C H A P T E R , Howard University, Washington, delphia College of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, P. D. C. President, W. P. Jerrick, 1343 Christian St. P r e s i d e n t , T h e o d o r o P e r c i v a l , 2447 G e o r g i a A v e Secretary, Kirksey L. Curd, 018 N . 13th Street. nue, N . W. S I G M A C H A P T E R , Boston University and MassaCor. S e c , F . Lee Terry, 2447 Georgia Ave. N . W . chusetts I n s t i t u t e of Technology, Boston, Mass. G A M M A C H A P T E R , Virginia Union University, President, \V. Hairy Bethel, 588 Newbury St. Richmond, Va. Secretary, David E. Lane, 20 Wellington St. ident, Wiley A. Hall, 732 North Fifth Street. TAU CHAPTER, I y of Illinois, Champaign, Cor. Secy., Chester L. Washington, Virginia Union Illinois. University. ident, Alpb . Clark St. D E L T A C H A P T E R , Montreal, Canada (Inactive). Secretary, \ Knight, 603 E. Clark St. E I ' S I L O N C H A P T E R , University of Michigan, Ann UPSILON CHAPTER, University of Kansas, Arbor, Michigan. Lawrence, Kans. President, William L. Postels, 1103 E. Huron St. President,'John D. Bell, IIOI Mississippi St. Cor S e c , Jas. T. Carter, no.". E. Huron St. Cor. S e c , James A. Davis, l ini Mississippi St. Z E T A C H A P T E R , Yale University, New Haven, P H I C H A P T E R , Ohio University, Athens, Ohio. Conn. President, Ward V. Rounutrv.. ivenor St President, J. M. Ross, 445 Orchard Street. C H I C H A P T E R , Meharry Medical College (Fisk Cor. S e c , H. G. Tolliver. 908 Chapel St. University), Nashville, Tenn. E T A C H A P T E R , New York City College, Columbia ••lent, M. L. Owens. Meharry Medical College. and New York Universities. New York City. Sec, Henry E. Hatnfiton, Meharry Medical President, Ralph Mizelle, 303 W . 138th Street. College. Secretary, A. M. Moure, 803 \Y. 138th St. P S I C H A P T E R , University of Pennsylvania, PhilaT H E T A C H A P T E R , University of Chicago, Univerdelphia, Pa. sity of Illinois and Northwestern University, ChiPresident, Raymond P. Alexander, 1901 Chestnut St. cago, 111. • tary, James H. Atkins, Jr., 1 N. 38th Street, President, C. Blythe Andrews, 3621 Slate St., c / o A L P H A A L P H A C H A P T E R , University of CincinChicago Bee. nati, Cincinnati, Ohio. Secretarv. Sumner T. Bohee, 6418 Rhodes Ave. President, W. H. Lovelace, 636 W. 8th St. cretary, Thee. M. Berry. 1510 Chapel St. I O T A C H A P T E R , Syracuse Univcrsitv, N. Y. A L P H A B E T A C H A P T E R , Talladega College, TalPresident, Cecil G. Cook, :102 Cedar Street. ladga, Ala. Secretary, A. L. Royster, 302 Cedar Street. K A P P A C H A P T E R , Ohio State University, ColumPresident, Clarence L. Sharpe, Talladega College. bus, Ohio. Sec, A. D. Gray, Talladega College. A L P H A G A M M A C H A P T E R , Providence, R. I. President, Chas. H. Warfield, 220 Lexington Ave. •• sident. Harold S. '•Fleming, :t07 Littlefield Hafl, Secretarv, W. C. Pyant, 202 E. Spring St. iivn University, Providence, R. I. M U C H A P T E R , University of Minnesota, MinneapSecretary. A.librey A. Drake, 307 Littlefield Hall, olis, Minn. Brown University. President, Chauncey I. Cooper, 606 St. Anthony A L P H A D E L T A C H A P T E R . University of SouthAve., St. Paul, .Minn. ern California, Los Angeles, Calif. Cor. S e c , Archie James, 606 St. Anthony A \ e . President, Malcolm II. Patlon, 1100 E. Pico Street, St. Paul, Minn. Los Angeles, CaJif. N U C H A P T E R , Lincoln University, Lincoln, Pa. Secretary, Arthur E. Prince, 808 Winona Avenue, ident, Richard Hill, Lincoln University. Pasadena, Calif. • > Asst. S e c , John Haywood, Lincoln University. X I C H A P T E R , Wilberforce University, WilberA I . r H A E P S I L O N C H A P T E R , University of force, Ohio. California, Berkeley, Calif. President, George M. Johnson, 547 53rd St., OakPresident, Wade Ellis, Wilberforce University. land, Calif. Cor. S e c , Win. Randolph Hunt, Wilberforce UniAsst. S e c , Alvin Nurse, 5856 West St., Oakland, versity. A L P H A Z E T A C H A P T E R . West Virginia ColleO M I C R O N C H A P T E R . Carnegie Institute of Techpiate Institute, W . V a . nology and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, President, Alonzo Shaw Harden, W. Va. Institute. Pa. Sec, Miles M. Jefferson, W . Va. Collegiate President, Gerald Allen, 28 Junilla St. Institute. Secretary, Arthur T. Crockett, 606 Herron Ave.

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225 E. 53rd Street, Chicago, 111. 1 13th Street, Troy. X. Y. 71"> Florida Ave., X. W.. Washington, D. C. 10912 Ouiucy Heights, Cleveland, Ohio Howard University. Washington, I). C. Virginia State College, Petersburg, Va. Va. Union University, Richmond, Va. <> ' t E. I 1th Ave., Columbus, Ohio Manager, SYDNEY P. BROWN, 4816 Prairie Ave., Chicago

VOLUME THIRTEEN

FEBRUARY

1927

NUMBER ONE

CONTENTS PA3E

N I N E T E E N T H ANNUAL, CONVENTION M a in E . o r a y S H a l .. ••••••••,-, •Alpha Enriched in Richmond Program The Public S e s s i o n The Community Welcome Reception Gamma's Sphinx Club The Convention Meeting Place Z e t a P h i Beta's "At Homo" Omega P s i Phi's " A t H o m e "

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Fraternity ^ ^ ^ M Frater£Uy R Alpha Phi Ahpha Fraternity

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3 4 5 5 5 6 6

Alpha Kappa Aipa's Dinner Party . . . . . 1 0 The F o r m a l . . •• '» The Annual Banquet. JU Three Founders 1 resent U Brother G . A. Morgan resent.... . . . . 1The .Convention M ? ? . « L Brother Ralph Mizelle, and Brother C. H. Jobias. M General Officers for 1 9 2 7 . . . . . • . . . . . . . . .12 The Lay-members of fcxecut ye Coumci . 5 Gamma's President, B r o . Wiley A.Hall.15 Brother James W. McGregor 16 Brother Harlev S. Manuel 16 Brother Homer Cooper 16 Brother Rayford W . L o g a n 16 Brother J . Garland W o o d 17 Brother "Art" Ferguson 17 Miss Henrietta Cheeks 17 The Insurance Endowment Plan 18 The Fraternity S o n g 19 Brother Anthony Overton's T e s t i m o n i a l . . 4 8 G R E E T I N G S FROM T H E SORORITIES AND F R A T E R N I T I E S Zeta Phi Beta Sorority 22 Delta S i g m a Theta Sorority 22 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority 22

^ 23 2 3

EDITORIALS Constitutional Government or Chaos'?. .28 Inter-fraternal Greetings 28 Theta is A l l R i g h t 28

• «-*-,« *?> ^ ^^ *******w- m F F A T T T R F S

Ohio's H e m ^ b y John Fuster!!.".'.':: . I ! 1 ^ l

T h e B e s t c h a p t e r Letter-Theta I :hapter.32 L o g a n . . . . . . . .33 N ro Historv Week> b j h Fu^er 33 Th«g fe

^ b'y j o h n *• ^ C o n v e n t i o n a n d F r a t e r n i . tv History 34 jf 1 • j e w e ] » . Murray'.'. '• '•'.'. .34 A A / A r e tf R e a d y f Q k ^ Societies''' 34 \\\\\\""'.\\\\\M Notice n" c h a p t e r s ; T h

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A C T I V I T I E S OF C H A P T E R S Beta Gamma; Iota; Kappa; Mu; N u ; X i : Pi; U p s i l o n ; Alpha-Alpha; Brother Herbert Miller; Alpha-Beta: Alpha-Zeta: AlphaTheta; Alpha-Omicron: Alpha-Pi; AlphaSigma; Alpha-TJpsilon: B e t a - L a m b d a : Gamma-Lambda; Epsilon-Lambda; ZetaLambda: Theta Lambda: Tau-Lambda Sigma-Lainbda, Alpha-Psi, Alpha-Kappa G R E E T I N G S FROM THE G E N E R A L OFFICERS 49 CUPID'S

CORNER

MARTIN

CRAY'S

HALL,

VIRGINIA

UNION

UNIVERSITY

CAMPUS.

" A L P H A ENRICHED I N R I C H M O N D "

Even as the immortal Caesar returned triumphantly into historic Rome after a series of brilliant conquests, receiving the applause of the common people and the aristocrats as well, so did the host of Alpha Phi Alpha Brothers, from the country over, gather in historic Richmond winning the whole-hearted favor of the populace of the capital of the Old Dominion State. iNo city ever greeted us more kindly. On every hand there was manifested a genuine hospitality that we knew was unalloyed. â&#x20AC;˘ *vâ&#x201E;˘?s t e n y c a r s s i n c c a n A 1 P n a convention had met in Richmond. At that time there were present representatives from eleven chapters. In number there were present five general officers, seventeen delegates, five alternates, eleven visiting Brothers, and about twenty-eight Brothers of Gamma. We had traveled a long road to 1926, bringing with us the triumphant news of a fraternity of seventy chapters and more than three thousand members. In those ten years Alpha has builded well shaping and expanding its policies on a basis of sacrifice and service and perfecting machinery for the smooth operation of its comprehensive program. This fact may be seen from the appropriation of approximately ten thousand dollars for the operation of the General Organization for 1927, all of which will be used not in the payment of salaries for individuals; but for requisite things aside from the services of Alpha men who find joy in doing things Alpha. The Official Program scheduled the following activities, about all of which were carried out as provided: PROGRAM Monday, December 27, 1926 8:30 A . M . Registration of Delegates and Visiting Brothers at Convention Headquarters, 00 Clay St. 10 :00 A. M. Meeting General Officers and Executive Council, Committee Room, St. Luke Hall. 12:30 P . M . First Session: St. Luke Auditorium. 1. Call to order, Brother R. P . Daniel, Gamma Chapter. 2. Invocation. S. Alpha Phi Alpha Hymn, The Convention. 4. Welcome Address. ( a ) On behalf of Gamma Chapter, Brother W. A. Hall, President, Gamma Chapter. ( b ) On behalf of the Virginia Chapters, Brother C. W. Florence, Chairman, Virginia Interchapter Committee. 5. Response, Brother C. W. Greene, Third VicePresident. 6. One-minute Remarks: Biftt Vice-President J. W . McGregor. "Second Vice-President P. F. Anderson. Fourth Vice-President H. S. Manuel. General Secretary J. H. B^ Evans. General Treasurer P. R. Piper. Editor, T H E S P H I N X , O. C. Brown. 7. Introduction of the General President, Brother R. P. Daniel, Chairman, Convention Committee. 8. Annual Address of General President, Raymond \V. Cannon. 9. Presentation of Present, General President Cannon. 10. Exchange of Grip for Convention with Found-

11. Appointment of Officials of the Convention, Committee on Rules and Credentials. 12. Short Recess. 13. Report of Committee on Rules and Credentials. 14. Roll Call and Seating. 15. Communications. 16.' Appointment Special Committees. 17. Announcements, Brother R. P . Daniel. 18. Song, led by Brother James Pierce, Director of Spirit and Enthusiasm. Adjournment. P U B L I C SESSION

8:00 P. M. Ebenezer Baptist Church, Lehigh and Judah Street. Master of Ceremonies, Brother W. A. Hall. 1. Song, "America." 2. Invocation,- Rev. Brother C. A. Lindsey, Gamma Chapter. 3. Addresses of Welcome. ( a ) On behalf of the City of Richmond, Hon. J. Scott Parrish, President of Richmond Chamber of Commerce. (b) On behalf of the community, Dr. W . H . Stokes, O m e g a P s i Phi. (c) On behalf of the Business Interests, Attorney James T. Carter, Phi Beta Sigma. ( d ) On behalf of the women of Richmond, Mrs. Maggie L. Walker, Zeta Phi Beta. (e) On behalf of the sororities, Dr. Zeonbia G. Gilpin, Alpha Kappa Alpha. ( f ) On behalf of Virginia Union University, President W. J. Clark. 4. Violin selection, Brother T. W . Barrett, Gamma. 5. Response to welcomes and remarks, Raymond W . Cannon, General President. 6. Vocal selection, Mr. Walter T. White, accompanied by Mrs. White, Delta Sigma Theta. 7. Introduction of Speaker, Dr. J. W . Barco, member, National Council, Y. M. C. A. 8. Convention address, Dr. Channing H.. Tobias, Senior Secretary, Colored W o r k Department, Y. M. C. A. 9. Introduction of General Officers. 10. National Alpha Phi Alpha Hymn.' 10:30 P. M. Annual symposium and smoker. Convention Headquarters, 00 Clay St.; Brother Victor R. Daly, Mu-Lambda, Editorial Writer, T H E S P H I N X , Director of the symposium. Tuesday, December 28, 1926. A . M . St. Luke Auditorium. Call to order, Invocation. Roll Call. Reading of Minutes. Reading of Communications. Reports of Standing Committees. Report of the Director of the "Go-to-HighSchool, Go-to-College" Campaign, Brother Cannon. Twenty minutes recess. 8. Introduction of Visiting Honorary Members. 9.. Founder's Address, Brother Dr. Henry A Callis. 10. Introduction of other Founders Present. 11. Communications. 12. Announcements.

9:30 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 7.

T h e S p h i n x , F e b r u a r y , 1927 MEETING OF COMMITTEES

4-8 P. M. Zeta Chapter, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, "At Home", in honor of the Convention. (Place to be announced.) Informal. I I P . M.-4 A. M. "Community Welcome Reception." informal. Coliseum, West Broad St. Wednesday, December 29, 1926. 9 :30 A. M. St. Luke Auditorium. 1. Call to order, Invocation.

2. Roll Call. 3. Keading of Minutes. 4. Communications. 5. History of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (authorized in Eighteenth Annual Convention), Jewel Nathaniel A. Murray and Jewel H e n r y A. Callis. 6. Remarks on History by other Jewels present. 7. Address, Brother Eugene Kinckle Jones, first initiate. 8. Annual Fraternal Address, Brother Dr. J. M. Gandy, President, Virginia State College, Petersburg, Virginia. 9. Communications and Announcements. Adjournment. Convention picture taken at the close of this session at the Virginia Union University. MEETING

COMMITTEES

4-7 P . M. Upsilon-Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Sorority entertains the Convention in a dinner party at Slaughter's Tea Room, North Second St. 11 P. M.-4 A. M. The reception of the Sphinx Club, Virginia University, in honor of the brothers and friends of the Convention. Informal. Coles.um. T h u r s d a y , December 30, 1926 A. M. St. Luke Auditorium. Call to order, Invocatoin. Roll Call. Reading of Minutes. Communications. Reports of Special Committees. Announcements. Adjournment. 4-8 P. M. Nu Chapter, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, "At Home", in honor of the Convention.. Informal. Young Men's Love and Union Club, Petersburg Pike and Decatur St. 11 P. M.-4 A. M. Annual prom. Formal. Coliseum. Program dancing from 12 to 2 A. M. Nonprogram dancing, 11-12 P. M. and 2-4 A. M. 9 :30 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Friday, December 31, 1926 A. M. St. Luke Auditorium. Call to order, Invocation. Roll Call. Communications. Report of Committees. Nomination and Election of Officers. Selection of the place of the Twentieth Convention. 8. Announcements. 9. Installation of Officers. Adjournment. 8:30 P.M.—Annual banquet, Martin E. Gray Hall, Virginia Union University; Brother Rayford W. Logan, Toastmaster. Cup Awards—Honors—Addresses. '.) ::«> 1. 2. 4. 5. (>. 7.

It is not the purpose of this issue of T H E S P H I N X to tell of the official happenings of the Convention. The official minutes, to which each Brother is entitled, fulfills that mission. We shall proceed, therefore, to sketch briefly the events that otherwise might go untold. By high-powered automobiles, luxurious Pullmans and "Jim-Crow" coaches the Brothers, from all parts

of the country began to arrive as early as the twentysixth ot December, and a steady stream poured in daily until the closing day, the thirty-firs'.. Upon arrival in the capitol of the Old Confederacy, the Brothers were or were not met by some of the good brothers of Gamma, and through the regular procedure of guidance or inquiry, they made their way to Convention Headquarters, known as "00" Clay Street. The number may sound like nothing; but "00" Clay Street is the Headquarters of the Council of Women s Clubs, a magnihcant brick and stone structure that made the old heart glad to behold and to realize the irrepressable industry, intelligence and ambition of our splendid women in Virginia. We were duly registered at Convention Headquarters and assigned to our places of abode in the various homes. Brother Dr. D. A. Ferguson was Chairman of i the Housing Committee. He handled the housing situation with a facility and completeness that have not been approached by recent Convention cities. The committee that has to do with this phase of work in the city of our next convention will do well to knowhow the Housing Committee of Gamma did it. T H E PUBLIC SESSION The Public Session was held Monday evening at eight o'clock in Lbenezer Baptist Church, Leigh and Judah Streets, with participants as set out in the program printed above. Hon. J. Scott Parrish, President of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, gave an interesting address of welcome. He pointed out some pliases of the educational situation among colored people in Richmond and in Virginia, including the facts that in the state of Virginia there are 210,802 Negro children of school age, 64,800 of whom are out of school; the state has expended in the last fout years $1,250,000 for school buildings for colored people and is now using 3,602 school rooms; there are 5,'i 29 students in high school; 650 in the Normal School at Petersburg; the average number of school days per year is 144. As to Richmond, the speaker said, there are 10,874 colored children in school, being taught by 213 teachers whose salaries range from $550.00 to $1,250.00 per year. The annual cost per year for each elementary student is $10.50 as compared with $42.00 for eacn high school student. The high school in the city is said to be the best in the state. Beyond the high school, the city offers the colored students a normal course of two years, graduation from which entitles one to a ten-year certificate. 1 he city of Richmond appropriated last year $331,659.30 for Negro Schools. These informing remains by the President of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce were followed by a violin solo by Brother T. W. Barrett of Gamma. 1 he other musical number on the program was a vocal solo by Brother Walter T. White, with Mrs. White, playing the accompaniment. Both selections were received with deserving applause. Brother Channing H. Tobias of Eta Chapter, New York City, was the Public Session's principal speaker. He hud k i t his sick bed to keep the engagement, for which we are very grateful. As he is wont to do, Brother Tobias brought a vauable message that is characteristic of him. Brother Tobias discussed "Education as a Process of Life Unfoldment" by Which we become Thoughtful, Useful and Joyful. "This unfoldment process," the Senior Secretary of the International Committee of the Y. M. C. A., went on 10 say, "is brought about through personal contact and through institutional instruction and fellowship, The institution has advantages over the personal contact method because it presents a community in which one may begin to live his life in somewhat the same fashion as he intends to live it in after years. He does not spend all the day committing to memory the principle by which a thing is to be done; he spends part of the day actually doing the thing. The college campus," Brother Tobias emphasized, "is a kind of state in miniature. On it you find no end of politics, a little bit of religion, considerable science and art, and lots

T h e S p h i n x . F e b r u a r y , 1927 of sport and jazz. These form the practical situations and problems that are found out in life. The student who learns to live properly among them while in school, will be the master of them after school days are over. But to do this one must he Thoughtful— thoughtful in getting beyond the narrowing acquaintance with knowledge; beyond the mere worship of a college degree; thoughtful to the extent that we get out into the realm of the creative; thoughtful so as to Income emancipated from herd or flock opinion." "We must be Joyful," Tobias continued, "possessing the joy that conies through association with the great spirits of the past. We must feel, as Brother DuBois did when he said 'I talk with Shakespeare and he wines not across the color line. I move with Balzac and Dumas, where smiling men and welcoming women glide in the gilded halls. Out of the caves of evening that swing between the strong illumined earth and the tracery of stars, I summon Aristotle and Aurelius and what soul I will, and they come without scorn or condemnation.' Here is a great source of joy for the trained mind and heart. "We must learn to be useful and go forward with the institutions of a rapidly progressing people. We must develop skill, technique and capacity for work that will enable us to help to stabilize and expand the rapidly increasing business institutions of the race. In concluding a remarkable address, Brother Tobias showed how the fraternity may become the crucible in which is produced the best metal in men. H e said, "The fraternity provides a home and fellowship for men, and, provided it is free from narrowness and snobbery, is just as legitimate as the apostolic company which the Master drew about Him because they were, with one exception, of like ideals and purposes." "Because it is informal, democratic and self-governing, the fraternity has a chance to render invaluable service in tin- processes of unfoldmcnt. Beginning on the campus itself, it can set up standards of integrity that will insure a healthful tone of morality. The

fraternity can encourage and should encourage its members to observe a proper balance between books. recreation and service. With these high ideals lived out on the campus, the effect is bound to be seen in after life. Alpha Phi Alpha is committed to them and I urge an aggressive fulfillment on every hand." The Annual Smoker and Symposium was held on Monday night, after the Public Session, at 00 Clay Street. Brother Ray ford W. Logan acted as chairman in the absence of Brother Victor R. Daly, MuLamhda Chapter, who had been scheduled to direct the doings of the occasion. Short talks were made by Brothers from various sections of the country. All had a jolly good time until midnight as it rained and rained on the outside. T H E COMMUNITY WELCOME RECEPTION The Community Welcome Reception, given by Gamma ("haptcr, was held in the Colliseum on Tuesday night from eleven P. M. until four in the morning. The Reception was given so that Richmond might see Alpha and Alpha might see Richmond. We don't know how successful Richmond was in accomplishing that purpose, but we are confident that we saw the beauties of Richmond as they came in all of their lovliness and charm. The Co-eds, the Sub-debs, the Debs, the Matrons—all—were present. The affair was truly unique and enjoyable. GAMMA'S S P H I N X C L U B The Sphinx Club of Gamma Chapter had the audacity to invite the Convention and their guests to the Colliseum for dancing, on Wednesday night from "I to It". This had never been done before. But that makes no difference; it was well done the first time. It's a mighty fast pace the Pledges are setting. What won't they "pull" when they grow up and control the Convention ?

ST. L I K E CirrjLWNC w HERE ALL BUSINESS SESSIONS

OF THK CONVENTION W E R E

HELD.

The Auditorium of the St. Luke Building furnished an ideal place for the secret sessions. The entire second floor was turned over to the fraternity. It is seldom that a city furnishes such adequate quarters for these meetings.

I k e Sphinx. February. iy27 ZETA PHI BETA "AT HOME"

They called it an "At Home," but home was never like this! Pretty jiirls. lovely music, combined to make what was termed an at home an ideal dinner dance. Our Imst? Nu Chapter of Zeta 1'hi Beta and how charmingly they did receive and entertain the (.'( mention delegates and their guests ! Place? Young Men's Love and Union Club, which incidentally is just the right distance from town and just roomy anil home] enough to make a good time easy. How did we enjoy it.- Immensely. Thanks for an evening long to be remembered. OMEGA PSI P H I AT H O M E The beautiful and spacious home of Dr. and Mrs. Hughes was thrown open lor us on Tuesday, December s8, u n i n /.c.a Chapter of Omega f s i l'ni entertained in our Honor, i t was especially enjoyable to MSII one i>i Richmond's most representative Domes and snare .Southern hospitality m its truest torni, lor nownere is real hospitality so supreme as in UK home. A leeiiug ol jovial cordiality pervaded througnout the enure evening and ail resiraint was lost to tne winds as we wound our merry way in and out tiirough the laughing crowds exchanging greetings and making new mends, Omega Psi fm p,annul a good time lor us and we thoroiigniy enjoyed tlie resuit. "I'or us aiways lair weaiuer wnen good leilows get together."

THE ANNUAL FRATERNITY ADDRESS The Annual Fraternity Address was delivered by Brotncr Jonn M. oaiuly, tlie Convention speaker, .Secret Session. We don t have to cad it the "best" or "remarkable," because, wnen tne address was completed and tne deaiening applause bad died away, >t was unanimously adopted tuat tlie enure address be printed m tlie Convention Number ol I HE .SPHINX. Kcati it and you will agree that the Xinciccnui .Annual Convention was right in receiving tne message with great acclaim, brother Gaudy is I'.esident .<i the Virginia Male College, Petersburg. The address tollowi: T H E MISSION OF A COLLEGE GRADUATE Address of B r o t h e r J o h n M. Gandy, President Virginia N o r m a l and Industrial College, Convention Speaker, Secret Session. BROTHER PRESIDENT AND BROTHERS OF TMK I ' m A L P H A FRATERNITY:

ALPHA

My message to you this afternoon concerns itself with the duty a college graduate owes to himself and with the relationship be .should sustain to society. For the purpose of discussion, these two ideas of sell' and Society as involved in the responsibility of a college graduate can be more comprehensively stated in this question: "What is the Mission of a College Graduate?" As a point of departure, I desire to ask three questions: What should we expect of men who have had the advantages of a college education; Where should 'In emphasis in their activities be placed? What should constitute their chief interest in the life of the world? In an effort to answer these questions, I desire to state in the first place, that the fundamental concern of a college graduate is the preservation of his health. John Locke is accredited with saying many years ago that a state of happiness in the life of man i^ reached when there is a union of a strong mind and a strong body. Locke recognized that the mind and body are so interdependent that defects or weak-

nesses in the i ne would cause disastrous defects in the Other. A sin ug mind cannot function effectively ill a

weak b- dy; ccnverseiy, a strong body associated with a weak, defective mind cannot perform the work of which it is callable. Modern science, however, establishes a more fundamental truth. It declares that the state of the mind is conditioned In the health of the body. Alienists in s udying mental derangements have been able to trace the causes ol some forms of insanity to certain excessive practices which undermine the health of the body, or to other unsanitary conditions of living. It is generally felt that congenital mental defects can be accounted for on the basis of prenatal physical conditi: ns. Indeed, it is thought by some scientists that the difference in quality of the minds of individuals is due to the difference in the quality and organization of the cells of the brain. It is generally conceded that the functioning of the mind is conditioned by the body's state of health. The reverse', however, is also true. Once the mind is deranged, it has a most disintegrating effect Upon the body. The primary concern, then, of life, not as an end in itself, but as a means to an end. is the proper protection and care of the body. It should be regarded as the home of that spark of divinity we call ourselves. and should be thought of as sacred and inviolable. It should he studied with intense interest and devotion. Y/e should earnestly seek to know what will keep it well and what will make it sick; what will give it the highest efficiency and what will make it weak. The C illege graduate should bring to bear the whole scope of bis intelligence and especially his knowledge of the biological sciences in maintaining a strong, vigorous, end efficient body. Sufficient and appropriate exercise in the out-of-doors should lie systematically and religiously taken: food should be wholesome, intcl-

i.gently selected, well prepared, and properly served; the hours tor sleep should he adequate and regular; water should be used in abundance, both within and without; constant watch and care should he taken of the throat, teeth, eyes, and e a r s ; and a complete physical examination should be sought at reasonable intervals. Society expectsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and it has a right to expectâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the college graduate to give a high type ol service running over a normal length of time. It looks for both iiuality and quantity. Quality cannot be had unless the work is approached each day with a body whose organs are functioning with suc'i ease and perfection that there is no realization of their existence; quantity cannot be had, unless the work is carried over a normal period of years. Although we have no satisfactory data lo prove it, we are certain that there is a great economic waste to society due to the premature failure of the health and untimely death of many college graduates. Within the span of our limited observation, we see college men so broken in health thai they are barely doing more than marking time in their occupations; others are untimely retired from service; and still others die before they scarcely reach middle life. Colleges educate men to live; and, if there is any virtue in education, they should live longer and better than men who have not been to college. It is the mission of the college graduate to demonstrate to the world that education does give better health and longer life to those who possess it. Again, on the personal side, it is the imperative dutv of a college graduate to grow. All men must grow or they will atrophy. There is no middle ground. l>c\\c> says, "Since growth is the characteristics of hie, education is all one with growing; it has no end beyond itself. The criterion of the value of school education is the extent to which it creates a desire for continued growth and supplies means for making the desire effective ill fact." Life is a process; movement is either forward or backward. The mistake manv

T h e S p h i n x , F e b r u a r y , 1927 college graduates make is to consider their education finished when they receive their degrees. At the close of the commencement exercises of a certain institution, Mr. B., who was one of the graduates, was walking leisurely and meditatively alone over the campus. Mr. A. approached him and said, "Well, what is your next step? I suppose you will enter the university and continue your education." Mr. B. replied, "There is only one ambition left, and that is to burn every book in my possession. I do not care if I never see a book again." This is a rather extreme case, but there are many that represent the same tendency. The spirit of study is too often left at the college, and a life of ease and self-indulgence sought in the world on the outside. College graduates who fail to continue to cultivate their minds, to replenish their mental store, to reach out after new ideas, to come in contact with the best there is in literature, science, and art, it matters not from what college they were graduated, become static, narrow, unyielding, dogmatic, and non-effective. The impulse to mental growth springs from the proper perspective of life. The world should not be thought of as a finished product. The inner nature of both the material and the spiritual work is a process. Movements, changes, and modifications are fundamental characteristics of life. Nothing is stable; everything is in a state of flux. W e are willing to grant that this is true in nature, because we have seen in the short span of a lifetime modifications in the hills and valleys around us; in politics, because history discloses the wonderful growth in government; in education, because we read of the remarkable evolution through which systems of education have passed; and in literature, because Washington Irving has written so convincingly and so eloquently of the "Mutability of Literature." But when we think in terms of what we call absolute values, we do not feel so certain that the truth applies. Apparenly, however, we have authority on this point. Miller, in his Psychology of Thinking, says: "Even theology, which seems most of all to deal with absolutes, is bowing to the demands for reconstruction along lines which make it more in harmony with the other sciences; and religion is best viewed, as a phenomenon whose great value consists in its vital relationship to the problems of the most complete adjustment in thought and in actii n to the wealth of social and spiritual values in man's environment." So, then, the dynamic element is imminent in all forms of life. The college graduate should leave the walls of his Alma Mater steeped and dyed in the knowledge and spirit of this aspect of life. But to know that ideas, beliefs, customs and tradition, as well as the physical universe, are constantly changing, furnishes only the incentive and impulse to grow. Growth results from action and from nourishment. The prime condition of mental growth lies in the habit of study. The one definite thing a college graduate should bring from his Alma Mater is a love for and a habit of study. He should have such a general knowledge of the field of literature, of the svstcms of science, and of the schools of philosophy as will enable him to direct wisely his study. H e should begin early to build a library of choice books. He should have a definite place, and, so far as his occupation will allow, a definite time for study. H e sin mid have an increasing thirst to refresh his soul by contact with the great spirits of literature. But study should not be confined to those books that are regarded as established literature. To keep abreast of the problems of the times, a college graduate should be a student of current literature. He should be a constant reader of the best magazines and books on current problems. He should keep watch of the book reviews and should be a constant visitor to the leading bookshops and libraries of his community, so as to know what the output is, and what problems are being treated by specialists of his time.

However, study to be effective must be problematic. It must be directed and inspired by a definite end to be attainedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;some problems to be solved, or some opinion to be justified or refuted. Aimless study is hardly more effective than aimless conduct in other lines of human endeavor. In the industrial world, we know there is often a sad waste of energy, effort, and money, due to the lack of a clearly defined end of action. In the moral world, we see men surrender to the enticements of evil and to the impulses of their nature, because they are not directed by a purposeful end in life. So in aimless study, there is likewise much waste of energy, time, and money. Like a rudderless ship on the high seas, we get nowhere. This kind of study is dry, uninteresing, and non-effective. It accumulates a great many facts, which, because of the lack of the proper connections and associations, become of little use in dealing with the problems of life. Purposeful study, on the other hand being fraught with interest, is resourceful; it is a guide to the selection of material, and to the organization of ideas. Knowledge secured in this way functions in life because it is properly organized, and has the proper associations to be recalled and applied in the solution of daily problems. The interest of a college graduate in books or in current problems, however, should not by any means close his eyes to the great opportunity he has to study life at first hand. Books themselves represent an effort by men to interpret human action and the phenomena of nature. The student who becomes a recluse, shutting himself in from nature and society, overlooks the greatest of all booksâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the book of nature. If he is to grow in wisdom, in vision, in an outlook upon life; if he is to gather mental strength and develop a many-sided interest, he must keep in contact with the throbbing hearts of men, with the chirps of the birds, with the glory of the sunlight, with the verdure of the grass, with the rippling of the brooks, and with the majesty of God. A growing personality never becomes old. Such an individual is youthful, alert, responsive. H e is seldom dull, never tedious; he is resourceful, instructive, inspiring. H e is not too quick to let go the old; nor too slow to welcome the new. H e initiates reforms and supports progressive measures. He blazes the way for the crowds and beckons them to follow. He is liberal in his views, tolerant in his ideas, elastic in his attitude, and adjustable in his whole nature. H e is a man of vision; a man. of prophetic insight. The College graduate should represent this type of personality. While the first duty of a college graduate is to himself, his achievements in bodily health and mental vigor are only partially for himself. In his Psychological Inundations of Education, Harris says: "Man as an individual is an insignificant affair; as a social whole, he constitutes a living miracle." We may add, man is not an abstraction. He does not live separate and apart from other men. Indeed, he cannot live at all except in a social medium. What he is in language, in dress, in education, in morality, and even in physical and mental attainments is the gift of society. He is known only in the terms of relationships, and we have no way of designating him except as father, son, brother, minister, educator, financier, and the like. Harris further says: "Human society is founded on the deep mystery of vicarious atonement which is announced in the creeds of Christendom. The social whole suffers for the first cost of its experience, dividing up the pain among the myriads of human beings who contribute this experience. But it delivers its entire lesson to each new person who comes into the world without the necessity of his living over the life of toil and pain which has furnished the lesson. The race thus lives vicariously for the individual ; and it is this vicarious living of all for each and of each for all, made possible by the institutions which

T h e S p h i n x . F e b r u a r y , 1927

form the network of society, that makes human nature divine." There is a still deeper and more significant truth in man's relationship to society. In his Social Principles of Education, B a t s expresses it thus: "He can attain to the highest good as an individual only as he seeks the highest good of all. H e reaches his own largest success and richest personal development only through service to others." St. Matthew states the same truth in these terms: "For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for My sake shall find it." Judged from these standards, a college graduate is a great debtor to society. He is expected to make a contribution to its further development. The amount and quality of the contribution depends, of course, upon the generosity with which society has dealt with him. In the words of St. Luke, the idea is better expressed : "And to whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required; and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask more." The question as to what are some of the specific things for which a college graduate is responsible to society must already be in your minds. In the first place, the college graduate is responsible for setting up and maintaining a high standard of conduct in his chosen occupation. The blame of the industrial and professional world today is the half-hearted and disinterested attitude of the workers. Too many of them are little interested in the output of their work. They are time servers. Their chief concern is to put in so many hours a day and to draw so much money. Little attention is given to the conservation of material, to the effective utilization of time, and to the guarding of the interest of the employer. This attitude runs through all the professions as well as the less learned occupations. The chief concern of hundreds of school teachers is to report to duty at 9 and leave at 4 ; to begin a month and end it; to sign warrants and draw salaries. The controlling motive of many physicians is the amount of money they get out of their profession. In all occupations, there are two classes of workmen : those who follow a certain line of endeavor for what they can get out of it, and those who work because of the interest they have in the work itself. The former are controlled by economic motives; the latter, by scientific motives. The attitude of all workmen to their occupation can be explained in the light of the one or the other of these motives. Those who are controlled by economic motives have their eyes on the money returns for their labor; by the scientific motive, on the work itselfâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the opportunity it offers to study that particular line of knowledge, the pleasure the activity gives, and the ability to get certain results. The workman who is controlled by the scientific motive loves his work; the one controlled bv the economic motive, what he gets out of his work. This is a fundamental difference. On this point Dewey, in his Philosophy of Education, says: "Sentimentally it may seem harsh to say that the greatest evil of the present regime is not found in poverty and in the suffering which it entails, but in the fact that so many persons have callings which make no appeal to them, which are pursued simply for the money reward which accrues. Such callings constantly provoke one to aversion, ill will and a desire to slight and evade. Neither men's hearts nor their minds are in their work. The college graduate should be controlled in his occupation by the scientific motive. His knowledge of science should create such an insight into the principles that underlie the occupation that his interest would be centered more in the discoveries, new points of view, and accomplishments than in the money returns. Such an attitude would involve his whole being in the work. There would be no ground then for indifference, for tardiness, for shirking, and for

the lack of the functioning of a full knowledge of the occupation. The same spirit would be in him as possessed Shakespeare in literature, Pestalozzi in education, Spurgeon in the ministry, and Burbank in agriculture. In his personal life, likewise, a college graduate should live on a high plane. H e should be above the petty jealousies, suspicions, wranglings, and bickerings too often found among the crowd. In the perplexities of his daily life he should be sympathetic, long suffering, and tolerant. He should encourage unity of action for larger ends, and should stamp with disapproval any tendency to implant discord and dissension in social groups. In his moral life he should, like Caesar's wife, be above suspicion, and should support all measures to elevate the moral tone of his community. His family life should support ail measures to elevate the moral tone of his community. His family life should be of the purest kind; his home should be the abode of love, affection, patience, and forbearance; his expressions of affection should be of such frequency and in such terms as to make estrangement and the tragedy of divorce impossible. In his business relationships he should be dependable and honest, meeting his obligations promptly and holding himself above the trickery and questionable methods often found in the mercantile life. He should be true to his friends. Being aware of their virtues, but not blind to their faults, he should so deal with his friends as to encourage the growth and development of the best there is in them. Further, a college graduate should give full and unsparing support to religion ; for religion is a universal force, found among all clans, tribes, and nations. Its universality bespeaks a very close and intimate relation with the life of men. Starbuck says that religii n is a life, a deep-rooted instinct. Henderson states that it is the deepest and most characteristic thing about man, the general quality of the mind, and the whole attitude towards life. He further states that it is not a belief or action, but that dominant note of the spirit which determines belief and controls action. In The Meaning of Education, Nicholas Murray Butler quotes from Briton's Religions of Primitive Peoples, thus: "The religiosity of man is a part of his physical being. In the nature and laws of tinhuman mind, in its intellect, sympathies, emotions, and possessions, lie the well-springs of all religions, modern or ancient, Christian or heathen." If this were all we knew about .religion it should be sufficient to create an increasing interest in it ; but we know further that it is a powerful instrument of social control through its support of moral ideals. In Introduction to Social Psychology, Kllwood says: "The supernatural sanction of religion has in all human societies been found to be one of the most effective means of maintaining this solidarity. Religious sanctions verv early in human history crime's to attach itself to habits of action which the grHnp' believes to be safe and to conduce to individual' and social welfare." In this way. religion iHiwctiully reinforces the customary order ai social groups,- so much so thai Ward declared it to be "The force of social gravitation that holds the social world in its orhit." On the negative side, it associates itself with the prohibitions of social groups, and brings to bear the fear of supernatural agencies who will punish the violators of these prohibitions. Religion, then, by its supernatural sanction of moral ideals and prohibitions of social groups becomes a conservative force. It, however, is not less a progressive factor. Since it attaches itself to ideal values of social life, its influence depends upon the static and the dynamic aspects of the moral and social ideals. If they are static, it becomes a conservative factor. Religions that encourage the altruistic spirit, good will, and fellowship between men and races tend to encourage social progress.

T h e Sphinx, February. 1927 On the objective side, religion has been the cause of Some of the most bloody and most relentless wars ever tought in history. It has been used both to sanction rcioini ami to support outworn social orders. Its spirit enters into the legal aspect of nations, and furlushes 11ii- inundation upon which the constitutions of tepuoiican torms of government rest. It permeates, either m a positive or negative way, every possible lorm oi literature, and provides subjects lor artists. It has been and is today a most powerful agency among tne nations of the world. INotwithstanding these facts, there are college graduates wno deer) religion. I hey either treat it with inOinerence or outwardly condemn it. 1 hey ridicule the lorm of expression it takes in certain groups, and deride me promoters of ii. They regard the followers as biinued by ignorance and inspired by superStltion. Mien men think of a college education as U1 ting them (.til ol the realm ol superstition and reUgi II, ;,no p.ac.ng Hum in a vvoiid oi tacts and logic, beparate ami apart irom the crowd. They boast of accepting nothing that cannot be analyzed, understood, and approved in the light ol reason. They think oi religion as an outgrown orderâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;something tnai functioned successtuil) in the past, but no longer arj ii r the present ami the mture. i'in a social group cannot live the life it should without religion. Its higher impulses would atropny. II wouia become unbearahly seinsh; and tne growing mora, nua.s 01 an increasingly complex civilization WUUid not have such control as religion and religion oniy can give, i he moral lite oi men wotud SIIIK to the low level oi tne nrnle world; the altruistic spirit wouid vanish, and the sp.nt ol discord, disturbance, and Hatred woii.il Cover me land, e.nwood says that Society cannot any more do without religion than it

cm with,,,n government. the couege graduate for these reasons should give his tmquaiined support to religion. His daily life s.iomd exemplify its spirit.

H e should attach him-

se.i to caie oi the many denominations, should be a constant attendant upon religious services, ami should apply his intelligence and training to the development 1

' a Inner ami more ideal church. He should be a systematic contributor to tne support of the institutn lis through which religion expresses itself. His empnasis MII.,i,d i>c upon tne living spirit of reagion, ra her tiian up a the dry bones of creeds and dogmas. h e sii.,u,,i discourage tne opposition too often set up bj duinminaln n... and sh. u.d think of reiigioii as a socializing factor and as a humanizing agency. II. should give encouragement to the growing desire of men oi vision and foresight to unify the religious denominations ami to snitt the emphasis from the form to the spirit. Finally, a college graduate should make an adequate C( ntribuiion to the development of a better race. Selfrvation is the most fundamental law of life. It is embedded in every fiber and in every cell of the human body. It is the end of every native impulse: tne cen'.eY around which our moral ideals cluster; the m. piralii ii of our civil laws; and the ultimate aim

oi our educational system. Much of all we do for i-K . r unconsciously is to preserve self. We sacriuce iâ&#x20AC;˘ .i for the group because we know that .i a; i:s best is made possible only through the hie ol the group. We live under the restricted conditions . I a government because we arc aware that ' ur existence is made possible only under such con's. In both the plant and animal kingdom, the hgiit to preserve self is intense and courageous. Hack ol the mighty struggle, however, of the individual to preserve his life, lies a deeper significanceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

.that ol the perpetuation oi the species. To live a long, useful life enriched by all of the experiences common to man is noble: but to bee.me a creator, to multiply ones self, to perpetuate one's species is indeed a divine instinct. Iii the continuity ..i" the species, we not

only bring into liie new personalities, but we transmit through the medium of the physical organism the race's accumulations oi ages in the form of native reactions and impulses. Through social contact with the family, through the religious activities of the church, through the propaganda of political parties, and through the conscious and purposeful education oi the school, these personalities are trained in the customs, traditions, and experiences of the races. Thus, both physically and mentally the race is perpetuated. What an individual or race is capable of becoming depends upon what its ancestors were before it. While the laws ol heredity have not been stated with the exactness of mathematical science, we know that what a child is in color, in hair, in features, in temperament, and the like is accounted for by the general qualities of either its immediate parents or more remote ancestors or both. The accumulations in health, in mental vigor, in the complex organization of the brain mass on the part of ancestors cannot be lost entirely in the perpetuation of the specjes. Through physical and social heredity, much of the attainment of parents is transmitted in the form of tendencies to their children. On the other hand, if the ancestors are degenerates physically and mentally, this tendency will likewise be transmitted to their children. In the first instance, there is a grading upward of the stock; in the second, a grading downward. The one is leading to race Ci ntinuity; the other to race degeneration and race extinction. In the light of these facts, the duty of a college graduate is clear. If he is strong and healthy in body, fit in temperament ami able financially, he should marry. In the selection of his male, good sense rather than sentiment should be the determining factor. Let there be sentiment and a good deal of it; but let it follow in the wake oi good judgment. The college graduate Should be a student of eugenics and should apply as tar as practicable its laws and principles in the selection of his mate. A careful study should be in.nK of the l.miiiv history of the fiancee, her personal health, her temperament, and her attainments. When the union is consummated, both parties should be willing to undergo the discomfort and responsibility involved in the rearing of a family. If the home is blessed with children, during the periods of gestation every possible care in points of health and nourishment, the greatest tenderness, the most beautiful and pleasant Surroundings should be provided tor the expectant mother. When the child is born, all defects such as adenoids, enlarged and diseased tonsils and bad teeth should be corrected, the proper nourishment should be provided, and careful watch should be kept of the whole growing organism. Wholesome intellectual environment, such as books, newspapers, magazines and a good example of reading and study on the part of the parents, should IK furnished. Special attention should be given to the direction of the education of the child. But an adequate contribution of a college graduate t.. the development of a better race is more qualitative than quantitative. Economists are beginning to believe that the perpetuity of the race lies more in tlie conservation of those children born than in a large birth rate. If the excessive mortality of infants can in S< tne way be decreased and the span of human hie increased, we would get a stronger and more virile race than we have at present. No more children should come into the home than can be properly led, clothed, and educated. The number, however, should not fall below the ability to properly rear them. The control should be rational and moral. The <iitire capacity of a college graduate should be brought t.. hear to start his children out without handicaps and under such conditions as will insure tribution to the development of a stronger and better race. Whether we are willing to grant it or not, and

T h e S p h i n x . F e b r u a r y , 1927

whether or not we feel that it is a question that should be discussed, this is the most fundamental of all of the problems of human life. T o summarize, the mission of a college graduate is to keep himself in a high state of efficiency by conserving his health and by mental growth, to use his capacities and attainments in setting up high standards of conduct in his occupation and in his personal life, to give full and unsparing support to religion, and to make an adequate contribution to the conservation and perpetuation of the race. As applied to the Alpha Phi Alpha brotherhood, these standards of conduct point in two directions— outwardly to a small group of graduates who are actively engaged in the affairs of the world and inwardly to a larger group of undergraduates who are receiving their education and training for life in society. Upon the few who are now filling positions of responsibility and trust in society, these standards are more binding than upon the rank and file of college graduates. Alpha men have been bought with a price, consecrated and dedicated to a life of sane and thoughtful living, of mental and spiritual growtn, ana of a worthy and unselfish contribution to the social order. Should we fail in living such a life, we should invite the condemnation of the members of the brotherhood and bring upon ourselves the aspersion, calumny, and derision of the world about us. On the other hand, the attitude in the future of a large number of undergraduates to these standards will depend upon what kind of a life they are now living in college. For the college graduate, life in society is just a continuation of life as lived in college. Every day, hour, and minute of a man's life wherever he is makes its contribution to his personality and to the sum total of his habits and ideals. Thus, the reaction of an individual as a citizen to his environment and the quality and tone of his conduct will be very little different, if any, from his reaction as a student. The undergraduate members of the brotherhood are therefore entreated to live the exalted life while in college. Let the standards set up control conduct in all human relationships. Be honest in the performance of the daily tasks; develop a many-sided interest as a basis of mental and spiritual growth in advancing years; guard against committing any act that will lay the basis of ill health in the future; share the religious life of the college; and lay the basis by hard and unrelenting study for a successful professional or business career. In conclusion, there are approximately 3,000 Alpha men engaged in the busy life of the world. These chosen few should be leaders of the race. They should be the light set on a hill that illuminates the pathway of the crowds whose vision is obscured by ignorance and prejudice; the salt of the earth that preserves society against the deadly disintegrating microbes of sin and disease; "the yeast cake for Democracy's dough," as William James says, "that permeates and gives direction to every possible influence in our industrial, social, and economic life." They should meet the standards set by the poet who said: "God give us men! A time like this demands Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands; Men whom the lust of office does not kill; Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy;

Men who possess opinions and a will; Men wiio have honor; men who will no; lie; M m who can stand before a demagogue, And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking; Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above fog In public duty and in private thinking; For while the rabble, with their thumb-worn creeds Their professions and their little deeds, Mingle in selfish strife—lo! Freedom weeps, Wrong rules the land, and waiting Justice sleeps!"

ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA DINNER PARTY It would be necessary to use an entirely new supply of adjectives were we to justly and completely describe the unique entertainment given in our behalf by Upsilon-Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority._ in this age of strict conformity and umfo.mity in manners, customs, dress and social amenities it was truly refreshing to find something Different. For Alpha Kappa Alpha gave a dinner party that was perfect in every detail. We sang lots, spok? some, ate a plenty and all in all had one of the best times of our lives. It was generally conceded that this affair was the high spot in the social whirl of the Convention. Adding to and enhancing the novelty ot the whole arrangement was the knowledge that Upsilon-Omega is composed of only nine Sorors, y.'t they saw to our needs with a nicety and completeness of detail of which only the fairer sex is capable. A. K. A. has a number of beautiful affairs to her credit but there is some daubt as to whether any of them ever quite equalled the Dinner Party at which we relaxed from the strain of dances and meetings and just had a good time. We'll "Remember" this "Always."

THE

FORMAL

On Thursday, the thirtieth, The Annual Formal Dance was held from 11 :00 P. M. 'till 4:00 A. M. in the Collisetim, Richmond's best ballroom. The affai was very beautiful and everyone enjoyed himself. However, it was not the hilarious jo !y Amrjal Forma] to which we are accustomed. No college songs were sung; no Fraternity Song was sung; everybody was dead tired.- Richmond had done what New York and the other leading cities couldn't do— "it had worn us to a frazzle." It was the third consecutive night—"from 11:00 P. M. 'till 4:00 A. M."— that we had come to the Colliseum, and we felt like some badly battered gladiator staggering from the arena. Richmond had warned us to get all the sleep we needed before arriving in Richmond. We are now convinced that they meant what they said. Hats off to Richmond.

THE ANNUAL

BANQUET

The Annual Banquet was held in the Dining Ha I on the University Campus. Thus our last impression was a lasting impression. The Banquet was held during the last few hours of the old year. As the whistles, bells and fire-arms proclaimed a New Year. there was prayer, followed by "Blest be the Tie That Binds," and the Convention was at an end. We went on our way to meet again in Cleveland for the Twentieth Annual Convention.

BROTHER JOHN M. GANDY Convention Speaker, Secret Session

T h e Sphinx. February, 1927

GEORGE B. KELLY, N A T H A N I E L A. H E N R Y A.

MURRAY,

CALLIS.

The Convention considered itself extremely fortunate in having three of the founders present, in the person of Brothers George B. Kelly of Troy, N . Y., Nathaniel A. Murray, Washington, D. C , and Henry A. Callis of Chicago. The presence of a founder is always a delight to a Convention and the presence of the three was a triple-treat that we seldom have. Brother Murray gave a historical sketch of Alpha Phi Alpha, which was elaborated upon by Brothers Callis and Kelly. Under the supervision of these Brothers, a history of the Fraternity is being prepared and may be looked forward to as an important fraternal document. Brother Callis was the honor guest

of the Convention. B R O T H E R G. A. M O R G A N

PRESENT

Brother Garrett A. Morgan of Cleveland, an Honorary Member of the Fraternity, was a welcomed visitor. Brother Morgan attends the Conventions every year and the Brothers are always glad to have him mingle among them so that they might take advantage of the contact and profit by his wide practical experience. Brother Morgan's very liberal pledge to defray the expenses of preparing the fraternity history was paid, for which the Convention extended gratitude. O F F I C E R S F O R 1927 The officers for 1027 a r e : Raymond W. Cannon, President; Charles W. Greene, First Vice-President; B. Andrew Rose, Second Vice-President; Robert P. Daniel, Third Vice-President; Marion R. Perry, Fourth Vice-President; Joseph B. Evans, Secretary; Percival R. Piper, Treasurer; Oscar C. Brown, Editor of T H E S P H I N X : Perry B. Jackson, Member, ExecuCouncil; James H. Hilburn, Member, Executive Council; Peyton F. Anderson, Member Executive Council RAYMOND WINFRED CANNON, General President, Re-elected to Fourth Term Brother Raymond Winfred Cannon is one of those who started in at the very bottom and gradually

worked his way up through the ranks of Alpha Phi Alpha. He is about to begin his sixteenth year as a member of the Fraternity. Brother Cannon is a charter member of Mu Chapter. He began his first official duties as assistant chapter secretary. It was while serving in this capacity that he began his long and detailed study of routine of chapter operation. Brother Cannon was General Vice-President in 1913, 1914 and 1923, and to him goes the distinction of being first Editor-in-Chief of T H E S P H I N X . Brother Cannon was born in Northlield, Minnesota. H e received his grade and high school education in Minneapolis. Ba. Phm., University of Minnesota: St. Thomas College; Law student; member Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity ; Minnesota State Pharmaceutical Association; Alumni Association University of Minnesota; Plymouth Business Association; member N. A. A. C. P . ; Vice-President. Minneapolis Urban League; Prominently identified with civic and social organizations in Minneapolis and St. P a u l ; Partner of Cannon Bros. Pharmacy; member American Legion; followed the colors to France during the World War. Brother Cannon assisted in the establishment of Alpha Nu Chapter-Drake University and Iowa State College. He established Alpha Xi Chapter at Marquette University, securing recognition for said chapter. H e has maintained a militant stand against prejudice and discrimination as affecting students of our Race and has taken the initiative in lighting against these conditions at several of the higher institutions of learning. In some of these instances excellent results were obtained. During his membership in Alpha Phi Alpha Brother Cannon has made a study of the various phases of our fraternal endeavor, all activities, and problems both internal and external. With this knowledge so accumulated he has served the Fraternity well. It is noteworthy to mention here that some years ago Brother Cannon declined the presidency of Alpha Phi Alpha. At that time he stated his reason for so doing was due to his desire to be better qualified by having more opportunity for exhaustive study of the whole organization before assuming the duties and responsibilities of the presidency. Truly this attitude reflected Alpha Phi Alpha Spirit. Cannon's one and only ambition in the Fraternity is to help Alpha Phi Alpha attain its goal. C H A R L E S W. G R E E N E , First Vice-President Brother Greene is a Batchelor of Arts from Morehouse College. While a student there he was ever active in student activities, being in the chorus, the manager of baseball and a star backfield man on the football team. He is now an alumni representative on the athletic council of his Alma Mater. I luring the war period he served as secretary of the W a r Savings Stamp Campaign among colored people-for-tbe -State- of Georgia, the only such office in the United States permitted by the Treasury Department and directed by Negroes. Through his office, more than three million dollars were raised for war purposes. H e is Treasurer of Friendship Baptist Church, Atlanta; Superintendent of the adult division of the very efficient Sunday School of that church ; Field Superintendent and Statistician of the Atlanta District of the Pilgrim Health and Life Insurance Company; Assistant Secretary of the National Insurance Association; Assistant Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Urban League; Active Secretary in charge of the Colored Division of the Atlanta Community Chest Campaign and affiliated with other business, social and civic enterprises in his city and state. We know of no Brother in Alpha Phi Alpha who is a more consistent and dependable worker than Brother Greene. He truly deserved his elevation to the First Vice-Presidency and he's going to deserve more.

T h e S p h i n x . F e b r u a r y . 1927

Brother Rose is that genial type of busy man upon whom you can always force another civic obligation or burden where there is a prospect for benefit of his community. He organized and served as president of the Buckeye State Medical Association; served as president of the Former Enterne's Association of the Freedmen's Hospital; is a member of the National Medical Asociation; member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity; member of the Social Welfare Committee of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce; member of the InterRacial Committee; and prominently identified with the Odd Fellows, N. A. A. C. P., Y. M. C. A., Men's Bible Class of Zion Baptist Church of Dayton, the Linden Center Community Service; and others and others. Because of the important york and activities of Brother Rose, Wilbcrforce University granted him the honorary degree of M. S. in 1022. At his own expense. Brother Rose has attended the last six General Conventions. This is the kind of interest that Alpha Phi Alpha has rightly rewarded in making Dr. B. Andrew Rose Second Vice-President.

C H A R L E S W. G R E E N E , First Vice-President

' . R O B E R T P. D A N I E L , Third Vice-President, Eastern Jurisdiction

B. A N D R E W R O S E , Second Vice-President, Mid-Western Jurisdiction Brother B. Andrew Rose, Theta-Lambda Chapter, Dayton, Ohio, is a native of Ohio. H e received his early training in the Public and High Schools of Mccomesburg, Ohio. Pursued full course of medicine in the Howard University Medical School, receiving the degree M D. in 1912. Served as enterne in r reedmen's Hospital, Washington, 1912-13. He has successfully engaged in the practice of his profession in Dayton from li)14. to the present time and is now considered one of Ohio's prominent physicians.

Brother Robert P. Daniel is a professor of education at the Virginia Union University, Secretary of Educational Research of the Virginia State Teachers' Association, Boys' Club Director of the Richmond Colored Playground and Recreation Association, Budget Secretary of the Ebenezer Baptist Church. active in Boy's Work and Student Work of the Y. M. C. A., well known in literary and social circles of the community. Has served Alpha Phi Alpha in various capacities, as assistant Secretary, Secretary and President of Gamma Chapter, State Director of the Go-to-High School, Go-to-College Campaign, and as chairman of the convention committee of the Nineteenth Annual Convention. Has made wide and varied contacts. After graduating from the Virginia Union University, studied at Teachers College, Columbia University. Was engaged in Y. M. C. A. work in New York City one summer, and a year ago travelled in England, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and other countries of Europe. You may "bet your bottom dollar" that he will do his duty "though the heavens fall."

T h e S p h i n x . F e b r u a r y . 1927

JOSEPH HENRY BRUCE General Secretary

EVANS,

Brother Evans is a native Washingtonian, having been born in that city back in the "nineties." He received his early training in the public schools of that city; graduated from Armstrong High School in 1908; completed one_ year's special training in the Davis Business College; entered University of Michigan in 19011, taking his majors in Commerce and Business Administration. Because of high standing in scholarship was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and to the University Commerce Club. He. came to Alpha Phi Alpha through Epsilon Chapter;. After, graduating from Michigan, Brother Evans began work in the Government Department in Washington. It Jjvas here that he developed an aptitude for bushiest! system building, which resulted in his establishing bne of the largest visible filing systems in operation, the system now used by the Poro College. Brother Evans taught in the Commercial Department of the St. Louis High School before making his advent into the business world. At the present time he holds a position as an important official of the Standard Life Insurance Company, Atlanta. "Joe" is doing his job and we may confidently expect a high degree of perfection under his administration.

"Percy" is an active member of Gamma Lambda Chapter. Brother Piper doesn't do anything halfheartedly. Notwithstanding bis otherwise busy life, since going to Detroit, he completed the law course in tile Detroit College of Law. and forthwith passed the Michigan Bar. Nobody has to have any doubt about a man like Piper.

P E R C I V A L R. P I P E R , General Treasurer Brother Piper, like Brother Evans, was born in Washington, D. C , sometime during the last decade of the nineteenth century. His elementary and high school training was obtained in that city. In June. 1917, he graduated from Howard University with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, being the first graduate to receive such a degree from Howard. H e was "beat-to-death" and made a member of Beta Chapter on April 1">, 1915, which is part ot Unreason why he can't forget Alpha Phi Alpha. Brother Piper went to Detroit in 1921, after serving two years as First Lieutenant during the World War. He worked three years as draftsman with the Detroit Service Department of the Westinghouse Company; is now in charge of the switchboard orders of that company from the time they are received until the job is manufactured and shipped.

O S C A R C. B R O W N , Editor-in-Chief, The Sphinx B. A., B. S. in C. (cum laude), LL.B. (cum laude) from Howard University; now graduate student in finance in Northwestern University, Chicago; Major of Infantry (Reserve) ; Business Manager of The Douglass National Bank of Chicago; serving his fifth consecutive year as Editor-in-Chief of T m ; S I - H I X X ; Attorney at Law in Illinois, Georgia and Indiana.

The Sph m x , F e b r u a r y , 1927 LAY MEMBERS OF T H E E X E C U T I V E

DR. PEYTON' F .

ANDERSON

New York City

COUNCIL

ATTORNEY PERRY B. JACKSON

Cleveland

W I L E Y A. HALL, President of Gamma Chapter, 1920, Much credit for the success of the convention is due Gamma's President. DR. JAMES

HILHI R \

Baltimore

T h e S p h i n x , F e b r u a r y , 1927

lew ' 1

A h'

â&#x20AC;˘ M^^L

BROTHER HOMES Cboite, Assistant Chief Surgeon, Provident Hospital, Chicago; former General Treasurer, was an interested spectator at the Convention. All must admire the interest one has in his Fraternity when he will travel a thousand miles at his own expense to be present at the Annual Conclave.

BROTHKR J A M E S W.

MCGREGOR,

Los Angeles. California. Retiring Vice-.President

B R O T H E R R A Y F O R D W. LOGAN, Literary Editor, T h e Sphinx From the 'â&#x20AC;˘Piltslniryh

HARI.EY S.

MANUEL,

Columbus, Ohio, Retiring Vice President

Courier"

< )ctober 16, 1926.

"Mr. ka> ford W. Logan is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur C. 'Logan, W27 Q Street. N. W., Washington, D. C. He was horn in that city on January 7, 1897, and received his early education there. After being graduated from M Street (now Dunbar) High School in 1913, as Valedictorian and captain of the winning cadet company, he spent one year at the University of Pittsburgh, and then went to Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts. Mr. Logan was graduated in 1917, cum liude, Phi Beta Kappa, Second Prize in History, winner of the Van Vechten Prize for E x temporaneous Speaking and of the Dewey Prize for Excellence in Commencement Orations. Two weeks after graduation, he volunteered in the First Separate Battalion of the District of Columbia National Guard. After serving as corporal and battalion sergeantmajor, he was promoted to first lieutenant in the :)72nd Regiment of Infantry. He was shell-shocked in the

T h e S p h i n x , F e b r u a r y , 1927 Argonne Forest June 13, HMM, and Titer leaving the hospital served as company commander. Camp Exchange Officer, and counsel in the General Courtin- rtial of the Bordeaux area. "Obtaining his discharge in France, he travelled lor more than five years in nine different European countries. During that time he acted as Interpreter and Secretary of the Second Pan-African Congress in Paris, 1921, and was a delegate to the Third PanA :ican Congress in London, 1923. "Mr. Logan has just returned from a month's trip to Haiti, where his knowledge of French and his intimate acquaintance wish many prominent Haitians permitted him to gather much hitherto unpublished information. "Mr. Logan is at present He- d of the Department of Modern Languages in Virginia Union University. He is a member of the Modern Language Association of America and of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity."

Treasurer of Kappa Lambda Chapter, was initiated at Beta in 1920. Was active in school and class afr fairs at Howard, especially in the military corps and the Dramatic Club. Graduated in 1923 from the School of Applied Science in architecture. H e was recalled by his Alma Mater and served on Howard's faculty for a year. In 1924 he made a business location in Cleveland. As the pioneer architect he was very prominent in his field and highly considered by the city building and engineering departments. 1 le is now at A. and T. College, where the course in architecture is being established.

(An article by Brother Logan on Haiti has been accepted by the Nation and will be published in the near future.)

Ferguson is well known in the Hast and is one of our many unassuming brothers who works and accomplishes much, yet never seeks praise for what he has done. We are indeed fortunate in having this bit concerning him.

BRO. J. GARLAND WOOD

Bro. Wood, the "father" of the Life Insurance Endowment Plan, is well known to Alpha Phi Alpha men. He is an expert in the Life Insurance business. He specialized in that field at New York University. In addition Bro. Wood is a Howard man. For several years he was associated with the Standard Lite Insurance Company of Atlanta, having resigned from that institution last August to take up the actuarial and accounting work of the Victory Life Insurance Company of Chicago. At the last annual meeting of the directors he was elected Auditor of that company. A R T H U R W. (ART.)

FERGUSON

Designer of The. Sphinx Coverâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Convention Number

Miss Henrietta B. Cheeks, of Cleveland, Ohio, was on hand in Richmond to be sure that Cleveland's bid for the next Convention be satisfied. The wishes of such a strong, charming personality could not go unfulfilled. Hence. "On to Cleveland."

The Sphinx, February, 1927

THE LIFE INSURANCE ENDOWMENT PLAN B Y j . GARLAND WOOD,

Secretary

of the Endowment

H E S E V E N T E E N T H Annual Convention of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, held at the seat of Eta Cnapter, New York City, appointed a special committee comprising of Brotlier james A Dunn, of Dayton, Ohio; Daniel W. Bowles, of St. Louis, Mo.; Victor R. Daly, of Washington, D. C.; Norman L. McGnee, of Cleveland, Ohio; Myles A. Paige, of New York City; William H. Benson, of Chicago, and J. Garland Wood, then of Atlanta, to consider a plan for endowing the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. The plan, which calls for the endowing of the Fraternity on the Life Insurance Endowment plan, was submitted to the convention and adopted. The Richmond Convention passed a resolution that the plan be put into effect beginning January 1, 1927. The method is identical with the one that has been used by Princeton, Massachusetts Tech, and other leading American colleges for years in providing funds for their Alma Mater. It has practically supplanted the annual assessment or gifts plan formerly made by classes on their 20th or 25th reunions. It's adoption by the Fraternity came after years of consideration of several well-known plans for endowment. The purpose of the endowment is to build up a fund to adequately endow the fraternity so that it may have funds necessary to promote its educational work and to further the interests of the organization in general. Leading members of the fraternity are advocating the establishment of fellowships for special study abroad, scholarship and student loan funds to help worthy members who drop out of college lor lack of sufficient funds. Every Convention for the last five years has been confronted with the chapter house financing problem, which yet remains unsolved. These and many other needs make it necessary that the fraternity secure an endowment in order to be in a position to adequately carry on its work. The plan as adopted provides: 1. That all graduate members of the fraternity be urged to take out a 10-year endowment insurance policy in the sum of one hundred dollars, naming the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity as the beneficiary. 2. That undergraduates, upon becoming graduates, be urged to take out the policies. :i. That the amount of the policies be $100 and the date of maturity be either 10 or 20 years. 4. That active graduate members be required to take out policy upon initiation. 5. That any member carrying the policy will be exempted from grand tax, and upon maturity will be granted life membership. 6. That if the member permits policy to lapse prior to time loan value is available, such premium payments be considered as forfeited, and the member be considered unfinancial from date of taking out the policv. 7. That the plan be placed in the hands of an Endowment Commission of three members. 8. That tVe General Convention set aside a sum for endowment each year, the amount to be sufficient to pay the premiums of $12,000 of endowment policies to mature in 10 years. The insurance to be placed on the lives of the founders—all or some of them. The arrangement with the insurance company provide: . . , , , • • 1 That all rights and privileges under the policies will vest in the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. 2 At maturity of the endowments, full value of the contracts will be paid by the insurance company to the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. In case of termina-

Committee.

tions by death or surrender before maturity, the proceeds will likewise be paid to the Fraternity. 3. There will be no medical examinations required on the policies provided the amounts are not in excess of $250. 4. The policies will be solicited by the insurance company in cooperation with the Endowment Commission, and ah renewals will be aggressively collected by the machinery of the insurance company. There are numerous advantages that the Life Insurance Endowment plan has over any other method. The general funds of the fraternity have, in past years, been used from year to year for current expenses. Consequently our contribution toward endowment must come principally from the individual members. The purchase of stocks, bonds, and real estate by the fraternity wou.d require large sums of cash; moreover, if loss is to be avoided, there is needed experience and a knowledge of market conditions possessed by few. The savings bank offers very little encouragement. To save money at all is difficult; but for the Fraternity to deposit money regularly in a savings account and leave it there is more difficult still. It is a magnificent temptation to every convention to vote out on some supposedly worthy project. But the Endowment Policy meets all objections to these forms of investment; it possesses, indeed, unique advantages offered by no other method of accumulation. It gives the members something to save for on a wholly democratic basis. Moreover, once made, deposits cannot easily be withdrawn and wasted at the dictate of whim or politics. As an investment, it is ideal. There is no speculation; there can be no loss. It is absolutely safe. But the Endowment Policy is more than an unexcelled method of saving and a high grade investment—it is also life insurance. For, the moment the first installment is paid, in the event of the member's death, the Fraternity is guaranteed the immediate payment of the face amount of the policy. From the foregoing it wlil be seen that the Life Insurance Endowment plan is an ideal combination of systematic saving, profitable investment and life protection. To the individual members it offers an opportunity to become a paid-up life member in 10 or 20 years, and at the same time assures a definite contribution to a much needed endowment fund. T h e member knows, too, how large and how many his annual installments must be to guarantee the payments of that sum. There is no assurance that the grand tax will remain the same, but every reason to believe that it will be increased from time to time, as it has been in the past. The longer the endowment period, the smaller the premium. The average for the 20-year endowment being $4.50 and for the 10year endowment, $9.50. T h e younger the age at entry, the smaller the premium payable. The time to act is now.

NOTICE Now and then this office has information relative to positions and openings. When such is the case, I begin to search for any who may be interested. If there be a graduate of medicine who is interested in netting located he might communicate with this office. RAYMOND W .

CANNON,

General

President.

National Alpha Phi Alpha Hymn Words by A. L. SIMPSON— 'l5 XI Chapter

Music Arrang-ed by J O H N J. ERBY—'24 XI Chapter, W i l b e r f o r c e , O h i o .

With expression

2nd TENOR f"

In our We hold gj Col-lege

J9" dear ev days

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ter-nal spir-it binds, All the no - ble, the true and cour-age - ous ble i-deals and aims, Car-rying out earth's and heav-en's grand com - mand,. bued with mem-'ries fond, And the rec-ol-lec - tion slow-ly fades a - way

ter -nal s p i r - i t binds, All the no - ble, the true and c o u r - a g e - o u s . _ ble i-deals and a i m s , Car-ryi:ig out earth's and heav-en's grand com - mand, bued with mem-'ries fond, And the rec-ol-lec - tion slow-ly fades a - way._

\ ™

(* Use small notes with 3rd vnr.se only ( U . S . and International Copyright Secured )

—•

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Man - ly deeds Our true hearts Our re - nowned

schol - ar ev - er A Phi

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for

kind, Are the g a i n , That our bond, May they

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kind, Are the aims of our dear f r a - t e r - n i gain, That our fra - t e r - n i - t y ' s prais - es may be bond, May they ev er a - bide and with us

National Alpha Phi Alpha Hymn 3

ty. sung. stay.,

ty. _ sung stay.

for

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loved

dear - ly

art

thou,

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Wfcrlonal Alpha Phi Alpha Hymn 3

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CM1C A G D

T h e Sphinx. F e b r u a r y , 1927

MRS. R U T H T A P P E S C R U G G S President, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. T o A L P H A P H I A L P H A FRATERN-ITY:

In behalf of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority I wish to extend to you cordial greetings. We believe that naught but good can come from this newly adopted plan of your editorial staff, which calls for expressions from our various Greek letter organizations. Among our fraternities and sororities there is a common bond of service to our fellowman, that binds us, and as the new year begins it is to be a rededication of ourselves to this principle, and to the joys in that comradeship of service, that Zeta Phi Beta greets you.

Nothing more pleasant is mine to do, than to greet for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority the deservedly honored fraternity of Alpha Phi Alpha. A month ago, as other American families, true to their tradition of the holiday season, our several Greek letter organizations met, each at the hearth of one of its members; to commune with its own; to review its accomplishments and growth; to receive the bread of counsel at the common board for greater vigor for the future; to re-kindle its fires at the family altar, that the light of its ideals might shine bright throughout the land. And now that, inspired and strengthened, we have dispersed to our own communities, it is good to find anew that we are striving for so many of the same goals, with an equal fervor for accomplishment and with greater zeal for real co-operation than ever before. When America is most concerned for her youth, "Youth" can best guide its own, by the light of selfadopted ideals, to a truer evaluation of life's good. Since science is continually demonstrating that perfection is threatened everywhere in the physical world so long as imperfection is allowed to remain unchallenged, let us realize more and more that this is true of other worlds. That nobility of character, superiority of intellect and consciousness of a responsibility for service, commensurate with talent and ability, which we desire for our young men and women can only be attained by concerted effort. So that really we merely wish for ourselves and for our united purpose, a successful and fruitful year, when we wish it in great measure, for you, who are playing a very large part indeed in what we deem so worthy a work, oh Alpha Phi Alpha. Sincerely yours, ETHEL L A M A Y CALIMF.SK,

President of Grand Delta Sigma Theta

Chapter, Sorority.

MRS. P A U L I N E SIMS-PURYEAR Grand Basileus, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. MRS. ETHEL L A M A Y CALIMESE President, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority extends to the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., "Warmest Greetings'" It is our earnest hope that the helpful inrlu-

T h e S p h i n x , F e b r u a r y . 1927 ence of your fraternity will envelop and permeate every sphere possible; to the end that you have have an enviable part in sending forth an improved citizenry, the prevailing principle of which will be Manhood and Brotherhood. It is to this serious end, "We Greet You!" ALPHA

servitude.

We are, Faithfully and cordially yours, P H I BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY, ARTHUR W.

MITCHELL,

General President, 132 You St., N. W., Washington, D. C.

K A P P A A L P H A SORORITY, INC. ( M R S . ) P A L I . I N K S I M S PIRVKAK,

Supreme

Basileus.

J . S . McCLAIN Grand Basileus, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

ARTHUR W. MITCHELL General President, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, the youngest of the four Colored Greek Letter College Fraternities, wishes to congratulate the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity upon the wonderful: showing it has made as a pioneer in this great field. This group of college men most happily join you in the march toward literary, economic and political freedom. We congratulate you upon the success of your jtwenty years of effort and achievement. W e are endeavoring to supplement your work and assist in every possible way in getting for our college group and for our people in general, all the . rights and privileges enjoyed by other people. W e verily believe that the efficient and successful leadership oi our race for jthe future must come from the colleges and must be tempered and seasoned by fraternal ties and activities. At our last conclave, little stress was placed upon purely social activities. It is the opinion of most Phi Beta Sigma mm that in the past entirely ton much stress has been placed upon social activities byall the fraternities. Your group will perhaps be interested to know that among the many things provided for by our program for the year 1!>27 is, 1st, the appointment of and sending a commission to the Virgin Islands and to the Republic of Haiti, for the purpose of making a thorough study.and investigation ; oi political, economic, and health'.cbnditious and reporting the same t o ' o u r (l<>\ eminent and to the world; :.'nd. the appointmjent .of- a Commission to affiliate with the N. A. A. C.jPv:in its great fight against the crime of lynching. \ye*'<shall assist that association in every possible way in its efforts to bring about the enactment of a Federal Anti-Lynching law. We wish to say again that our group stands ready and most anxious to co-operate with the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in proclaiming justice and equal opportunity for all the peoples of the world, regardless of race, color, nationality and previous condition of

The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity wishes to express its appreciation for this opportunity to extend its sincere greetings to all Collegiate Greek Letter Fraternities and Sororities, and wish for you all a most successful year in the realization of your aims and ideals, especially those that shall be a tangible Ix-nefit to the Negro Youth in particular and the human race in general. Most sincerely, J.

MCCLAIN.

Grand

Basileus.

E A R L B. DICKERSON Grand Polemarch, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

The Spninx. February, 1927

To T H E EDITOR OF " T H E S P H I N X , " PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF A L P H A P H I A L P H A FRATERNITY:

It is with a deep sense of gratitude that I accept this opportunity of extending greetings on behalf of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity to the members of our great brother fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha. The custom of Greek letter fraternities of exchanging greetings each year at the time of their Annual Grand Chapter meetings has done a great deal to promote a friendly and wholesome spirit of co-operation among our several college fraternities, and I am quite certain that this new avenue of contact, happily originated with you and your staff, will do even more toward developing a truly genuine feeling of respect and admiration on the part of each college fraternity for the other. In the past, from time to time, there have been evidences here and there, of friction and misunderstanding l>etween members of your fraternity and mine, but all such differences have been confined to narrow areas. Never have the national policies of these two great college fraternities clashed, and the sound sober men of both groups have always realized, as now, that in the final analysis we are—all of us—striving t.< attain the same goal—that of developing character and leadership in the hearts and minds of Xegro college men. Much is yet to i e accomplished by our racial group,

RAYMOND W.

and the main vehicle for advancing the interests of this race as a whole, in my opinion, is the college fraternity. Such being so, Kappa Alpha Psi would welcome the opportunity of meeting with representatives of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and other similar organizations for the specific purpose of formulating a joint program of action—a new line of attack—that will manifest itself, not only in the solution of problems affecting undergraduates at the various universities, but also those having to do with the advancement of the rights of colored people in general. To such a program of cooperation Kappa Alpha Psi committed itself at its recent Kith Annual Grand Chapter meeting held in Washington when it authorized the appointment of a committee whose business it is to work conjointly with other fraternities in the endeavor to effectuate the ends heretofore stated. In closing may I not express the hope that this interchange of greetings through the medium of your worthy periodical shall be the real beginning of a definite, solid constructive agency of service to the race and to the Nation, such agency being fostered and developed by the combined unselfish efforts of Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi and other similar college organizations. Very sincerely yours. EARL B. DicKEBSorfr,

Grand Poletitduh,

Ka/>/<.i .\lplm Psi

CANNON,

General President, Alpha Phi , tl/>lm Fraternity,

Inc.

Fraternity.

The Sphinx, February, 1927 To A L L O U R SORORITIES AND FRATERNITIES,

Greetings:

In extending to all our sororities and fraternities the sincere heartfelt good wishes of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, I feel that it is well to note the fact that in the shaping of the destiny of our Race in America all these organizations have specific and very important parts to play. W e must look to our college men and women for leadership. They have almost supplanted the old order. They shall be our leaders because, in addition to their superior education and training, they have that essential broad faculty for ignoring the petty things of life, brushing them hastily aside in order to get down to the real human problems before them. This is understanding. Understanding begets union, cooperation and cordial relationships. In this kind of union, then, there is strength. Let us consider that we are all in union, for our sororities and fraternities are militantlv engaged in a common effortâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the uplift and betterment of our Race, the promotion of the hirhest ideals in manhood and womanhood, the emphasizing of the higher and finer tilings of this life and a stimulation of interest therein, and the development of the ability to serve. At one time our fraternities and sororities were

questioned. But they have demonstrated their right to exist by the great work they are accomplishing. They have commanded the attention of the nation in their endeavor. They are comprehensive and American. Several years ago there was held a great meetingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Negro Sanhedrin. The refreshing feature of that whole large gathering was the work of the commission composed of the representatives of our sororities and fraternities. Their work was an education to the old order present and an inspiration to the progressive element present. It was the indication of the new era. To our Fraternities and Sororities, Alpha Phi Alpha greets you in that genuine spirit of friendliness and cordiality which engenders the essentials of true and sincere co-operation. Alpha Phi Alpha rejoices with each and all of you in your progress. And Alpha Phi Alpha extends the right hand of fellowship in wishing for your great and noble organization a most prosperous and successful New Y.ear. May 1927 give to you only of its best. Sincerely and fraternally, RAYMOND W .

CANNON,

General President, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity,

Inc.

B R O T H E R CHANN1NG H . T O B I A S Convention Speaker, Public Session

ATTORNEY RALPH E. M I Z E L L E President, Eta Chapter N. Y. City

j|_« EDITORIAL > J j C O N S T I T U T I O N A L G O V E R N M E N T OR CHAOS? The growing tendency in certain quarters to make constitutional changes when such changes will serve their personal ends or whims, and tokignore those same constitutional provisions for the same purpose, cannot be too firmly condemned. Several regrettable examples of this occurred in our last Convention. Regrettable, not because of the far-reaching importance of any particular act or legislation; but regrettable because some of the parties who should fight most stubbornly and most relentlessly to uphold the integrity of the law are the very persons who manifest a wanton disregard for our constitution when it is "politic" to do so. Such practices not only undermine the framework of our organization, but also raise an immediate danger signal for us to put on the brakes. We believe that orderly government of a fre» people make a constitution indispensable. We believe with that strong current of judicial opinion that it is belter that the law be definite and fixed than it is for it to be right. And above all, we believe that as long as the constitution contains provisions on any point, just so long should we be guided bv those provisions. T H I S M U S T B E O U R P O S I T I O N , because we feel that our constitution is a lighthouse pointing the way —not for today, but for tomorrow. By it, and only by it, we know whither we are sailing. If, though, the provisions are to be ignored when they do not meet the convenience or desire of some, then we are drifting, drifting we know not where, if we develop the habit of disregarding the constitution at will or of amending it by motion on the floor of the Convention, when more rigid formalities are constitutionally required, then we are traveling inevitably in the direction of choas and disintegration. It has been well said, constitutional government represents the greatest and grandest struggle of humanity for its betterment. It is a contract by and between the individuals to govern themselves in a certain welldefined manner. It should never be said that one or a dozen violated the agreement. If so, on the other hand, we may drift into a monarchy—be governed by one; or on the other an oligarchy, with the supreme government in the hands of a few. Failing in these, we will have anarchy—no government at all. T h e only way to preserve the constitution is to accept and abide by the law as it is. If it is too rigid, oppressive, obsolete or unreasonable, change it; B U T O N L Y IX Till-. M A N N E R D E S I G N A T E D . Until the change is properly made, we've got to bow to the whele sanctuary of a free people—our constitution.

INTER-FRATERNAL

GREETINGS

It is our opinion that the custom, adopted some years ago by our several national intercollegiate fraternal groups, of exchanging greetings at Convention time is a commendable one. In Alpha Phi Alpha, we have been glad to note that such greetings have always been sent and received with a genuinely cordial feeling. In accordance with this policy and with a desire to attempt to further seal the "bond of good-will,"

the staff of editors of T H E S P H I N X invited these groups, through their presidents, to send more personal and tangible greetings and expressions. It is gratifying to see the ready response that comes in every case. There can be no doubt that the friendliness as set forth in these messages is of inestimable value. It is commendable, too, to note the trend of fraternal opinion—a trend that indicates the desire of all to forget old antagonisms and petty rivalries and to settle upon a program of mutual helpfulness. Aside from the progress evidenced by these sentiments, it is inspiring to realize the vast "motive power" that could be developed with these trained men and women interested in one definite program, outside of regular fraternal routine. The vision of some seven of ten thousand Negro college WLU and women banded together for a common end is a happy one indeed. Being Alpha Phi Alpha, in true spirit of the Fraternity, we are committed to such a program.

THETA

IS A L L

RIGHT

During the early part of January, Theta Chapter gave its Annual Formal in the Reynolds Club House, on the campus of the University of Chicago. As a result, the editor of the Chicago Defender published on the front page of his paper, of January ]5th, the following censure: We

Must

Cease Bv

Segregating

Ourselves

ROHERT S. ABBOTT,

There is a growing tendency on the parts of men and women of our race toward self-segregation. This tendency manifests itself in school and college activities and social functions in the North. It springs from that self-conscious attitude, based upon an inferiority complex, which makes certain of us feel that we are more comfortable when we are "carrying on" in separate groups. A conspicuous example of this trend was shown us in a dance given by a fraternity group in one of the halls of the University of Chicago last Friday night. At this university it can be truthfully said that there is no segregation. The school more nearly approaches a real democratic institution than any of the greater universities in the country. Out on the campus of the University of Chicago a person is accepted for what he is and is given the opportunity of proving himself worthy of the acceptance. Out there we have represented the school in almost every activity along with other races who attend. W e are on atheltic squads; we play in the band; we are on the debating team, even taking part in the international debate with teams representing Cambridge; and Oxford, we are on the faculty; we are members of select councils, exclusive clubs and, finally, we have an interracial organization functoining on the campus. Obviously, we have every reason against our taking a Jim Crow social affair out there. There can be no sane argument against the intermingling of races socially at the University of Chicago or, for that matter, at any other university. Schools are for experimentation and broadening purposes. It is at such an institution as the University

Trie S p h i n x , F e b r u a r y , 1 9 2 7 of Chicago that we can disprove the old, hackneyed argument that we do not want the contacts that can be established through association with white classmates. We not only want them, but need them. Experience has taught us that our lives are bound inseparably with the lives of white men and women around us. We must mingle with them in the business world, however much we are opposed to it. Why, then, cannot we make these contacts that will insure a more amicable relationship when school days are over? Dances given at the University of Chicago should, m the very nature of things, be all-inclusive. We should be the ones to take advantage of this situation. if white organizations have not taken the step it can '» said that they thought we preferred to remain away from their affairs. Our dance proved it to their satisfaction. White students standing in the corridor watching the dance gave evidence that they were interested. Had they been invited, had they c o m e even to scoff—they would have gone home the wiser for having attended. There would have been that many less scoffers at the University of Chicago the next day. We seem woefully lacking in foresight. We follow blindly the beaten paths laid down centuries ago By other races, and while we complain of. our lot we have not the moral courage to seek new routes. We cannot argue that white fraternities do not inWte us to their affairs. The question is, "Who has more to gain by initiating this courtesy ?" We who nave lived in the restricted South all our lives—who are suffering from acute discomfort when in the presence of white people—do we expect always to be wringing, creeping things and still hope to take our place in the world's progress ? Hasn't it occurred to us that the only way to lose that uncomfortable feeling is to meet the person who causes it again and again under as many conditions as will offer themselves? An incident is recalled by a student in one of the northern universities who had just come from the • With and who felt uneasy in the presence of white People. This man attained to membership in an organization theretofore exclusively white. When this organization planned a social affair this Race member absented himself from the meetings and stayed away until a committee waked upon him and urged him to attend. He was told that the white members were anxious to make everything pleasant for him, if he would meet them half way. He went, enjoyed himself and made friends who are his friends today, years alter his departure from school.

Segregated dances at the University of Chicago are distinctly out of place. T o organizations planning affairs out there we urge a departure from the old beaten path and invitations for white classmates and professors. Insist upon their presence and see that they enjoy themselves. Then watch the results. Finally, to those who object to this step, take our advice and give your dances elsewhere. By all means avoid the university. The members of Theta Chapter, with the approval of a host of graduate members of the Fraternity in Chicago, gave the party as a social affair, without any thought of "self-segregation" or any attempt to solve the race problem. Theta Chapter sought an evening of relaxation and pleasure. This was the end in view when they invited their guests. Nobody was invited because he was white and nobody was slighted because he happened not to be white. This was an intimate, personal social affair and it was human instinct (not colored human instinct), that the guests should be invited on the basis of intimate personal friendships. Because the boys did not make an interracial meeting of the social event was no reason why they should segregate themselves in some back-alley away from the Godly walls of the University of Chicago. Considered, for the sake of argument, from the aspect of the race problem, the affair may well be considered as a commendable event and as a step forward. Theta Chapter was chartered at the University of Chicago and the University of Chicago is its home. It is a part of a great intercollegiate fraternity the same as many of the other fraternities located at the University. The Reynolds Club House on the campus offers an ideal place for the high character of dance that Theta wanted to give. It was the best available place. It is the place where many of the other fraternities at the University give their entertainments. Theta's affair was brilliant. It made us proud. The ladies were as beautiful and lovely as God's big world affords. And we venture that the men were as clean and as upright as you will find in any other similar intercollegiate fraternal group in America. The conduct of the dance was superb. _ It was refined. Those who saw it could not have lc't with any other opinion. It was not reasonable nor necessary that Theta Chapter members should invite men in to dance with their sweethearts, wives and sisters simply because the men were white. And there was no reason why the affair should have been taken in their "backyard."

Heaven or Hell in Haiti? By

RAYFORD W.

Until very recently my knowledge was no more extensive than that of the average person. Wendell Phillips' eloquent eulogy and more particularly his brilliant peroration of Toussaint Louverture constituted all my information. At the Pan-African Congress of L921, however, I heard a native Haitian denounce the American Occupation in the most scathing terms. I became acquainted with a charming Haitaian woman and her three talented daughters, one of whom gained, last year, second prize in the Paris Conservatory and is now a star at the Athenee Theater of that city. For three years I enjoyed the friendship of Dr. Casseus, one of the best known specialists for women's diseases, decorated by the Belgian government for services rendered during the World War, a member of the French Legion of Honor. Above all, I came under the spell of the eloquence of M. Dantes Bellegarde, Minister of Haiti to France. He it was whom an English correspondent proclaimed the most eloquent speaker in French at the meeting of the League of Nations in 1981. To him came the unusual honor of being named Commander of the Legion of Honor without passing through the grades of Knight and Officer. It is not surprising then that after my return to America in 1!)24 I should desire to visit the island. My interest was increased by the diametrically opposing accounts of the existing situation. By" far the great majority of these articles praised in most extravagant terms the American Occupation. One was led to believe that before Admiral Caperton landed his marines on July 28, 1915, Haiti and Hell were synonymous, that the capital, Port-au-Prince, would better have been called Port of Paupers, that the natives were naked cannibals ruled by modern Neros and Tweeds. Overnight the former Black Republic, according to these reports, had become a modern, flourishing, cultured, Protestant, nordicized nation. On the other hand, Mr. James Weldon Johnson and Dr. Gruening of the Nation, deplored the Occupation, accusing the marines of unnecessary cruelty and the civil authorities of oppressing the people, destroying freedom of suffrage, muzzling the press, abolishing Haitian participation in government, and spreading the traditional American prejudice against colored peoples. In order to discover which of these accounts were indicative of the real situation I sailed from New York on August 10 on board the American steamship, the "Ancon." The morning after leaving port I realized what it meant to lie sailing under the American flag. For the first meal I had found myself at table with an American family and the wireless operator. Nothing unpleasant occurred. But the next morning the chief petty officer requested me to take a seat at a tablewhere I had noticed three colored people the night before. In answer to my question as to the reason for the change he suggested that I see the purser. The latter tried to shield himself behind the flimsy pretext that the family wished to be alone. I noticed, nevertheless, that the wireless operator ate at the table during the rest of the voyage. The change of tables, however, resulted in my getting some very valuable information. A Jamaican woman told me, for instance, that on coming up from Chile on a boat flying the flag of that country all the colored passengers had cabins on one side of the boat and had eaten after the white passengers. After this exhibition of prejudice one is inclined t<> understand

LOGAN

why America has always supported Chile against Peru in the Tacna-Arica dispute. Another of my table companions, a young Haitian, gave me a card of introduction to the editor of a newspaper in Port-au-Prince. He also expressed an opinion which I later found t o be correct. "The only people," he said, "who are not opposed to the Occupation are those who are too ignorant to know what is going on, those who fear reprisals, and those who hold positions under the Occupation." Four days of pleasant travelling brought us within a night's ride of Port-au-Prince. My first impressions are perhaps best portrayed by notes taken verbatim from my diary. August. 15. Haiti is said by some authorities tc be the Arawak name for "country of the mountains." Up before dawn. Passing between Isle of Gonave and coast. Mountains rising sheer from the sea, black and foreboding on our port side, and stretching away to west. Effect sombre and depressing. Sunrise brightened scene and showed mountains gloriously green with gentle folds. Port-au-Prince on edge of shore with mountains immediately behind. As soon as we docked, boys with only loin cloths came out in row boats. Passengers threw them coins. They dived and reappeared with coins in their teeth. R e nynded me of descriptions I had read of ships landing off coast of Africa. Others threw long cords to passengers on deck, attached baskets of tropical fruit ami called to passengers to haul them up. Porters wearing red caps! Customs house a quarter of mile away. I had been listed as a salesman, and was asked to show my samples. Boys got into a light as to who should lake my suitcases to a carriage. Smallest horses I have ever seen. Carriages and ( ' " v y r s , c I e a n t ' r t , l a " t h e { l r o s k y a n < 1 P " ^ ^ of Warsaw. Much less odor than there. Native gendarmes acting as traffic cops with whistle and arm signals; parking signs, one way streets. Room with meals at the Hotel Bellcvue three dollars a day. Too blooming much for an iron bed. mat m center of floor, one electric fight, one chair and table, no running water, conveniences outside. Had cup of coffee and went to Cathedral. Feast of the Assumption. Enormous crowd with Archbishop â&#x20AC;&#x201D;whiteâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;officiating. The whole gamut of colors and texture of hair from pure African to pure Nordic. f e w bobbed heads. Men dressed distinctly French style, canes, high-heeled shoes, high trousers, formfitting mats. Countless beggars. Plenty of automobiles driven by Haitians, Buick, Chevrolet, Dodge, Nash, Studebaker, a couple of Packards, and a number of Fords hew real side-walks-, but rather arcades passing under second story of houses. On ground floor, novestibule, the street door, which also served as window, opening directly into room from street. Hot as blazes. Back to hotel to read papers of past week A cigar, forty cents! Papers poorlv printed extent La Paste, with cheap paper, numerous typograph.cal errors often illegible. One contained accusation that the letters of a prominent Haitian were read in the post office. Typical French dinner served on porch. Somethingnew, cooked bananas. American officers eyed me curiously. Probably took me for a Haitian since I spoke r r e n c h .

The Sph i n x , F e b r u a r y , 1 9 2 7 Slept for a while and then took another stroll through the city. Women carrying enormous baskets on their heads just like Portuguese. Some riding burros. Three Chinese laundries. An Italian quarter with a Fascio Italiano di Port-Au-Prince. Went into the Bar Central. Sign—"Diches, Post Carts." Officers and marines drinking together. H a i tians at another table. Americans getting drunk. On way back to hotel met a procession of hundreds of women, priests in front. Behind came men singing "Hosanna." Band concert on the Champ de Mars by gendarmerie. Music very good, concluding with the Haitian National Anthem. Went to "Parisiana," one of the two moving picture houses in the capital. Pearl White in a serial alxiut fifteen years old. Orchestra playing opera selections. Price, one gourde or twenty cents. On returning to hotel about ten o'clock found front door locked. Had to go around to the back in order to get in. August 16. A thousand women at least in the Cathedral market place. Hardly any men. Nearly every one wearing coarse ecru, some flour sacks, no shoes. Have peculiar way of squatting down behind their baskets. Watermelons, corn, cucumbers, charcoal, bread. Prices very high in stores. Post cards a dollar a dozen. Blair Niles' book four dollars. Cigars higher than anywhere in world. American products predominate except for French perfumes. Haitians riding to work with their wife or daughter or chauffeur driving them. Many of the Haitian employes speak English. Surprised at number of Haitians in the Banque Nat i o n a l de la Republique d'Haiti, which is only a branch of the National City Bank of New York, the real power in the country. Paper money disgustingly dirty. Apparently very little silver in circulation. Had some boiled figs for dessert. Delicious. Dinky little street car rattling along and making more noise than the Broadway Limited. Made out of wood with a canvas covering and driven by a Dodge motor. First and second classes. On the following day, I finally saw the American who I knew could give me first-hand information. ( I do not mention his name, nor shall I mention the name of Haitians who made interesting disclosures to me, because I do not wish to bring them to the notice of the Occupation. I may as well state here that American Negroes are looked upon with the greatest disfavor, that I have every reason to believe that I was shadowed, that my mail was opened, and that a conference was held one evening by the Charge d'affaires, the Chief of Police and a marine lieutenant who said he had known me in France, in order to decide what to do with me. That nothing was done is perhaps due to my personal friendship with the colored American mentioned above. Another colored American, who was in Haiti on a visit a year ago had been escorted to police headquarters and questioned as to the reason for his being there.) Such an article as this can be only a cursory summary of the situation as I found it. It is a severe indictment of the Occupation, and at the same time an appeal to American Negroes to interest themselves in this application of the Monroe Doctrine to what was once the only Black Republic in the Western Hemisphere. Haitians of all classes are disgusted, but worse than that, they are discouraged. They see no hope of recovering their freedom except as the result of a war between the United States and Japan, or the arousing of public opinion in America as to the real situation there. The reason for this discouragement is easy to understand. America went into Haiti to stop revolutions. establish commercial prosperity, teach government of the people, by the people and for the people." America has done none of these things except restore peace; but, having restored peace, still maintains over eight hundred marines in the island. Instead of establishing prosperity, this country has greatly increased the cost of living, set up a government of Americans, by

Americans, and for Americans. The pretext advanced for occupying Haiti is the same used to justify the recent intervention in Nicaragua—the protection o f American life and property. But there just as in Haiti, no American property was in danger, and not only no American, but not even any foreigner was killed in the revolution of July 27, 1915, which resulted in the landing of the marines on the following day. It is obvious that these marines were in waiting for just such a contingency. As a matter of fact, the United States has been trying to get control of Haiti ever since the last decade of the past century when Frederick Douglass was Minister to that country. The Convention signed in 1916 between Haiti and the United States gave this country the right to stay there for ten years, and an additional ten years at the conclusion of the convention. But in 1917, a year after the treaty had been in effect, the United States decided that it would remain for the additional ten years. Moreover, by granting loans to Haiti through the National City Bank of New York, America can intervene at any time until 1952 in order to secure the payment of interest on these loans. Every thinking Haitian is of the opinion that the United States intends to remain indefinitely in Haiti just as it has done in the Philippines. Just whether this long occupation will redound to the advantage of the island will be evident from what has already been accomplished. I believe that the information given in the next article will cause every Negro to long for the day when we can again boast of an independent Negro country, for now that Firestone has gone into Liberia, that country is only a vassal of the United States. (Continued

in Educational

Number.)

OHIO'S HERO By

PLEDGE J O H N FUSTER,

Kappa Chapter, Sphinx

Club.

Bang! The starter's pistol cracks. Now they're speeding down the track. A speed-crazed maniac sets the pace, As past the shrieking stands they race. A hundred yards he leads them on, Swift as an arrow, light as a faun.

;

And where's Ohio's man ? Oh, where ! Lagging, dragging, far to the r e a r ! But look, there's a fighting light in his eye! A light that means he'll do or die. He grits his teeth, he picks up speed; Fighting defeat he cuts the lead. Straining, gaining, inch by inch; Oh, Uods of Victory, lend him strength! He breasts the leader, holds his place— But can he keep the awful pace? Oh, spur him; speed his flying feet! H e cannot, shall not taste defeat. Speeding, matching stride for stride— Down the homestretch still they're tied. Sharply the white tape looms before! Ten feet to g o ! The people r o a r ! Now, Buckeye Hero, do your best! H e leaps! The tape falls from his breast.

(NOTE:—Below is printed the Chapter Letter from Theta Chapter. It has been brought forward because it is considered the best Chapter communication appearing in this issue, raising questions that are worthy of serious consideration. In every issue of T H E S P H I N X we shall attempt to carry in the Feature Section the best letter submitted.)

The Sph iivxr F e b r u a r y . 1 9 2 7

Theta Chapter, Chicago BROTHERS IN ALPHA P H I ALPHA, Greetings: At the last regular meeting of Theta chapter the brothers listened to a report of the convention proceedings in Richmond. The delegate did his utmost to describe the Richmond hospitality, but the brothers who were in the Virginia city during Christmas week will know that any description, no matter how vivid must fall shorl of being realistic. Just as the delegates could not avoid the cobblestones on the streets of Richmond, just so they could not avoid the kindness, courtesy, and hospitality showered on the Alpha Phi Alpha visitors. The social affairs, endless in number, served to display the far-famed hospitality of Richmond at its best. Nor can the brothers forget the "fair blooms from God's chosen garden" (Jerrick) who smiled at them i n every side, at the dances, receptions and dinners. Several items in the convention proceedings were of interest to Theta. particularly the adoption of the endowment insurance plan and also the healthy condition of the general treasury. The outstanding impression carried from the 1'.>111 Annual Convention by Theta's delegate was the compic te dominance of the policies of the fraternity by the graduate members. Apparently these brothers are keen for engaging the fraternity in activities which are remote from the undergraduate point of view, and arc more closely allied with progressive movements ou side the fraternity itself. Natural it is no doubt for the graduate man to desire that the fraternity engage in civic and racial movements; national and international in scope. This attitude has much to commend it, yet the affairs of the undergraduate are gradually being pushed into the background. What of the problems of the undergraduate? Are thej riot worth while? Take the matter of fraternity houses. It is important to the undergraduate, at least, to consider very seriously some of the difficulties that arise in the purchase and maintenance of fraternity houses. Why is it not within the province of the general organization to interest itself in the housing situation? How many houses do we own? What was the original cost and what is the present value? In what condition are the mortgages and how are the payments being met? What plans have been evolved to pay oil these mortgages and which ones have been successful? What houses are situated near graduate chi piers and what chapter houses are remote from any graduate groups? The need for answers to these qu stiens suggests the need [or the collection of data on the subject and an analysis of the whole situation. The matter of fraternity houses is only one topic which is of interest to the undergraduate, and which affects him more closely than a Pan American Exposition, a National History Week or an International Peace movement. The undergraduate is interested in whatever financial assistance that is available. Instead of awarding a cup, merely, to an outstanding chi pter, why not put a premium on brains and give a cash award to the brother in some chapter who achieves a high scholastic Standing? These are matter i about which main undergraduates have been thi.iking since the close of the convention, and I am P isitive that other opinions will be expressed ou the subject. Unite naturally Theta rejoices in the selection of Clew-laud as the seat of the 80th convention since it is hut a step over to the home town of Brother Perry Jackson. We ought to carry a trainload of brothers frcm Theta and Xi-l.ambda over to Cleveland next December. Several times I have remarked in this column that the social activities of Theta and Xi-

Lambda, when they occur, simply leave the "500" in

C hicago gasping for breath. We have a precedent here that no affair must be given unless it surpasses all other affairs, either in novelty or in brilliance. At the medical convention two summers ago, the cabaret part] given, by the two chapters established a high-water mark in Chicago social history. T o surpass this achievement required considerable egoism, especially tor an undergraduate chapter. Yet the members of Theta chapter have just startled the Chicago elite by offering a formal affair which bids fair to stand unique in Chicago social history. Reynolds Hall, the University of Chicago, was the scene of this event on Friday, January 8. I must confess I am unable to give an adequate description of the ensemble which graced the beautiful halls of the university on that evening. I am not at all sure whether there were members of the fair sex present or whether some angels were granted a special recess for the occasion. If the hitter conjecture is true I will certainly embrace Fundamentalism and set sail for the pearly gates of heaven. The hostesses for the dance were Mesdahies George C. 1 lall, A. L. Jacksou, and Bindley Cyrus. Among the distinguished guests present were Editor Robert S. Abbott (who later gave OS a left-handed rap in his paper despite the fact that he perspired through every dance), Judge George, George Arthur and a host of others. I can not resist recalling the splendor of that delightful evening. The syncopated strains of the orchestra partly intoxicated the senses and the inebriation was complete when one viewed youth and beauty whirling about in a cycle of silken colors. Across the hall in the splendidly appointed lounging room, where attendants served refreshments, interesting gr ii])s gathered for a chat, and yet the dance hall was always crowded to capacity. What completely won the ladies over, however, was the presentation of a liny program case, beautifully designed and worthy of milady's jewel case. The whole affair was as near perfect as one could wish and Theta men are somewhat worried tor fear that they may never be able to surpass this brilliant event. Realizing that our sister chapters are awaiting eagerly to know who w-ill guide the destines of Theta chapter for the ensuing year. I submit, therefore, the result of the election of officers in Theta for 1927. President, C. Blythe Andrews. Vice-President, Frederic Robb. Secretary. Sumner T, Bohee. Treasurer, Herman Brown. I li.torian, W . B. Gordon. i b iplain. Frederic Robb. Mouse Manager. Peter Jordan. Brother C. Blythe Andrews, the new president of Theta, is a student of law at the University of Chicago and is the man who directed the activities of our recent dance so successfully. Brother Andrews almost alone collected fees, and arranged for printing, music, favors and imitations. The task imposed on him was staggering but he saw it through in a true Alpha spirit and today he is president of his chapter as a reward for this and many other services he has rendered to the chapter. Brother Andrews is popular in the chapter and should have a successful administration. His slogan even before taking office is "On to Cleveland." Theta extends greetings and good wishes for 1027 to her sister chapters and hopes that every "human" can make it to Cleveland next December. Yours fraternally, SUMNER T. Bases, Corresponding

Secretary.

The Sphinx, February, 1927

Negro History Week By

RAYMOND W.

Of the many "Weeks" devoted in America to the popularizing of some principle or ideal, few merit the sincere interest and active cooperation of the fraternity more than does Negro History Week. Even if the week of February 6-12 has passed before this issue of T H E S P H I N X reaches the various chapters, this article will not be untimely. It will serve as a kind of follow-up letter to remind the brothers of the importance of what may have slipped by unnoticed in their community. Or it may arouse some to interest themselves individually in the history of our race. At all events, it will show that the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity realizes the necessity for such study and officially endorses the annual effort to stimulate, foster, and perhaps revive enthusiasm for this praiseworthy endeavor. Even in the liberal white colleges of the North and West, too little time is devoted to a consideration of the role that the Negro has played in the development of civilization. The textbooks in some instances are avowedly unscientific in their treatment, particularly with reference to the Reconstruction. The authors of other books think that they are sufficiently fair when they omit all mention of the Negro. Even such excellent volumes as Hockett and Schlesinger's "Political and Social History of the United States," while more just in their analysis of the Reconstruction, fail to mention any real contribution of the Negro at any other^epoch of our history. Jerome Dowd's latest effort, "The Negro in American Life," exhibits the almost pitiable attempt of Southerners to write history with unprejudiced pens. What member, for instance, of the 372nd Regiment who served under both colored and white officers will not laugh at Dowd's dictum that all the colored regiments fought well except those commanded by colored officers ? The soldiers of that regiment will hardly agree that the Croix de Guerre which their flag proudly flies resulted from the efficient training or the dashing courage of the trembling white rookie shave-tails from Gondrecourt dumped on the regiment in Champagne. Such books will hardly correct the first impression created by our common school geographies. Hundreds of thousands of white students still remember that there are five races of people, the black, yellow, thrown, red, and white; that the yellow, brown, and red races may have accidentally or incidentally advanced civilization, but that the black race has done nothing at all except be slaves and found such uproariously ridiculous republics as Liberia and Haiti. We should not then be astonished at the amazing ignorance of some of our fellow-students. The fault hes not with them if they do not know the theories of Sergi, Brunhes, and Wiener of the influence of African civilization on Europe and America; if they have never heard of Benjamin Banneker and Matzeliger; if they do net realize that Pushkin and Dumas are of Negro extraction. Many of us are hardly better iniormed. We can, however, supplement our scant knowledge and correct our own false impressions by delving into such works as Woodson's "The Negro m Our History," "Negro Education Prior to 1861," "A Century of Negro Migration," "The History of the Negro Church," "Negroes and Their Orations," Brawley's "A Short History of the American Negro," our own DuBois' "Suppression of the Slave Trade" which has the signal honor of being Volume One in the Harvard Historical Studies, 1896. This is by no means an exhaustive bibliography, but merely a suggestion for some of the books that should be in the library of every brother and on the shelf of every school in the country.

LOGAN.

Those of us who did not participate this year in Negro History Week may begin now to prepare for the future. Such preparation should include not only study of books, but also the gathering of documents. Every community is rich in the unwritten history of our race. The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History and its Director of Research, Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson, Spingarn Medalist for 1926, can do little alone. Alpha Phi Alpha can help to make Negro History Week as inspiring and productive of real results as the Go-to-High School, Go-to-College Campaign. T H E S P H I N X , beginning with the next issue, will help to keep the purpose constantly in the mind of the organization by reviews by the Literary Editor of Books pertaining to the Negro.

T H E STORM By

JOHN

FUSTEH, Pledge,

Kappa Chapter, Sphinx

Club.

Dark clouds scud across the sky, The wind, alive, goes rushing b y : The branches of the giant trees Cry loud as souls in hell—but cease! The wind dies down and all is still; Silent as death, and dark—until A streak of lightning cleaves the sky And fades e'er you can bat an eye. A moment more of silence; then The thunder and the awful din, The rain, the fury of the gale, The strong oak bending lest it fail, All join to shout the vast alarm— 'Tis here! 'Tis here! The storm! The storm!

THE By

LILY

PLEDGE J O H N

FUSTF.R.

Kappa Chapter, Sphinx

Club.

I've been creeping through God's garden Stealing flowers. Some, it took me years to pluck, Others—hours. I

I've purloined the rose that grew bright Red with passion. Wore it for the world to see— 'Twas my fashion. Dandelions Towards These I've Just for

reaching upwards the sun, gathered by the handful fun.

Countless others have I broken From the stem, Wore them for an hour, then I Tired of them. Now I've wandered 'cross a lily Pure as snow, Gentler than the wind which wafts it T o and fro. And I have no wish to pluck it Let it be. For I love it and I know it Grows for me.

T h e S p h i n x , F e b r u a r y , 1927

ECHOES OF T H E CONVENTION

AND

FRATERNITY HISTORY With the enthusiasm which marked the report of the delegates of the various chapters of the fraternity to the 19tll convention at Richmond, Va., still at its highest pitch, we hope that this message conveyed through the convention number of the Sen IN X to various chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha will meet with a hearty response from all concerned. In order then that the History of the fraternity may be written up to date. Brother bounders X. A. Murray and H. A. Callis are requesting your prompt cooperation in filling out carefully and promptly the valuable data asked for below in connection with the effort made possible through the gratuitous contribution of Brother Morgan of Cleveland, Ohio, to get together important hisorical facts regarding Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and its chapters. 1. Name of your chapter and its charter members. 2. Date on which your chapter was admitted into Alpha Phi Alpha. :i. By whom and where your chapter was formed (name of charter members). I. Do you possess a chapter house. If so its present real estate value. .">. A picture of your chapter house if you have one. li. A picture of the charter members or separate pictures with names at the earliest opportunity. 7. Present active enrollment, alumni enrollment. total. H. Names of past officers of the chapter. ( .i. Names of present officers of the chapter. in. Names of outstanding alumni of your chapter who have achieved distinction and their special fields of activity. Address all communications t o : N. A. Murray. Dunbar High Schol, Washington, D. C.

THE SPECIAL

DISPENSATION

Y E A R 1927-28, A L P H A P H I

FOR

THE

ALPHA

brothers in Alpha Flu Alpha, the recent convention at Kicnmond, Va., is anxious to get as many of the 3,000 odd brothers, who were formerly identified with some active graduate or undergraduate chapter back into the fold again. In order that it might be carried out it passed a special dispensation act for the year 1927-28, whereby those outside the fold, or who for some reason or another have becomeunfuiancial, may become, financial by the payment of a small fee of $1,011 and toe grand tax tor the year 1927-28. Brothers in Alpha Phi Alpha, if this means anything, and if the vows that you took when you were initiated into the mysteries of Alpha Phi Alpha mean anything to you, you should make every effort within yourself, to stage a 100 per cent come back. Once a Brother in Alpha Phi Alpha always a brother in Alpha Phi Alpha. Does not the spirit of old A. P. A. still beat strong enough within you, to make you want to take advantage of this special opportunity to align yourself with the nearest graduate or undergraduate chapter: \ o u owe it to your former brothers, you owe it to your chapter to help them make a 100 per cent drive in staging this comeback. Does not the old spirit of Alpha Phi Alpha ring in y.mr ears as it did in your college days? Brothers in Alpha Phi Alpha we need you, we need your asistance in carrying out our great constructive program. We need you to prove to. the world at large that Alpha Phi Alpha is not only the' first Neg.o College Fraternity, but it is also the strongest and the largest of all the College Fraternities among Negroes. N. A. Mi-R'.iAY JEWEL.

Are We Ready For Greek Letter Societies? privilege to call them exalted brothers with no other fraternity men are often asked if Negroes are ready object in view. The same persons feel that their only for college (ircck letter societies. I his question, in a course of time, has racked the brain of many learned[ mission is to advertise the fraternity and lend it d.gnity. They are too non-phisscd to be of any servicemen both North and South. The northern intellectualI to the fraternity or in sympathy with its program. lias been brought to face this question repeatedly with'these characteis are dangerous to any organization out ever having intimate contact with more than a very and can be branded as apples totally petrified on a tree few representatives of Negro men of collegiate rank, of prolific fruition. II,nee they are not re ,ily for who matriculate in northern colleges. 'I he s.uilhc ni fraternities. intellectual closes his eyes to all things concerning; Negro youths except that which is immoral and will1 Delegates from the various chapters of the different aid him to prove the old fossilized theory of nordic Greek letter societies have spent a portion of the recnt supremacy. 1 do not intend to take issue with toe Xmas vacation, in the different chosen cities and have northern nor the southern idea, but to present some returned to their respective chapter seat with a observations which will probably aid an adherent to> voluminous and glowing report concerning the activireach logical conclusions concerning it. ty's of their respje ive conclaves; They reported on T h l Praise-Your-Hero movement. The Select-Your-YocaNo rational man would attempt to deny thatt I mi movement, file KhiL'ate-You s'I f-\Vcck, and 'file Negroes are ready for fraternities, had it been possiblee Stay in School Prog am and award trophies for the lor him to have attended one of the annual conventionss greatest efficiency in carrying out these programs, yet given by one of the organizations of select group ofI I would wager my kingdom that not oft* m a d ' any mental or intellectual aristocrats. He would knit hiss brow, d i s k e d his hair and attempt to arouse himselfI" provision for their maintaining themselves while in college nor do they have a res rvc fund to aid its own from lethargic stupor, or apathy, or turn back to somee members whose finances are insrtimc'ent to nnintam if the old manuscripts and take i>siic with men of thee themselves during their school year. They finally drop hoar} past, who pronounced the Negro mentally stupidd out of school. How many societies organized a un.c or incapable of development, had he listened to tnee is to alleviate this situation? They are noi yet ready for intelligent deliberations concerning vital problems fraternities. which tend towards social improvement of the racee and our social order. Men have been known to graduate from universities Negroes with this decided improvement in theirr and go out into the world and get lucrative position, and purchase sumptuous homes, expensive cars an:l social and mental affairs cannot bask in the sun oiif the mother chapter of the Univesity is suffering for social progress, hut he must continue to grapple withh d the want of paltry moral and financial aid from its vital problems, whose solution will tend towards social ig alumni; to write these sons soliciting the latter is a development and make facilities for the approaching it loss of time and a stamp. These same men are often generations It has been observed only too often that accomplished Negroes have condescendingly thrown offff expelled from their chapters for financial delinquency. rI frankly believe that it is this type of snirit which their garments of egoism, and have given the fraterle prevent'- most chapters from having adequate and nity. of Mime forty or fifty chapters of select men, the

T h e Sphinx. February, 1927 creditable fraternity houses. Men of this spirit are n i1 ready for fraternities. In the north small chapters of the race are left alone to compete with fraternities with tradition, with uitlmsi.isic alumni who build houses and aid them in every wise, with those which outnumber them three or i r t 0 u" C ' ^ " a ' u m m who graduates from one of these schools is lost forever, even though they are cognizant of the plight of their mother chapters. Are our alumni who fall within this category ready for fraternities? No. The whole situation is too absurd to attempt to offer a remedy but I feel that we are bent on initiating men who fit socially and are not mentally or fraternally prepared for altruistic brotherhood. I think, however, that the college fraternity is the greatest unit in college. It is a select group of students. They are of a higher average than the student body from which they are picked. It induces good men to come to the college urges men, indifferent to study, to prosecute their studies, molds men's ideals to conform to all principles of gentlemanly decorum, develops them socially and tries to influence them to seek higher positions of leadership when they leave college. Should any group so invaluable to social and scholastic uplift be allowed to struggle along with an overwhelming handicap? No. Does your attitude toward your chapter handicap the mother chapter? Are you, ready for wholesome fraternalism? The race is unfortunate in having a Â§roup of men disgruntled because they cannot make Kappa Xi or Omicron Delta frat. They organize a croup of men of now fraternity caliber and assume a Greek letter caption. In most cases a definite pro-

gram is impossible unless it is to tear down a more highly organized group and prevent them from reaching and influencing weak men and grasping strong ones. The result is fatal. All societies are then forced to take in weak men, they all have poor finances and the result is their inability to do any practical good for the coming generations. With this situation before us let every man of each society put his shoulder to the wheel of fraternal progress and aid colored college boys to finish their education and develop strong race leaders. Yours fraternally, T H O M A S G.

MORRIS,

Iota Chapter, Syracuse, N . Y.

NOTICE TO ALL

CHAPTERS

Some Chapters have not responded with their rosters for 1927. Forthwith and upon receipt of this notice the following M U S T be done: 1. File copies of complete roster of your Chapterâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; from its very inceptionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;with the General President General Secretary and the Vice-President of your jurisdiction, designating your officers in same. Show status of each member. 2. File with the General Secretary names and addresses of all financial members of your Chapter who are entitled to receive the S P H I N X . RAYMOND W .

CANNON,

General

President.

BETA BROTHERS IN A L P H A

CHAPTER,

P H I ALPHA,

Greetings:

Just after Thanksgiving activities were at a standstill, however, on the night of December 14 ten youths came from the "Land of Darkness" to learn the mysteries and behold the "Light of Alpha." Hence the following brothers are enrolled: William Brown, Stanford Daugherty, Baxter Goodall, Dwight Holmes, Cassett Johnson, Ernest Tevin, Rowen Murray, Horace Pollard, Steven Stafford and James Smith. Christmas found the brothers spending the holidays in various places. Some went to New York, others to the Convention, and many remained in Washington. All who journeyed to Richmond returned singing "Carry Me Back to Ole Virginity," which testifies tn the hospitality of the Richmondites and Gamma. Brothers Rummions and Curtis, our delegates to the Convention, came back "Enriched by Richmond" and with a program for a year of greater service and constructive work. Many brothers stopped on the way from the Convention. Some were Raymond Cannon, General President ; Percival Piper, General Treasurer; Joseph 11. Evans, General Secretarv, and Ted Thompson, from Xi. Those who remained in Washington had no regrels as the town was alive with dances and parties in honor of the Kappa Alpha Psi and Phi Delta Kappa delegates. The dance given by Mu Lambda at the Colonnade on the afternoon of December 30 in honor of the Kappa Alpha Psi delegates was the best event of the week. With the holidays at an end everyone has been burning the "midnight oil" in preparation for the mid-year exams. After the mid-year exams our basketball team will take a trip through the West and wind up the season on the home court. On the Varsity we are represented by Brothers Kay Trigg, Andy Washington, Bill Carpenter and Monroe Bundrant. At our last meeting the following were selected to guide the destines of Beta: President, Deckle McLean. Vice-President, Adonis Patterson. Financial Secretary, Eugene Rummions. I reasurer, Theodore Percival. Recording Secretary, Paul Miller. Associate SPHINX Editor, Horace Pollard. House Manager, Eugene Rummions. Basketball Manager. John Caldwell. Beta sends regards to all her sister chapters in Alpha I'hi Alpha and hopes for greater achievements in H>2~.

HORACE O.

POLLABD,

GAMMA CHAPTER, BROTHERS IN A L P H A P H I A L P H A .

Greetings:

Gamma chapter is fast gelling hack to normalcy after a must enjoyable holiday season. Throughout the capital of the Old Dominion can still be heard the expressions of "what a good time I had" at the conclave. T h e Convention has done much toward injecting the spirit of service, loyalty and devotion into every Gamma brother. The inspiration which was SO wi nderfully given us will enable us to better carry on the aims and ideals of Alpha Phi Alpha. The work of the 19th Annual Convention was so touching and inspiring that the brothers of Gamma are still held under its undying enthusiasm. (i:n:'ia was signally honored in having one of its brothers being placed i n the roster of General Of-

ficers. I refer to Brother Professor R. P . Daniel who was chairman of the Convention Committee and through whose untiring efforts made it possible for you good brothers to enjoy the many festivities which were held during our Convention week. T o o much praise and honor can not be given Brother Daniel for his work. Brother Professor R. W . Logan was also appointed to the office of Assistant Editor of T H E S P H I N X . Brother Logan was the assistant to Brother Professor Daniel and much credit can be given for his efforts in making the I'.lth Annual Convention a success. At our first meeting, the following brothers were elected to guide the destinies of Gamma for the year: Brother Reginald Mitchell, President; Brother "Ciemmon T . " Wortham, Vice-President; Brother Bishop Merritt, Secretarv; Brother S. 1'".. l'.urford. Assistant Secretary; Brother Chester L. Washington. Corresponding Secretarv; Brother J. W . Carroll, Treasurer; Brother W . R. Strassner, Chaplain; Brother J. L. Robinson, Historian, and Brother Aubrey 'I'. Tobin, Associate Editor to Tin; SPHINX. We feel that these brothers are fully callable of "putting over" the program of Alpha Phi Alpha and that we have made a worthy and wise selection. This year brought to us Brother L. W. Davis from Beta as" head of the Department of Business of the University. We welcome Brother Davis in our midst. Just before the holidays. Gamma led nine strong aspirants to the light. These men have proved true Alpha men. They a r e : Brothers Fernando Brown, Hannibal Ridley, James L. Robinson, Kirk Gastrins, Tin mas Henderson, Dr. G. Galvin, Attorney L. F. Byrd, "Bill" Segar and A. T. Tobin. Brothers Ridley, Merritt and your humble servant played varsity football this year. The writer had the In nor of being elected captain of the [926 squad which had a successful season. Brothers C. G. Williams, R. W . Scott and R . Mitchell are out for the varsity basketball team. W e wish these brothers much success in their efforts to bring glory and honor for Union and Alpha Phi Alpha. Brother Dr. 1). W. Davis is serving the University in the capacity of head of the Department of Biology. Brother F. W. Pierce is his assistant. Brother C. L. Washington is still serving as instructor in typewriting in the Business Department. Brother Washington was appointed as Assistant Recording Secretary to the Conventii n. Other brothers of Gamma who arc making good in scholarship are Brothers Tom Henderson, who is an A student in Chemistry, Brother George Downing who is President of his class and of the Kappa Gam ma Chi debating society of Va. Union, Brother F. E . Davis and Brother Bland Holland. With heartiest wishes to all chapters and trusting that this year will hold great things in store for Alpha Phi Alpha, I am

AUBREY T . TOBTH,

IOTA CHAPTER, BROTHERS IN A L P H A P H I A L P H A .

Greetinns:

First let me extend our chapter's greetings and congratulations on the selection of our president, secretary and treasurer to the general organization. Their efficient management of their respective offices during the past year is sufficient endorsement tor con tinuation in office. With such efficient officers from now on, Alpha Phi Alpha will become a greater potential in the Negro c illeciatc world.

T h e SPh inx. F e b r u a r y , 1927 Again Iota congratulates her general officers. We fear the chapter letter must needs be short in this issue due to the pressure of semester examinations which lias us on the "qui vive." However, we extend to all chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha greetings for the new year and may the newly inducted chapters prove an added force for the prestige of our illustrious fraternity. Brother T. Morris, our senior delegate, brought back a voluminous and enlightening report of the activities at the Richmond session of the National Convention. From the extent of Bro. Morris' report our delegate missed little if any of the business transacted during the days at Richmond. Not only that, but he also came back singing the praises of Virginia hospitality and entertainment. In the near future we intend to submit to the editor of T H E S P H I N X an article for the feature section by Brother Morris, who excels in proclivities toward the literary. None of the brothers of the chapter have exhibited tendencies toward giving away their hearts and pins this semester, especially during the Christmas recess. W e wonder "how come" the sudden mastery of heart. As Iota has deferred election of officers until alter examination period here, we are awaiting with interest the selection for the coming year. As usual, prospects for pledges is bright at this lime of the year but we await the ax of examinations for final consideration of the same. "It won't lie long now" is what W« think, before we shall be arranging plans for our Go-to-HighSchool program and lastly, the Annual Prom for the chapter. ARTHUR

ROYSTER.

KAPPA CHAPTER, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio BROTHERS I.\ A L P H A I ' m

ALPHA,

Greetings:

Genius and ability and achievement have a charming manner of cropping out ofttimes where least expected—and more often where least appreciated. But that isn't the way we meant to commence this report—although the truth just stated ought to be borne out in the following lines, for genius and ability and achievement in Kappa Chapter have- recently been as noticeable as a bald-headed man in the ladies' beauty parlor. lo begin at the beginning and try to make a long story short. Every brother of a reminiscent turn of mmd must have lingering memories of the delightful and recent Convention held in the historic capital of the Old Dominion. The brothers who missed those wonderful days m Richmond have heard about or will read about them in T H K S P H I N X , SO why should we recall the events that haunt us in such pleasant memories now'. Kappa's delegates, Charles W. W a r field, our new president, and P. Bernard Young, Jr., declared upon their return that they were too happy to make much of a report, but the brothers here swore bj the ghost of Socrates that they read the best, most colorful, and complete account of the sessions and s< .ial activities ever heard in our chapter. During the holidays the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority held its Boule here. Those heavenly delegates and visitors solemnly declared that the dance Kappa Chapter gave from cine to five A. M. New Year's morning was lo be described in no other way than "just too

bad." Mid-term examinations have just about got this correspondent all nuts. So 1 shall have to merely ramble about, reporting things in a random way and beg the indulgence of his dear readers. •ill! That basketball team! One begins to wax enthusiastic: Who does not know that last season we won an intramural league championship at the Uni•"sity, that we had the very best of success against Strong outside teams, and that we now have a beautiful silver cup that the University athletic department

awarded us? Perhaps you may not know that during the Christmas holidays we defeated the famous Philadelphia Flashes (S4 to 50—and the Flashes had won H< games before they came to Columbus. Then, in two games already played in the Intramurals we have beaten two teams by scores of 48 to (i and 39 to 10. And the halves (except in championship games) areonly twelve minutes long! If they played forty minutes, the scorekeeper would have to buy an adding machine. After dancing from 1 to 5 New Year's morning the team traveled to Dayton and the Dayton Marathons won by a point or two. But besides being tired from entertaining the beautiful A. K. A.'s, several of our best men, including Forrest Whittaker, formerly a Dartmouth star but now in Ohio State, could not make the trip. That's not an alibi, it's a fact. Manager Young is bemoaning the fact that there are not more days in the season to play, because the team is in such demand that about a dozen teams cannot be played that desire games. At any rate, such teams as the following have either been scheduled or are being scheduled: Howard. Wilberforce, Bluefield Institute, West Virginia, Clark University, Pittsburgh Courier Big Five, Howard Alphas and Omegas, Wilberforce Alphas and Omegas, Baltimore Athenians, and teams in Akron, Youngstown, Cleveland, Oberlin, and several other places. All games are being written up in the Negro press, so further details about the team and its personnel won't be given. Al Key, a pledge, was elected coach of the team. H e turned out the state Champion Hi-Y team last season. It looks like he is handling another championship team this season. Key is a gentleman, a student, and a fine athlete. W e have reported in the leading Negro papers the achievements of Pledge Stanley Smith and Brother Talmadge Long on the track team. Smith already has been awarded his varsity " O " for his sterling performances on the cross-country team. Long, in recent time trials to determine the men to enter indoor meets, has consistently won in impressive fashion and elicited praise from his coach and the University daily. Nothing but an accident can prevent this brother from winning his letter, for he has determination and ability. Several of our freshmen pledges are outstanding on the frosh track squad. More of them and others later. Brother Fdward Murrell, besides being a star of the court team, is vice-president of the Interracial Council. Your humble correspondent is one of the two Negro members of the International Student Club (formerly the Cosmopolitan Club). He is also on the general news and sports staff of the Ohio Slate Lantern, the University daily. Our pledge Club of forty members deserves a writeup all to itself. There might be quantity, but there certainly is quality in it. Pledge John Fuster is quite a poet. His poetry shows a decided talent and a promising excellence. His "Ohio's Hero," published elsewhere in this issue, is dedicated to our two track stars. His expression of the spirit of struggle and the tenseness of competitive activity is evidenced in the poem. You ought to hear more of this embryonic

poet Tonight, as we write this, is a magnificent glimmering moonlight night, with a wild, great west wind abroad, flapping above one like an immense banner, and every now and again swooping furiously against our windows. And our conscience smotes us. We feel that we have not done justice by those scholars, men of affairs, and athletes of Kappa Chapter. But study. activities, and journalistic duties on the University daily and for a dozen Negro weeklies (to be pardonably personal) have caused our head, eyes, hands, and the trusty Corona to plead for a surcease. We yield to the plea, and with a final greeting to the Brothers, end with a promise of a forthcoming real "Who's Who' of Kappa Chapter. P.

BERNARD YOUNG, J R . ,

T h e Sphinx. February, 1927 MU CHAPTER, University of Minnesota

BROTHERS I N A L P H A P H I A L P H A ,

Greetings:

Mu chapter extends her best wishes to her sister chapters in Alpha P h i Alpha. W e hope all will meet with success and good fortune during the year of 1927. The brothers that did not attend the convention have been very well informed of the convention activities by four brothers that were there. Brothers R. Cannon, R. Johnson, C. Cooper, and W . O'Shields attended and each returned with something good to report. Mu Chapter is proud to have as a member, an active brother, R. Cannon, General President of Alpha Phi Alpha. Bro. Cannon is an ideal Alpha man. As he worked at the general convention, so does he work with his chapter. Bro. Cannon is a business man and a man of local and national prominence. He has the biggest things of the Race at heart; he lacks not courage or perseverance; he "puts over" that which he starts at. W e congratulate Bro. Cannon and hope his administration will be just as successful as the others have been. Our senior delegate was Bro. C. Cooper. Bro. Cooper very ably reported the activities of the convention. H e was very much impressed at the way Alpha Phi Alpha works at its biggest meeting. Bro. Cooper told of the type of men that were there; of the wonderful speeches made, and, how the gigantic work is carried on. Bro. Cooper's report served as an inspiration to Mu Chapter. W e hope to have more good done; and we hope to do our share in carrying out the policies and plans that were set at the convention. Bro. R. Johnson also attended the 1926 convention. This was Bro. Johnson's second trip to a convention, he having attended in 1925. Bro. Johnson is interested in Alpha Phi Alpha and manifested it by his desire to attend the 1926 convention. Bro. Johnson was unable to attend our first 1927 meeting so we have not as yet heard his report of the convention officially. Bro. W . O'Shields made quite an extensive trip through the East during the holidays and he, too, attended the 1926 convention. Bro. O'Shields likewise was filled with Alpha spirit because of the impression the convention made on him. At the first meeting the following men were elected officers of the chapter: Chauncey Cooper, President. Samuel Jackson, Vice President. John Lawrence, Secretary. Archie James, Corresponding Secretary. John Thomas, Treasurer. Frank Bufkin, Sergeant-at-Arms. With these brothers at the helm we hope to make Mu an outstanding chapter. Bro. S. Jackson as Vice President has promised to make the Go-to-HighSchool, Go-to-College campaign a big one. Bro. Jackson will be the campaign chairman. W e hope to see him put the campaign over in grand style. Mu is planning for a big campaign, so Bro. Jackson and his assistants must do their work forcefully to put the issues before the people in a highly efficient manner. Bro. Lafayette Fields has passed the State Board of Pharmacy. Bro. Fields is still working and has not announced definite plans for the future. Bro. F . Q. Washington was called home upon the death of his father; later he went to Texas on business. W e missed him very much during his absence. Bro. Frank Bufkin has returned to school and is a sophomore in the Engineering College. Bro. W. O'Shields, 1926 letterman'in track, is out again. H e is running the dashes in the preliminary training campaign. W e hope Bill will successfully compete in track again, and establish himself as one of Minnesota's best athletes. Bro. R. Kyle was also out for preliminary track practice. Bro. Kyle is a dash man and broad-jumper. May Bro. Kyle make the team also. J O H N R.

LAWRENCE,

NU CHAPTER, Lincoln University, Lincoln University, Pa. BROTHERS IN A L P H A

P H I ALPHA,

Greetings:

Nu extends Happy New Year greetings and sincere wishes for the best o' luck, every day of the three hundred and sixty-five days of nineteen hundred and twenty-seven. Go out and conquer. Make this the banner year of 'em all for Alpha. After a very extensive and intensive holiday period Nu reassembled at its first meeting of the new yeaf on January 6th. T h e meeting was a very jolly and interesting one. T h e traditional Nu spirit was at its height and the Brothers were in a very receptive mood to hear the reports of Brothers Harry Cumi mings and Wm. Sinkler, Senior and Junior delegate to the convention, respectively. Nu is very proud of these reports and Nu's desire to be a very prominent link in the strong chain of Alpha is intensified all the, more. As the first meeting in the new year this was also the annual election night. Brother Harry S. Cum mings, our retiring president, conducted the elections. By way of comment, Brother Cumming's work while in office was very commendable and Nu will be t i l loser when Brother Cummings is graduated in June. The newly elected brothers to office a r e : Brother Richard Hurst Hill, President. Brother Howard Jason, Vice President. Brother Edward Stratton, Secretary. Brother John Hayward, Assistant Secretary. Brother Wm. Sinkler, Treasurer. Brother James Murphy, Assistant Treasurer. Brother Malcolm Dade, Chaplain. Brother Thurgood Marshall, Sergeant-at-Arms. Brother C. Theodore Valentine, Associate Editor to THE

SPHINX.

Each of these brothers promised their wholehearted support in conducting the affairs of the fraternity and in putting the various fraternity projects over. So from every angle Nu feels that she "is looking at the world through rose-colored glasses." Brothers Rockerfeller Turner and Richard Hill were on the debating team that defeated the Oxford University debating team. Nu loses two brothers in February through graduation. They are Brothers Thomas Brown and Leroy Morris. Brother "Tom" Brown is a former Union man, excaptain of the Lincoln University baseball team, wellknown in social circles and the proud owner of a fourth interest in a Ford touring car. T h e car is of special imporuii.ee because of its value as an antique. brother 'Koy ' Morris is also a former Union mall and a prom.nent figure in the social world. During the summer months Brother Morris is a traffic olhecr in Atlantic Citly, where he resides. With many good wishes for the current year for our Sister chapters, I remain C. THEODORE V A L E N T I N E ,

Associate

Editor to The

Sphinx.

CAMPUS NOTES Brother " R a y " Morris has been elected President Emeritus of the &8% Wrong Club. Besides his huge-time speculating activities, Brother "Tom" Brown has the distinction of being the biggest promo.er Nu has produced since the days of Brother Frank Hailstalk. As temporary cheerleader at the basketball game in New \ o r ÂŤ Bro. "Markie" Parks lost his voice; when he returned to school he found out by way of the Philadelphia Bulletin that he had lost his "heart" and n he keeps on singing duets with Bro. "Gloomy Gus" Powe we can sincerely predict that he's going to lose something more valuable. Brother Powe, chairman of the "Sad News" Society, very sorrowfully reports that there have been no funerals or "drownings" and but one shooting in the past fortnight.

The Sph i n x , F e b r u a r y , 1 9 2 7 The secret of Brother " H a r d Charlie" Sperling's beauty has been discovered—to wit—Fleischmann's Yeast. W e can confidently say that he is bound to rise. The combined efforts of Brothers Murray and Bailey have failed to dethrone Bro. Marcus Carpenter as eating champion. Of courses, Bro. "Slim" Jenkins has no peer in the ice cream field.

PI CHAPTER, Cleveland, Ohio BROTHERS I N A L P H A P H I A L P H A ,

Greetings:

With the ringing of bells and whistle blasts came the information that Pi Chapter would have the honor of being host to the 1927 Annual Convention of Alpha Phi Alpha. Great hurrahs were heard on all sides, and immediately the brothers began to make their plans for the greatest convention in the history of the fraternity. XI CHAPTER, As a beginner the Oiapter proceeded immediately Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio upon the return of the delegates to hold its January meeting and elect the officers for the year who will BROTHERS IN A L P H A P H I A L P H A , Greetings: pilot us through the convention season in 1927. T h e Nineteen hundred and twenty-seven, another new newly elected officers a r e : George E. Cohron, Presiyear, is upon us, and with it conies the making of new dent ; Robert Brooks, Vice President, who splendidly resolutions. Xi is not making such resolutions for represented us at Richmond as Junior Delegate; W . fear we will not live up to them. On the other hand, Robert Smalls, Secretary ; Carl Wynn, Assistant Secwe do hope to work harder ibis year than the past, retary ; Dr. B. C. Styles, Treasurer; Dr. U. S. Tarter, and to achieve greater things for ourselves, Xi, and Chaplain; Dan R. Fairfax, Sergeant-at-Arms; and dear old Alpha Phi Alpha. last, our retiring president, Norman L. McGhee, was Xi was truly "Enriched at Richmond." T h e Mc- retained in the official family as Chapter Editor. Ghee Cup verifies this fact. Brothers Ted Thompson Already the financial plans for the entertainment of and Wade Ellis, senior and junior delegates to the the convention have been mapped out and the brothers Nineteenth Annual Convention, were happy to bring in Alpha Phi Alpha throughout the country may have back this long-sought-for prize for Xi. The report oi no fear but that ample provision in the way of enterthe Brothers was very interesting. Much inspiration tainment, fraternal, social and otherwise, will be proand spirit were given to the brothers here. T h e brovided. Our newly-elected president, Brother Cohron, thers are very proud of their reward and have promis a real live wire when it comes to perfecting finanised to do their best always. cial arrangements, and he has voiced the sentiment of Brothers Eustace Cam) and Joe Williams attended the entire Chapter when he at this early stage promalso the convention. Brother Cann was a delegate ises that Cleveland shall not be found wanting (luring to the Eighteenth Annual Convention and was so inthe convention week in December, 1927. spired there that be could not refrain from attending Athletically speaking, Pi Chapter will beckon to the the Nineteenth Convention. other chapters in the matter of basketball games durThe following officers have been elected and ining the convention week. An athletic committee has stalled for the ensuing year: Brother Wade Ellis, been appointed to corral all available material and President; Brother Ragland Reid, Vice-President; whip it into shape during the year so that when the Brother George West, Secretary; Brother John W a t boys in Columbus, Chicago, Washington, Detroit, New kins, Assistant Secretary; Brother Guy Finn, FinanYork and Pittsburgh show up with their crack basketcial Secretary; Brother Randolph Hunt, Correspondball teams they will find Pi Chapter ready for a real ing Secretary; Brother Roy Shelton, Alumni Secre- contest. t a r y ; Brother Daniel Owings, Historian; Brother SigBrothers in other chapters do not realize what a big mimdt A. Herman, Associate Editor of T H E S P H I N X ; place the members of Pi Oiapter are playing in the Brother William Barnes. Chaplain; Brother Russell City of Cleveland. Just the mention of a few names Davis. Sergeant-at-Arms. along this line will be of interest. Brother Fustacc Cann has beeji elected to Sen-MerOnly a few weeks ago our own brother, D r . Rekh Honorary Scholastic Society. H e is the only Charles H . Garvin, was selected as one of the six male student elected to this organization this year. alumni of Howard University whose names a r e being Recently the University has instituted a system of balloted upon for choice as nominee for election to the compiling scholastic averages .of the Fraternities and Howard University Trustee Board. W e expect Brother Sororities. O u r chapter stood first on the list of Garvin to come out on top in the election. fraternities with an average of B-miiuis. There is another young Alpha Phi Alpha man in On the memorable night of December 4th, ten neoCleveland who is making great headway, George P. phytes were inducted into the mysteries of the Sphinx. Hinton, Manager of the Cleveland People's Finance These new brothers a r e : John Watkins, James SimCorporation. A few days ago this company declared mons, Russell Davis, Sigmundt Herman, William a 7 per cent dividend, indicating that it is making Fumtleroy, Roy Shelton. Robert Scales, Kugene Seolt. great progress. It will be remembered that Brother Ottis Hogue, and Dewey Hoover. All of these brothHinton is a former General Officer of the fraternity, ers are prominent in various phases of college life having served as General Secretary. and activity. W e feel that they are a group of young There are many others of Cleveland who stand out men of whom Alpha Phi Alpha may be justly proud. head and shoulders with those who are doing big During the holidays, Brothers John Taylor and Ranthings. When you come to the convention in Decemdolph Hunt entertained with a houseparty. It is ruber, these men will be much in evidence and will mored that the party was the last word in informal cause your stay to be a never-to-be-forgotten event in holiday affairs. your lives. The Sword and Shield, local honorary fraternity, is Cleveland beckons ! Cleveland beckons ! See us of comjiosed of both graduate and undergraduate memPi in December, 1927. bers. There are five undergraduate members in the NORMAN L. M C G H E E . organization. Four of them are members of our chapChapter liditor. ter, Brothers Eustace Cann, '27, John Ballou, '27, Wade Ellis, '28, Ragland Reid, '28. Xi is very proud of these men and wish for them much success. UPSILON CHAPTER, Chi-Lambda is showing a wonderful fraternal spirit towards Xi. W e thank Chi-Lambda very much, and Lawrence, Kans. wish them to know, we appreciate it. Wishing a prosperous new year to alb of the broth- BROTHERS I N A L P H A P H I A L P H A , Greetings: The year of l»2fi was sent on its journey down the ers and chapters, I remain long corridors of time by Upsilon Chapter on DecemFraternally yours, ber 17. 1920, with a very elaborate five-course banS i c A. H K R M A N , quet which was given in honor of the founders of this Associate Editor of The Sphinx."

T h e Sphinx. February, 1927

chapter. T h e banquet, with is delicious food and a In another section there is an account of Brother well-carried-out program of songs and short talks, Miller and his work. was a credit to the efforts of the social committee "Alpha Phi Alpha for life not for college," that is composed of Bros. Davis and Bailey, and was en- our motto for the new year. joyed by all. Bros. Cook, Mayberry, and Carroll Fraternally, from Beta Lambda Chapter, joined us at the fraternal Z. W . W E B B , feast to help us honor the founders of Upsilon ChapEditor. ter. The banquet was pervaded by a spirit of brotherly love which welded the men into one strong group. Every brother left the banquet with a resolution to make the year of l'J27 more prosperous and successful for Upsilon of Alpha Phi Alpha than it has been in the past years. Well, here we are again, after two short weeks of vacation, at the old mills of education to grind out our fates. Also it is a new year, which promises to be better than the last. The members and pledges returned to find that a new setting for the year's activities had been created. Brother McCaleb, our steward, had been using his rare artistic taste, and had the house decorated in the interior in soft rich colors which are, indeed pleasing to the eye. T o please the sense of hearing he had placed in the corner of the living room a new Victrola and some of the latest records. At our first meeting of the year, the officers for the ensuing year were elected. T h e following were elected : John D. Bell, President; James D. Scott, VicePresident ; James A. Davis, Corresponding Secretary; Columbus C. House, Recording-Secretary; Paul L. Anderson, Treasurer. The installation of the new officers took place the following meeting night, and was very impressive. The retiring officers made short talks after the installation, and also the new officers. Brother chapters and Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha, "We are aiming at the stars in order to make Upsilon a greater Chapter and a better Chapter." So watch u s ; we are starting the new year out with a B A N G ! Fraternally yours. J A M E S A. DAV,IS,

Corresponding

Secretary. Buo. MILLER

ALPHA ALPHA CHAPTER BROTHERS IN A L P H A P H I A L P H A ,

Greetings:

The new year, and we are off for a full year of hard work. T h e delegates returned from the convention with a full cup of new devotion, Brother Lovelace, the senior delegate, and Brother Berry, the junior delegate, gave their reports at the first meeting of the year. It was with profound stillness the brothers sat and listened to the fine detailed reports the delegates gave. The roll showed that about two-thirds of the brothers were out. After all the convention reports were out of the way the closing year for the officers came next, each gave his yearly report. Brother, retiring President I. C. McLeon, gave his full report for his year's work and was followed by bis whole staff, the full text of all were accepted. After a hearty thanks to all, the president and his staff and the delegates were given a rising vote of thanks for the fine year. Here was shown the real Alpha spirit. Then the annual election of officers. Brother Lovelace was elected the president, Brother McCaleb vice president; Brother T . Berry Secretary, Brother W. J. Decauter treasurer. Brother R. Bennett Sergeant-at-Arms, Brother Lowe Financial Secretary, Brother Oxely. our leader in the good Master's ways. . The annual prom this year was cut short and a real treat was given in honor of Delta Sigma Theta by a grand ball at the Lavisti Road House, one of the most colorful dance halls in this section. The social committee worked hard and made an affair that will long remembered by all. Alpha Alpha is trying to build up a P E P that will be true Alpha from start to finish, the new president says we make the old house "hum" if every brother will show his right spirit. We were all sorry to see Brother Miller leave us.

BROTHER HERBERT MILLER LEAVES FOR T H E EAST W H E R E H E W I L L TAKE U P SOCIAL SERVICE WORK By Z. W.

WEBB

Brother H. T. Miller, one of the most hard-working nun in Alplvi Alpha Chapter, left last week for NewYork City where he will enter the social service work. Brother .Miller was for a number of years in the same work in Cincinnati, O., but gave up the post for the Insurance field, in which he made good. He was Manager of the Cincinnati, O., branch of (he Supreme Life and Casualty Company, having made a name for himself in that office. It was a shock to us all when it was announced that he was leaving. A nice hand bag was presented Brother Miller by his Church, the Union Baptist, and a fine send-off given by his office force. May God's speed go with Brother Miller in his new field and may many more young men take note and go forward to the aid of our great race for a pbicv in the world's doings. ALPHA BETA CHAPTER, Talladega College, Talladega, Ala. BROTHERS IN A L P H A P H I A L P H A ,

Crcctings:

We a r e echoing the refrain "Carry Me Back to Old Virginuy" as this wonderful lay was so enthusiastically sung by Brother A. I). Shores, who cpurted the favor of a Alpha Phi Alpha at the castle of Gamma. He assures us certainly well that Alpha was indeed "enriched in Richmond." W e are proud of the progress Brother Shores so vividly reports and the fact that Alpha Phi Alpha is catching the vision of a wider and deeper service to our times. Long live

The Sph m x , F e b r u a r y , 1 9 2 7 Alpha and the noble men who love and obey her precepts. In October, two men were admitted from the darkness of the desert and allowed to see that glorious "Light of the World." They are Brother Harry Hamilton and Brother Arthur D. Gray. Both of these men are very prominent in the life and activities of the College. They are outstanding in the Y. M ; C. A. and other religious organizations, in athletics and sports, in debating, in scholarship, in writing and are quite active in the social life. Brother Hamilton has been selected to Captain the 1927 Crimson Tornado Eleven. Brother Gray is its Manager and is President of the Y. M. C. A. Brother "Bo" Kirkpatrick and Brother "Al" White effected a brilliant close of the 1920 grid season and both went into basketball. In this division we also have Brother William T. Dixon and Brother Richard Carey, who are becoming famous as exponents of ring and basket. Brother Shores is on the managerial end. Let the "Dega Roll." Our first meeting this year has ushered in a new cohort to bear the standard for another year. The new officers are Brothers C. L. Sharpe, President; Aaron Brown, Vice-President; C. T. Simpson, Recording Secretary; A. D. Gray, Corresponding Secretary and Editor to T H E S P H I N X , also Chaplain, A. B. White, Sergeant-at-Arms, and E. L. Farley, Historian. They enter upon their course with all the vim and expectancy of a new charger ready for the test and all imbued with the one desire to elevate Alpha Phi Alpha by making Alpha Beta Chapter one hundred per cent better. We should like to take this opportunity to congratulate ourselves on account of the Officers which the General Convention has chosen to direct the destiny of the good ship "Alpha." May her course and the courses of all the tender craft be attended by only strong sailing and smooth seas. W e are extremely proud of Brother Raymond Cannon and Brother Charles Green. Alpha has done herself proud in selecting these gentlemen to the first two highest offices. Again, our wish is for a great year for us all, with a measure of happiness and prosperity and peace, heaped up, and running over for this year of grace 11127.

Ic the 1 onds of Alpha, C. L. SHARPE,

Corresponding

Secretary.

ALPHA ZETA CHAPTER, W e s t Virginia Collegiate Institute, Institute, W . V a . BROTHERS IN A L P H A P H I A L P H A ,

Greetings:

This vear Alpha Zeta revels in the pride that is afforded us from the satisfaction that is inevitable when success greets our every endeavor. W e have started many things and many things we have finished in a commendable and triumphant manner that bespeaks endurance, effort, hard work and a resulting satisfaction that follows our success. Success has greeted our Chapter in raising funds: success has greeted us in being in a position to be represented at the last General Convention; and success looms in the distance as we are about to inaugurate one of the largest and best initiations ever undertaken in the history of Alpha Zeta Chapter. An effort is also being put forth to spread the mighty influence of Alpha Phi Alpha. A graduate Chapter movement is on foot to establish a chapter in Charleston, W . Va. Of course, we of Alpha / e t a dislike to have a number of brothers withdrawn from our Chapter, but after all we sincerely realize that such action is a continuation of the ever-laudable movement that has 1 een going on for lo these many years. When this hoped-for graduate Chapter becomes a realization, our anticipation of success is even greater. Great accomplishments are on our program,

for we feel that two chapters can exert a greater influence than one. Co-operation and working together in harmony are the sole plans to do those things that are noble deeds in the eyes of Alpha Phi Alpha. Very fraternally yours, LANGLEY A. SPURLOCK,

Corresponding

Secretary.

ALPHA THETA CHAPTER, Iowa City, Iowa BROTHERS I N A L P H A P H I A L P H A ,

Greetings:

The brothers of Alpha Theta returned proclaiming the joys and sorrows of their Christmas vacations and are now preparing high scholastic standards on the campus by a unanimous attack on the final examinations. At the annual election the following brothers were elected to lead Alpha Theta for the ensuing year: Brother Ralph Moody, President; Brother Russell Ragland, Vice-President; Brother James E. Taylor, Jr., Secretary; Brother Lawrence Whitman, Treasurer ; Brother Charles N. Pitts, Steward, and Jas. W. Wilson, Sergeant-at-Arms. Guided by these brothers Alpha Theta can only continue the good work begun during the past years. The chapter takes pride in announcing the fact that her percentage of graduates is steadily on the increase. Of the members of Alpha Theta a large percentage have either graduated or are in school at the present time. To this rigidly maintained record of achievement we add two more points at the mid-term graduation. These worthy brothers, who will soon take their places in the game of life, are Brother Henry Harding, our President during the last year, who receives his A. B. in the Special Sciences, and Bro. Patrobus Cassius Robinson, who receives his degree in Chemistry. Alpha Theta regrets the loss of these Brothers, but wishes them as much success in life as their records prove that they have had while with Alpha Theta. Alpha Theta is not crippled by the loss of these brothers, as we have with us this year three splendid brothers in Bro. Charles N. Pitts, Alpha Beta; Bro. Win. A. Harris, Alpha Beta, and Bro. R. P . Perry, Alpha Omicron. These brothers have proven that they have the true Alpha Phi Alpha spirit. The splendid work which Brother Orthel Roberts so creditably began by starring for three years on the University Varsity Track Team, is being carried on by Brother Lawrence Whitman, who runs the dashes. and Brother Ralph Moody, who specializes in the 440-yd. dash. Besides these brothers, we are represented on the Freshman Team by Pledges Jordan and Quinton in the dashes, and Moody and Goode, who are developing into two of the most promising middledistance runners on the squad. You are sure to hear more of these men when the indoor track season gets started soon and in the out-door meets. Under the guidance of Bro. Moody, our crack medley-relay team is fast rounding into shape and preparing to win the large silver loving cup offered as first prize at the annual inter-fraternity relays. The team is composed of Brothers Moody and Whitman, and Pledges Jordan, Quinton, Benson, Moody and Goode. Alpha Theta plans to make this its banner year and hopes that every brother will unite to make this a banner year for Alpha Phi Alpha. Congratulations and best wishes to the Brothers who graduate at mid-term, Fraternally yours, J A M E S E. TAYLOR, J R . ,

Chapter

Editor.

ALPHA KAPPA CHAPTER, Springfield, M a s s . BROTHERS I N A L P H A P H I A L P H A ,

Greetings:

The members of this chapter met at the Odd Fel-

T h e S p h m x . F e b r u a r y . 1927

lows Hall. January IStfa for the purpose of receiving report from the Convention, election of officer* and the induction of three Neophytes into the Fraternity. T h e meeting opened with a "bang," due to the lively discussions pertaining to the proposed dance to be given by the Chapter. It was finally agreed, that Alpha Kappa will give New England something to talk about during the Spring- Bros. Gillian and Jackson then read very interesting reports of the different phases of the work done at Richmond. After this, we cleared the way for the coming of the Neophytes. The men initiated were Robert !â&#x20AC;˘'.. Jones, Jr., of New Orleans, now a Junior at Wesleyan College; Max Bowens and Joseph Harris, both students at Amherst W e are proud to say that these men are of the very best material available and show great promise of big things for the future. After the initiation we had a wonderful supper, planned by the energetic B r a Jackson, at which time Brother Hugh I. Fontellio-Nanton, of Omricon Lambda, now a graduate student at Wesleyan, gave a "zippy" talk to the newly initialed. I.est we forget this important bit of news, we wish to express our joy in broadcasting the fact that Bro. G. A. Bolivar Paris, of Amherst, and Secretary of the Chapter, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa this term. Bro. Paris graduates in June and hopes to take up Medicine. The officers lor the ensuing term a r e : Bro. N. P . Dotson, President, HT Wilbrahatn Avenue, Springfield, Mass.; David W. I'tz, Vice-President, Amherst College, Amherst; L'lysses G, Mason, Secretary, 18 Spring St., Amherst, Mass.; Hugh 1. Fontellio-Nanton, Editor to T H E S P H I N X . Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn; G. A. B. Paris, Historian, Box 125, Amherst College, Amherst, Mass. We arc hoping t" have all our plans completed by .iiir next meeting at which time we shall announce the dale of the "big dc.iugs" which is to set New England a new pace. Fraternally, A L P H A KAPPA

CHAPTER.

ALPHA OMICRON CHAPTER, J o h n s o n C. Smith University, Charlotte, N . C. BROTHERS IN A L P H A

P H I ALPHA,

Greetings:

Alpha Omicron wishes you all much success throughout the year. Well, our delegates, Brothers Dockery and White, came back from the Convention with enthusiasm and joy over their trip. They expressed their appreciation to tin- chapter for their having sent them up to Richmond to attend the convention. They brought to us a very pleasing report of the Convention, which we are inclined to believe was the greatest that has yet been held. Alpha Omicron announces her new cabinet for the year. They a r e as follows; Brother G. R. Dockery, President; Brother W. W. Jones. Vice-President; Brother W. K. Helton, Recording Secretary; Brother T. I.. Plair, Corresponding Secretary; Brother L. E. Gilliard, Financial Secretary-; Brother C. H. White, Treasurer; Brother G. F . Lyerly, Chaplain, and Brother G. F. Newell, Sergeant-at-Arms. We feel that the new President and his Cabinet will see that all matters are carried out properly as the retiring Cabinet did in its administration. There is much praise due to Brother W, J. Knox for the skill he used during his reign. He fought a good fight, he kept faith in Alpha Phi Alpha and he'finished his course successfully. We are now making plans for the greatest Go-toHigh School, Co-to-Collcge campaign in the history of Alpha Omicron. W e are expecting Brother C. L. Murphy to aid us in broadcasting by drawing cartoons and illustrations bearing upon the subject. Brother G. R. Docker] is manager of our baseball team for this year. He expects to produce a strong team, as he has a large field to pick from. Brother W. J. Hardy, who held third sack last year, is expecting to be at his post this year. W e will miss

Brother D. P . Allen this year, for he was one of the outstanding players during Ins three years on the varsity team. Brother Allen is now teaching al Method, N . C. At a recent meeting of the Athletic Association, Brother T . L. Plair was elected Manager of the Football team for 1!)27. Brother Plair succeeds Brother A. R. Lord. Brother Plair will announce his schedule before the school term ends. Brother K. I.. James, who is president of the Y. M. C. A., is doing a great work in the field. With best wishes I am Fraternally yours, CARLTON L. M U R P H Y ,

Chapter

Editor.

A L P H A PI C H A P T E R , Atlanta University, Atlanta, Ga. BROTHERS IN A L P H A P H I A L P H A .

Greetings:

Alpha Pi Chapter has begun the new year with greater determination than ever before to do great things for Alpha Phi Alpha here in Atlanta. T h e first Step taken in this direction was the election of the officers, who will direct the activities of this Chapter for another year. Brother F. \". Weathers, President; Brother I,. H. Henderson, Nice-President; Brother F. L. Stanley, Secretary; Brother J. T. Ham ilton, Treasurer; and Brother S. A. Jones, Jr.. Cor responding Secretary, are the newly elected officers. They arc a group of men who will always do their best (and that's saying a great deal) to keep high the standard, aims, and ideals of our dear fraternity. Alpha Pi suffered an irreparable loss in the midwinter graduation. Brother A. I.. Williams, our retiring President, has finished the prescribed course hen and has gone from us. He will teach at Brunswick, da., for the remainder of the school year, but next fall he will enter a theological school up North. Brother Williams is a man of whom Alpha Phi Alpha should well be proud. As ex-president of the Y. M. C , he was a leader of uncommon integrity on the campus, and was admired and respected by both students and teachers. Brother Williams was in the true sense of the term "a gentleman and a scholar," and will be missed, not only by Alpha I'i Chapter, but by the school as a whole. While we mourn the loss of his valuable services and wholesome comradeship, not to speak of bis spiritual inspiration, we congratulate him upon reaching the A.B. milestone, and wish for him every bit of the success that a man of such sterling qualities deserves. All Brothers of Alpha I'i are doing constructive work and are making themselves felt in all phases of scholastic and extra-curricular activities. The basket ball team is being captained by Brother Hamilton, and managed by Brother Steele. They are very ably assisted by Brother Stanley, one of the best all-round guards in the city, and Pledgee Brothers, Roberts. Robinson, and Burch. T h e latter three are all forwards of a high calibre. Plans are already being made for the inter-fraternity tournament that is to connoff soon, and Alpha Phi Alpha, here in Atlanta, is determined to make a good showing this year, as was the case last season. Brothers Tyler, Yates, Wilkins, and Toliver are laboring conscientiously and confidently for the much coveted sheep skin in June. Brother "Big Jeff" Lamar is able to be up among his friends again, after undergoing a double operation on his tonsils and adenoids. Brother Lamar was afflicted at the beginning of the football season, but with that d o o r - d i e spirit that has characterized his playing in the past, and which has caused him to be dreaded by all teams in the South, plus Howard, he was able to keep going throughout the season, and with such uncanny playing, that he was considered, at the end of the season, as one of the greatest tackles in the country ; thus, he was practically the unanimous

The Sph lnx. F e b r u a r y , 1927 choice of all sport writers for an All-American berth. Circumstances that were unavoidable, prevented Brother Jackson, who was supposed to represent us in Rici.mond, from attending the convention. So, on Sunday evening, January 8th, we met at the home of brotlier Dr. Reeves, president of and delegate from Eta Lambda Chapter, for the purpose of hearing about and discussing the convention. Brother Reeves told how smoothly everything went off and how enjoyable were the programs, entertainments, and other activities. We also heard of the legislation and other business that was transacted. The convention was truly a credit to Alpha Phi Alpha and Richmond. Congratulations to Brother Daniels and his colleagues; we knew they would make the convention a howling success. On January the 20th, Brother W. A. Robinson, Supervisor of the High Schools in North Carolina, and National President of the Association of Teachers in Colored Schools, was a visitor on the campus. Brother Robinson is always at home here, having graduated in the Class of 1913. He spoke at length at the chapel service on the great work the association was doing towards raising the standard of the colored teaching profession and increasing the opportunities of Negro youth. Brother Robinson was too modest to say it, but any one can easily see that he is the chief figure in the movement. He is always a source of inspiration to us, as is the case with all other men who are doing some great work, and all of us were glad to shake hands and talk with Brother Robinson, Alpha Pi congratulates all the Brothers who were chosen to guide the destinies of Alpha Phi Alpha through the year 102 7. We are determined, and hope this is the determination of all other Chapters, to cooperate with Brother Brown in making the S P H I N X bigger and better than ever. Wishing every Chapter abundant success in every worthy and honorable endeavor, W e are, fraternally yours, Alpha Pi Chapter, S. A. J O N E S , J R . ,

Chapter

A L P H A SIGMA

Editor.

CHAPTER,

Wiley University, Marshall, Tex. BROTHERS I N A L P H A P H I A L P H A ,

Greetings:

Alpha Sigma, "out West," congratulates you upon the success of the 19th Annual Convention, held at Richmond, Va. "Out W e s t ! " W h a t poet has been able to dissolve the spell which these words have ever cast over the souls of man? Artists come West and arouse the passions of men by their paintings of Western scenery. Sunset in the West stirs passions in men that are as indescribable as the Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci. The "Gold Rush," and the Webster-Haynes controvesy are events that help to strengthen the incontestable argument of the Western influence over the economic and political, as well as the aesthetic lives of men. In such a charmed section where mankind finds endless repetition of the beautiful, poetic and absurd, was Alpha Sigma given birth. Born with an ever increasing desire to achieve where others have failed, Alpha Sigma stands undaunted—with the sword of intellectual truth—untiringly fighting the wolves of ignorance and shiftlessness. It is wisely said that too great praise challenges attention, and often brings to light a thousand faults that otherwise the general eye would never see. It is not the purpose of Alpha Sigma to signalize its achievements; bat rather, Alpha Sigma wishes to assure this g n a t body, "t" which she is a part, that

this great West is her exclusive work-house—and that the motto of Alpha Phi Alpha (lifting while we climb) has spread itself over this mystic land. W e feel justified for our Chapter pride when we contemplate the achievements of Alpha Sigma along the lines of uplift. Freshman Pledgees Berry Branch, Ben S. McMillan, James L. Sweat, Jr., Melvin E. Howard, and Jesse Johnson, whose names swelled the honor rolls for the autumn quarter, are signal results of the efforts put forth by thundering Alpha Sigma orators last spring in the "Go-to-High-School, Goto-College" campaign. Writing of achievements, I am reminded that the names of 11 out of 20 Brothers are to be found on these honor rolls. We feel honored in having as tutors, in biology and chemistry, Brother Burnett, and in mathematics, Brothers Hightower and Shelton. Brother Robertson, as a news correspondent for the Marshall Morning News and Marshall Messenger, shows exceptional journalistic ability. Thus, without apology, Alpha Sigma easily holds her own in things academic. Chancing out into things extra curricula, Brother Shackelford, as President of the Alpha Phi Omega Forensic Fraternity, is successfully bringing campus contentions into open forum and formal debate. Brother Burnett, who is the Vice-President, is assisting Brother Shackelford, and there is no doubt that this department will receive full justice. Four of the five keys issued by this fraternity are held by Alpha men. The International Relations Club, under its President, Brother Burnett, is bidding fair to lessen the leagues of ignorance that separate nations. Led by their able Captain, Brother Miller, the Alpha cagers are ever primed to thrill the beautiful co-eds and baffle all oncomers with their rushing, dodging, and passing team-work. The Brothers gave the first smoker of the season during the Christmas holidays,—in order to break the suspense and anxiety which the impending return of Brother Greene from the 19th Annual Convention seemed to have provoked in every member. So filled with a greater spirit to carry the banner of Alpha "onward and upward," was the report of Brother Greenes, that some shy. unrestrained Brother motioned—several seconds—the measure was put—carried, and in twenty-four hours, girl-shy Brothers, breathing fast, were seeking pretty, teasing maidens. All of which culminated into a formal installation ball. The spell of soft music, tender laughter and softly treading slippers was broken by the voice of toast-master, Brother Webster. Silence! —and retiring Brother President Shackelford reviewed his administration. Brother President Burnett responded; Brother Greene told of Virginia's hospitality, and once more back to soft music and tender laughter, couples glided on into the enraptured evening. Since the last publication of this official organ, four neophytes have been given seats around the firesides of Alpha Sigma. These men a r e : Brother Scott. student, all-around athlete, and an all-conference football selection; Brother M. W. Dogan, Jr., son of President Dogan, honor-roll student, and holds his own at tennis; Brother Hightower, honor-roll student, assistant in mathematics; and Brother Lorden. With the assistance of our faculty Brothers, Felton G. Clark. R. A. Wilson, F. T. Long and Dean V. E. Daniel, it is safe to say that Brother President Burnett will unfalteringly guide this ship. Alpha, lest her side, farthest Southwest, strike an unseen rock, and in an instance defeat the purpose of her voyage. Believing that the eternal future holds our greatest accomplishments, Alpha Sigma utters an unselfish prayer that Alpha Phi Alpha, in surpassing others in lifting mankind, will eclipse herself.

T h e S p h . n x , F e b r u a r y . 1927

Mr. Oscar C. Brown, editor of the S r i t i x x , Chicago, 111. I >K.\R BROJ HES BROWN :

Inclosed find our Chapter Utter, which was written by Neophyte Win. A. Lorden, Associate Editor to the M o n x x . Brother Lorden is very modest, as the conspicuous absence of any comment upon Ins name will show. But I must say that he is one of the men whom 1 would point i>' as possessing Alpha characteristics in every respect. He is a letter man in football and in baseball, one of the rive Alpha cagers spoken of in the letter, one of the live possessors of Alpha Phi Omega debating keys, and above, all one the eleven Alpha men who swelled last quarter's honorroil. We are expecting great things 01 Brother Lorden at Wiley within the next two years, as he is a Junior now. 1 remain, Fraternally yours, W.

C. BURNETT,

/ 'resident.

ALPHA UPSILON CHAPTER, City College of Detroit, Detroit, Mich. BROTHERS,

Greetings:

We are almost persuaded to choose a subject, call it "The Deplorations oi Alpha Upsilon," ana write thereunder the grief and regret that filled the hearts of every one 01 us because « e were u:;ai>,e to be'.represented at the I'Jth Annual Convention. An explanation of our failure to send a delegate to Ricmnond would not suffice, bin let it be known that we tailed through trying to perform our duty, Although not being represented at the Convention, Alpha I Ipsilon was very fortunate iii having one so close to us and one that is a part of us attending the Convention. Brother P. R. Piper, our General 'Measurer. attended our first meeting of the year, and gave us a brief report of the activities of the Convention. Too much praise and too much thanks can not he given Brother Piper for his aid and guidance in the activities ot our Chapter. He is one of Alpha Phi Alpha's staunchest sons, and it was through him that our dreams of Alpha Phi Alpha were realized, and he is yet radiating that true Alpha Phi Alpha spirit to us. Since we have made our first step in the new year, we look back with pride over the winding road that held many obstacles retarding a bit our progress to the higher and nobler accomplishments. In our first meeting of the year, the following Brothers were elected to office. M. S. Thompson, 1'rcsidcnt; F. Lightfoot, Vice President; M. Fowler, Recording Secretary ami Corresponding Secretary; C. Griffiths, Treasurer; .1. C. Taylor, Sergeant-at-Arms; 'I'. R. Solomon, Historian and Associate Editor of the SPHINX

Brother Taylor has been doing outstanding work in the intramural track meets at the College of the City of Detroit, winning first place in four events. The coveted prizes were haberdashery and fountain pens given by the merchants of the city. Brother Taylor now has on hand ties, socks, belts, and fountain pens. We are anticipating that Brother Taylor will help Brother Griffiths represent us on the varsity trackteam. At the close of tins semester, Alpha Upsilon is feting the brother with the highest scholastic average is rivalry keen—such preparation for exams. Brother Griffiths carries himself in perfect silence, the back ground of deep thinking, anticipating the honor. Brother Taylor, who has been clothing himself for the hist month by his flceincss of foot, has resorted to all measures of study, even to that of slumbering peacefully at night with the texts under

his head, hoping that the contents will penetrate therein. Brother Evans, the brilliant Junior at the Detroit College of Law, smiles peacefully when the contest is mentioned—watch for the A's. Alpha Upsilon realizes with zcalotisness that Alpha Phi Alpha is not only noble but ennoble as well; and ior tnai reason is much to be desired, highly to he prized, jealously to be treasured, and eagerly to be sought. As evidence of this fact we have begun the new year by entrusting the guidance of the destinies of our Chapter in the hands of a most capable corps of officers, started plans for an energetic "Go-to-l [igh Scl I. Go-tO-College" campaign, striven for and encouraged high scholastic attainment, and become actively engaged in the activities of the institution. By the time of the next publication of the S i ' i u x x . Alpha Ipsilon will have commemorated its inauguration into Alpha Phi Alpha. Alpha Upsilon is out for the Balfour t u p and cordially in, ties the competition of the sister chapters. Fraternally yours, T. R. Sot.OMAN, Chapter Editor. BETA-LAMBDA

CHAPTER

Greetings: ' W h a t has happened to Beta-Lambda," is no doubt a question that was asked a, the iast Convention. At least, we are egotistical enough to hope thai we were missed. Mine the Chapter has not given the uhtor authority to state the reasons tor this absence, he refuses to take the responsibility for doing so himself. But if you are tit all anxious to know the reason. win 1 might tell you in the next letter. Luring the last month a committee has been busy making a personal canvass oi the Alpha Phi Alpha men m Kansas City, in an effort to find out why many of them have not been out to the meetings. Brother Carroll, chairman of the committee, reported that he met with a hearty response on the part of the brothers, and most of them stated that they had become a little lax just because no one had been around to stir them up. As a direct result of this canvass, Beta-Lambda had the largest meeting that the Chapter has had

for some tune on Saturday, January s; 192?, .at the home ot Brother Merry. I ne following officers were elected; Brother 1''.. S. Laker, President; Brother M. K. Carroll, VicePresident; Brother G. A. Curry, Recording-Secretary; Brother J. A. Jeffress. Corresponding Secret a r y ; Brother G. B. Buster, Treasurer; Brother H. 0 . Cook. Sergeant-at-Arms. The chairman appointed a committee to go over Brother Carroll's report and on the basis of what it contains, make out a budget and formulate a program for the year. We take advantage of this opportunity to wish all the new officers a successful administration, and hope to see you in Cleveland. Yours fraternally, BfRT A . MAYBERRY,

Chapter

Editor.

GAMMA-LAMBDA, Detroit, Mich. Gamma Lambda had a brilliant session on January 8th. We were deluged with oratory of the finest type. No senator from the far South, during the Rec nstruction period could match the wit, satire or philosophy of the brothers, who were nominating their favorite candidates. It is not the desire of the writer to give a 'soft impeachment' to a single brother, hut some of the speeches sounded so much like nominating speeches in the various grand lodges

T h e Sphinx. February, 1927

tes—prohibition of course—but "Oh ! Boy" go it Aron, you know your "stuff." The delegates to the Richmond Convention were very popular with Brother Otto Green. H e was over anxious to hear from that neck of the woods—now just what constituted the interest one may have to guess, but the writer thinks that he has the key to the situation—since Brother Greene, after nudging close up and giving a quaint little look around, said to the writer: "Did you meeta Miss ?" Keep your eyes open St. Louis girls. Otto is much in demand. O h ! you boy Green. Our Chapter is composed of a fine bunch of fellows. Our Brother Gray is getting back in line— Come on, Gray. Brother Chas. Stone was seen by a brother standing before a mirror looking himself over. Brother Stone was putting on the broad smile. That is only usual for "Charlie," but this time he was exceeding the speed limit, so the Brother said: "What is the big idea," Stone, just trying to define myself to see really just what sort of "guy" I am. The brother was still guessing, so Charlie said: "Oh, buddy, don't you know that it was twins this time." The brother said: " P u t it here, boy, what's the names?" "Madeline Constance and Annie Marie," said Charlie, with a proud check upon himself, that would make a peacock set up and take notice. J. A. MOORE, M.D. Since our last article to the S P H I N X , Brother D r . L. E. Simms has gotten tired of the lonely nights in and about the Y. M. C. A., and as a result, Miss Anna EPSILON LAMBDA CHAPTER, Croswaight. one of the elites of St. Louis society, St. Louis, Mo. but claims as her actual residence Kansas City, Mo., is no longer a respected Dean of Girls at the Sumner BROTHERS IN A L P H A P H I A L P H A , Greetings: High School, St. Louis, but is the Queen of the The General Convention, held at Richmond, Va., Simms Kingdom in the 4400 block in W . Belle PI. December past, in my judgment, was keyed up to its Oh, you, Lucien—it's about time the brothers are highest pitch and gave to each brother present enough hearing something from you, boy. Brother Prof. "pep" to run him over the grade of another year. Clifford Evans, in his quiet, cunning and unassuming Our Chapter was well attended. January 20th, our way, has set up a new kingdom with a new queen, that first 1927 meeting. Our President, Brother Curtis, "just won't quit," Atta boy, Clif. we see you. T h e could not be present, because of his duties at Linwriter is not sure, but believes the facts to be that coln University, but sent a letter that gave general the S P H I N X has not broacasted the true status of satisfaction. Brother A. G. Lindsay graced the chair Brother Atty. J. L. McLemore. By this time Mac and presided in that characteristic way that he only is old on the job, having taken over his duties about can do. Brother Geo. W . Buckner, the wizard of the June, 1926. Mrs. McLemore, the baby girl of the Peoples Finance Co., acted as Sergeant-at-Arms, and popular principal of Summer High School, "Fess" "George" knows how to do it. T h e reports of the Williams, wears broad smiles nowadays—one of the Secretary and Treasurer were made and adopted. brothers told the writer the other day that he had a The delegates to the 19th Convention made their revery suspicious idea, but was not yet ready to talk— port, which was read by Brother Garner, and suppleMack may not be stepping big for nothing. mented by Brother Craft. The report was very much The first meeting for the year 1927, was attended in detail, practically reholding the Convention for the as follows: Atty. D. W . Bowles, Dr. U. S. Bolen, benefit of the Chapter. By this time the brothers G. W . Buckner, Wizzard Peoples Finance; H . K. were in fine spirit, and the election of officers was Craft, Ex-Secretary, Pine St. Y. M. C. A . ; Atty. moved. Brother Prof. R. P . Watts, without opposition, was elected President. Brother Atty. J. L. Mc- S E Garner, Prof. M. A. Grant, Prof, Otto Green, Dr. F . D. Halsey, Dr. E. L. Harris, Sr., Prof W . H . Lemore, the wit of the Chapter, was elected ViceHuffman. A. G. Lindsay, the other Wizard of PeoPresident. B r o t h e r ' D r . F . D. Halsey, who always ples Finance; Prof. A. E. Malone, Atty. J. L. Mcbrings up the rear for dry jokes, was elected 2nd Lemore, John L. Procope, Prof. James A. Scott, Vice-President. Brother Prof. W . H . Huffman was Prof. R. P . Watts. Prof. Frank Wilson. W e were reelected Treasurer. Brother H . K. Craft, Executive graced with two visiting brothers, Prof. Tocus, of the Secretary of Pine Street Y. M. C. A., was reelected Sumner High School and Brother O. O. Morris, of Secretary. Brother Prof. M. A. Grant, otherwise Dayton, Ohio, now, Boys Work Secretary, Pine St. known as the Charleston "kid," Sergeant-at-Arms. Y. M. C. A., St. Louis. Brother Atty. S. E. Garner, Historian. Brother Prof. Fraternally, - F. B. Wilson was made Financial Secretary, having S. E. GARNER, Previously demonstrated his ability to do the job Chapter Editor. when the other fellows say it can't be done, "Atta boy, Frank." T h e new President got on the job at o'ice and appointed the Budget Committee, and deZETA LAMBDA CHAPTER, clared for a greater year for Epsilon Lambda ChapNorfolk, Va. ter than ever before. W e are a graduate Chapter, hence no great stunts as to college activities, but we BROTHERS I N A L P H A P H I A L P H A , Greetings: are "head bent, teeth and toe nail" on the "Go-toNow it's almost time for the birds to sing, High-School, Go-to-College'' movement, and we have And Zeta Lambda is beginning to feel the coming of and will furnish at least one scholarship each year. Spring. Brother Malone, our honorary member, was host at Fresh from the wonderful "Kon-Klavium" held at our first 1927 meeting—good cats, cigars and cigaretRichmond, Va., and having partook of the "Food P r e in Georgia (my home state), that I felt very much at home. Of course none of these brothers were born down South, but the pronunciation of their words betrayed them. After considerable persuasion the following brothers decided to accept office for the year: President, D r . Herbert Eugene Simms; Vice-President, Dr. Robert Greenidge, X-Ray Specialist; Secretary, Clement C. Johnson, Electrical Engineer, Ford Motor Co.; Treasurer, Dr. James M. Gregory, L L . D . ; Corresponding Secretary, Leonard Williams, Electrical Engineer, Ford Motor Co.; Chaplain, Rev. Milton Thompson, Pastor, St. John's Presbyterian Church; Dr. J. A. Moore, Reporter to S P H I N X . The elected officers did the unprecedented honors by feeding the entire.Chapter in a grand and glorious feed, January 15. Remember, brothers, our nearness to Windsor, Canada, did not contribute at all to the grand and glorious evening. Raeford, Grimes and Morton are about to enter vaudeville. Being very original they have received flattering offers from noted companies. Dr. A. L. Turner also swept the deck by appearing in a new Pierce Arrow. Dr. Chas. F . Green startled everybody by making a speech.

T h e S p h i n x , F e b r u a r y , 1927

pared by the Gods" together with viewing the "Lillies of the Valley," (although some of the brothers don t seem to be adept at mastering the " B u m p ' ) Zeta Lambda has taken on Nu-Life. And from now until man's mind runneth not to the contrary notwithstanding you shall hear from us always. At our first regular meeting the following officers officers were elected: As a token of loyalty and appreciation of sacrificial services rendered the Fraternity Bro. D r . S. Francis Coppage, was elected President, and Bro. A. D. Manning, Secretary, by unanimous vote. The full roster follows: Vice-President, Bro. Tillman Roger Thompson; Assistant Secretary, Bro. A. J. Wells; Treasurer, Bro. S. B. Noble; Chaplain, Bro. L. F . Palmer; Associate S P H I N X Editor, Bro. L. A. (Bill) Fowlkes. The meeting was held at the beautiful home of Bro. T. P . Turner, and the service was unexcelled and joy was unconfined. Now we know why Bro. Turner is getting so fat, Mrs. Turner knows how to tickle a palate. The program for the future as outlined by the President, is centralization, Cementation and 10J per cent Alpha Spirit and co-operation. W e plan to win both of the .cups and keep them. Zeta Lambda doffs her hat to Gamma for the very fine manner in which our brothers were cared for. The brothers of Zeta Lambda who received keys to the city were: Coppage, Manning, Palmer, Dett, Williams, Brown, Turner, Mason, Hart, Pree, Pierce, Thompson, Fowlkes. With warmest wishes for the best year of our Fraternal existence, boih lor the general organization as a whole, and the chapters individually.

Yours fraternally, J. E. B U S H ,

Associate

bdiior

"SphtH*."

SIGMA L A M B D A C H A P T E R , N e w Orleans, La. BROTHERS

IN ALPHA

P H I ALPHA,

Greetings:

Sigma Lambda appears on the horizon to extend to all her brothers in Alpha Phi Alpha her heartiest good wishes for the year. With the 19th Convention recorded in our journal, and our delegate, Brother W . H . Mitchell, Jr., reluctantly, but finally r e turning from an extended tour of the East, Sigma Lamlxia is preparing for her program in New O r leans, America's Most Interesting City. Our membership is growing. W e have on our roster the names of the following brothers: J. O. Richards, Rudolph Moses, L. V. Alexis, Osceola Blanchet, A. Priestly, A. A. Edwards, Dr. P . P . Creuzot, E. M. Coleman, Dr. A. J. Young, Wiley Williams, Blaine Dejoie, C. Thomhill, A. P . Tureaud, Bishop R. E. Jones, W. H . Mitchell, Jr., L. T. Burbridge, Dr. C C. Haydel, and others. Under the leadership of a Moses, the destiny of Sigma Lambda has been entrusted to the following brothers: Rudolph Moses, President; C. C. Haydel, Vice-President; A. A. Edwards, Secretary; A. P . Tureaud, Assistant Secretary; P . P . Creuzot, Treasurer; E. M. Coleman, Sergeant-at-Arms, and W . H . Mitchell, Jr., Chaplain. Fraternally yours. ALEXANHER

P . TUREAUD.

Assistant

Secretary.

" B I L L " FOWLKES,

Associate "Sphinx

TAU LAMBDA, Nashville, T e n n .

' Editor.

THETA LAMBDA CHAPTER, Dayton, Ohio

Editor, T H E S P H I N X , BROTHERS

IN A L P H A

P H I ALPHA,

Greetings:

We are indeed glad to enlist in the grand army of BROTHERS I N A L P H A P H I A L P H A , Greetings: chapters composing our great organization. We were born November 23, 19.2<>, and have been Our first meeting of the New Year was held Janukicking ever since. Although only an infant we alary 13th with a full attendance of the brothers, 'the ready have imbibed the spirit of all true Alphas— old Alpha spirit was much in evidence. that spirit which association with other Chapters has Our official delegates, Brothers Bush and Pierce, engendered in us. W e may still lie in swaddling together with Brother B. A. Rose, having been " h u clothes, but we are already doing a man's work. T h e nched in Richmond," proceeded to bring it back to day after our setting up we joined with Chi in a Dayton and infused it into the fraters. It is safe to Thanksgiving Service at the church of Bro. T. B. say that under the treatment Theta Lam da has been Livingston. Just succeeding that very successful occawholly rejuvenated. sion we were boosters for Chi in their series of InterFraternal Basketball games. On December 22, we atThe delegates brought back glowing reports of the tended in a body, wearing Alpha colors, the wedding greater business-like activities that the general organization is assuming, of the unselfish and kindly hos- of our Vice-President, John Riley, at the Tennessee State College. On Christmas day, we witnessed the pitality of the Richmond people—in fact everything nuptials of another one of our brothers, A. E. Lockwas just right, so much so that we were loath to leave the wonderful city when the time came to bid our ert. Although very young in existence, we felt the necesadieu. sity of representation at our Richmond Convention The following officers were elected to guide the desand we sent our Bro. President G. W . Gore, Jr., who tiny of Theta Lambda for the year of 1927: took a very active part in that epoch-making event and Bro. E. E. Campbell, President. brought back to us a very detailed report which has Bro. Jas. A. Parsons, Vice-President. given renewed impetus to our efforts. Bro. J. E. Bush, Sect, and Asso. Editor S P H I N X . We plan to have all our meetings not merely soBro. L. H . Cox, Treasurer. cial, but very definitely constructive. At each second The cry now is on to Cleveland for the 20th annual meeting of the month special presentations on some convention. W e are going to make this an all-Ohio research problem is given by one of the brothers. At convention. Pi Chapter, you have our undivided suppresent Brother C. H . Wilson, the only Negro gradport in your great task—great because Richmond has uate in Music from Northwestern University and at set a mighty pace for you. We are boosting for you and present Professor of Music at the Tennessee State upholding the hand of our good Bro. B. A. Rose, 2nd College, is giving us a series of reseTch studies on Vice-President of the Mid-western District. T o all Music. Special problems in Journalism, Education, Ohio chapters, let us rally to Pi—beautiful Ohio and Agriculture, Hygiene, Insurance, etc., will be studied Cleveland, the fifth city, must not be left ut the and discussed by members of Tatt Lambda who have post. majored in those particular fields. Wishing for all the fraters a super-abundance of W e are already fostering a move whereby we shall the old Alpha spirit and continued success for the be able to sponsor a State-wide drive in the "Go-toyear of 1037,

The Sph inx, F e b r u a r y , 1927 High School, Go-to-College Campaign" and we shall be prepared to answer our General Director's Command—"Go." Our strategic location at the State's capitol will enable us to put over a very intensive campaign through the various professional and educational resources at our command here in the "Athens of the South." Brothers in Tau Lambda: 1. Professor G. W. Gore, Jr., President. Head of Department of English, Tennessee State College, J ' ashville. Author of "Negro Journalism." Senior Delegate to 19th Convention. 2. Professor John W. Riley, Vice-President. Instructor, History Department, Tennessee State College, Nashville. Rector Scholarship, DePauw University. 3. Professor Claude H. Harper, Secretary. Dean, Tennessee State College. Author, "Text in Psychology" (ready for press). 4. Dr. I. L. Moore, Assistant Secretary. Dentist and Musician, Nashville. 5. Mr. A. R. Turner, Treasurer. District Manager, Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Chairman, Negro State Fair Association. Member of Negro Board of Trade, Nashville. 6. Dr. W. S. Ellington, Jr., Associate Editor, S P H I N X . Dentist, Musician, and Instructor, Physiology, Tennessee State College, Nashville. 7. Rev. W. S. Ellington, Sr., Chaplain. Pastor, First Baptist Church, East Nashville; Noted Lecturer; Pulpit Orator, Editor, Baptist Sunday School Literature. 8. Mr. R. B. J. Campbell, Bursar, Tennessee State College, Nashville. 9. Professor A. E. Lockert. State Teacher Trainer in Agriculture, Tennessee State College, Nashville. _ 10. Professor Roy D. Clinthorne. Instructor in Chemistry, Fisk University. 11. Professor James Tapp, Instructor in Mathematics, Fisk University. 12. Mr. Calvin McKissack. Registered Architect. Contractor for Morris Memorial Building, Nashville. One ! of our objectives this year will be to gather into our fold our graduate Brothers in Nashville, not definitely connected with Chi Chapter, so

that we and Chi may present a solid front for true Alphaism. CLAUDE H .

i..

HARPER,

Secretary.

ALPHA PSI CHAPTER, N e w York City BROTHERS I N

ALPHA

PHI

ALPHA,

Greetings:

On December 23, 1926, Alpha Psi Chapter, a graduate chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, was established in New York City. The brothers in New York have felt for some time the urgent need for a graduate chapter here. It has taken a long, long time to get a charter, but now that the graduate chapter has been set up, there is no doubt but that the organization will be greatly benefitted through the increased activity of the older men of the fraternity whose interests differ to some extent—and reasonably so—from those of the undergraduate group. The graduate chapter made an excellent start by having two delegates to the convention in Richmond, Va. Our delegates were Bro. James Fladger and Bro. Rev. J. Raymond Henderson. The program for the chapter for this year includes among its principal items an intensive Go-to-High-School, Go-to-College campaign, and a campaign to strengthen the internal structure of the fraternity by re-awakening the spirit of Alpha Phi Alpha in those who are on the list of inactive brothers. In New York City the chapter has a very fertile field to work. When the graduate chapter was set up, the following brothers were elected as temporary officers: Bro. Miles Paige, President. Bro. James Fladger, Secretary. Bro. Dr. E. P. Roberts, Treasurer. The general organization and the chapters of the fraternity may be certain that the fullest co-operation will be received from Alpha Psi Chapter. Fraternally yours, F . LESLIE T H O M P S O N ,

Chapter

Editor.

The Sph m x , F e b r u a r y , 1 9 2 7

In the operation of this office I shall continue to e x ercise the same diligence and care that I have in the My preference would be to greet you with some past for the constructive development of Alpha P h i other phase of fraternal endeavor. But it seems a Alpha, for upholding all our laws, the preservation word or so about the last convention is indicated. of our policy, and shall bend every effort for the For serious mindedness and sane judgment and the most complete execution of the Go-to-High-School, manner in which matters of moment to the Fraternity Go-to-College Campaign and for the protection of the were handled the Nineteenth Convention excels. I Fraternity and its members everywhere. think this fact should be emphasized strongly for the May 1927 give generously only of its best to Alpha same kind of spirit and action prevalent in the last Phi Alpha, and to its splendid Brothers, the greatest convention should permeate every chapter. success, prosperity and happiness, and additional The existence of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity has strength for our coming educational campaign. been one of continuous progress. Due to this fact we Sincerely and fraternally, nave been able to return from each convention happy RAYMOND W . C A N N O N , «n the thought that it was the greatest in the history General President, ot the Fraternity. Thus can it be said that the NineAlpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. centh Convention was the greatest. But there were other things which made the Nineteenth Convention great. Aside from the generous FROM OURFIRST VICE-PRESIDENT hospitality of the entertaining chapter, the cordiality ot the splendid people of Richmond, the elaborate spBROTHERS I N A L P H A P H I A L P H A , Greetings: cia features, the many things done for our comfort and convenience, the large attendance, distinguished Now that the holiday season is past and the new visitors present, etc., there were present and prevalent year is young, we are settling down and making new those fundamental essentials of brotherhood and fra- resolutions and plans for our future. ternahsm, sincere action and constructive progress. Maybe the past year has been a good year to you, t h a t old and dangerous emotional enthusiasm was and maybe not. If it was a good year to you it is a absent. pretty good sign that you were good to it, as in this Intelligence was everywhere and it participated. life you are apt to get out of it in proportion only Analytical minds busied themselves with the issues and to what you put into it. If you have been building ,ers th. presented to the convention. Actions were in up your business, social and moral standing, you have e P r 5 s e n t- Thoughts which governed these actions been sowing seeds which are bound to return a good were for the future. crop of those things which are most desired in this The interpretation of our college men given to the life. Now, if this is not your philosophy of life, People of Virginia by Brother Channing H. Tobias try it and you will soon find how well it works. was splendid, forceful and inspiring, and will be the A third term as Vice-President of Alpha Phi Alpha means of increasing the influence and prestige and gives me an opportunity to do more service for an "ie usefulness of the Fraternity in that section of the organization which. I hold dear. I began several years country. ago to make sacrifices of every kind to perpetuate the e convention was extremely fortunate in having ideals of Alpha .Phi Alpha because I believed they Present three of the Jewel's" Brothers Henry Arthur were as noble as could be espoused. I feel that our '-anis guest of the convention, Nathaniel A. Murray fraternity holds a strong place in the development of and George B. Kelley, respectively. It was worth our group from every viewpoint. The fraternity has across t h e AlTT , country to meet these Founders. made wonderful progress in these few years on the nil ot the convention, even those who previously knew concentrated effort of only a part of its number. r Celveci \TT' D '"spiration and a keener insight into What might have been the progress if all Alpha Phi « k? t'• A l p h a . F r o m t h ese men we gained a Alpha men had kept the sacred obligation and bent wea tn of information about our Fraternity. their energy to the execution of its ideals? I come C com K m i t t e e s were interested in their duties, and to the "adage" again. "You are apt to get out of a worked with diligence and care. T h e work was very proposition in proportion only what you put into it." eavy m most instances but was attacked with a Let me appeal to my noble brothers to be willing to thoroughness that was refreshing to note. A convention should not only afford its delegates sacrifice for your fraternity—be willing to give rather than receive. You will receive double that you give info rmation to carry back to their chapters, but it when you give unreluctantly. All matters might not snpuid also give them great inspiration. This the go as we think they should, but what will it profit Conven of W u t i o n did. The "Old Alpha Spirit ' us to destroy that which displeases? It is highly winch we have heard so much, was rampant and un- more expedient to defend that which we love, until Beautilul ev I and sublime it was manifest such opportune time comes when we may offer a sugsne^lT - e ' I I guided us in our song and in our gestion or plan to correct the condition which ofDlea ' ' " S U r business and deliberations and in our fends. Maybe I am too anxious to have the full cooperation of the more than 3,000. Brothers, I see the ' d,sureEveryone, Founders, undergraduates and need. Alpha's program calls for service, unselfish £ ""'nates, honorary and active honorary members— vtn neophytes, were interested from start to finish. service. T h e silent sphinx stands beckoning your rew a s turn. The faithful and true yearn for your spirit in "is the Spirit which motivated all thoughts and this great fraternal uplift. Resolve to make your F r a t n S • t e n t l l n * r toward the betterment of our great rn t fraternity all that you should like to see it be. It is ., v ,f ' /- Thus the convention got down to bed A,pha P h i Al ha first of all, it shall transcend all. Of all the sacred Ann ,i " was on something firm. l nc o n e r . nne thing about it all was that as we shrines to which the people of our country make pilgrimages Mount Vernon stands out first and foreit w "" c o n t a c t with this old original "Alpha Spirit" S com et most—the beautiful old mansion on the banks of the th„ r P e n t l y defined to us in certain terms by Potomac which for many years was the much-loved Tl h W h ° W e r e D r e s e n t us M " ^ r umgs m of everyday life is once more upon home of the Father of Our Country, and where in a modest tomb are the remains of the great American, and sPeeC"£ c o u r occupy our minds. As the song nipmi I? Rreatest convention grow dim re- (ieorge Washington. These pilgrimages are made by the people because they reverence greatness and love I v/\ ' t s ( , e c d s s h a " s t a n d f o r t h forever. sacrifice and patriotism. Washington, the Father of tion fo V ° , C x p r e s s m v sincere thanks and appreciaelecti ° r . , n ' ) r v o u have accorded me again in re- Our Country. Alpha Phi Alpha, the father of all - ion to the presidency of our great Fraternity. Greek Letter College Fraternities among Negroes. DEAR BROTHERS I N A L P H A P H I A L P H A ,

Greetings:

T h e S p h i n x , F e b r u a r y . 19'27

Do we not feel it an honor to be members of the first family (Greek Letter Fraternity among Negro College men) of the land? Do we not reverence the greatness of our fraternity? Do we not love our seven jewels for their sacrifice and patriotism? I believe we do. Then I beseech you, brothers, that we make our pilgrimage this year, 1037, to the Mount Vernon of Alpha Phi Alpha and lay at the tomb as a token of love and appreciation, our unstinted support and service to perpetuate her ideals. I pledge you that I have begun the pilgrimage. I am ready and anxious to serve you. The office is one for service and cooperation. May each chapter and brother feel free to demand me. I will have to call on you. Let's go 'bout our task with a bright and smiling face, we will find it mirrored 'round us filling every busy place. It will lighten all the labor of a dreary rainy day. Not alone for us but others and I tell you it will pay. Accept my best wishes for a prosperous and useful year. Sincerely and fraternally, I am,

BROTHERS I N A L P H A

P H I ALPHA,

ROBERT P. D A N I E L .

Third

C H A S . W. GREENE,

First Vice-President. A. P . A. Frat., Inc., 465% Fraser St., S. E.

Greetings:

A new general officer of the fraternity wishes each of you the best of success in this yjwr's worn. I , thank you for the privilege of being able to write over the title of a national officer, in assuring the brothers, and especially the chapters under my jurisdiction, of my determination to give my best in thought and energy to the enrichment of o u r fraternity life, I am not prompted by the consciousness that I am supposed to say such, but by a conviction to work for Alpha Phi Alpha. The re-election of Brother Cannon should mean a continuation of the constructive internal reorganization of our fraternity. Your Eastern. Vice-President is very desirous of the complete harmonious functioning of all of the chapters in his jurisdiction. Alpha Phi Alpha was born in the east. May Alpha Phi Alpha continually look to the east for tile inspiration of her increasingly glorious progress! Very, fraternally yours,

T o A L L CHAPTERS AND BROTHERS,

Vice-President.

Greetings:

Allow me to express my sincere thanks for a unanimous vote in re-electing me your Treasurer." 1 hereby renew my promise to faithfully serve you and discharge the duties of this office with efficient, accurate T o T H E CHAPTERS OK A L P H A P H I A L P H A AND TO r,:id up-to-date methods. THE CHAPTERS OF M I D - W E S T E R N DISTRICT IN You will note that special arrangements for this PARTICULAR, Greetings: If one may judge the future from the greetings and year's payment of grand tax as passed upon >Uy the Convention is that ?2.25 is due on or betore May 15th. pledged co-operation that has come to this office we 'i his will bring each brother financial from May 15th predict a great year for Alpha Phi Alpha.' Several chapters have claimed the same cup. for next year," to December .31st; provided his previous taxes are paid. while Xi chapter has arranged to give the McGee -We are going to try and bring back the "lost 3000" cup a permanent home. this year. W e accounted for over 1200 last year and During the coming year let us pledge ourselves to that's a good start. Schemes for state organizations touch and reclaim every Alpha Phi Alpha in our dissimilar to the one in Virginia will be told you by your trict; to put over' the greatest Go-to-High-SchooI, \ ice-President. This scheme, together vvuh miormaGo-to-College Campaign in the history of our fratert on from the General Secretary, will aid you manity. If this obtains the 20th Convention will I e a terially in finding the "lost 3000." record-breaker. Wishing you a pleasant and profitable New Year. With best wishes for a prosperous year, Fraternally, Sincerely and fraternally yours, FROM SECOND

VICE-PRESIDENT

B. ANDREW ROSE,

PERCIVAL R. PIPER,

Second 1'icc President.

Treasurer.

THE CAPSTONE OF NEGRO EDUCATION HOWARD UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON, D . C. Founded by General O- O. Howard

MORDECAI JOHNSON, D D , S.T.M ,

EMMETT J. SCOTT, A H , LL D ,

President

Secretary-Treasurer

* C C C * * C C = S * ^ = * * X C * » ^ » P U R P O S E »CCC**C=^«C=X**C=^9CXX*i*X3e

To provide the Twelve Million Colored people of t h e United States w i t h college trained and Professional leaders t h r o u g h i t s courses in A r t s , Sciences, Sociology, Education; its Schools of Commerce and Finance, Public Health and Hygiene, Music, Architecture. Engineering, Medicine Dentistry, Pharmacy, Religion and Law.

STUDENTS MAY ENTER FOR COLLEGIATE WORK AT THE BEGINNING OF ANY QUARTER REGISTRATION

Winter Quarter

Autumn Quarter J a n u a r y 3, 192"

S e p t e m b e r 27, 28, 1926 Spring Quarter

M a r c h 19, 1927

For Catalog and Information Write

F. D. W I L K I N S O N , Registrar, Howard University, Washington, D. C.

CUPID'S CORNER W h a t therefore

God

hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Matt. 19:6.

Adams-Glover. A wedding of great brilliance and much social prominence was solemnized at the fashionable St. ihomas' Episcopal Church, Chicago, on December 22nd, 1925, w h e n Miss S. Helen Adams became the I'nde of Brother, Dr. Nelson Glover. The bride is a Popular member of Chicago's elite and is prominently identified with the Delta Sigma Theta Sororitv. BroT K ^ l o v e r i s a s t e a d v a n d l o >al member of Xi tv,™ • Their ttmay friends have vied with each i i t ' " s n o w c n n 8 a l l d entertaining the joyful couple, all of which is evidence of the esteem in which thev are held. Alpha Phi Alpha joins the rest of their Host of friends in wishing them continued happiness all along the way.

Robinson-Logan. Brother Ray ford W . Logan, Toastmaster at the -vnnual Banquet, chose the Nineteenth Annual Convention as the time to decide that he was in permanent session under the presidency of Miss Ruth Opal Robinson, one of the most popular and attractive of the recent graduates of Virginia Normal and Industrial nstitute Her charming smile and sweet personality completely conquered one of the most inveterate globeR t ? r S i a " d c o n f i r m e d bachelors in the Fraternity. ,'• lu-r Logan seems perfectly happy to exchange his mstant wanderings lor the pleasures of a fireside , , "y o n c of Virginia's fairest. The wedding is w lieUuled for the spring or early summer. Brother Logan, Phi Beta Kappa from Williams, r w s t Lieutenant in the A. E. F., a wide traveler in -urope and Haiti, a contributor to newspapers and magazines, has just been appointed to assist the Edf V ' A c S p H I ! *X- He holds the position of Head oi the Department of Modern Languages at Virginia c-mon I n,versify and is one of the few colored memers of the Modern Language Association of America.

McCormick-Westbrooks. The brothers of Alpha Omicron were very proud to w o w that Brother O. L. Westbrooks found his pin on ^nristmas day. On the grand and glorious Christas aay when everyone seemed to be happy over Santa P t K i n ' S l t ' - C u P ' d whispered to the charming Miss W .K ' a t r l c e MeCormick and Brother Orlando L. vvesthrooks 0 f Wadesboro, N . C. W e are sure that l,,m fir H e s t b r o o k s is proud of Cupid's gift. W e ope that you may live happily together. Melton-Graham. Iif!? r0t Ai er J" W . Graham, they all fall some time in the A ' I ) h a Omicron learns that Cupid visited you in riv, P ' l s t V 1 "' a n d brought to you the popular and Lia,-l.mi,ng M i s s B l a n c h e Melton of Charlotte, N. C. vi-isu i y o u ' m y b o y- W e extend to you our best «'»nes tor much happiness throughout life.

Tho mpson-Clark. Alpha Theat is happy to announce the engagement of Brother J. W . C l a r k 8and the lovely Miss Lena

Evelyn Thompson of Des Moines, Iowa. Miss Thompson is a graduate of West High, Des Moines, and is one of the most popular young ladies in Des Moines society. Brother Clark is a graduate of West High, Des Moines, and a junior in the College of Engineering at the University of Iowa. We regret to theoretically lose Brother Clark, but wish for this pair a happy and prosperous future.

Jackson-Riley. One of the season's most brilliant affairs was the marriage of Miss Mary B. Jackson of Nashville, to Brother John William Kiley of Bristol, Indiana, Wednesday evening, December 22. The ceremony took place in the College Chapel of A. & I. State Normal College. The bride is a graduate of Pearl High School, bisk University, graduate student of Chicago University, is head of the Economic Department of A. & I. State College, and is prominent in social and civic affairs in the city. Brother Riley is a graduate of DePauw, where he' held a Rector Scholarship, and has done graduate work in the University of Chicago. He is Vice-President of Tau Lambda Chapter, N'ashville; also an instructor in History and Romance Languages, A. & I. State College. May they have greater and sweeter happiness always! Harper-Danley. Belated but the less welcome news has been received of the marriage of Brother Samuel B. Danlcy of Alpha Delta to Miss Theresa Harper of Oakland, California. Brother Danley was married in November last in Oakland and from there journeyed to Springfield, 111., at which place he has received an appointment as Executive Secretary of the Urban League. Miss Harper is the daughter of one of California's pioneer families and besides being a graduate of the University of California is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Moore-Crockett. Word comes from Omicron that Brother Arthur Crockett is about to join the ranks of the benedicts. As yet there has been no formal announcement of his engagement to Miss Ruth More but the lovely lady has not denied the truth of the rumor. Silence gives consent! Besides, what greater continuation is needed than the beautiful solitaire she is wearing these days? Bring on the wedding bells—we're as restless and anxious as Dan Cupid himself. Borders-Boney. Hero—Brother "Tekc" Borders, Heroine—Miss Reba Roney. "Teke," formerly of Epsilon and now a high school principal in Shelby, X. C , didn't wait long (that's just like the dashing Teke) and one evening not so long ago he and Miss Roney, also a former Michigan student, told us of their new found happiness. We lose our good brother but gain immeasurably in having Mrs. Borders closer to Alpha

Phi Alpha.

The Sphinx, February, 1927

QUALITY Today is a day of great inventions.

It represents a period in

which the master minds of the world are constantly bringing forth new ideas to replace time-worn necessities.

Yet there can never be

a substitute for quality. From the first operation to the last, the manufacture of Balfour badges is based upon quality.

From the pin stem to the pearl, the

utmost in material and workmanship is demanded. FZvery bar of gold is purchased from the government, assuring a standard guarantee of highest perfection in carat. Every stone must bear a three-A rating, the highest quality obtainable.

The finished

badge undergoes a rigid inspection where the tightness of the catch is equally as important as the setting of the stone. Cheap labor and inferior material are, after all, immeasurably expensive, when the judges are college men and women.

L. G. B a l f o u r Company ATTLEBORO

MASS.

S O L E O F F I C I A L J E W E L E R S TO ALPHA PHI A L P H A BRANCH OFFICES

Boston New York Chicago Philadelphia Pittsburgh

Washington Columbus Atlanta Richmond Indianapolis Kansas City

Des Moines Dallas San Francisco Los Angeles Seattle

Chapters A L P H A E T A C H A P T E R , Harvard University, President, Chas. K. Goines, 7 Claremout Pk., Boston, Mass. Secretary, Root. S. White, Jr., 7 Claremont Pk., Boston. A L P H A T H E T A C H A P T E R , State University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. 1'resident, Ralph Moody, 230 So. Capitol St. Secretary, Jas. E. Taylor, Jr., 230 So. Capitol St. A L P H A I O T A C H A P T E R , University of Colorado, and Denver University, Denver, Colorado. President, John Waller, 2401 Emerson Street. Secretary, U. J. Andrews, 8 Hi 82nd St. A L P H A K A P P A C H A P T E R , Springfield, Mass. President, N. P. Dotson, 87 WUbraham Ave. Secretary. U, G. Mason, 18 Spring St. A L P H A MU C H A P T E R , Northwestern University, Evanston, 111. President, Lucius E. Lee, University Chili. Secretary, Norman L. Merrificld, t l l 3 Avars PI. ALPHA NU CHAPTER Lrake University, Des Moines; and Iowa State College, Ames. President, Carlyle C. Clarke, 1207 Center Street, Des Moines, Iowa. Secretary. Harry J. Romm, 2 0 0 ^ Main Street, Ames, Iowa. A L P I I A XI C H A P T E R , Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wis. President, F . Q. Washington, 505 Galena Street. Secretary, G. D. Daniel, 61 nith Street. ALPHA OMICRON CHAPTER, Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, N. C. President, G, R. Docl . . ' or,, Sec, T. L. Plair. A ^ P H A P I C H A P T E R , Atlanta Universitv, Atlanta, Ga. President, F. N. Weathers. • - Secretary, Frank L Stanley. A L P I I A R H O C H A P T E R , Morehouse College, Atlanta, Ga. President, Samuel A. Young. •Cnr. Secy., O. E. Jackson. A L P H A SIGMA C H A P T E R , Wiley University, Marshall, Texas. President, W. C. Burnett. '.v. F. Creene. ALPIIA-TAU CHAPTER, A k r o n University, Akron, Ohio. President, L. A. Taylor. 1145 Gitz Street, Akron, Cnr. Sec, Dr. G. H. Dunbar, 1.1 N. Howard St. A L P H A U P S I I . O N C H A P T E R , City College of Detroit, Detroit, Mich. President, M. S. 'I urue St. Secretary, Mekin E. Fowler, 6338 Begole St. A L P H A PHI C H A P T E R , I Uianra > Ga. President, Marquis Harris. Secretary. Edw. L. Lipscomb. UETA A L P H A C H A P T E R , Morgan I Baltimore, Md. ' • ' • T A G A M M A C H A P T E R . Virginia Stale I ,e 8e, ALP H AEttricks, L A M B DVa. A C H A P T E R . Louisville, Ky. Preside president, John O. Blanton, B31 South 8th St. secretary, A. L. Simpson, 1417 W . Chestnut St. oe— U £ T A L A M B D A C H A P T E R , Kansas City. Mo. ^ a i d a n t , E d w a r d S B a k e r . 1521 E. ll'th S t . Jils CATI - A ' J e f f r p s ' > 2103 T r a c y Ave. W \ M M A & U I B D A C H A P T E R , Detroit, Mich. p-esidefit, Dr. H. F . Simms, 6614 Firwood St. <-or. Sec, L. S. Williams, 5655 24th St. E

L1T A L A M B D A C H A P T E R . Baltimore. Md. resident, James H. Hillburn, 1944 Druid Hill Ave. T r r"u S T r e t a r >'' Gobert E. Macbeth, 2101 Druid Will Avenue.

E P S I L O N L A M B D A C H A P T E R , St. Louis, Mo. President, L. S. Curtis, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Mo. Secretary, H a r r y K. Croft, Pine Blvd., Y. M C. A. Z E T A L A M B D A C H A P T E R , Norfolk, Va. President, S. F . Coppage, 064 Church Street, Norfolk, Va. Secretary, A. D. Manning, 555 25th Street, Newport News, Va. T H E T A L A M B D A C H A P T E R , Dayton, Ohio. President, E. E. Campbell. Secretary, J. E. Bush, 430 W. 5th St. E T A L A M B D A C H A P T E R , Atlanta, Ga. President, Dr. C. Waymond Reeves, 269 W . Fair Street. Secretary, C. E. Arnold, 88 Ridge Avenue. I O T A L A M B D A C H A P T E R , Indiana, Purdue and DePauw Universities, and Butler College, Indianapolis, Ind. President, C. A. Toles, 2021 Hills Avenue. Secretary, H. T. Riley, 2712 N. Capital Avenue. K A P P A L A M B D A C H A P T E R , Greensboro, N. C. President, I. W. Taylor, 206 Holbrook Street, Danville, Va. Secretary, Norman H . Williams, A. & T. College. M U L A M B D A C H A P T E R , Washington, D. C. President, Charles H . Wesley, Howard University, Secretary, Clarence Harvey Mills, Howard University, Washington, D. C. NU L A M B D A C H A P T E R , Petersburg. Va. President, T. L. Puryear, V. N. & I. I., Petersburg, Va. Cor. S e c , J. R. Otis, V. N. & I. I., Petersburg, XT L A M B D A C H A P T E R , Chicago, 111. lent- Frank V. Plummer, 6211 Loomis Blvd. Secretary, William H. Benson, Suite No. 1, 3507 Grand Boulevard. O M I C R O N L A M B D A C H A P T E R , Birmingham, Ala. President, G. W. Reeves, Miles Memorial College. Secretary, P e t e r R, S h y , Miles M e m o r i a l College IT L A M B D A C H A P T E R , Little Rock, Arkansas. President, M. R. Perry, 904 Broadway Street. Secretary, C. Franklin Brown, 1019 Cross Street. RHO LAMBDA C H A P T E R , Buffalo-Rochester, N. Y. President, M . A. Allen. 200 Williams St.. Buffalo, Secretary, Father O. H. Brown. 166 Godcll St. S I G M A - t A M B D A C H A P T E R , New Orleans, La. President, I. O. Richards, 4125 Clara Street. Secretary, W. H. Mitchell, Jr., 2:?:20 Dryades Street. TAI

' \ C H A P T E R , Nashville, Tenn. ., G. W. Gore, Jr.. Tenn. Agr. & Ind. Stale Co I tin. <Secretary, Claude H. Harper, Tenn. Agr. & Ind. State Col' P H I L A M B D A C H A P T E R , Raleigh. N. C. t 111 LAMBDA CIIAPTF.R, Will.erforce, Ohio. President, Walter R. Thornhill. Box 71. Cor. S e c , T. C. Carter, Wilberiorcc, Ohio. P S I LAMBDA CHAPTER, I a, Tenn. President, Rev. J. B. Barber, Stn. A. Box 73, Secretary, Dr. W. B. Davis, 124>/a E. 9th St. UPSILON-LAMBDA CHAPTER, Jacksonville, Fla. President, Dr. R. W. Butler, 627 Davis St. S e c r e t a r y , L . A . M e G h e e , Edw. W a t e r s College A L P H A A L P H A LAMBDA, Newark, N. J. President, Dr. Ferdinand D. Williams, 16 Mission St., Montelair, N. J. A L P H A G A M M A LAMBDA, New York City. President, Myles A. Paige, 203 W. 138th St. Secretary, James E. Fla<

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