The SPHINX | Fall October 1936 | Volume 22 | Number 3 193602203 by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity

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ILLU/TWOUTAPHA MEN IN IQ3G OLYMPIAD SEE PAGE 19

THE SPHINX OCTOBER

PICTORIAL NUMBER

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC.

1936

ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, Inc OFFICIAL DIRECTORY General Officers PRESIDENT Dr. CHARLES H. WESLEY Howard University—Washington, D. C. SOUTHERN VICE-PRES. CHARLES W. GREENE 304 Griffin St. N. W.—Atlanta, Go. EASTERN VICE-PRES. Dr. FARROW ALLEN 337 W. 138th St.—New York City MID-WESTERN VICE-PRES. SIDNEY A. JONES, Jr. 3456 S. State—Chicago, Illinois WESTERN VICE- PRES. BERT A. MCDONALD 319 E. 48th Street—Los Angeles, Calif. SECRETARY JOSEPH H. B. EVANS 101 S. Street N. W.—Washington, D. C.

TREASURER PERCIVAL R. PIPER 18032 Wexford Avenue—Detroit, Mich. EDITOR OF THE SPHINX LEWIS O. SWINGLER 390 Vz Beale Street—Memphis, Tenn. DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION RAYFORD W. LOGAN Atlanta University—Atlanta, Ga. GENERAL COUNSEL THEODORE W. BERRY 415 W. Fifth Street—Cincinnati, Ohio EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Dr. B. ANDREW ROSE 402 S. Bank Street—Dayton, Ohio LOWELL H. BENNETT Fisk University, Nashville DR. WILLIAM S. RANDOLPH 575 Bayview Avenue Inwood, Long sland, New York c/o Dr. Fred Randolph

JEWELS Dr. Henry A. Callis, Howard Univeraity, Washington, D . C George B. Kelley. 1 113th, Tray, N. Y. Nathaniel A. Murray, 150 You St., N. W., Washington, D. Robert H. Ogle, 1721 T St., N. W., Washington, D. C. Vertner W. Tandy, 221 W. 139th St., New York Gty

CHAPTER I. ALPHA—Ithaca, N. Y - Acetve thru membership of Jewels. ;See., James A. Fairfax, 1917 2. BHTA—Washington, D. C.—Pre*, Third St. N. W. 3. GAMMA—Richmond, V«.—Pre.., David A. Graves. 622 Judah Street; Sac., W. Russell Chavious, Virginia Union University. 4. DELTA—Montreal, Canada—INACTIVE. V BPSILON—Ann Arbor. Michigan—Sec, Joseph Jenkins, 1103 E. Huron Avenue.

ROSTER 20. PHI—Athens, Ohio Pres., John W. Gaaaway; Sec, Walter B. Allen. 155 W. Washington Street. 21. CHI—Nashville. Tennessee—Pres., Gregory A. Calvin; Sec, J. W. Elliott. 1017 Sixteenth Ave. N. R.; Sec, Frank W, Claytor, 2410 Jefferson Street. 22. 23.

; Sec, Dr. R. S. Fleming, ZBTA—New Haven, Conn 216 Dwight Street. ETA—New York Gty—Pres.. John Morsell, 180 W. 13 5dt Street; Sec, Cecil Forster, 334 Green Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.

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THETA—Chicago, III.—Pres., Rev. Archibald J. Carey, 57 E. 46th Street; Sec., Nelson E. Woodley, 4626 Michigan Blvd.

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9. IOTA—Syracuae, N. Y — INACTIVE. 10. KAPPA—Columbus, Ohio—Pres., James A. Tibbs, 236 E. Eleventh Avenue; Sec, Tucker A. Wallace, 841 Atcheson Street. 11. MU—Minneapolis, Minn.—President, John R. Lawrence, Jr., 556 St. Anthony Ave.; St. Paul, Minnesota; Secretary, John M. Patton, 1559 Roblyn Ave., St. Paul, Minn. 12. NU—Lincoln University. Pa.—Pres., Wilfred B. Lloyd; R. Sec, Douglas Bush; C. Sec, H. Franklin Brown. U . XI—Wilberforce, Ohio—Pres., A. Joseph Allen; S»c, Samuel Morris; C. Sec, John Phillips; F. Sec, William W. Brown, P. O. Box 182. 14. OMICRON—Pittsburgh, Pa.—Pres., James O. Dougan, 2400 Webster St.; Felix K. Gobble, 228 Alpine Street; F. Sec, Henry McCullough, 31 Wandlass Street. 15. PI—Cleveland, Ohio—Pres., Emmason D. Fuller, 2223 E. 100th Street; Sec, Clarence L. Sharpe, 4609 Central Ave. 16. RHO—Philadelphia, Pa.—Pres., Dr. W. F. Jerreck, 1843 Christian Street F; Sec. C. G. Garrick, 529 S. Nineteenth Street. 17. SIGMA—Boston, Massachusetts—Pres., Dr. Irving F. Gray, 610 Columbus Avenue; 'Sec, Frederick J. Franklin, 22 Worthington Street. 18. TAU—Champaign, Illinois—Pres., C. D . Aahmore; Sec, John E. Sullivan, Jr.; C Sac, M. Archibald Dumas, 615 South Wright Street. A. UPSILON—Lawrence, Kansas—President, Ezra Greer; C. Secretary, Edward J. Bruce; R. Secretary, Francis Herndon, 1101 Mississippi St., Kansas University.

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PSI—Philadelphia, Pa.—President, David A. Asbury, 1710 Christian St.; secretary, Ernest Smith, 203 N. 53rd. Street. ALPHA ALPHA—Cincinnati, Ohio—Pres., Dr. B. F. Cann, 5223 Ward Street; Sec, John Delaney, 30 W. 15th St., Covington, Ky.; F. Sec, W. C. Weatherly, 239 Goodman Street. ALPHA BETA—Talladega, Alabama—Pres., Roy J. Gilmer; Sec, John Seldon, Talladega, Alabama. ALPHA GAMMA—Providence, R. Island—INACTIVE; Address, Joseph G. LeCount, 42 Westminister Street. ALPHA DELTA—Los Angeles, Calif.—Pres., Bert McDonald, 319 B. 49th Street; Sec, Rufus S. Norman, 708 E. 48di Street.

.'7. ALPHA

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EPSILON—Berkeley, California—Pres., John Ware, 1936 Market St., Oakland. Calif: Sec, Eldridge C. Ross, 18967 Stanton Ave., Hayword, Calif.; C. Sec, George A. Towns, Jr., 2900 Harper Street. ALPHA ZETA—Institute, Va.—President, H. Thompson; Secretary, William Robinson, W. Va., State College. ALPHA ETA—Cambridge, Mass.—INACTIVB. ALPHA THETA—Iowa City, Iowa—Pres. Bernard Coss; Sec, Lamar Smith, 815 S. Dubuque Street. ALPHA IOTA—Denver, Colorado—Pre.., David N. Howell, 1221 G»ylord Street; Sec. , ALPHA KAPPA—Springfield, Mass.—Pre... ; Sec, Erne* A. Dawson, 211 W. 146th St. Apt. 100, New York City.

33. ALPHA MU—Evanston, Illinois—Pres., William C. Pyant, 2021 Brown Avenue; Sec, Colbert B. Davis, 1014 Emerson Street. 34. ALPHA NU—Ames, Iowa—Pres., S. M. Riley, Jr.; Sec, Charles P. Howard, 515 Mulberry Street, Des Moines, Iowa. 35. ALPHA XI—Milwaukee, Wisconsin—INACTIVE. 36. ALPHA OMICRON—Charlotte, N. Carolina—Pres., Hubert A. Eaton; C. Sec, Claude E. Sloan; F. Sec, Henry C Dugae, Jr., Johnson C Smith University. 37. ALPHA PI—Louisville, Ky.—Pres., Perry A. Lively, Jr., 34J1 H * b Avenue; Sec, Joseph I. Hackett, 4633 Park Blvd. 38. ALPHA RHO—Atlanta, Georgia—Pres., Dillard H. Brown; Sec, Anthony T. Quarles; C. Sec, Morehouse College.

THE SPHINX

Official Organ of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc PUBLISHED FEBRUARY, MAY, OCTOBER, and DECEMBER OCTOBER. 1936

VOLUME 22

NUMBER 3

THE STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LEWIS O. SWINGLER 390 V2 Beale Avenue Memphis, Tennessee ASSISTANT EDITOR HUGH M. GLOSTER LeMoyne College Memphis, Tennessee WHO'S WHO EDITOR GEORGE B. KELLEY Troy, New York HISTORY EDITOR CLYDE L. COLE Carver Junior High School Tulsa, Oklahoma

CONTENTS Cover Page-

..Bro. James D. Park Page

Fraternity Prayer

Editorially Speaking

Highlights Pan-Pacific Meet.

"Craftsmen of Black Wings"

Bro. Murray's Founders' Address -

Bro. Eugene Kinckle Jones.—

Beta Lambda Scores Once More-

Regional Directors Reports

. 7- 8

Bro. Long's Convention Report.

Sphinx Editor's Report

Director of Education Report.

General Secretary's Report

Bro. Wm. H. Bell At Alcorn

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS MILTON S. J. WRIGHT Wilberforce, Ohio

The Sphinx Staff

J4-16

WILLIAM H. GRAY Southern University Scotlandville, La.

Feature Section

Convention Picture

.24-25

"What Will the Harvest B e ? " -

FRAT FUN EDITOR DR. O. WILSON WINTERS Norristown, Pa. ART EDITORS JAMES D. PARKS Lincoln University Jefferson City, Mo. FERDINAND ROUSSEVE Art Department Xavier University New Orleans, La.

JOSEPH E. COTTON Memphis, Tennessee

Hosts, Hostesses At Convention

Centennial Regional Meet—

.17-18

Govt. Not In Itself Something.-..; VICTOR L. GRAY Baltimore, Md. GRANT W. HAWKINS Indianapolis, Ind. CIRCULATION E. OSCAR WOOLFOLK, Jr. Memphis, Tennessee ADVERTISING JOHN L. BRINKLEY, Jr. Memphis, Tennessee

Significant Alpha News

Advertising

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Voice of The Sphinx..

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Entered as second class matter at the Post Office in Memphis, Tenn., as issued four times a year in February, May, October, and December, under the Act of March 3, 1879, and accepted for mailing at the second class rates of postage.

Subscription Price—One Dollar and Fifty Cents Per Year

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THE S P H I N X

FRATERNITY PRAYER ( 0 Lord) "May the true spirit of Fraternity rule our hearts, guide our thoughts, and control our lives, so that ive may become through Thee, servants of all." {Amen.)

October, 1936

THE

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EDITOMALL Y SPEAKING SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR RECLAIMING BROTHERS By James B. Browning If Alpha Phi Alpha is to reclaim its lost brothers, it may be done by the establishment of a bureaucracy of national officials who will mail periodically to local chapters, baskets full of material on "How Local Chapters should be run" and on how thousands of delinquent brothers may be induced to remember the solemn oaths they took when they first crossed those burning sands and got their maiden glimpse of the light of our fraternity. Frankly, that may be the way, but it seems clear that all who remember the days of Ex-President Cannon recall all too well how often his laborously written releases found their way in the bottom of the waste paper basket rather than in the minds of the brothers. If our heirarachy is not sufficiently paid, General Officers should not undertake the entire task of reclaiming brothers by the thousands. How in the "Sam Hill" can anything be done to restore "the sick man" of the Greek letter world to sound health? Perhaps the most significant group of the reclaimation of brothers will be slowly increasing in number of regional Vice-Presidents. They should know the trends of their sections and within their grasp is the opportunity for mobilizing the forces of once glorious chapters which have since lapsed into a state of decadence- Our present group of Vice-Presidents will find inspiration in abundance in the records of '"Perpetual" Vice-President Greene, and "Dynamic" Vice-President Daniel, recently made president of Shaw University. One can find sheer delight and profound respect for his sacrifice in making repeated trips from Richmond, by bus, train, and borrowed means of transportation. One can not fail to marvel at his pains taking care in writing letters backed with personal contacts. Some men naturally did not become active in local chapter affairs, but really hundreds did renew the financial bond with the General Organization. All of this takes time but candidates who show such a keen interest in being elected undoubtedly must realize the terrific responsibility of the office and if they do not, they would do well to aim a t the heights reached by the man known widely a few years ago as "Dynamic Daniel." However, there remains much for the local chapters to do in cases where no such enthusiastic Vice-Presidents exist or where able men find it absolutely impossible to cover their far-reaching areas because these unfinancial brothers are apt to come to meetings only in proportion to the extent that local chapters map out programs which will make of the fraternity meeting a place where stimulating opportunities exist for social, political and economic betterment and only in proportion that the fraternity house becomes, not simply a place where men meet once in i moon, but a home where one can go every day for thought provoking discussions or health giving recreation. To this end the members should elect as officers, those individuals who are not only willing to assume the obligation of their office, but who are known to be able to dp their duties. All too often chapters have elected men who were already holding more positions than Premier Mussolini, but who have half his ability and gave less than half his working day to the obligations of their many duties. Moreover, it seems to be the obvious duty of any man elected to an office which he finds himself unable to adequately attend would promptly resign, but not so with many of our executives, time and again they fail to send out notices to meetings but without the remotest idea of what either could or should be brought

before the group for discussion, and, sometimes worse than all, they do not even come themselves. Upon the shoulders of the officers of the local chapters rest the huge task of providing the members with a well formulated and yet flexible program for no> less than one year and in the case of graduate chapters should extend over a longer period of time. This program should have a few lectures for the more serious members, and bridge tournaments, hand ball, and table tennis for the members who wish social relaxation. And it seems that no meeting should close without relatively inexpensive but tasty repass which would afford an opportunity for more brotherly contact. Such a program should be planned months in advance so that it will no longer be necessary for the secretary to call up Professor or Doctor ("Dry as can be") and bore the members to death with a lecture which if interesting has already been heard by the vast majority of the members and which may be directly from the covers of the professor's dusty lecture notes or too highly specialized to command attention and is applauded only as a matter of politeness. So also with such things as membership, campaigns, bridge tournaments and other social activities, slip-shod and hap-hazard methods should be discarded for a more scientific approach of the problem. Once planned, the program should be carried out energetically. The meetings should be made known to all members and the officers should be present and open the meeting promptly, so that these brothers who wish to come early and retire may have the benefits of the more constructive half of the program and then, others who are more interested in social activities, may come later for that phase of the fraternities program. Once in the temple of the fraternity, all may realize that economic differences exist but no one should make a brother uncomfortable because of his lack of money. Moreover, systematic efforts should be made t a get these financially embarrassed brothers to come to meetings and then, when they are there, they should be made to feel that the spirit of fraternity still binds all members regardless of economic reverses. In short, it seems clear that given a dynamic leadership, a well rounded plan of action, a relatively small number of brothers interested in making of Alpha Phi Alpha a potent factor in local and national life can do worlds of good in the reclaimation campaign. Unfinancial brothers will read and hear of " " chapters' well planned efforts to get out the "Negro Vote" or of "Doe" chapters' success in sending two worthy men to "Appleton University," or the timely and interesting lecture given by Mister "X. Y. Z," or of an increased chapter membership which has resulted in the reduction of chapter dues. Some chapters have been doing consistently for years, the things which have been mentioned, but many others have been blindly plodding along. Let us hope that this year will be one of planning and progress.

CHRISTMAS NUMBER Deadline Notice Ail copy for the Christmas Number of The Sphinx must be sent to reach The Sphinx Office no later than November 25, 1936. LEWIS O. SWINGLER, Sphinx Editor. 390Ms Beale Street, Memphis, Tennessee.

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THE S P H I N X

October, 1936

High Lights OfPan-Pacific Convention Los Angeles* California* August 13-19 FRIDAY, AUGUST 14— A Round-Up Smoker was held at the Masonic Hall with Brother Arthur Prince serving as Master of Ceremonies. Following the introduction of visiting delegates Brothers, Brother Charles W. Greene, of Atlanta, Ga., conducted an initiation ceremony. Four neophytes were inducted into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity as members of Alpha Delta, host chapter. Brother Dr. Eugene Kinckle Jones, advisor on Negro Affairs, Department of Commerce, and executive secretary of the National Urban League, made his appearance at the close of the ceremony. He spoke touchingly of the origin of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and mentioned his activities in connection with the establishment of Beta Chapter at "Howard University; Gamma a t Richmond, Va., Virginia Union; and Delta at Montreal, Canada." Brother Jones was the first initiate of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. SATURDAY, AUGUST 15— Brother Dr. Charles H. Wesley, of Washington, D. C , arrived in time to preside a t the first session of the Convention. All closed sessions were held a t the Masonic Hall. Welcome addresses and reponses were in order a t the opening meeting. Saturday evening the palatial home of Brother and Mrs. Burt McDonald was the scene of a Buffet Supper. Kappa Alpha Psi Sport Dance followed later in the evening at the Elks Hall. SUNDAY, AUGUST 16— Convention services were held a t Bethel A. M. E. Church, Bro. J. B. St. Felix Isaacs, pastor; the guest speaker was Brother Rev. Charles H. Wesley, General President; and Hamilton M. E. Church, Brother S. M. Beane, pastor, with Brother A. Wayman Ward, Chicago, guest speaker. At 3:00 p. m. the Memorial Service and Public Session were held at Bovard Auditorium, University of Southern California. Brother Dr. Rayford Logan, Atlanta, Ga., Director of Education, eugolized the life of the late Brother John Hope, President of Atlanta University, who gave his last public address a t the Silver Convention, Nashville, Tenn. Brother J. B. St. Felix Isaacs paid tribute to the late Brother James McGregor, of Los Angeles, Calif., who was fatally injured in an automobile accident. After a series of welcome addresses by representatives of Kappa Alpha Psi, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, Alpha wives, religious and professional organizations, and the City of Los Angeles, Brother Dr. Walter F. Jerrick, of Philadelphia, 'Pa., gave the address of response. The public address was delivered by Brother Eugene Kinckle Jones, of Washington. A reception at the 28th St. Y. M. C. A. followed. MONDAY, AUGUST 17— A Masquerade Dance at the Masonic Hall was given by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity At 8:30 a. m. the wives and visiting ladies were taken on a sight-seeing tour of the city. Delegates and visiting Brothers gathered at the Masonc Hall for the second session of the convention. The meeting was called to order by Brother Burt McDonald, Western Vice-President, and President of Alpha Delta Chapter. The general officers and delegates were

introduced. The major feature of this session was the Annual Founders Address by Jewel N. A. Murray, and reports of Brother Charles H. Greene, and his three Regional Directors; (Brother Ferguson was the only Regional Director present) Reports of Brothers Sidney A. Jones, of Chicago, {III., Mid-western Vice-President; Perciv&l Piper, of Detroit, Michigan, General Treasurer; were read to the Convention. They could not be present. The report of the General Secretary, Brother Joseph H. B. Evans, was also read by President Wesley. Brother Evans was present but had suffered illness in crossing the desert to the west coast. He was too indisposed to read his report. Other reports were made by Brother Farrow Allen, of New York, Easten Vice-President; and Brother Bert McDonald, Western Vice-President. In the early afternoon the Convention picture was made in front of the Masonic Hall. From the Convention Hall, delegates motored to Sunset Beach for a Beach Party, going by way of Culver City where a number of motion picture studios are situated. Monday night, Alphas were guess at a Formal at the La. Monica Ballroom, Santa Monica Beach. TUESDAY, AUGUST 18— Business session was called to order by the General President at 10:00 a. m. Lewis O. Swingler, Editor of the Sphinx, made his report, followed by an Educational Foundation address by Brother Rayford Logan, Director of Education. Brother Howard Long, of Washington, D. C , Chaiman of the Committee on Public Policy, gave his report; followed by an open discussion. At 6:00 p. m. the Fraternity Banquet was held at the Police Target Range, Elysian Park. Brother J. McFarlane Ervin served as Toastmaster. Brief addresses were given by Brothers Beame, I. C. Steady, of West Africa, who was appointed as a special representative of Alpha Phi Alpha in Africa and other foreign countries; L. H. Bennett, of Nashville, member of the Executive Council; and Bindley Cyrus, of Chicago. To the Fraternity, Brother Isaacs presented the balance that Alpha Delta Chapter had left in its treasury after defraying all expenses for the convention. This great sum amounted to $1.00. It was given to the Fraternity in the form of a check. The President asked the Sphinx Editor to publish the likeness of the check in the next edition of the Sphinx, but Brother Evans reminded the editor that the check is to be sent to his office immediately following the publication of the October edition, and added:— "Ten years from now, some Brother will ask about that check." Brother Jerrick was the life of the Banquet. He was up to par when it came to wit and humor. He recounted his twenty years as President of Rho Chapter. The social phase of the convention was closed with the Alpha Phi Alpha Formal at the Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, California. A COMMITTEE WAS APPOINTED TO STUDY THE STATUS OF THE UNDERGRADUATE. Facts gathered by this committee will be given to the Executive Council before the regular Convention meets in New Orleans. IT WAS SUGGESTED BY THE PRESIDENT THAT —at least one undergraduate Brother be definitely placed on the Executive Council.

October, 1936

THE

"CRAFTSMEN OF BLACK WINGS" AVIATION DEVELOPMENT BY ALPHA PHI ALPHA BROTHERS "One of the most outstanding developments in Negro progress today is the aviation program of the "CRAFTSMEN OF BLACK WINGS" largest Negro flying organization in America, whose headquarters are in Los Angeles and New York. The program being carried on by this group is one in which every American should take a great interest for the following reasons: 1. Their prime object is to make jobs for hundreds of thousands of Negroes. 2. Success of their program will decrease race predjudice by increasing the economic power of the Negro. 3. Success of their program will stimulate the industrial life of the Negro. Thero is no question that unemployment, and segregation which is brought on by race prejudice, are the two greatest problems confronting the Negro in America. The Plans of the "CRAFTSMEN OF BLACK WINGS" to solve these two disastrous problems are herewith presented to the public with interesting pictures showing the group. In 1934 Lieut. William J. Powell, an Alpha Phi Alpha during the past thirty years three major industries had grown from nothing to gigantic industries—the automobile, radio, and moving picture industries, producing thousands of millionaires, and hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs—but no Negro got in on the ground floor of these industries, hence, consequently, Negroes had to accept the menial low-paying jobs such as porters, car washers, greasers, etc. Completing aeronautical engineering and receiving his commercial flying license made Powell realize that another great industry, aviation, is now in its infancy—which industry is destined to become the most gigantic of all industries because one of the most important phases in the progress of humanity is fast transportation and the security of any nation or group now depends upon its air industry. Realizing these facts and seeing the possibilities in aviation, Powell conceived the idea of One Million Jobs for Negroes in Aviation. By dogged persistence and much resourcefulness, he has kept the idea alive. When the Emergency Adult Program was started, he applied for and was granted the assignment to set up and teach an aviation class, although the general opinion was that it would" ot be a success as Negroes were not interested in aviation. On the contrary, however, in 1934, at the Jefferson Adult Evening School (Los Angeles) 45 students, 4 Whites, 1 Mexican, and forty Negroes enrolled for aviation training under Lieut. Powell, who carefully outlined courses to prepare these students for airplane and engine mechanics licenses and pilot licenses. So great was the interest in the "ground work" that many of them soon qualified for flight training. But they had no airplane and flight instruction was quite costly. But Powell came to the rescue—he gave the studets a plan that all might take advantage of. He agreed to give each student Free Flight Training, if they would organize an Aero Club and purchase an airplane. The Craftsmen of Black Wngs" Aero Club was soon formed. Nearly enough money to purchase a plane was raised—-only $300.00 was lacking to close the deal, but every effort to borrow $300.00 from the banks and loan companies was turned aside, when they learned the money was for the purchase of an airplane for "Black Wings". But another Alpha Pih Alpha Brother came to the rescue —Dr. N. Curtis King, prominent physician of Los Angeles, realizing the future opportunities in aviation for Negroes, did not hesitate to make the loan; so the "Craftsmen's first plane was christened "Progress" by the Philmoathean Club and the N. A. A. C. P. of Santa Monica.

SPHINX

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Flight training of the Craftsmen started immediately, the students having to pay only for the fuel they used while flying. Progress of the students was great . . thirtytwo have received U. S. flying licenses. The foregoing story of the history of the "Craftsmen of Black Wings" was taken from the souvenir program published by Alpha Delta Chapter, Los Angeles, for the Pan-Pacific Convention. Following the close of the Alpha Phi Alpha Convention in Los Angeles, Lieut. Powell, and members of the "Craftsmen of Black Wings" launched a Scholarship campaign with the hopes and confidence that Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity will give it its greatest support. In a letter addressed to Lewis O. Swingler, Editor of the Sphinx, Brother Powell stated— "Thero are several reasons why the Fraternity should get behind this movement 100 per cent. It is a part of the Alpha program (that is educational) it will serve to increase the economic position of the race and many other reasons. Then too, three Alpha Brothers are on the National Board of Directors—Dr. King, Brother Irvine, and myself." "I am requesting that each graduate chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity should sponsor one or more aviation students, scholarship from its city, not by any contributions (finance) themselves, but by each Brother of the chapter enlisting or signing up five or more "Booster Members" of our organization—these Booster memberships are only $1.00 per year—and every Negro in America should become a Booster of this movement. Any chapter that will get 250 Booster members in its city will be given r. student scholarship. This is very easy—there is no extra work and no outlay of money to the chapter. What do you think of it. We have our chance to get into aviation industry now. Don't you think every Alpha Phi Alpha man in America should spend one dollar toward such a movement?" During their visit in Los Angeles, Calif. Lieut. Powell, and several other members of the "Craftsmen of Black Wings" carried Brothers Bindley Cyrus, of Chicago, 111., and Lewis O. Swingler of Memphis, along with a group of other out of town visitors on an inspection tour through the aviation shops. There was revealed the various processes by which airplanes are built from the ground floor —with Negro labor. Brothers Cyrus and Swingler as a climax to their inspection tour, were given an airplane trip over the city of Los Angeles, Calif, with Brother Lieut. Powell as the pilot. For thirty miuntes this pilot of color demonstrated his mastery of the plane, having carried his two passengers to an altitude of 4,000 feet flying about five miles over the Pacific Ocean back over the famous Hollywood Bowl, and other points of interest. Back to earth Brothers Swingler and Cyrus with enthusiasm promised to give their full support in the promotion of the "Craftsmen of Black Wings" for what it will mean to Alpha Phi Alpha and the race at large.

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SPHINX

October, 1936

Bra. JV. A. MurrayRecalls Experiences Of The Jewels in Founders9 Address

BRO. N. A. MURRAY Three decades ago there was gathered in the city of Ithaca, N. Y., fifteen young Negroes, bent on getting a College Education to prepaie them to live in this world, and at the same time gain knowledge sufficient to aid them in carving for themselves, individually or collectively 8 niche in the Hali of Achievement among Negroes in the U. S. These fifteen men were distributed in the various colleges of the University, and never met except as they passed each other in going to and from their classes on the University Campus. We wanted to know each other better and learn something of the objectives of the various colleges in the University, so that we might have an intelligent idea of what constitutes a modern University and some of its activities. Accordingly a social club was started with a single idea, namely, the social enjoyment among themselves with a few outsiders plus the Negro boys and girls matriculated into the University. To give you some idea of the diversity of College distribution the fifteen students were entered as follows: three in the College of Agriculture, one in the College of Architecture, one in the College of Medicine, six in the College of Arts and Science, two in the College of Mechanical Engineering, one in Veterinary Medicine, and one in the College of Law. These meetings occurred every Friday night at the homes of town folk of Ithaca, who endeavored to make us feel at home. Prominent among the entertaining homes were those of Messrs. Cannon and Newton, custodian of fraternity houses on the hill as the University was popularly called. For a while these meetings prospered and were enjoyed immensely by all participants. Many of the members of this social club worked as waiters at the fraternity houses for their board and extra money they were able to pick up at fraternity dances, where we again assisted. Seeing others getting along so splendidly and desirous of having a similar organization among Negroes, operated and enjoyed just like the white students for whom we worked, a feeling was soon evident in which some of the

fifteen felt that we had a nucleus to start and perfect a similar organization. Little did we dream at that time of the tremendous unit of effort, time and money necessary to put such a thing over. All of us were full of that youthful enthusiasm so characteristic of one entering College. Meetings were held in order to find out the attitude of other members of the club and sound out their views on doing away with the social club and organize a Negro College fraternity. As was to be expected, some opposed and some favored the new proposition. After drifting along for several weeks with no definite decision forthcoming, your present speaker offered the motion that he believed the time ripe to disband the social club and organize a Negro College fraternity. His motion was properly seconded and with five others namely, Callis, Kelley, Morton, Tandy and Chapman there was organized that nig'ht in Room 356, Cascadilla Building the beginning of what we now recognize the world over as tho Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. We did not name it a t that time because we did not know what to name it. Various committees were drafted especially among those members of the group of seven, who had a knowledge of Greek namely, Callis and Tandy. Enthusiasm ran high and encouragement was given as well as discouragement. Yet despite the pro and con propositions our ardor was not dampened one bit, even though wo lacked the funds sufficient to start the ball rolling. Prominent among those who aided our early start were Messrs. Cannon and Newton previously mentioned, Napoleon Jackson, proprietor of a local political club, and Archie Singleton, butler for one cf the richest men in Ithaca. Professor R. C. Poindexter, who headed the Social Club was vigorously opposed to the change from social club, and did all he could to oppose us, and discourage the fraternity idea. How well he succeeded is evident from what you and I are enjoying today. You, my fellow brothers and workers, realize what a grand and glorious feeling possessed you when you attended your first initiatory banquet and heard of the wonderful work with which you were identified, also how in spite of the numerous aches and pains your bodies suffered in tho ordeal of initiation, you would not want to withdraw especially when you realized that you were now associated with a fraternity that stands for all that is noble, uplifting and moral. Founded on a platform of service, loyalty and reverence to God and our fellow brothers, we have learned that the greatness of any group of men lies not in the fine buildings they erect, or the numerous air castles planned but never erected, but rather in service to God and your fellow brothers, whether it be in the fraternity house, on the street, on the school campus, at a public gathering, or in your own home. The present administrative officers as well as those of former years have labored unceasingly to put over for Alpha Phi Alpha, the ideals that your seven jewels basically would sanction, were all seven alive today. Again, Brothers, it was their idea of service to others that started the Go to High School, Go to College Movement. These programs, local in their scope at first, have gradually extended their spheres of influence until finally the Go to High School, Go to College program has blossomed into what is now known as the National Education Week. It was so used by former U. S. President Warren G. Harding, who proclaimed National Education Week for the Continental U. S. It is carried out by the Bureau of Education. (Please turn to page 20)

October, 1936

THE

REGIONAL DIRECTORS' REPORTS OF SOUTHERN JURISDICTION Southern Jurisdiction, Tenn., and Ky. As Regional Director in the Southern Jurisdiction, I wish to make the following report for the chapters in Alpha Phi Alpha located in the States of Tennessee and Kentucky.

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BRO. EUGENE KINCKLE JONES IS IMPRESSIVE IN RACE RELATION ADDRESS AT COAST CONVENTION

I have made personal visits to some of the chapters and have sent communications to all chapters in regard to our reclamation program. In these communications we have attempted to secure a list of all unfinancial Brothers residing at the seat of the chapter, or in the vicinity of the chapter, who have not affiliated with the chapter nearest their residence. It is our hope that through this method, we may be able to reclaim a large number of now unfinancial Brothers. We have received information from many chapters in regard to their chapter activities and are therefore reporting that a large per cent of the chapters in our region participate in our "Go to High School, Go to College Campaign" or in our training for citizenship program. Also steps were taken to inaugurate our annual Founders Day Program. Since our last Convention, one new chapter has been established at Lane College, Jackson, Tenn. And has re ported remarkable success. We also are happy to report that the chapters located at Fisk University, Meharry Medical College have distinguished themselves by maintaining a very high scholastic record. From Alpha Chi at Fisk University, Brother Edwards and Brother Daniels were voted membership into the Honorary Society. Also Alpha Chi won the championship in the inter-fraternal basketball league. From Chi Chapter at Meharry Medical College, Brothers Galvin, and Clayton were the only two students of the entire student body to be selected for membership in the Kappa Pi Honorary Medical Society. In the Dental School, Brothers Hayne and Stowe distinguished themselves by maintaining the highest averages and one was sent to Forsythe for a year of special training and the other was sent to Gugehiem for one year. From Beta O'micron, Tenn. State College, Brothers Howell and Jefferson distinguished themselves by being voted memlbership into Honorary Society for having maintained the highest scholarship in the institution. Our reports from the various chapters in our jurisdiction show that social progams of a very high standing have been carried out by the majority of the chapters. Chi Chapter at Meharry Medical College has successfully operated a fraternity house, which housed 25 men and operated a dining room for the convenience of the Brothers. The chapters of Tennessee are 100 per cent back ol Brother Charles Houston in prosecuting the Redmon case against the University of Tennessee, in the attempt to have the State of Tenn., do justice to Negroes who are interested in professional training. In this new work as Regional Director, we have attempt ed to follow the instructions given in the commission handed down by our General President, and it is our aim to co-operate in every way possible with Brother Greene, our first Vice-President and the various chapters in our jurisdiction to render the best possible service to Alpha Phi Alpha. Fraternally yours, M. G. FERGUSON Los Angeles, Calif., August 17, 1936

DR. EUGENE KINCKLE JONES Los Angeles, California, August 16â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Dr. Eugene Kinkle Jones, Advisor on Negro Affairs for the U. S. Department of Commerce, chose "Alpha Phi Alpha's Opportunity in the Negro's Struggle for Status" as the subject of his Memorial Service Address for the Pan-Pacific Convention of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in this city. This address, which was delivered before an audience of 500 citizens in the Bovard Auditorium on the campus of the University of Southern California, was considered by one Los Angeles newspaperman as "the most definite course for the Negro to pursue in his economic, business, social, and civic life that has been heard from a local public platform in many years." Dr. Jones opened his address by asserting that "Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest of Negro Fraternities, with all of its members presumably far above the average American and having a good practical understanding of the salient factors involved in the Negro's problem, and with a membership upwards of eight thousand men, should be able to take into their hands the leadership in the Negro's struggle for status." The speaker stated that equalities of opportunities for the Negro, both as an individual and as a group, was the ideal to be sought for the race. He further asserted that the Fraternity's pure and idealistic objectives should characterize every policy and program of the group. (Please turn to page 25)

Page 8

THE

REPORT OF REGIONAL DIRECTOR SOUTHERN JURISDICTION Chapters Beta Delta Orangeburg, S. C. Beta Epsilon •• Greensboro, N. C. Kappa Lambda Phi Lambda Raleigh, N. C. (Beta Rho) Alpha Pi Lambda Winston Salem, N. C. Alpha Psi Lambda Columbia, S. C. Alpha Omicron • • . . . .Charlotte, N. C. The above named Chapters have all been CIRCULARIZED. VISITS made to Omicron Chapter (resulting in its becoming active,) and to Kappa Lambda and Alpha Pi Lambda Chapters. Participation in I N I T I A T I O N of Alpha Omicron Chapter. CONTACTS made with Phi Lambda Chapter and group in Raleigh, N. C. (regarding the setting up of Beta Rho Chapter in Raleigh)—also with Alpha Psi Lambda and Beta Epsilon Chapters. UNFINANCIAL BROTHERS in High Point, Lexington and vicinity PERSONALLY CONTACTED. ALL CHAPTERS show progress and are making plans lor a bigger year with the opening of school.—Difficulties delaying the setting up of Beta Rho Chapter are being gradually smoothed out, and we will be able to set it up in the fall, most likely.—ALL CHAPTERS in this Jurisdiction are planning, in the fall, a special drive in their communities from the RECLAIMATION of UNFINANCIAL BROTHERS. Sincerely and Fraternally Submitted, JAMES O. ELLIS Regional Director Southern Jurisdiction Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR REPORT OF ACTIVITIES On March 10, 1936, we received from the General President our appointment as Regional Director of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. We gladly accepted this responsibility, believing that it might well be our privilege to serve the Fraternity. Brother Charles W. Greene, Vice-President (Southern Jurisdiction) indicated to us by letter that our area would include the following chapters: Alpha Beta • Talladega, Alabama Omicron Lambda Birmingham, Alabama Alpha Epsilon Lambda.. Jackson, Mississippi Alpha Nu Lambda Tuskegee Institute, Alabama Alpha Upsilon Lambda Montgomery, Alabama Beta Nu •• Tallahassee, Florida Beta Upsilon Montgomery, Alabama We at once circularized the above mentioned chapters with letters, advising them of our appointment and indicating to them that our programme was to be centered around the following objectives: 1. To revive inactive chapters. 2. To assist chapters in reclaiming the unfinancial and inactive chapters of the Fraternity. 3. To promote in full the programme of the Fraternity. On April 21, 193G, we set aside Beta Upsilon Chapter at State Teachers College, Montgomery, Alabama. Tho following analysis represents the response of the chapters to our appeal: 1. Alpha Beta—The presentation of a chapter difficulty which will be given due consideration by this office at the opening of school. 2. Omicron Lambda—No response. 3. Alpha Epsilon Lambda—No response.

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October, 1936

4. Alpha Nu Lambda—The Regional Director is President of this chapter and reports satisfying progress in chapter activities. 5. Alpha Upsilon Lambda—A wideawake Chapter and to be particularly cited upon the aid given the Regional Director in the setting up of Beta Upsilon. G. Beta Nu—No response. 7. Beta Upsilon—A new and' progressive chapter. At the close of the school year we again contacted by letter all chapters in the area indicating to them the nearness of the summer convention and the need for the planning of objectives for the coming year. We have operated without a budget, although Brother Greene advised us to include a memorandum for expenses. These expenses are as follows: ..: Postage • • $0.98 Transportation— $3.10 (in connection with Ul'e chapter in Montgomery) total , .$4.08 We are more than sure that the office has justified its existence and assure the General Organization that we shall continue to operate with sincerety and industry. Fraternally, W. HENRY PAYNE

"FANTASY IN BLACK AND GOLD" Beta Lambda Scores Once More Beta Lambda Chapter met the demand of the public for the second time in a span of four months. And again the triumph was in the realm of music which was presented as a "Fantasy in Black and Gold," in Kansas City's hew magnificent Municipal Auditorium. For two hours and ten minutes three thousand people of ,all races sat tense with enthusiasm and interest to watch the musical history of a race exemplified in music, drama and art. Tho resources, in these three fields, of the entire,.section within a radius of one-hundred-fifty miles of Kansas City were exhausted. There was not one moment jJuring the program when some form of entertainment was not in progress. Much credit is due President Burt A. Mayberry for his dream of a project of such magnitude which reaches as far back in time as history records and as far in the future as to demonstrate what the music of the Negro will be tomorrow. All Alpha men with the co-operation of the Women's Auxiliary put forth all efforts possible in the execution of the dream from both production and monetary standpoints. An extensive contest in the sa|e of tickets was initiated with the Men's wives acting as sole contestants and each contestant receiving some form of prize varying in value in proportion to their ranking in the contest. The wives were feted on a special occasion, .for their effort in making the musical a success, at which time prizes were awarded which had corneas far away as Paris, France. The first three winners of the contest were as follows: Mrs. H. T. Jones, first; Mrs. A. C. Wilson, second; Mrs. T. A. Webster, third; Mrs. B. A. Mayberry, was one of the most enthusiastic ticket sellers having sold tickets amounting to more financially than any contestant but was not entered in the contest. Due to her untiring efforts, members of Beta Lambda presented Mrs. Mayberry with an identical prize to that received by the first place member. Much of the enthusiasm in this big project may be attributed to the primary purpose for which it was produced, the raising of a scholarship fund.

October, 1936

THE

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Page 9

Bra. MM. MJ. Lang MJvges Finer Belatian Between Graduates A MJndergraduates Mr. President: I rise for two purposes: First, I hold in my hand here a work of art. So far as I know this program prepared by tho Brothers here in Los Angeles, sets a high-water mark. The artistic value and the nature of its content move me to express this word of appreciation in which I am sure every visiting Brother joins me. Second, I wish to make two recommendationsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;one in general and the other more specific. Perhaps it is better to think of them as one recommendation ,the first of which concerns a general principle; and the second, the application of that principle. The first is unsatisfyingly general. It is intended to locus the attention of those whose cerebration resists late hours better than mine. The first recommendation is that steps be taken to secure more adequate co-operation between the graduate and the undergraduate members. The circumstances prompting this recommendation are fairly well known. We must bear in mind that the college student of today is not as mature as the college student of a generation ago. During our college days, in. most instances, we made a business of staying in school. That was necessary, for most of us worked our way and were solely responsible for our expenses. This required the planning and constant vigilance to take advantage of the breaks. We came to know the value both of time and of money. Ours was a hard but profitable way. By far the situation is different with college students of today. More often than not they receive assistance in much larger proportion than we did. Our way for the last half decade at least has not been practicable for them. The work simply has not been available, but scholarships have been substituted. These circumstances account for a certain immaturity of the present-day college student in meeting the sterner business and organization problems of life. Further, the world of recreation has been made over since our day. Distracting attractions have been multiplied. The staid mould of social life of a generation ago has been torn asunder by post-war freedom. In order for the current college student to keep up his prestige he must respond to scores of obligations which were non-existent in our time. His larger supply of funds thus suffers drain from sources not known to yesterdays. Finally, even if my estimate in regard to the fore-going differences is challenged on the ground that I am unacquainted with the facts, I have in mind still a difference which no one can gainsay. The college student of today is younger on the average than the college student of our time, and youth in general signifies immaturity. In spite of this age of the speedometer it requires considerable time to acquire practical experience. A sudden flood of experiences overwhelms the organism and each exercises an expulsive power upon the previous one. Other things being equal, therefore, those who have lived reasonably longer have more and richer experiences which may be mobilized for safety at critical turns in the path of prog ress. My second recommendation is that a special committee be appointed for the purpose of collecting, organizing and making available the chapter experiences in purchasing chapter homes. Contacting an obligation which will last ten or fifteen years is not a simple matter. More or less transient college students are not mature enough to create these obligations wisely for those who are to follow. We in Washington have had an experience that ought to be known to others. It is my understanding that the experience in Chicago to date is quite the opposite, and that ex-

BRO. H. L. LONG perience ought to be known to others. If these be regarded as extremes, every valuable experience between them should be made available. A proper study of the problem should seek to answer some questions like the following: What number of active members should there be in order to justify purchase of a house? How many co-operating graduate members ? What is the average practicable budget? What allowance for over-head,â&#x20AC;&#x201D;cost of furniture, taxes, probable improvements and up-keep? How much should be raised for the initial payment? What are the dangers of disorganization and consequent lassitude on the part of the members ? What safe-guards against probable depressions? How much shall be charged for room rent? How much space may be allocated for recreation? What business procedures should be initiated and adhered to? These are a few of the questions that ought to be asked and answered with some degree of satisfaction before a contract is entered upon for the purchase of a house. Mr. President, I hope that these remarks have served to give point to my recommendations. The first one, as you see, is vague and implies the need of considerable thought and research. The recommendation ought perhaps be widened into one for planned fraternalism, for we know enough now to realize that frateralism just doesn't exist. It must be cultivated and planned for. We have been giving money to organizations which presumably are planning for the future well-being of Negro Americans. It may be that we can afford to spend a little in scientifically working out plans for our future. We have within the organization, men who are capable and who may with small stipends make a thorough study of some of the eastern chapters, which unfortunately seem to be at a level of disorganization when compared with the more vigorous chapters of the South and West. It is a strange phenomenon that the birth region of the Fraternity should now be on the threshold of dotage. It is as if eventide fell upon morn and senility attacked youth. Can the regional matrix from which Alpha sprang, throw off its effete(Please turn to page 25)

Page 10

THE

Eastern

Vice-President

BRO. DR. FARROW ALLEN Brother Doctor Farrow Allen, of New York City, Eastern Vice-President, who since his induction into office at the Silver Convention at Nashville last December, 1935, has been carrying on an inspiring work in his Region. Revival of chapter interest in the east, reclamation of delinquent b r o t h e r s , and the perpetuation of Intra-Fraternal, and Inter-Fraternal relationship, as well as the setting up of new chapters are responsibilities that Brother Allen are meeting with the traditional Alpha Phi Alpha spirit.

BROTHER LEWIS O. SWINGLER GIVES ACCOUNT OF OFFICE AS EDITOR OF THE SPHINX Reports made by Brother Lewis O. Swingler, editor of the Sphinx, official organ of Alpha Phi Alpha, at the Pan-Pacific Convention in Los Angeles, Calif. Tuesday, August 18, 1936. President Wesley, and Brothers assembled in this, our Thirtieth Anniversary Convention, I beg to submit the following report regarding my stewardship as editor of the Sphinx. This report, of course, will be only a resume of the work done during the past eight months, but it will at least give an insight of a few of the methods that have been adopted to speed up publication and make the Sphinx a representative publication of our Fraternity. Since my induction into office at the Silver Convention, held at Nashville, Tenn., last December, I have received the finest co-operation from all general officers, chapter associate editors to the Sphinx and staff members. President Wesley, General Secretary Joseph H. B. Evans, and Brother Percival Piper, Treasurer, have spared no pains in helping me to get adjusted to the responsibility this Fraternity placed in my hand. The guiding hand of the Secretary during the past eight months was to a great extent responsible for the promptness with which the Sphinx Staff was able to work. Being a newspaper man by profession, I've learned the importance of meeting deadlines. Hence it was sufficient for me to know that the Sphinx was expected by the brothers four times a year, during the months of February, May, October and December. Two editions of the Sphinx, in accordance with the

SPHINX

October, 1936

official schedule, have been published since December, 1935. Because of the significance attached to the President's annual message emphasizing reclamation, the Silver Convention went on record as approving the distribution of the Convention Number to all brothers, whether financial or unfinancial. To the best of my ability, I attempted to comply with this will of the Fraternity. The General Secretary mailed to the Sphinx office a certified list of financial brothers for 1936. Former Editor, Arnett G. Lindsay, of St. Louis, Mo., promptly mailed the lists he used during his tenure of office. A number of chapters sent lists of names of their respective brothers. In many instances, there were duplications. However, by a process of careful checking, the Convent?on Number of the Sphinx was mailed to every Brother, financial and unfinancial whose names and addresses we had available. Moreover, seventy-five additional copies were sent to the General Secretary in order that brothers who had been overlooked may receive copies of this edition from the office of the Secretary. STAFF SELECTION In selecting members of the Sphinx Staff, I've attempted to consider brothers from the standpoint of their localities. Brothers who have always shown an interest in helping to make the Sphinx confirm to all that is excellent in journalism were kindly urged to retain their positions. Hence the names of Brothers O. Wilson Winters, Frat Fun Editor; James D. Parks, Art Editor; Jewel George Kelly, Who's Who Editor; and Milton S. J. Wright, Contributing Editor, were retained. In addition to selecting several Contributing Editors, a Business Manager, and C : rculation Manager were added to the staff. It is the duty of the Circulation Manager to make a careful check of the mailing list, prepare copies of the Sphinx for mailing, and deliver them to the Post Office. It is the duty of the Business Manager to offer advice regarding the business aspect of the publication, and assist in keeping records of the expenditures of funds. DEADLINE NOTICES Because the Sphinx is very significant in the chapter life of the many chapters that make up the Fraternity, serving as a medium of contact, I've been eager to keep in close touch with all chapters. Therefore, the plan of sending out a circular letter to all chapter Secretaries, or associate Editors several weeks before the Sphinx is ready for tho press, has been adopted. In this way we are able to secure a bulk of chapter news that would be omitted otherwise. Although we assume the privi'ege of editing this news, we do not feel that there is ever an occasion to deliberately omit chapter news from the Sphinx in the event it reaches our office in time for publication. EXHIBIT AT CENTENNIAL A request from the manager of the Negro Hall of Life and Culture at the Texas Centennial Exposition, Dallas, that the Sphinx be placed on exhibition was complied with. It was our desire to place all editions of the Sphinx on display, from the earliest issue to the current edition. Letters were sent to all former editors of the Sphinx, but they had no copies available. A number of early editions of the Sphinx, however were secured from Memphis Brothers, and these books, along with a number of current editions of the Sphinx, were sent to the Texas Centennial. Also a group picture of the General Officers, placed on a large placard, and carrying a printed article on the history of the Sphinx (taken from the Fraternity History) was sent for display in the Negro Hall of Life. We have attempted to be very economical in the operation of the Sphinx office, and have remained within our budget. We expect to pursue this course during our entire tenure of office. Again I wish to thank all brothers for their splendid co-operation, and make my pledge anew that I shall continue to serve Alpha Phi Alpha to the best of my ability.

October, 1936

THE

SECRETARY EVANS AIDS MANY BROTHERS TO SECURE JOBS To the Brothers Assembled At the Pan-Pacific Convention Of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity: I think that this Convention will always remain in my memory as one where the General Secretary was put on the shelf as far as talking was concerned. I am confident that I have had less to say than on any previous occasion such as this, but I have the satisfaction of knowing that in so doing I am contributing to the comfort and happiness of some of the Brothers who have heard me speak before. There has been a distinct revival of interest on the part of old chapters and requests for consideration of new chapters arc coming in. There can be no doubt that the work of the Regional Directors has had much to do with bringing the various chapter groups in closer touch with the General Organization and their reports will indicate to this body what this Regional touch has meant. The study undertaken by the Fraternity on the Negro and the New Deal was a most significant contribution to the literature on this subject, and the wide dissemination of this material did much to bring to the attention of Negro leaders the necessity and the means for making some positive approach to the problem. This study is being continued and a preliminary report of the results will be made at this meeting. Your General Secretary has co-operated in every possible way with investigators and others to see that every phase of the program was touched. One of theh best contributions which this office has been able to make to Alpha Phi Alpha has been in the securing of jobs on governmental projects for many of our men. I was on the Consulting Staff of the Survey of Negro Skilled and White Collar Workers and in the original planning had recommended many Alpha men for Supervisory positions in the various states where the survey was to be conducted. These same men were subsequently appointed with the result that more Alpha men had the better positions even though the administration of the entire project fell under a man of other fraternity affiliation. In the Resettlement Administration at Washington we have more than a score of Brothers actively at work and additions are being made to our field staff. There is much to be done for the balance of this year but we face the future secure in the knowledge that the finest kind of co-operation is at hand and brothers everywhere are ready and eager to work for the glory of Alpha Phi Alpha and her sons. Fraternally submitted, JOS. H. B. EVANS General Secretary

BRO. RAYFORD LOGAN MAKES FINE REPORT ON AWARDS OF FELLOWSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS I beg leave to submit the following report of the work of the Director of Education for the period of January 1, 1936, to August 10, 1936: Go to High School, Go to College Campaign Pursuant to the wish expressed by many Brothers at St. Louis in 1933, Chicago in 1934, and Nashville in 1935, this campaign has been continued. Brother Dr. John W. Davis of Houston, Texas, again conducted the campaign, placing emphasis upon personal interviews in an effort to discover the reasons for failure to continue in school. Since there still seems to be need in some sections for this activity, I plan to renew it next year. Education for Citizenship Reports from many Chapters establish clearly the be-

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Special Representative

BRO. REV. I. S. STEADY Bro. Rev. I. Chiakazia Steady, M. A., D. D., of Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa who was appointed as a special representative of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in Africa, and other foreign countries during the Pan-Pacific Convention at Los Angeles, California. Brother Steady is a graduate of Wilberforce and Yale, and served as President of each of the Chapters at these respective institutions. He is also General Superintendent of Missions of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in West Africa, and attended the General A. M. E. Conference recently held in New York City.

lief that I stated at Nashville, namely, that education for citizenship has definitely replaced the Go to High School, Go to College Campaign as the major objective of the Fraternity. The wholehearted response of Chapters in all parts of the country convinces me that the Brothers want to do this job, for no amount of pressure from above would have sufficed alone to create the interest and enthusiasm manifested by many Chapters. So many Chapters did such a splendid job that it would be invidious to select any of them for special mention. In general, they used the press, white and colored, public mass meetings, the radio, plays and pageants, displays of placards and tagging of individuals to carry this message to thousands of Negroes. Special commendation is due Brother Karl Downs, of Atlanta, Georgia, for his personal direction of the campaign. I merely outlined to him what I wanted done. He not only carried out his instructions efficiently and promptly, but suggested many new valuable ideas. The mimeographed bulletin was his personal work, as was the suggestion that we furnish all Chapters with a limited number of tags and encourage them to buy many more for distribution in the local community. These tags bore, as you know, the slogan: "A Voteless People is a Hopeless People." Brother Downs also supervised the shipping of the large placards with Brother Shivery's drawing to suggest what can be accomplished by political action. We have definitely aroused interest and created enthusiasm. What is the next step? To make clear the (Please turn to page 46)

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Hosts* Hostesses

THE

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At Gold

October, 1936

CocMst Meet

October, 1936

THE

BRO. WM. H. BELL CARRIES OUT PROGRESSIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AT ALCORN-MISS.

ALPHA DELTA, HOST CHAPTER AT PAN-PACIFIC CONVENTION ALPHA DELTA CHAPTER, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, was the "ideal" host to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity's first convention on the Pacific Coast. To the members of this chapter Alphadom owes a lasting debt cf gratitude for the wonderful manner in which they piepared and completed plans for the setting of the first Pan-Pacific Convention to be staged by any Negro Greek-Letter Fraternity. Brother Bert McDonald, assistant City Attorney of Los Angeles, shown in the center, front row, is the President of Alpha Delta, and VicePresident of the Western Region. It was he, and Brother John B. S. Felix Isaacs, who came to Nashville December last, during Alpha's Silver Convention, to extend an invitation for the Gold Coast Convetion.

By Wm. H. Gray, Jr. Battling the typical 'hat in hand' Southe:n raca leader, only the basis of flawless merit, Brother Wm. H. Bell won a bitter struggle In the Delta State last spring to mainta'r. his progressive educational program at Alcorn College lor Negro youths of Mississippi. Brothe;' Bell exploded the myth that has hung over GO many of the State Schools in the deep South, and which has perpetuated physical and mental retardation. Typifying this debasing spirit fought by President Bell, is the story quoted in a recent edition of the Pittsburgh Courier and attributed to the Jackson (Miss.) Daiiy News. In an editorial caplkned "Mississlpp.'s Keal Negro Leader", the Rev. J. M. Williamson, 77 year old pastor was termed "the safest Negro leader in Mississippi" because he told the editor that Negro schools should stop at the eighth grade. Consequently when the young college executive came to tho sexty-seven years old Alcorn, the oldest Land Grant College in the country, and inaugurated a modern educational program he was labeled unsafe.

ALPHAS' CHARMING HOSTESSES IN BEAUTIFUL CALIFORNIA The success of the Pan-Pacific Convention of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., recently held in Los Angeles, Calif. was due in a very large measure to the cordiality of the wives of members of Alpha Delta, host chapter. The social aspect of the convention, including luncheons, bridge, sightseeing trips through Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Culver City, homes of the movie stars and studios, plus the charm and beauty of the fairer sex, kept the "Angel City" agog for four days. They are reading from left to right: Mrs. Mary Jane Clark Strong, Mrs. Theodosie Hampton Johnson, Mrs. Sadie Louise Davidson, Mrs. Helen Wheeler Riddle, Mrs. Yolande McCullough Stovall, Mrs. Delia Sullivan McDonald, President of the Wives Auxiliary; and wife of the host chapter president, Brother Bert McDonald; Mrs. Dorothy Vena Johnson, Mrs. Gwendolyn Baker Gordon, Secretary. This picture represents only about one-third of the total members of the Auxiliary. Other officers are Mrs. Edith Jones, Vice-President; and Mrs. Yolande Stovall, Treasurer-

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETS Los Angeles, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 15, 1936. The meeting of the Executive Council was called to order by Brother Wesley, Chairman, at 11:25 a. m. The following members present were Brothers Wesley, Charles Greene, Bert McDonald, Farrow Allen, Rayford Logan and William Randolph. Ex-President Howard Long also sat with the Executive Council in this meeting. Detailed records of the Executive Council will be for publication in the next set of minutes of Alpha Alpha Fraternity, Inc. The general circulation of Sphinx makes it inadvisable to carry proceedings of Executive Council in this publication.

Page 13

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left Phi the the

Two years ago Brother Bell assumed the Presidency of the school, and because he remodeled and repainted buildings, installed a modern heating and lighting, and water plant, placed waste paper receptacles on the campus, employed competent and aggressive young faculty members, and permitted students to dance he was labeled radical by a relic of the 'hat in handers'. A whispering campaign of sinister propaganda was begun against the man, which culminated in the failure of Mississippi's Board to rename President Bell, and the pi ess release by Governor Hugh White that "Bell is being held up for an investigation on account of telegrams and personal calls from citizens of Claiborne County protesting against him." They indicate he is teaching a different type of stuff than what the citizens of Claiborne County are accustomed to. Governor White a progressive administrator himself permitted a thorough airing of the charges with the revelation that only seven whites had protested through telegrams, which were unusually alike in the statements that President Bell 'keeps the college in turmoil, domineering in his relation to the faculty and teaches theoretical instead of practical education'. Such familiarity with the internal affairs of a Negro institution by whites would obviously infer 'boot-lickers'. It has been a traditional means of offense among Negroes to solicit the aid of Southern Whites to advance their meritless arguments against capable men, and it is alleged this situation marked no exception. That Brother Bell's plan of using the school's vast acreage to supply food for student consumption, thereby eliminating the middle man, found unbiased supporters in his re-election by a vote of the Board of Trustees, and his complete exoneration by Honorable Governor White. Today, Alcorn stands on the threshold of a new era, President Bell, himself a Mississippian and graduate of Rust College, and Northwestern University, is pointing tho way to the unlimited and unstinted educational growth of the race; and with his faculty of over forty members is commendably 'carrying on' for Alcorn's late President, L. J. Rowan.

THE

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October, 1936

SPHINX

Behinâ&#x201A;ŹÂ§ The Sphinx

A WKgent

Staff

Three members of the Sphinx staff shown at the Sphinx Office, with headquarters at the Memphis World newspaper plant, 39014 Beale Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee. They are, reading left to right: Brothers John L. Brinkley, Jr., advertising-business manager; Hersheal Latham, assistant art editor; and Lewis 0. Swingler, Sphinx editor, and editor of the Memphis World. The picture of Brother Victor L. Gray, of Baltimore, Maryland, contributing editor, who has given fine cooperation in the publication of the Sphinx, was not available when the Sphinx went to press.

Contributing

BRO. DR. MILTON S. J. WRIGHTA. B. Wilberforce University; A. M. Columbia University; Ph. D., University of Heidelberg; (Germany) Special work has been done at Oxford University (England) and the University of Geneva ( S w i t z e r l a n d ) Honorary F e l l o w , Ohio State University, 1926. Dean Samuel Houston College, 1928-33.

Editor

Circulation

Manager BROTHER E. OSC A R WOOLFOLK, JR., teacher in the p u b l i c schools of Memphis, is a 1934 graduate of Talladega College, having finished with honors. He served two years as a member of the Executive Council of Alpha Phi A l p h a Fraternity; a raemf Alpha Beta, Talladega in 19 3 3, when this chapter won the coveted Balfour Cup, serving as secretary at the time.

October, 1936

THE

History

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Page 15

Editor

•If I llll

PjHl

B R O T H E R CLYDE L. COLE— principal of Carver Junior High School, Tulsa, Oklahoma, ons of the finest in the Southwest; educated at Kansas S t a t e Teachers College, and Kansas University; charter member of Alpha Tau Lambda Chapter, 1935 winner of t h e traditional McGhee Cup; a civic leader in Tulsa, and the Sooner State.

Assistant

BRO. HUGH GLOSTER

Editor

ts an

English instructor at LeMoyne C o 1 le g e. His

undergraduate

and graduate work was done at Morehouse and University

Atlanta respec-

tively. He is a member of Alpha Delta Lambda

Chapter,

Memphis, and chairman of its Educational Committee.

Art

Editor BROTHER JAMES D. P A R K S — S e c r e tary, is rounding out ten years as Art Editor of the Sphinx. From point of service, he is the senior m e m b e r of t h e Sphinx Staff. Brother Parks was educated in the public school system of St. Louis, Mo. at Bradley Polytechnic Institute, Peoria, 111., Art Institute of Peoria, and the Federal Schools of Art, Minn e a p o l i s , Minn. Brother Parks sketched the art for the front page cover. BROTHER FERDINAND L. ROUSSEVE, Department of Fine Arts, Xavier University, New Orleans, La., whose picture the sphinx regrets that it does not have, is also Art Editor of the Sphinx

Contributing BROTHER WILLIAM H. GRAY, JR., member of the faculty at Southern University, Scotlandville, La., is a graduate of B 1 u e f i e 1 d State Teachers C o l l e g e , Bluefield, West Virginia. He received his M. S. degree in E d u c a t i o n from Pennsylvania University. While at Bluefield, Brother Gray served as editor of the Bluefieldian, s c h o o l publication. Since graduation he has contributed articles as sports editor of the Philadelphia Independent, and as a special writer to the Afro-American. He is author of the special contribution on Alpha Phi Alpha Brothers at the 1936 Olympiad.

Editor

Page 16

THE SPHINX Frat Fun Editor B R O T H E R O. W I L S O N WINTERS, Norristown, Pa., was born in Trappe, Talbot Gounty, Md., son of Rev. and Mrs. James H. Winters of the Delaware Conference M. E. Church. He was educated a t Delaware State College, Howard University, and Temple University. Brother Wilson is an Odd Fellow, a past Chief Antler of the Pennsylvania Elks, Mason,(32nd degree) member of the National Medical Association, the American Dental Association, and was a Pellow in the Academy of Stomatology. Brother Winters has served in his capacity as F r a t Fun Editor of the Sphinx since 1930, six years.

October, 1936 Contributing

Editor

B R O T H E R GRANT W. HAWKINS— of Indiana p o l i s , Indiana, is President o f I o t a Lambda Chapter, an official at the state capital of the great Hoosier State. His article in this edition, t.'tled, "A Government Is Not In Itself S c m e t h i n g," is a splendid feature that should be read b j every Brother.

Ci^&'G^O Cc^©v@^0 Who's Who

Editor

B r o t h e r Jewel George B. Kelley, ons of the founders of Alpha Phi A l p h a Fraternity, a graduate of Cornell University, "cz-adle" of Alphadom, from the College of Civil Engineering; formerly an engineer in the service of the New York S t a t e Engineering Department. At present a senior auditor in the income Tax Bureau of the State of New York.

Contributing BROTHER J. E. COTTON—of Memphis, Tennessee, is Corresponding Secretary of Alpha Delta L a m b d a Chapter, teacher in the public schools of Memphis. He received his advanced education a t Wilberforce University. Known far and wide as "hand-shak ing" Joe, Bro. Cotton has become somewhat of a living symbol of Alpha's warm and noble spirit of fellowship.

Editor

October, 1936

THE

SPHINX

Page 17

Texas Centennial Exposition Hall of Negro Culture

• - •

The Hall of Negro Life and Culture at the Texas Centennial Exposition, Dallas, Texas, with its fine array of exhibits depicting the growth and development of the Negro, will be the center of attractions during the Alpha Phi Alpha Centennial Regional Conference October 17-19.

Dream

Comes

•

Brother A. Maceo Smith, General Chairman of the Committee on Arrangements for the Conference, is Assistant Manager of the building. This structure contains 14,000 square feet of floor space to house exhibits of Negro art, sculpture, and education.

True

Are You Interested In A Professional Career? IF SO INVESTIGATE INSURANCE For Further

THE

LIFE

PROFESSION Information

WRITE DR. J. E. WALKER President

Universal Life Insurance Co. 234 Hernando Memphis BROTHER A. MACEO SMITH— Who was appointed by Cullen F. Thomas, Federal Commis. sioner General, as assistant general manager of the Negro Hall of Life and Culture, at the Texas Centennial, Dallas, Texas. It was through Brother Smith's diligent and persistent effort in this direction and through his capacity as Secretary of the Negro Chamber of Commerce of Dallas that the Negro Hall of Life, and Negro participation in the Texas Centennial became an idea and then a reality.

Old line legal reserve operating in seven states In Mississippi—Tennessee—Arkansas —Missouri—Louisiana—Texas— Oklahoma

Page 18

THE

SPHINX

October, 1936

Host Centennial Regional Conference At Dallas* Texas. October 17-lih 193G

ALPHA SIGMA LAMBDA CHAPTER, ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, will serve as the official host to the Centennial Regional Conference at Dallas Texas, October 17-19, 1936. Left to rightâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;seated: E. C. Dillard, W. H. Pace, J. Leslie Patton, Jr., J. E. Edmonds, President; A. Maceo Smith, C. P. Johnson, Attorney R. Q. Mason; Standing, left to rightâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Samuel Hudson, R. E. Dixon, Earl Griggs, M. B. Slaughter and B. B. Lipscombe.

Assistant

Centennial

Assistant to Mr. Charles E. Hall, specialist in Negro statistics, Negro Hall of Life and Culture. Brother Johnis also serving Mr. Hall in the Bureau of the Census in the Negro Hall of Life. He is a member of Alpha Sigma Lambda Chapter, which will serve as host to the Western Regional Convention to be held in Dallas October 17-19, 1936. Brother Smith is also general chairman of the committee on arrangements for the Centennial Regional Convention of Alpha Phi Alpha to be held in Dallas, Texas, October 17-19, 1936.

October, 1936

THE

SPHINX

Page 19

FEATURE SECTION .11 pita's 1936 Olympian Triad By WM. H. GRAY, JR. Winning world renown in a blaze of immortal glory, son? of Alpha Phi Alpha commandeered the sports spotlight in the recent 193G Olympiad. J. C. "Jesse" Owens, by achieving an Olympic grandslam, with tho most brilliant individual performances ever recorded in the annals of sports, led the Alpha Triad of Brothers, Owens, Metcalfe, and Albritton, a t the 11th Olympics. Heralded by millions, nations, kings, dictators, governors, and dignitaries of both continents, Owens and his Alpha cavalcade paced an unusually fine group of Negro stars, who exemplified the zenith of sportsmanship and reflected credit on a nation and Negro college fraternities in general. Unusual was the fact that in registering his Olympic conquests a t the Berlin games in August, Owens broke the records of another brother of Alpha, Eddie Tolan, whose 100 meter dash mark fell before the onslaught of the mighty Buckeye Comet. Brother Dave Albritton, a product of Cleveland and Ohio State, displayed great stamina in tying for second behind Cornelius Johnson's record breaking 6 ft. 7 1516 in. high jump, and then capturing the jump off with Finland's Kotkas, Japan's Yada, and United States' Thurber, to win the second place medal. The veteran of two Olympiads, Brother Ralph Metcalfe, was the pre-Olympic choice for premiere honors in the sprints. No lesser authorities than Grantland Rice, Alan Gould, Damon Runyan, and his own coach, Conrad M. Jennings of Marquette, voiced this sentiment; while Lary Snyder, Owens' famed coach, expressed dubiosity over his protege's possibilities against the overdue Metcalfe. Notwithstanding this, Metcalfe, whose defeat by Tolan in 1930 came in for much questioning in athletic circles, ran second again, being content with pressing Owens to the limit in the 100. Metcalfe, with that characteristic Alpha will to be first of all, got the hoped for "another chance" in the 400 meter relay and contributed his bit with Wykoff, Draper, and Brother Owens towards smashing the world's record, and winning his first Olympic Gold Medal. "Greater Love Hath No Man." It was the relay race that furnished the opportunity for Owens to display his unselfish spirit and his regard for his brother and friend Metcalfe. Following the 400 meter conquest Lawson Robertson, Coach of the American forces delegated Owens to ascend the stand and receive the Laural Wreath of Olympic Victory. Owens instead pushed Metcalfe to the fore, affording a true paraphrase of the statement: "Greater love hath no man . . . " Surely this was the great Alpha spirit. To say that Owens, who held the world's news spotlight exemplified through his spirit and character the ideals of other Alpha men in his circle would be a fair assertation. Not once did any of the group falter in the face of subtle race predjudice as they exploded the Nordic supremacy myth. Owens' own 10:02 time in a 100 meter heat was invalidated on the basis of an aiding wind, yet there was no instrument to scientifically gauge the velocity of "Old Boreas"; again warm-up broad jumps were counted to give him only one actual trial for qualification, yet in spite of these incidents, certainly not because of them, Owens ran and jumped "first of all." Other unsung heroes of the eleventh Olympiad, who

contributed their bit indirectly to these amazing successes included Brothers Eulace Peacock, and Al Threadgill, Temple, Edward Burke, Marquette, Ben Johnson, Columbia, and Santee Brockman, Michigan Normal. OLYMPIC CHART SHOWING FEATS OF OWENS, METCALFE, ALBRITTON EVENT FIRST SECOND THIRD (Winning Per-Owens Metcalfe Osendarp foramnces) 100-M Dash * 10.3 s Holland High Jump ***Johnson 6' 7 15-16" U. S. A.

Albritton

Thurber U. S. A.

Broad Jump **Owens 26' 5 % "

Long Germany

Tajina Japan

200-m dash **â&#x20AC;˘ Dwens 20.7 s

Robinson U. S. A.

Osendarp Holland

Italy

Germany

400-m relay ***Metcalfe 39.8s Owens Draper Wykoff

*** New Olympic and World records. â&#x20AC;˘* New Olympic record. *Equals World and Olympic records. VICTORIES OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE The victories and achievements of these men obviously go far beyyond the bonds of Alpha Phi Alpha. Their feats have taken on national and inter-national significance. The Jesse Owens' Day in Cleveland set a precedent in America since it marked the first time in history a metropolis has paid spiritual and official homage to a Negro; similarly the Jesse Owens' Day a t the Cleveland Exposition honoring his wife, Mrs. Minnie Ruth Solomon Owens, shows the magnitude of his achievement. Honorable Martin L. Davey, Governor of Ohio, acknowledged his feats with a personal cablegram sent to Owens in Berlin before the games terminated. The high esteem in which these youths are held is typified in editorials from the nation's press. The New York Herald Tribune in an editorial captioned: 'Home Boys Making Good', states, "At Berlin young Mr. Jesse Owens is living up brilliantly to the high expectations of his countrymen and his team mates both Negro and Caucasian, but especially Negro are showering the American colors with their olive crowns." racial religion really stores up an endless amount of emharassment for itself." In a similar vein the Philadelphia Record under the title, "A Practical Lesson for the Nazis", says: "Der Fuehrer can look the other way if he pleases, but he can't prevent the Negro athletes from winning. America is proud to pay them honor." Likewise Alpha Phi Alpha is proud to pay her sons tribute because the radiation of good will and annihilation of the gripping bonds of racial predjudice effected by their amazing display of athletic prowess, certainly writes a laudable epic in the history of an underprivileged people.

Page 20

THE

BRO. N. A. MURRAY RECALLS EXPERIENCES OF THE JEWELS IN FOUNDERS' ADDRESS (Continued from page 6) This program having for its objective Service Above Self, having fulfilled its early purpose, and a new problem presented itself, has resulted in the inauguration of what is known today as the Education for Citizenship campaign to supplement rather than do away entirely with the former plan. Some idea of the magnitude of the results of the Educational program of your fraternity will be seen from the following statistics recently released by the U. S. Bureau of Education that made a survey of Negro Education in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Florida, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D. C. Here they are: High School enrollment among Negroes has increased 215.6% during the decade from 1925 to 1935. In 19 Southern States more than 2,290,000 children are in school. In the Northern and Western States 300,000 Negro children are enrolled in High School. Referring back to the Education for Citizenship this movement has for its main incentive, the stimulation and encouragement for active part : cipation in affairs of local and national governments, by Negro of sufficient intelligence to play such a part. This movement was a most timely one for it not only presented in a concrete way the evils of not registering and paying of poll tax but brought out the results of being able to vote against those of their own race, or those of the opposite group who persecuted them while holding public office supported by Negro taxpayers. It also pictured clearly opposite results when they placed in public office through their votes those who were friendly to Negroes on the North, South, East, and West. Another milestone that Alpha Phi Alpha has passed in its desire to be of service, and which your Founders had in mind is the establishment of the Alpha Phi Alpha Educational Foundation to aid and encourage and maintain the development of high scholarship among Negroes in High Schools, Colleges, Universities, and Research in preparation for leadership, character and intellectual attainments. This has resulted in considerable expense, but I feel that the results we have obtained from the cooperative efforts of the present administration officers plus that of the Educational Foundation and many others who have assisted in this splendid cause have more than justified the outlay of time, money and personal sacrifice. Thirty years ago, we had a small treasury presided over by a general treasurer the income of which was never much more than three figures. Aided by wise councilors all along the line and guided by careful inspection of securities that offered slow but steady financial gains, our fraternity has organized a permanent endowment policy. The chairman of this group of Alpha Brothers, scans the markets carefully and makes periodic investments in the securities of the U. S. Government. Still another outstanding a c c o m p l i s h m e n t which indicates the broadening activities of your fraternity as well as increasing the desire for service to others has been the formation of a committee on public policy. This committee is composed of those brothers whose whole ambition has been, and still is, to see Alpha Phi Alpha contribute worth while facts and information on all great questions of county, city, state or government as such questions refer to the Negro. Ten or more years after the first general convention was held, Alpha Phi Alpha was more or less on trial. Our early expansion program made the mistake, which mature (Please turn to page 47)

SPHINX,

October, 1936

"WE LAMENT" By Brother Oscar A. Bouisie, Sigma Lambda > Steal away; steal away; Steal away to Jesus The American Negro slave is responsible for the above line of hopeful poetry. His idea was to "steal away" from the hardships of endless labors; to "steal away" from the cruelty of his masters who understood, but did not care to realize his difficulties; to "steal away" from a life which he hated; to "steal away" to God. Instinctively, he knew that God meant salvation, that God meant the means and the end of his trials and sufferings. He realized, too, that Jesus Christ, God and man, would understand his bitter sufferings. Thus it was that the Negro, in his first great contribution to American Literature, the Spiritual, showed himself to be a creature of implicit hope and indomitable courage. In the same breath, he sings: Nobody knotvs de trouble I see Nobody knows but Jesus; Sometimes Vm up, sometimes I'm down, Hut still my soul is Heaven boutC and Dere's a better day a-comin' In each work we find the Negro lamenting his plight, stating clearly his position in so far as troubles and worries are concerned. And yet, in each case, there is hope, a deep and profound hope of Heaven and eternal peaceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;"a better day a-comfn'." Was it that the slave was uneducated and knew no better than to have faith in a "White Man's God"? Was it that the slave was ignorant of the fact that he was pleading in vain to ears that did not hear? Or was it that he instinctively turned to Him from Whom he came, at a natural time of need, as he should do at such a moment ? Let us see what two modern writers, both educated, both realizing the position of the Negro in American life, both with the poetic talent of experiencing the unsavory predicament of his fellow-creatures, have to say in their respective poetic ventures on this topic, whether it be said implicitly or outwardly. Let us compare their views and their positions. Then, let us consider which is nearer to our concept of the real Negro. 1 It was the year 1906. Atlanta, one of the leading cities of the South and a true education center for Negroes was being torn by the cruelties of a race riot. Negroes were being mobbed, assaulted brutally, and killed. They were again tasting some of the revenge which the whites had "stored up" during the more than fifty years since the Emancipation Proclamation, the document which had "taken away" from them a piece of "their property"â&#x20AC;&#x201D;the Negro slave. W. E. Burghardt Du Bois was at this time holding the chair of Economics and History in Atlanta University. He had come from Great Barrington, Massachusetts, where he had been born and had received his early education. Advanced work had brought him first to Fisk University then to Harvard, and finally to the University of Berlin; and he had accepted the position in Atlanta University approximately ten years before. The sight of his fellowmen suffering the cruel treatment at the hand of the whites caused him to write his "Litany of Atlanta," which he sub-titled "Done at Atlanta, in the Day of Death, 1906." It is this work to which our attention is now turned. The work begins with a plea which comes only after the gates of Heaven have been stormed, literally, and no answer has come forth. Then the cry goes up. Hear us, Good Lord!

Page 21 is missing

Page 22 is missing

October, 1936

H * "=?/ w

THE

SPHINX

Page 23

* & A T E K N I T Y *UAf DR.O. WILSON W I N T E R S FRAT

FUN

Mr. Lewis 0. Swingler, 390 V2 Beale Ave., Memphis, Tenn. Dear Lewis: Never mind about looking' at the bottom of this letter to see what obstreperous person has the temerity to address you thusly, this letter comes from Oliver Wilson Winters, erstwhile editor of Frat Fun and I am writing to tell you that I have no article to send in to the current issue of the Sphinx as I have been out of touch of affairs Alphian having missed the Pan-Pacific Convention at Los Angeles August 15 to 19. But sir, I received a very interesting letter, a convention photo and a convention envelope from my friend, Bio. W. Fitzgerald Jerrick. Jerrick tells me that the convention had its usual high lights and shadows what with Bro. Joe Evans developing tonsilitis and insisting on gargling his throat every few hours with California Sunkist Prune Juice. Brother Riley of Indianapolis offering a plot of land for the erection of a National Alpha Home (He would!). I believe he is the same guy who in St. Louis told us about his toting two Bibles to every convention and looking askance at the brothers who dance for immoral purposes; Brother Jewel Nat Murray insisting on a broken hip trucking stance while perspiring over his oratorical efforts and drinking a pitcher of what purported to be ice water. (If Brother Murray wants the correct pronunciation of the word "niche" let him be informed that it rhymes with "itch" and "ditch" and—oh well, any other word in that group of phonetics. Pope Bindley Cyrus I hitherto called "The Convention Scourge' was dignified, and even registered constructive suggestions; Bro. Clarence Jones presiding at Public Session had a flight of fancy and addressed the Alpha Kappa Psi and admonished the speakers to try for the Grand Brevity Prize; Bro. McDonald, the swashbuckling Lochinvar who rode into Nashville last year with all the bluster of a Centaur had turned out to be a perfect host, a honored and respected Los Angeles celebrity, a good Alpha man and almost as good looking as his picture in the PanPacific Souvenir Program. Mrs. Chas. Wesley must have been reading some of the Frat Fun articles. Taking no more chances she and her daughter accompanied Bro. President to this convention. Alpha Delta Chapter believed in formality. On page 60 of the Souvenir Program they listed two official dentists, three official physicians and on the very next page, an official undertaker, The People's Mortician and Funeral Driectors, 1400 E. 17 Street, Los Angeles. Yes and official bandits too! And while I think of it, Mr. Editor, please make up your mind whether your address is 390 or 390 Va don't try to inch away. And is it Beal Street or Beale Street. Mr. Handy used to have us singing about the "Beale Street" Blues. Getting Ritzy? My good friend also told me about his trip over in Chicago and his visit to the beautiful Alpha home there; of the trip to Tulsa and his fine reception by Brother Tolley Harris of Alpha Tau Lambda and how in one hour a vivacious smoker and barbecue was effected with Bro. Roy Wilson, H. S. Hughes, C. L. Cole, J. T. Smith, the "sec." F. M. Payne, the "treas.," and John Hope Franklin cudgeled their brains for new ideas to make him and Brothers Cyrus,

EDITOR. Child and Malone happy and contented guests. Our sepia Horace Greely, Mr. Jerrick had dinner in the Santa Fe diner with Harry Goodman and sister, relatives of the famous Benny Goodman of swing music fame. Nocturnal admissions of a romantic nature were absolutely nil for Jerrick stopped at Uncle Brother J. B. St. Felix Isaacs who took him thru Hollywood where he met Clarence Muse, and saw the magnificent Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Uncle shadowed him constantly. I heard Louis beat Sharkey at 10 p.m. Eastern standard time. Jerrick heard it at 6 p.m. Pacific Coast time (four hours before it happened, eh?. The best setting of the convention—the luncheon at Bro. McDonald's home, turkey and the trimmings and bananas and avocados and figs just a growing on trees all around the place. The most dramatic setting—Brother Samuel Brown serenading all the frats and sororities on the organ in a medley of their respective songs. The hit of the convention—Bro. Eugene Kinckle Jones' fine speech (two days later I saw him at the National Tournament at Wilberforce and he had on his famous beret. Did he dare show it at Los Angeles?). Well, Mr. Editor, I saw the convention photo. It was pretty good; Bro. Isaacs reminded us of the look on the pup face in the famous phonograph record ad "His Master's Voice." Brother Wayman Ward must have fallen in New Deal penury for he didn't seem so Beau Brummellish in his attire—oh yes, to be sure the ubiquitous cane was there. Bro. Wesley seems to be flashing some Odd Fellow or Elk sign in his posture while Brother Howard Long was scratching at some offending Pacific parasite, no doubt. Bro. Rayford Logan, the impeccable, is looking more like Dr. Sun Yat Sen every day. Brothers Green and Murray had just got a whiff at some unpleasant odor from my observation of their nasal stances. Bro. Allen is evidently trying to remember that phone number she told him to call. Bro. Joe Evans was sick all right; he looked it. All in all the picture was alright, but it lacked me and the New Orleans boys. Once more I say I am sorry I have no article for the Sphinx and Frat Fun this time and since I know I am already kicked off of the staff for this dereliction I am again asking you in closing, please make up your mind whether you live on Beale Avenue or Beal Street and what is the exact fractional part. Yours fraternally, O. WILSON WINTERS.

NEW DEAL REPORT The second report of the special investigator of the New Deal, authorized by the general fraternity, will be published in the Christmas Edition of The Sphinx, copy having reached Memphis too late for publication in the October edition. This survey was directed by Brother Dr. Rayford Logan, director of education.

Page 24

THE

SPHINX

October, 1936

Alpha Phi Alpha At Pan-Pacific A new chapter was written in the illustrious history of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity when this organization held its Pan-Pacific Convention at Los Angeles, California August 15-18, 1936, with Alpha Delta Chapter serving as the official host.

points of his art. The Memorial Address of the PanPacific Convention is a speech which will long be remembered by its hearers and which left an impression which should produce good reuslts for the advancement of the, Negro in the United States.

BRO. EUGENE KINCKLE JONES IS IMPRESSIVE IN RACE RELATION ADDRESS AT COAST CONVENTION

BRO. H. L. LONG URGES FINER RELATION BETWEEN GRADUATES & UNDERGRADUATES

(Continued from page 7) Especially important, according to Dr. Jones, is the development of individual members of the Colored race. The speaker stressed that individual development should bo based on skill and a technique of rugged individualism, but that group development should be grounded on various techniques, because it is inextricably wound up with the social and economic program of the nation. Dr. Jones concluded his address by pointing out the following ways in which fraters in Alpha Phi Alpha can advance the interests of the race: "We are prof ess-

(Continued from page 9) ness and once pour it's genius and fraternalism into the larger social program which the fraternity in these late years has dedicated itself, or shall we of the East have to say to our youth: For fraternalism, go west, my boy, go west? Why does a chapter disentegrate ? Is it a thing which is initiated and runs its course in a short time, or should we look for the seeds of a given status far back in the history of the chapter? Can they be detected and isolated early enough to avoid the malady ? The ordinary imagi-

ional men—lawyers, physicians, clergymen, teachers, labor leaders social workers, business men—in many fields, government officials—national, state and municipal, students in colleges, large and mall, North and South, mixed and segregated. We reach all the people. We can infuse the Negro with a ruling passion for living and for achieving. We can fill his heart with a burning love of race and a pride of accomplishment by members of his group. This begets stability, intelligence, ambition, the spirit of progress, and respect by others of his worth. We can be ready to accept the white man's overtures in the form of an economic security policy—the result of an enlightened self-interest which demands a national program of fairer distribution of wealth and opportunity." The importance of Dr. Jones' message was equalled in excellence by the impressiveness of his delivery. The audience was visibly moved, not only by the content of the address but by the skill of the speaker in the fine

nation can conceive of many causes. Why ot have some available member, trained in social science, investigate one or two chapters which have fallen upon evil days and whose locations represent the typical 1 communities in which chapters are to be found. Let him tell us what has happened, and select and report prepotent aspects of these events so that they may be danger signals

DELEGATES AND VISITING BROTHERS AT CONVENTION President 1. Wesley, Dr. Charles H., Washington Southern Vice-President 2. Greene, Charles W., Atlanta Eastern Vice-President 3. Allen, Dr. Farrow, New York

Mu Lambda Eta Lambda Alpha Gamma

October, 1936

Convention* 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 1011. 12. 13. 14.

THE

SPHINX

Los Angeles*

Western Vice-President McDonald, Bert A., Los Angeles Alpha Delta Secretary Evans, Joseph H. B., Washington Mu Lambda Editor of the Sphinx Swingler, Lewis 0., M e m p h i s . . . . Alpha Lambda Delta Director of Education Logan, Rayford W., Atlanta Eta Lambda Executive Council Bennett, Lowell H., Nashville Tau Lambda Randolph, William S., New York Zeta Lambda JEWEL Murray, Nathaniel A Washington REGIONAL DIRECTOR Ferguson, M. G Nashville (Reg.) Chi Chapter COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC POLICY Long, Howard H., Washington Mu Lambda SECRETARY OF CONVENTION Norman, Rufus S., Los Angeles Alpha Delta Allison, Andrew J., Nashville Tau Lambda

32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48.

Page 25

f V#/.. 6###/. Vi6*

Mosley, William G., St. Louis Epsilon Nathan, W. B., Atlanta Eta Lambda Nelson, F. M., Berkeley Alpha Epsilon Osibin, Harry A., Berkeley Alpha Epsilon Perkins, Norman M., Cincinnati Alpha Alpha Prince, Clifford M., Los Angeles Alpha Delta Richardson, H. L., Berkeley Alpha Epsilon Riley, H. T. Dr., Indianapolis Iota Lambda Saundle, H. P., St. Louis Epsilon Lambda Smith, Tedd T., Berkeley Alpha Epsilon Spann, Fred W., Los Angeles Alpha Delta Steady, I. Chiakazia, Rev., Sierra Leone West Afriea •,. • • Zeta Chapter Taylor, Junius, Greensboro, N. C Beta Epsilon Talbot, Walter,Pittsburgh Omicron Walker, Alexander J., Evanston Alpha Mu Ward, A. Wayman, Rev., Chicago Xi Lambda Hawkins, Dr. A. L., Omaha Beta Beta

1. Allen, Howard H., M. D. 21. Parks, Perry C, Jr. 2. Allen, James, Jr. 22. Powell, William J. 3. Barnett, Herman K. 23. Pruitt, Dr. E. M.

•

• 'a

15. Aubert, Eddie, Berkeley Alpha Epsilon 16. Beane, Rev. S. M., Los Angeles Alpha Delta 17. Branch, Thomas S., West Virginia. .Alpha Zeta Lambda 18. Brown, Rev. R. D., Pittsburgh Alpha Lambda 19. Childs, William H., Chicago Theta 20. Cyrus, Bindley C, Chicago Xi Lambda 21. Elliott, Ora H., Austin Upsilon 22. Ervin, James McFarland, Los Angeles. . . .Alpha Delta 23. Grantham, T. H., Berkeley Alpha Epsilon 24. Greenidge, Dr. Robert, Detroit Gamma Lambda 25. Haydel, Whitney M., New Orleans Sigma Lambda 26. Jerrick, Dr. Walter F., Philadelphia Rho 27. Jewell, Leonard, Chicago Theta 28. Johnson, Lyman T., Louisville Alpha Lambda 29. Jones, Eugene Kinckle, Flushing, N. Y., Alpha Gamma Lambda 30. Mahone, I. R., Chicago Xi Lambda 31. Mahone, Marcus A., Chicago Theta

4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 910. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

24. Reece, Cortez Boswell, Hamilton , Brown, Samuel 25. Robinson, J. A. Brown, William E. 26. Robinson, James Davenport, James 27. Robinson, James A., Jr. Easter, William A. 28. Robinson, Dr. John M. Greene, Thos. A., D. D. S. 29. Scott, Riddell Hurd, George E. 30. Shifflett, James Inghram, Dr. H. D. 31. Stevens, William H., Jr. Isaacs, Rev. John B. 32. Strong, E. C. I l l Jewell, Thomas A. 33. Thornton, Max Jones, Clarence A. 34. Tibbs, Leonard C , Sr. King, Dr. N. C. 35. Towles, Dr. H. H. McPherson, Dr. H. A. 36. Tucker, Marcus O. McPherson, Sam 37. Ward, Herod Maxwell, Frank S. 38. Williams, A. C. Neal, Dr. E. V. 39. Williams, F. W. Nickerson, Victor A.

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THE

"WHAT WILL THE HARVEST BE" By Dr. Milton S. J. Wright Professor of Economics Wilberforce University "As ye sow, so shall ye reap." Those wise words were written more than a thousand years ago. The march of time has gone steadily onward but that sentence from the Holy Bible is as applicable to-day as it ever was. It has survived the periodic ages of skepticism; it has stood up under the prying eyes and minds of the investigative scientists; yes, it has even withstood the unscrupulous onslaught of the modern "debunkers;" indeed it is now a scientific law. This law is equally as true in industry as in agriculture, business, in health and our every-day private lives. In spite of this, man still wonders â&#x20AC;&#x201D;"What will the harvest b e ? " We of this age have been forced to see and know that even a law is not always the last word. When we were children our parents and teachers told us that if we were good, smart, alert and conscientious we would amount to something in the world. We were told that "right was might;" "depend on "push" not "pull" "prepare yourself and your chance will come;" "the world will make a beaten path to your door;" "the best prepared man or woman will be certain to get the job." Some parents and teachers still tell youth these things, commencement speakers say them every year and later thousands of youngsters are disillusioned, so much so that many of them have ceased to be mere skeptics, they are fast becoming hardened cynics. Were the parents, and teachers and public speakers wrong in so advising youth? Is not such advice based upon social and scientific principles and laws? Are we not living in an age when "pull" means considerably more than "push"; when "right is might;" when "do the other fellow before he does you" is the gilded rule; when success or "your chance" depends largely upon knowing somebody who knows somebody else, or upon who your father, mother, uncle or aunt is or how much cash can one pay ? Have you not seen numerable instances of mediocre, t h i r d o r fourth u n p r e p a r e d person appointed and even elected to positions of responsibility in preference to best p r e p a r e d first rate applicants or candidates? Of course you have! And you wonder why. Oft you have wondered, even when the "why" was clearly obvious. In the United States of North America we are governed,â&#x20AC;&#x201D;to some extent, by the currently "much talked about" constitution. The preamble and articles of which assures every citizen equal opportunity. Many of us have not taken the trouble to study the social period in which this sacred document was written. Perhaps even fewer of us have noted the idealism expressed by it. As wise, astute and sincere as those statesmen might have been, undoubtedly they were largely idealists. But neither a Constitution nor even a Bible can always keep men from building "Power Trusts" for the benefit of themselves and their chosen few. All around us, between individuals, races and nations, we see not only the struggle in which men lie, cheat, steal and kill to get advantage of their fellowmen. Frankly, after giving the matter much serious thought and study, I do not feel that parents and teachers are absolutely wrong in their advice. For he who follows such advice will most certainly be "a good man" but in most cases under our Spoils System he will be economically "a poor man." There has never been any set (Please turn to page 43)

SPHINX

October, 1936

"A GOVERNMENT IS NOT IN ITSELF SOMETHING" By Grant W. Hawkins As the circumstances of the people change, the functions of government change. Government is not in itself something. It is for something. Just now it is for the economic rehabilitation of our people and for the preservation of our fundamental institutions. The change has with it tremendous responsibilities and the possibility of far-reaching consequences. It offers an opportunity to prove that government may be a great instrument of human progress. It is the ray of hope that heartens us when we followed a path which was dark with ominious shadows. This is not a static world. Many of our so-called captains of industry and many who had claimed leadership in other activities thought it was. They held fast to old theories and were at a loss when they found that the old theories did not meet the demands of the new day. The situation demanded courage, intelligence, determination and hope. It called for a constructive program on the part of responsible officers of government. The program had to bring forth a new, a greater, a continous patroitism on the part of all citizens. Some look upon patriotism as a thing reserved for periods of armed conflict. They wait for the blare of martial music, the sound of marching feet, and the rumble of the caisson to quicken the pulse and inspire supreme devotion to the common cause. They are sustained by the excitement of the moment and lose all interest in public matters when hostilities cease. Such intermittent attention to the general welfare does not satisfy present needs. The struggle to restore economic equilibrium is as grim and as real as any war. It requires the same willingness to give all that we are and all that we hope to be without thought of reward save the accomplishment of high purposes. It demands something more, a critical and searching examination of all governmental agencies to see which, if any, have outlived their usefulness. This is the time for perfect candor. No bragging. No pretense that things are better than they are. No tolerance of what should not be tolerated. It is possible to know the truth without fear, to meet a crisis with indomitable courage. Yet, there are those among us who are afraid, who listen to prophets of evil. They profess to see the end of representative government, now rudely challenged by communism, by fascism, and some think by technocracy. They say that democracy in theory is not democracy in practice, that popular sovereignity is an elusive concept, that the right to have a voice in government is not a prized possession. I wish to be counted among those who deny such a doctrine. I believe in the destiny of democracy as w system of government, believe in it more profoundly than in anything else human. It is true that science and the machines born of science have greatly altered the ways of men an women and have created manifestly serious problems. But the problems of the present are not more difficult than some for which satisfactory solutions were found in the past. This is another testing time for representative government. Our high enterprise is to prove it sufficient in every circumstance and for every task which can come to free people. For one hundred years or more men will write books explaining why in the first half of the twentieth century there was so great a crisis in human affairs. They will describe what happened, and will deduce what it meant. They will disagree ferociously with each other and will come to no conclusion which everyone accepts. (Please turn to page 44)

October, 1936

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Significant Alpha News Noted Alpha Brother Appointed

Magistrate

BRO. MYLES A. PAIGE Alpha Gamma Lambda Chapter New York City, New York Alpha Gamma Lambda takes great pride in reporting to her sister chapters in Alpha Phi Alpha the elevation of Brother Myles A. Paige to the position of City Magistrate in the city of New York. Brother Paige, an initiate of Beta Chapter and who has been a member of Alpha Gamma Lambda Chapter, is the first Negro ever appointed to such a position in New York City. His term will expire in 1947, and his salary is approximately $10,000 annually. Brother Paige's appointment means much to the Fraternity in general, as the new Judge is well known wherever the words of Alpha Phi Alpha are uttered. He became well known among the chapters as a general officer for some years in the cabinet of Brother Raymond Cannon. In addition, Brother Paige's early life has been closely associated with Alpha Phi Alpha. It was in the home of Brother Paige's aunt that Alpha Phi Alpha was born in Ithica, New York, the seat of our first chapter, Alpha. After entering college, it was natural that Brother Paige should be made an Alpha Man, and has held several offices in various chapters, including the honor of being the first president of Alpha Gamma Lambda Chapter. So you may see, Brother Paige's connection with our glorious Fraternity began before he could walk. (So he says, we wouldn't know the Honorable Judge's correct age). At the present time, Alpha Gamma Lambda Chapter is planning a Testimonial Dinner to Brother Paige at the Fifth Avenue Restaurant on November 7, 1936, at which banquet there will be only two non Alpha men, Namely, Mayor Fiorella H. LaGuardia, of New York City who appointed Judge Paige , and his Honor, Judge Toney, who with our own Judge James S. Watson, were the first two Negroes elected Judgeship in a court of record in New York. (Please turn to page 30)

Pushes Urban League Program In the South

BRO. J. HARVEY KERNS Field Secretary of the National Urban League, has resulted in notable Urban League interest in such Southern Cities as Birmingham, Ala., Memphis, Tenn., New Orleans, La. and Little Rock, Arkansas. Brother Kerns served for five year? as Secretary of the Milwaukee U r b a n League Branch, and seven years as Secretary of the Omaha, Nebraska. Branch. He was State Director of Education in Nebraska, having been appointed by Bro. Raymond Cannon, then Director of Education for the Fraternity. Brother Rev. Marshall Sheppard is credited with touching off the spark that caused the second famous 'Smith Walk'. This time, it was Senator Smith of South Carolina, who began to 'truck' out of Philadelphia's Convention Hall when the Right Reverend Sheppard, made political history by being the first man of color to open a Democratic Convention session with prayer. Predjudice overcame Christianity in the instance, showing which spiritual force eventually held the strongest tie on the Southern Democrat. The matter came up for much discussion in the nation's press. The Hon. Rev. Sheppard is a member of the Pennsylvania State Legislature, and pastor of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Philadelphia. The Reverend is, some say, an unfinancial member of Rho. Brother M. C. A. Talbert, who recently received his masters degree at Iowa State College is directing the Agriculture Extension program for Alcorn College in Mississippi. Brother Oscar A. Bouise, Sigma Lambda, is a native of New Orleans, an honor graduate of Xavier University, holding degrees in pharmacy, and Fine Arts. He is Professor of English at his Alma Mater, and has spent two summers in graduate study at the University of Michigan. He is a faculty advisor of the "Xavier Herald," a student publication, and is a guiding spirit to his friends, and students.

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October, 1936

Two Oistingui shed Brothers At Jacksonv ille9 Florida

BRO. C. S. LONG On Thursday, June 11, Brother C. S. Long, Jr., President of Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, Florida, was signally honored by Wilberforce University, his Alma Mater, who conferred upon him at the commencement exercises the degree of L. L. D. for noteworthy achievement. In February of this year, President Long was selected to deliver the Founders' Day Address for Wilberforce. Born April 20, 1899 in West Palm Beach, Brother Long is the son of Rev. Charles and the late Eliza Long. He received his early education at Edward Waters College and later matriculated at Wilberforce where he received his A. B. degree in 1920. From 1920 to 1923 Brother Long taught a t the State Street High School in Bowling Green, Kentucky. In 1932 he accepted the principalship of Washington High School, Pensacola, Florida, where he remained until 1934 when he was chosen President of Edward Waters College. In 1924 Brother Long attended the summer session of the University of California, and from 1927 to 1931 he attended the summer sessions of the University of Cincinnati from which he received his M. A. degree. From 1925 to 1931 he was extension instructor for Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College, at Tallahassee, Florida, and during the summers of 1927 through 1930 he was instructor a t the institution. In 1927 Brother Long organized the West Florida Educational Association and was its President from 1927 until 1935. He was also President of the Florida State Teachers Association from 1930 to 1933, and is also a member of the National Association of Teachers in Colored Schools. Brother Long is a member of Upsilon Lambda Chapter, Jacksonville, Florida. Brother J. L. Jones, Ph. D. from the University of Pittsburgh, Brother C. W. Waller, D. M. V. from Iowa State College, and Brother R. C. Francis, Ph. D., from the University of California are recent additions to the faculty of Southern University in Baton Rouge, according to an announcement of Brother Dr. Felton G. Clark, Dean of the School. Brother Artis P. Graves, former Ail-American star a t Bluefield, and graduate student in Zoology at the University of Iowa, has been added to the facultyt of Morris Brown College as Dean of Men, and assistant Coach.

BRO. J. LEONARD LEWIS Brother Lewis was born in Jacksonville, Florida, October 20, 1905, the son of James and Bertha Lewis. He received his early education at the Davis Street Elementary School and at Cookman Institute. In 1921 he entered the high school department of Morehouse College where he remained until h e h a d c o m p l e t e d his collegiate t r a i n i n g . Brother Lewis received his A. B. degree from Morehouse in 1929, and in 1930 he entered the law school of New York University. While a t Morehouse, Brother Lewis distinguished himself as a debater and orator which fact determined his future profession. New York University conferred the degree L. L. B. on him in 1933. Immediately following his graduation, Brother Lewis opened his law office in Jacksonville and became an immediate success. But this is not all. He became connected with the AfroAmerican Life Insurance Company of which his grandfather, A. L. Lewis, is founder, and so creditably did he conduct the Mortgage, Loan, and Bond Department that the stockholders saw fit to place him on the Board of Directors of the Afro-American Pension Bureau, Inc. and to retain him as their attorney. Then as a befitting climax, Brother Lewis was made 4th Vice-President and Assistant Treasurer of the Insurance Company, a million dollar corporation. Upsilon Lambda is justly proud of Brother Lewis!

All former Brothers of Xi and Chi Lambda Chapters are deeply grievled to learn of the death of Mrs. Elmira Merchant, affectionately known to all Wilberforceans as "Mother Merchant." For almost twenty-five years she was the mother of Xi Chapter. She always took a deep and sincere interest in the general welfare of the Brothers of Xi. Mrs. Merchant passed away on Monday, August 31st. a t Wilberforce. MILTON S. J. WRIGHT

October, 1936

THE S P H I N X

Honored At

Meharry

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Making Fine Record At

Philander-Smith

BROTHER G. A. GALVINâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;one of the two students at Meharry Medical College to be selected for membership into Kappa Pi, honorary Medical Society. Brother Galvin served as President of Chi Chapter at Meharry during the nast academic year. He took his undergraduate work at Howard University, and was an honor student in chemistry, winning the Chi Rho Sigma key. He is the son of Rev. and Mrs. A. A. Galvin of Newport News, Virginia.

Directs Educational

Survey In

Tennessee

Dr. Marquis Lafayette Harris Dr. Marquis Lafayette Harris, distinguished Alpha man and the first Negro to receive the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Ohio State University, embarked on his first year as president of Philander Smith College in September. Dr. Harris was born at Tuskegee, Alabama, in 1907. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Clark University, a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Gammon Theological Seminary, and a Master's degree from Boston University. He has also attended Western Reserve and Harvard Universities. His doctoral dissertation, "Some Conceptions of God in the Gifford Lectures during the Period 1927-1929," has been pronounced to be one of the most scholarly works illustrating the ultimate sameness of the goals of science and religion. Prior to his acceptance of the presidency of Philander Smith College, Dr. Harris had for three years been head of the department of Sociology and Psychology and dean of Samuel Houston College in Austin, Texas. Before holding this position, he was pastor of the Pennsylvania Avenue Church in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Harris has also taught at Clark and Claflin Universities.

Peeking Over Alpha's Eastern Horizon

BRO. MONROE D. SENTER Mu Lambda Chapter, Knoxville, Tennessee, is serving as State Supervisor of the National Educational Survey in Tennessee. The object of this survey, which was authorized by Commissioner of Education Studebaker, Department of Interior, is to determine to what extent educational training has aided students in making adjustments during the past ten years.

Peeking over the eastern horizon of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity is the third son of our general treasurer, Brother Percival R. Piper, of Detroit, Michigan. He has been christtened Benjamin Francis Piper. In 1934 Brother Piper was accompanied by his oldest son to Chicago, 111., to the Special convention. He may show up in New Orleans, La., in 1937 with all three.

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THE

ALPHA GAMMA LAMBDA N e w York, N e w York (Continued from page 27) Thus it is that Alpha Gamma Lambda can point with pride at two of her sons, who have shown that the statement, quoted so often, is true in every sense. " T h a Alpha Phi Alpha Transcends All". Alpha Gamma Lambda has tried also to sustain interest during the vacation period by having an informal party in honor of the Olympic team and to increase the population of our community, but so far the Brothers missed out on Fraternity material, for all of the arrivals were ladies. But since the reputation of the Fraternity has been its ability to find gorgeous creatures, I guess this didn't matters very much. The most popular, "brand new papa" in Alpha Gamma Lambda Chapter at the present is Brother William K. "Puss" Saunders. Alpha Gamma Lambda boasts of a financial list of over seventy-five and hopes to raise this to one hundred very soon when the Reclamation drive gets under way to locate all the Brothers living in New York City and its immediate territory. At the last meeting, which was the first of the year after vacation, the chapter was host to nearly sixty Brothers who listened with interest and attention to the detailed reports of the summer convention held in Los Angeles from Brother Farrow R. Allen, President; of our chapter, and Eastern Vice-President of our Fraternity, and from Brother Randolph, member of the Executive Council.

"WE LAMENT" (Continued from page 21) and fighting. It must come gradually, naturally. His identity must be recognized. What part, however, has the Almighty in this "salvation" ? What place has He who seems to have once again "turned His back" upon a forgotten race, a forgotten people— I asked the White Lordi Jesus What was the use of prayer? The answer is given in the most radical, most argued about, most talked of poem of Langston Hughes— "Goodbye Christ". Here he strikes a note of radicalism which borders on—if it does not totally accept Atheism. The tone is blasphemous; the mood is daring, impudent. In a mood more fitting to the "scum of society" than to the intellectual educated Negro, he berates Christ who "came to earth that man might be saved from himself." In the manner that one may cast off an old coat or hat; or, possibly, in the manner in which one may obtain riddance of a pestilent animal, he addresses Christ: Listen, Christ You did alright in your day, I reckon— But that day's gene now. The man who believes implicitly, as did Rousseau, Godwin. and Shelley, in mankind and human nature can see no use for a director of this same human nature which has proved itself treacherous before; instead, You're getting in the way of things, Lord. Move! There is no room in his philosophy of life for this "sold," "pawned," "wore out," figure. There is only p'.aca for Marx Communist Levin Peasant Stalin Worker, Me; the "new guy with no religion at all."— He seems to forget, for a moment, the scene— They hung my black young lover

SPHINX

October, 1936

To a crossroads tree! Who are they? Are they synonymous with the "Christ" who is told Don't be so slow about movin'! The world is mine from now on— And nobody's gonna sell ME. Or are they synonymous with those who have "sold", "pawned," "wore out" Christ? Are' they not synonymous with the "Marx Communist Levin Peasant Stalin Worker" of the author's creation ? They have "ghosted" up a swell story, too! As the poem closes, we are left to feel again the thud of a closed door, an averted face; but this time it is not the face of God. It it the face of the poet! In the very late years of his life, Robert Browning, who is connected with the Negro by a very close bond of relationship—his father suffered inestimable hardship because he freed the slaves on his West Indies plantation when he realized their hardships and the injustice of one race of men "lording over" another—wrote, in his Epiloque toAsolando, a passage which describes what the Negro, as a race, has done and should do in order to attain final recognition. He describes One who never turned his back but marched breast forward, Never doubted clouds would break, Never dreamed, though right were tvorsted, Wrong would triumph Held we fall to rise, are baffled to fight better, sleep to wake. The above lines, filled with courage, hope, persistence, faith, are expressive of the early Negro torn from his native soil in Africa, brought to a new land, made to live in cabins and till the soil for his "masters". There is, in them, a place for the Steal away to Jesus. With a resultant new hope, new faith; but with the marching ever leading forward, the implicit belief in— because there had been times before when Jesus meant consolation—"a better day a-comin'." It is quit a distance from this same hope, expressed by Du Bois, to the dismal hopeless picture painted by Hughes. However, Du Bois realized the fallacy of violating the dominating principles of Negro nature—the spirit of courage in which faith and hope are the agents upon which the courage subsists. He cannot trust, as does Hughes, mere human whims and fickleness. More is necessary! And he finds it in submission— Thy will, O Lord, be done! To accept the theories of Jean Jacques Rousseau, the principle which holds that man, left alone, tends towards good, or the determinism of William Godwin, from whom Percy Bysshe Shelly learned his philosophy that love alone will solve the difficulties of mankind, is to accept with them their weaknesses and the resultant consequences. To accept God as the final mediator between mankind and mankind, but to assist God by raising oneself through the virtue of courage—indomitable, yet everlasting—is to rise above the mire of the weaknesses of humanity. Who is to be followed; Du Bois or Hughes? The poet of the Negro National Anthem couches the answer in noble poetic language. He touches the Negro mind and heart with the plea— God of our weary years, God of our silent tears. Thou who has led us thus far on our way; Thou who hast by Thy' migiht led us into the light, Keep us forever in Thy paths we pray; Lest our feet stray from the places our God where we met Thee; Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee, Shadowed beneath Thy Hand, may we forever stand, True to our God. true to our native hind!

October, 1936

THE

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VOICE OF THE SPHINX Garnnta Vhtipter-, Richmond* I is-fjiniu IS1*'

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T *5»8 The following brothers are represented in this picture from Gamma Chapter, located at Richmond Virginia; First row, left to right: William R. Chavious, James H. Williams, financial Secretary; William C. Calloway, Roland D. Faley, Chaplain; David A. Graves, President; Aubrey J. Taylor, Jr., recording Secretary; Francis Brinkley; Daniel D. Douglas, Vice-President. Second row left

to right: Spingarn DeWitt Brinkley, John W. Wood, Allen H. Vessels, Editor to the Sphinx; DeClue K. Lankford, Treasurer; Richard T. Langston, Morris M. Hatchett, Murrell H. Winfree. Third row, left to right: William E. Mitchell, Jr., James A. Brinkley, Jr., James R. Olphin, Arthur H. Wilson, Frederick C. Lewis and Leonard G. Barbour

MU LAMBDA CHAPTER

land Lewis were at the University of Chicago and Brother Clarence W. Davis at Columbia University. Among the teachers at summer schools were: Brother E. Franklin Frazier at Swarthmore, Brother Doyey A. Wilkerson at Virginia State College and James B. Browning at Virginia Union University. Though many brothers were away during the summer the Alpha castle on Third street was not neglected and Brothers Callis, Wesley, Auzenne, Long, Lawson, and others have put aside the regular routines of their responsible positions to devote their time and their economic support to our house project. Brothers, the lack of space doesn't allow me an opportunity to tell you even a little about the work of Brothers Joseph H. B. Evans and Harry S. McAlpin in the Resettlement Administration; of the research project which Brother Ellis O. Knox is directing, and the countless other achievements of the members of Mu-Lambda. By many prophecies the year 1936-37 is going to witness a tremendous revival of interest, so if you are in the nation's capital on the first Thursday of any month, "come by the house" and catch the spirit. Fraternally yours, JAMES B. BROWNING,

Washington. D. C. Dear Brothers: Tho men of our chapter have been holding high the torch of A. Pi A. in various phases of endeavor. In the educational sphere General President Wesley won a coveted Social Science Research Council Grant-in-Aid; and Brothers William Leo Hansberry, James L. Wells, and T. J. Anderson were granted General Education Board Fellowships for the school year 1936-37. Moreover, we shall be proud to count among our number this year Brothers P. A. Fitzgerald and James A. Porter, who are returning with an advanced degree in their respective fields of dentistry and art. A rather large number of brothers from other chapters have come to Washington to accept high government positions and have taken a keen interest in the affairs of Mu-Lambda; suffice it to mention only the names of Brothers James A. McLendon of Xi Lambda in Chicago Robertson of Chi Lambda in Wilberforce, and Harold O. Trigg of an "old North State" chapter. Several brothers answered the call for summer school and advanced study. Brothers George O. Butler and High-

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UPSILON LAMBDA Jacksonville, Florida Greetings and salutations: Tho brothers of Upsilon Lambda Chapter are breaking then- long silence which they hope has not been construed to mean inactivity. And, lest such a thought gain credence, they are going to be much in evidence from now on. Warm weather is usually the cue to curtail activities in most chapters, be they graduate or undergraduate, but not so with Upsilon Lambda who never waits for p's and q's—if you know how puns are made! (Blame it on the heat and the Knock Knock craze!) Brothers William Morris and Alfred Farrell officially opened the summer season around the last of June with an evening "tea"—the kind with a kick—at the home of Brother Morris. And, take it from me, a good time was had by all—if mellowness is any indication of enjoyment! The: spirit radiated at Brothers Morris and Farrell's June "shower" was so contagious that Brother C. S. Long, Jr., president of Edward Waters College, offered to entertain the brothers next. His offer was not rejected, and we invaded his home shortly after the fourth to do justice to as nice a dinner as many of us have ever had placed before us. And not a few of us really needed a decent meal for a change! Brother Leonard Lewis was host to the chapter twice. At a strictly business meeting held in his law office, he surprised us with "the pause that refreshes"—and I don't mean coca-cola! The following week we assembled at his home for light—but not too light—refreshments. Brother Charles Williams, a Jacksonvillian by birth and an alumnus of Xi Chapter, entertained the brothers in August while visiting his parents. Brother Williams is a teacher in Fort Smith, Arkansas, but he is welcome to return to Jacksonville at any time. Visiting brothers who enjoyed the Southern hospitality of Upsilon Lambda during the summer were: Professor R. J. Hawkins, registrar of LeMoyne College, at Memphis, Tennessee; Cyril Andrews, insurance executive of Tampa, Florida; Professor Phillip Sunday summer school teacher at Edward Waters College; Paul Dill Morton, national representative of the Rumford Baking Powder Company; Rev. S. H. Hunter of Atlanta, Georgia, and John Fant, a student of Lane College, at Jackson, Tennessee. But don't think for one minute, brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha, that the summer was spent in merrymaking alone. Each social gathering was prefaced by a business session in which old and new business was discussed, tabled, or completed. Plans were made for fall and winter activities, and funds were collected to pay off all chapter indebtedness so that the slate might be clean by fall. Brother Robert Butler's brain child, the Orange Blossom Ceremonial, which had its inauguration last December, will be repeated again this year on December 5. The cermonlal takes its name from the Orange Blossom football classic which Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College, of Tallahassee, Florida, stages annually with an opponent of her choice in Jacksonvile, Florida, on the first Saturday in December. The affair last year was a grand success, and Brother Butler and his Orange Blossom committee, composed of Brothers James Green, Charles Furlow, Morris, and Farrell, intend to surpass the previous effort. The chief aim of the Orange Blossom ceremonial is to draw as many unfinancial brothers as possible back into the folds of Alphr. through Upsilon Lambda, the only graduate chapter in Florida. If the national organization had a few more assiduous brothers like Brother Butler there would be very few unfinancial Alpha men throughout the length and breadth of the land. But more about the ceremonial later. Any brother who would like to have more information concerning it, may obtain the same by writing to Brother Butler at 727 W. Ashley Street, Jacksonville, Florida.

SPHINX

October, 1936

And just to give you brothers an idea of the type of men wo have in Upsilon Lambda Chapter, we are sending to the column of Significant Alpha News photographs and write-ups of two of our outstanding brothers. I hope that will hold you until the next issue of The Sphinx. Fraternally yours, ALFRED FARRELL, Associate Editor to The Sphinx.

BETA LAMBDA CHAPTER Kansas City, Missouri With the completion of the new Lincoln High School in Kansas City, Missouri, the old but adequately equipped building has been transformed into a vocational and junior high school. The new feature in this section is headed by Brother Earl Thomas who returns to us from Dayton, Ohio, where he was vice-principal of the junior high school. This school is not new to Mr. Thomas for it was from here that he left to take up his work in Dayton. Brother H. 0. Cook was rewarded as principal of the new Lincoln High School which is one of the most magnificent structures of its kind in this section. Mr. Cook was principal of the old Lincoln and because of his success in such a position has been retained as head of the new institution. Brother William Towers brings honor to all Alpha men by his recent nomination to candidacy on the Republican ticket for representative from this district to the legislature of Kansas. Mr. Towers is a Kansas City, Kansas, lawyer and at present holds the position of assistant city attorney. Brother Mack C. Spears brought double honor to the Alpha organization during the past summer. He was first elected commander of group number one of the American Woodmen of the World. His recent appointment to the executive board of the National Hospital Association was received in Philadelphia at the meeting of the National Medical Association. Brother Spears is a teacher of Commerce at Sumner High School, Kansas City, Kansas. Brother E. B. Perry was re-elected head of the National Hospital Association in Philadelphia during its meeting there. Dr. Perry is a prominent Kansas City physician and holds numerous strategic positions in his work in that city. Brother J. R. Lillard was elected to teach English and dramatics at the R. T. Coles School. Mr. Lillard received his Master of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska during the past year. Brother Guy Davis is not only the sole Alpha representative of one of Goodyear's tire stores but the sole race representative and acts to a large degree in a managerial capacity. Brother Richard Tillman has been elected to the faculty of Western University, Kansas City, Kansas, and will teach history. Mr. Tillmon leaves his position at Texas College to take up his work in this city. Beta Lambda men have been resting, working, and studying for the past three months preparatory to making 1936-1937 a most successful year in both their vocations and fraternity work. Their travels have taken them to all sections of the country and in some instances to foreign lands. Brother James A. Jefress, has been chosen to represent the state of Missouri as delegate at large to the National Convention of the American Legion to be held in Cleveland. Mr. Jefress, is a teacher of mathematics at the new Lincoln High School, Kansas City, Mo.

October, 1936

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Alpha Tau I <i,iib<lu Chapter* Tulsa, Oklahoma

Alpha Tau Lambda Chapter, Tulsa, Okla., which operates as a beacon light for Alpha Phi Alpha in the great Southwest. Having already won the famous McGhee Cup for its outstading achievement in reclaiming delinquent brothers, Alpha Tau Lambda has continued its leadership in practically every phase of worthy endeavor in the State of Oklahoma. Pictured here are, reading left to right, " A " bottom upward and downward: Brothers J. T. A. West, Clyde Cole, Horace S. Hughes, E. W. Clark, Dr. Lloyd H. Williams, Fred Parker and Dr. R. B. Taylor; "T", left to right at top: J. Tyler Smith, Secretary; Dr. Tolly W. Harris,

ALPHA TAU LAMBDA Tulsa, Oklahoma Greetings Brothers: The last article presented certain facts that there are some outstanding brothers associated with Alpha Tau Alpha Lambda Chapter. It is certain that by the time you read this article, the information of these brothers will be more or less "ancient history." On the other hand, I am sure you will as I delight in the accomplishments. At the close of the public schools of Tulsa, Booker Washington High School, known throughout the length and breadth of the United States, graduated one hundred and thirty-eight boys and girls. This is by no means the largest graduating ciass of this institution. The principal of this high school is Brother Ellis W. Woods. Brother Woods has been principal of this institution for some twenty years. He is called the father of the younger intellectuals. In addition there is a junior high school' named after George Washington Carver. The principal of this institution is Brother Clyde L. Cole. Brother Cole presented for graduation approximately three hundred boys and girls, the largest graduating class. One other honorable mention, Brother James A. Rouce, is assistant principal of the largest grade school of Tulsa. This is significant news, because "significant brothers are the doer." So much then for the accomplishments of some of the brothers of Alpha Tau Lambda Chapter. The next article to the Sphinx will contain more information about the accomplishments of the brothers of the chapter. We have presented the educational institutions of our city. Since our attention centers along the lines of education, let us review the activities of the annual educational campaign as sponsored by Alpha Tau Lambda Chapter Under the directions of the Brothers Horace S. Hughes

President; Willie D. Combs, Vice-President; Dr. F. Melvin Payne, Treasurer; Down: Robert L. Fairchilds, Associate Editor of the Sphinx; Dr. E. W. South, Chaplain; and Archie Morgan, Sergeant-at-arms; "Lambda", left to right, bottom to top and down: S. D. McCree, Guilford Snowten, Dr. Clifford Lythcott (deceased), E. W. Woods, Jesse Lee Greadington, James Rouce and Julius A. Moran. Other brothers whose pictures do not appear here are Williams H. Brown, W. E. Anderson, L. L. McGee, L. L. Weaver, R. C. Bryant, William H. Elliot, Wallace Andrews, F. D. Moon, Lee Arthur Ward, and William H. Hall.

State Director, and Robert L. Fairchild, Director of Eastern Division, a well developed plan was created. The plan may be summarized as follows: May 3rd, five churches were selected. Each minister of each of these churches was asked to preach a sermon, with the thought in mind, Education for Citiznship. The seniors of Booker Washington High were divided into five groups. Each group was isntructed to attend one of these churches. This was done. The brothers inform me that the sermons preached were the caliber that exemplifies the spirit ofAlpha Phi Alpha. The graduating classes of all Negro High Schools were invited by our chapter to meet with us in Senior Day activities. The second series of events took place Friday, May 8, 1936. The rain began to fall about 9:20 a.m. At 10:00 a.m., the rain was falling rapidly and no report of any out-of-town seniors. The first to arrive were seniors of McAlister, Bristow, Ft. Gibson, Taft, Claremore, in so order. This series of events may be characterized as follows: registration of all seniors, getting such information as name, address, whether he plans to enter college, where, and what he plans to major in, whether he will need financial aid, and name of his or her parents. Individual conferences of seniors between the hours of 11:00 a.m. to 12:20 a.m. Seniors from out of town were given tickets to get lunch. Between the hours 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., group conferences were held with the following subject's being discusssd: (1) What is the practical value of education? by Brother F. M. Payne; (2) What can the Negro boy or girl do to prepare himself for a place in the New American Civilization? by Brother E. W. Claik; (3) Who should and should not go to college? by Brother J. T. A. West. A general assembly and program was arranged between 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. This program was held in the auditorium of Booker Washington High School. A theatre party for the seniors. All seniors attending the general assembly

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were given passes to attend the theatre party. That night after the debate of Dallas vs. Tulsa, the seniors were permitted to socialize. A scholarship medal was given to one of the outstanding boys of the graduating class of Booker Washington High School. The base upon which this medal award was made was, scholarship, being a gentleman, congenial, a good citizen, and good character. This young man's name is Wright Wilson. The award was made at one of the assembly meetings of the school, at the close of the school activities. Tho brothers of Oklahoma City had planned to bring thirty-one seniors. It rained furiously in that neighborhood. I am sure the rain prevented their being with us on this occasion. We know the spirit is there and we appreciate the intended co-operation. Brother Williams H. Hill of Shawnee also had planned to bring eleven seniors to the Senior Day exercises. It also rained aplenty in his neighborhood. He and his group did not get here. Brother F. D. Moon, E. E. Weaver did not get here because of the closing school activities. We missed you brothers, yet we know self-preservation is the first law. We are happy to announce that several of the younger brothers have graduated from college. It is likely that they will join with Alpha Tau Lambda Chapter May I mention these brothers' names and their alma mater ? They are Kobart Jarret, Wiley University; Roy Wilson, Fisk University; John Hope Franklin, Harvard University, in th:s case a master of arts degreeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;congratulations and many more of them. The brothers of Alpha Tau Lambda of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity participated in a stag Friday, July 31, 1936. This event was planned and carried out by Brothers Clyde L. Cole, principal of Carver Junior High, and Dr. T. W. Harris, pharmacist of Ferguson Drugs. The following brothers of Alpha Tau Lambda chapter were present: Brothers Dr. E. W. South, John Tyler Smith, Clyde L. Cole, Dr. T. W. Harris, Guilford Snowten, Jessie Lee Gieadington, S. D. McCree, Dr. Lloyd H. Williams, Dr. F. Melvin Payne, Horace Hughes, E. W. Woods, and Robert L. Fairchiid. There were several visiting brothers, Roy Wilson, graduate of Fisk University, 1936, and a member oi Alpha Chi Chapter; John Hope Franklin, graduate of Fisk University, 1935, Master of Arts of Harvard University, 1936, and a member of Alpha Chi Chapter; and Hobart Jarret, graduate of Wiley University, 1936, and a member of Alpha Sigma Chapter; Brother Hall graduate of West Virginia State. It is commendable that these last mentioned young men graduated from Booker Washington High School, Tulsa, Okla. This stag was held in the palatial home of Brother Clyde L. Cole, 416 E. Marshall flace, Tulsa, Oklahoma. A dutch-lunch was prepared and served. This repast consisted of assorted cold meats, pickles, crackers, rye bread, and the drink was cold root beer. There was plenty of eats. After the repast had gotten under way, Brother T. W. Harris, our president, acting as master of ceremonies, called upon each of the brothers for expressions. Each biother left for home expressing his appreciation for the delightful time enjoyed. Dr. Clifford Lythcot, brother of Alpha Phi Alpha, a member of Alpha Tau Lambda Chapter, Tulsa, Oklahoma, died July 8, 1936. The tuneial was held Monday, July 14, and the lollowing brothers were pallbearers: Clyde L. Cole, Jesse Lee Greadington, John Tyler Smith, F. Melvin Payne, Willie D. Combs, and Robert L. Fairchiid. Brother Lythcott worked ardently in getting Alpha Tau Lambda Chapter set up in this city. He was one of the original seven, and is charter member of the chapter. We enter his name among those who have passed on. We also enter his name as a member of Omega Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Good-bye Brother Lythcott. We too will face the inevitable and join you.

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October, 1936

ALPHA THETA CHAPTER Iowa University Alpha Theta Chapter begins its fifteenth year of existence with a spirit of optimism after several years of hardships. Scholastically, Alpha Theta has a reason for its feeling of optimism, as it ranked fourth from the top among all the other fraternities on the Iowa Campus for the year 1935-36. All brothers as well as pledgers are fired with determination to push Alpha Theta even nearer the front during the coming year. Athletically, we have cause to feel optimistic also. We have within our fold the very backbone of the University of Iowa football team, in the person of the one and only Oze Simmons. Along with Oze, we have his brother Don, one of the most deadly tackles on the team. We were surprised this year with the return to the Iowa Campus and to the Iowa squad of the "personality man," Wilbur Wallace. These men will carry the color of Alpha Theta and Alpha Phi Alpha on the gridiron this year, and we are hoping that Alpha men everywhere will be as proud of them as we are here at Iowa. During the coming season we are sure that we shall have a number of brothers visiting our city to see our football stars in action. We extend and invitation to all such brothers to stop in at the Alpha house and take advantage of our hospitality. We hope that this will be a great year for Alpha Phi Alpha in all respects, and we pledge our support to make it such. Gerald R. Boyd, President

OMICRON CHAPTER Pittsburgh, Pa. Greetings to All Brothers: Brother Walter R. Talbot, professor of mathematics at Lincoln University, Missouri, "middle-aisled" on last August 12th, with Kathleen Mitchell of Cincinnati, Ohio, recent graduate of Wilberforce College. Brother Melvin Goode and Brother Walter Waters attended the ceremonies bringing greetings from Brother Talbot's mother chapter, Omicron. Brother Melvin Goode is walking that "last mile" with one of Pittsburgh's loveliest members of the younger set, Mary Lovelle. Congratulations, Mel, the boys wish you much happiness. Brother Goode is now connected with Probation Office of Allegheny County Juvenile Court. Among Alpha visitors to the Smoky City this summer were: Brother Jerry Bradford, from Fisk University; Brother Pete Tyson, from Washington, D. C. Brother Raymond Pace Alexander, of Philadelphia; Brother Bedford V. Lawson, of Washington, D. C ; Brother Thurgood M. Marshall, fiom Baltimore, and a host of other brothers who were delegates to the National Bar Association meet held here during the first week in August, and mixed their law meetings with "Frog Week" merry-making. Brother James (Bus) Jones, now heads the Biology Department, at Baton Rouge School, in Louisiana. Omicron's president announces that: The chapter is planning forward to the sponsoring of a county-wide educational program for the fall, possibly under the leadership of Brother Wm. K. (Bud) Leftridge, who will take time cut from his administrative duties with the Local National Youth Administration. Brother' Garfield Nickens, Howardite, recently passed Pennsylvania State Board, which will bring to Smoky City another competent physician. We were happy to enjoy the summer companionship of Brother Cecil Poole, who returns to Michigan University Law School. Brother Walter Waters heads a Co-operative Grocery

October, 1936

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Alpha Zeta, West Va. State College

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BETA ALPHA CHAPTER Morgan College

ALPHA ZETA CHAPTER West Va. Slate College Alpha Zeta cordially extends its best wishes to all its brothers in that great fraternity. Especially do we send our greetings to the graduate brothers of Alpha Zeta, who are in the world making their mark It is on the glorious past record of our brothers who have left us that we, a small group of nine, are basing our plans for the year. Alpha Zeta has always led in scholarship among the fraternities; has always had a goodly number of the cherished offices on the campus; has set the highest scholarship mark for fraternities; and has always had the most "beat-out" Prom. These are the attainments that we who still carry the torch at West Virginia State must live up to. In John Thompson our president, Lewis Bickett our vice-president and Clark Smith, Jr., we have our seasoned men. The rest of the group is made up of neophytes William Robinson, secretary, Theodore Witcher, Carlyle Harris, James McFatridge, William Boyd, and J. Meredith Kidd, associate editor to the Sphinx. We know that there is a great deal for us to do, but we are young and have the will to do. We have great plans for this year and we are going to set new records in scholarship and in extra-curricular activities. Help us make this a Phenomenal year, all of you, by visiting us often, by attending our parties and our Prom in May. You'll hear more about it later. We extend our best wishes to all fraters, toward a greater year in Alpha, J. MEREDITH KIDD, Associate Editor to the Sphinx.

group in his home city, McKeesport, where he manages that city's first successful colored retail grocery store. Brother James W. Bums is still busy planning and selling his volume of life insurance for a local white insurance agency, counselling his applicants on life insurance for specific needs. Brother Felix Gobble, Omicron's efficient secretary, matriculates this term at University of Pittsburgh Law School. We hope for him much success in his chosen field. Extending greetings and best wishes to our dear brothers in the fold, I remain, Fraternally yours, BROTHER Wm. K. LEFTRIDGE, Associate Editor of Sphinx.

Greetings, Brothers, from Beta Alpha at dear old Morgan College in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. One June list at the home of Brother Leroy Carrol at 705 Dolphin Street a banquet "fit for kings" was tendered the newly initiated brothers, Drake, Wynder, Cephas, Wright and Lockwood. Brother Drake was captain of Morgan's championship football team during the past school year, and was an All-American guard for two years. Brother Wynder has won honors in the field of biology, his major field of study. Brother Cephas, a chemistry major, is a promising junior. Brother Wright who will be a sophomore this coming school year (current academic year) was president of the freshman class this past year. Brother Wright is also quite active in extra-curricula activities. Brother Lockwood, now a junior, was president of both his freshman and sophomore class. He is an honor student, having attained honors, both general honors and honors in his major, chemistry. Brother Lockwood is active in campus life. He serves as secretary of the Y. M. C. A. and is a member of the basketball team. Before his initiation, Brother Drake was president of the Pledge Club, while Brother Lockwood served as secretary. At the same banquet officers for the coming school year was elected and installed. They are: Brothers Herbert G. Hardin, president; James Hite, vicepresident; Hyland Reed, secretary; Leroy Carroll, treasurer; William Vurnell Lockwood, associate editor of the Sphinx! Graduation was the swan song for our outgoing president, Brother Wilbur Jordan. Brother Jordan is truly an exemplary Alpha man. He is filled with as much zeal and interest in the well-being of Alpha as he was when he "first saw the light." This endurable spirit of Brother Jordan is in a large measure responsible for the activity of Beta Alpha in the campus life of this college and the community life of the city during the past year. No respect we pay Brother Jordan can be too flattering for he has worked hard to make Beta Alpha worthy of being what a chapter of our dear old Alpha Phi Alpha should be. Brother Jordan, we brothers of Beta thank you for guidance and we will try to be motivated by that same fervent spirit that made you a true Alpha man. Before graduation, Brother Jordan was active in extracurricula activities. He was a member of the inter-racial committee of the student Y. M. C. A. He was a member of the championship C. S. A. A. Morgan football team for the past few years. He was captain of the Morgan track championship team. Brother Jordan, who holds records (C. S. A. A.) in the quarter mile and boasts victories in other events, has led his team to victory in such outstanding meets as the annual Penn relays. During the course of the evening, plans were outlined for the coming year. Inspiring messages were delivered by the various brothers. Outgoing president Jordan delivered an inspiring talk in which he entreated us to carry on for Alpha. Brother Hardin, the newly elected president, spoke and pledged himself to the task of guiding and serving Beta Alpha and the entire fraternity. Brother Hardin holds several medals for his excellence in oratory. He is also a member of the track and footbal teams. In closing, Beta Alpha wishes a great deal of success to our brothers everywhere. Fraternally yours, WILL V. LOCKWOOD, Associate Editor.

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October, 1936

Kvtu hm*i Chapter9 Ktihtmusoo* Michigan

BETA IOTA CHARTER MEMBERS, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.â&#x20AC;&#x201D;They are, seated left to right: Brothers Haekley Woodford, president; William Goins, vice-president; Tapley, secretary; Arnold Baker, treasurer; Benjamin Warfield, associate Sphinx Editor; standing,-left

to right: Brothers Cornelius Alexander; Thomas Briscoe, sergeant-at-arms; Slier-man Ford, chaplain; Arthur Harrill. Brother William Foster, assistant secretary, was not present when this picture was taken.

ALPHA LAMBDA CHAPTER

H. E. Hall is president of the Mammoth Life Insurance Company covering several states. S. W. Owens has charge of the U. S. employment office. Ho was formerly in charge of a government setup at Atlanta. , C. Walter Sedwick is in charge of athletic work in a U. S. C. C. camp. Frank Stanley is the editor of the Louisville Defender. Wiley B. Daniels, a recent graduate of Fisk University, has been appointed as a teacher in music in the Jackson Junior High School. , Representative Chas. W. Anderson, a member of the Kentucky Legislature, sponsored an educational bill in the last session. The Department of Education has assisted a number of deserving persons during the summer on account of the Anderon bill.

Louisville. Kentucky Alpha Lambda will extend a genuine Kentucky welcome to the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in their national meeting during the Christmas week. At the September meeting the chapter appropriated money for a scholarship fund. We have the largest enrollment in the history of Alpha Lambda. , Brother Orviile Ballard", who directs the work at Waverley Hill Sanitarium, was honored for the third time in representing the Tuberculosis Association in national convention. Brother Lyman Johnson, our very efficient treasurer and teacher in Central High School, represented us in the California meeting. , Brothers Bates Blackburn, Nathan Hale and George Woodson are teachers in Adult Education movement.

LEE L. BROWN.

October, 1936

Alpha

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Alpha Pi Lambda Chapter, Winston-Salem, N. C. Members shown are reading from left to right, seated: Brothers J. W. Holmes, J. A. Carter, A. H. Anderson, E. S. Wright, G. F. Newell, and J. L. Cary. Standing, left to right: Broth-

ers E. A. Cox, L. Hill, J. B. Jefferies, C. R. Robinson, E. E. Handerson, H. Taylor, W. E. Pitts, J. O. Ellis. Members not shown are Brothers E. Harrison, and E. S. Johnson.

ALPHA PI LAMBDA

Brother Elger S. Johnson, who has been connected with tho North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Co. for the past year, is also leaving us. He has been admitted to the graduate school of the University of Cincinnati, where he will pursue work leading to the degree of Master of Arts. Brother Johnson has the best wishes of each member of our chapter and we hope he will be back with us in another year. We are glad to welcome to our chapter Brother Coaxum, who is connected with the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Winston-Salem, N. C. Alpha Pi Lambda Resumes Activities Now that the end of the summer vacation has joined together once again the various brothers who have been separated for the summer months, things are beginning to hum again, in Winston-Salem, the seat of Alpha Pi Lambda Chapter. We have already held the first meeting of the fiscal year and as we expected, every member was present at the appointed time. After the usual routine business, the brothers spent the time in exchanging experiences. We, of Alpha Pi Lambda, are thoroughly convinced of tho necessity of fraternizing in a social way at various times during the year. We have consequently resumed our practice of having at least one social meeting, aside from tho regular business meeting, each month. The first such meeting of this year was held on Friday evening, September 25, at the home of Bro. E. S. Wright. Brothers Wright and Carter were hosts and entertained the brothers in their usual high style. Aside from the card games and tho excellent repast which the brothers enjoyed, the spirit of brotherhood which prevailed made the occasion one long to be remembered. Brother Gene Henderson has again left us to continue his studies in the graduate school of the University of Iowa. We wish for him continued success in his undertaking. (We have heard it rumored that Bro. Henderson will soon be in line for congratulations for other reasons.)

Activities of the Brothers During the Summer Brother J. A. Carter, principal of Atkins High School, after the close of summer school at his institution, took an extended trip which included Chicago, New York and some parts of Canada. Brother Cary, head coach at Atkins High School, spent most of the summer at his home in Knoxville, Tennessee. Brother E. A. Cox, instructor in chemistry at WinstonSalem Teachers College, taught two sessions of summer school at the conclusion of which he spent some time with relatives in Tennessee. Brother Ellis, teacher at Atkins High School, spent the summer in profitable employment in Winston-Salem. Brother Leander Hill, district manager of Southern Fidelity Insurance Co., remained in the city throughout the summer. Brother Edgar Harrison, assistant manager of North Carolina Mutual Insurance Co., made several flying trips

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but spent the greater part of the summer in WinstonSalem. Brother J. W. Holmes, head of the English department at Winston-Salem Teachers College, spent the first part of the summer at his home in Pittsburgh Pa., after which ho returned to W-S Teachers College for the second session summer school. Brother E. S. Johnson of the North Carolina Mutual staff, spent the summer in Winston-Salem. Brother G. F. Newell, after teaching at the Atkins High School Summer school during the early part of the summer, traveled throughout the state selling subscriptions for magazines. Brother W. E. Pitts, teacher at Kimberley Park School, spent the summer in Winston-Salem, being employed as director of the playground activities at Kimberiey Park Playground. Brother Harold Taylor, teacher and coach at WinstonSalem Teachers College, taught one session of summer school after which he visited relatives in Marion, Alabama. Brother E. S. Wright remained in the city where he was busily engaged in the practice of medicine. Brothe:' A. H. Anderson, principal of Columbia Heights School, taught two sessions of summer school at WinstonSalem Teachers College after which he spent a week visiting relatives in Wilmington, Delaware, Cape May, N. H., and Philadlphia, Pa. You may be interested in identifying these brothers by consulting the chapter picture. Sincerely and fraternally yours ALBERT H. ANDERSON, Cor. Sec'y.

ALPHA CHI LAMBDA Augusta, Georgia Alpha Chi Lambda Chapter, Augusta, Ga. From the "Garden City of the South," Augusta, Georgia, the seat of Alpha Chi Lambda, I send greetings to the brotherhood of A. Phi A. from the brotherhood here. We were absent from the last issue of the Sphinx, but our activities in Augusta were in no manner limited. Following are our 1936 officers and a few highlights from the chapter's diary: Brothers A. C. Griggs, president; S. M. Jenkins, vice president; John M. Tutt, secretary; E. Yerby Lowe, assistant secretary-editor to Sphinx; A. Murray Carter, treasurer; Dr. R. L. Lockett, chaplain; and Dr. H. E. Hill, sergeant-at-arms. At the culmination of "Education-for-Citizenship" week, May 3, in Augusta, a broadcast over station WRDW was had with an address by Brother H. E. Hill as main feature. The theme of the address was "Citizenship." A history of the educational program of Alpha was given linked with a brief history of the organization of the fraternity and its influence on mankind at large. Music for the occasion was furnished by the Haines Institute Sextette under tho supervision of Mrs. John M. Tutt, talented wife of our secretary. As a musical theme of the program at the beginning and end of the program Ye Ole Editor gave his interpretation of the Alpha hymn. Brother H. E. Hill, prominent pharmacist of Augusta, at whom Dan Cupid had been shooting arrows for the past year, surrendered to the requests of this creature and took unto himself a bride in the person of Miss Mamie Eugenia Ashmore of Appling, Georgia. After the private ceremony (witnessed by Yours Truly) the couple left for Charleston, South Carolina, to visit the groom's parents. On returning to Augusta the couple left for Seneca, South Carolina, where Dr. Hill now owns and operates a drug store. Latest reports from Seneca are to the effect that the couple is happy as can be and that business in Seneca is good. Occasionally Augusta is honored with the presence of visiting fraters whom the chapter is always glad to wel-

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October, 1936

come. During June Brother Alfred Thomas of Detroit, Michigan, spent several days visiting in Augusta. Brother Al is a senior in the College of Medicine at Meharry Medical College at Nashville, Tennessee. He is a member of Chi chapter. Brother A. Murray Carter, statistician at the home office of The Pilgrim Insurance Company of Augusta, and head of the Ordinary department too, attended the National Association of Negro Insurance Executives which met in Detroit in July. Brother Carter says that the Detroiters showed him a "swanky time." Brother John M. Tutt spent the summer as usual in New York City. He attended the summer session at Columbia University while there. Brother Griggs spent his vacation at his home in Farmville, Virginia, visiting hs mother. During a meeting of the chapter at Haines Institute recently the attention of the president, Brother Griggs, was suddenly attracted by a knock on the door. In walked a young man who is connected with the local troops of Boy Scouts. "Is this the meeting of the Boy Scouts ?" he asked. "No," was the reply, "only Apes this time, sonny." Augusta is fortunate in having two undergraduate "Apes" who lend some valuable assistance to the chapter's programs at all times. Both brothers hail from Beta Delta chapter at South Carolina State College at Orangeburg, South Carolina. They are Brothers Hinton James, better known as "College Tramp," and Rias Columbus Bennett, better known as "Wiath Columbuth" or "Popularity." Brother James has attended about as many colleges as the four years will permit. He has decided, however, to remain at State where he will receive a B. S. in Agriculture in January. At this time he says he will connect himself officially with Alpha Chi Lambda. Brother Bennett will connect in '38 when he expects to receive a B. S. or B. A. whatever the case might be. Alpha Chi. Lambda regrets that we were unable to see you at the Los Angeles convention in August. You can bet your life that we will not miss the next one which meets in New Orleans, Louisiana, in '37. Until the next issue of The Sphinx we'll be seeing you. Fraternally yours, E. YERBY LOWE, Editor to Sphinx.

UPSILON CHAPTER Kansas University Greetings: Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., sends greetings to all chapters, graduate and undergraduate. To those brothers who are in school we forecast a happy, prosperous and successful year. School has begun. We of Upsilon have been very busy with Rush Week. This week was started with parties and included smokers. The outstanding event of the week was Upsilon's famous Annual Weiner Roast. Trucks furnished transportation fifteen miles out, where everyone spent a very enjoyable evening dancing and roasting weiners. Rush Week activities were conducted by Brothers Eldridge Leonard, Prentice Townsend, Francis Herndon, Arthur McLendon and Clifford Spottsville. At this time we are happy to announce the pledging of the following men: John Hodge, Luther Marshall, John West, Earl West, Hubert Perkins, Herbert Voorhies, Arthur Greenwood, LeRoy Thompson, Gilbert Alexander, William Palm, William Jeltz, Noel Alsbrook, Ralph Bush, Ephram Ewing, Walter Scott and Floyd Love. With such a large Sphinx club we are planning to make this our best and most prosperous year. Alpha Phi Alpha marches on. Sincerely and fraternally yours, MAURICE LeGRANDE ABERNATHY, Associate Editor of The Sphinx.

October, 1936

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Rvtti Litmbila Vhapter9 Kunsas Uity9 Missouri

IOTA LAMBDA CHAPTER Indianapolis, Indiana By Brother H. M. Riley Brother Robert L. Wright has resumed his work at School No. 42 as Industrial Arts teacher after visiting relatives in Springfield, 111. Brother Spurling Clark is in the Pharmacy Department of the Methodist Episcopal Hospital. Brother Clark is the only Negro to ever hold this position. Brother Thomas Horner, chapter secretary, is employed as Deputy Collector in the Internal Revenue Department in the Federal Building. He is also the only Negro to ever hold this position in this state. At present he is the only race man in the state holding this position. Brother Arthur Roney is operating his own business. He is in partnership with his sister, who has opened the Roney Modiste Shoppe. The following brothers are Master Masons: Brothers Spurling Clark, Arthur Roney, John Horner, Thomas Horner, Ralph Hapley, Mercer Mance, Grant Hawkins, Ralston Mitchell, and Dr. Bruce. All are members of the Southei'n Cross, F. & &M. No. 18, and members of Iota Lambda Chapter. Brother Radford Morris spent the summer in camp of Joe Lewis. He was accompanied by his recent bride

•,••'•

and Brother George Gray. Mrs. Mercer Mance was seen tripping a fantastic toe at the Omega dance with her distinguished husband, Brother Mercer Mance. Members attending the last meeting at the residence of Brother H. M. Riley, were Brothers Mercer Mance, Averitte Corley, chaplain; Grant Hawkins, president; George Gray, vice-president; Thomas L. Horner, secretary; Alfred Grayson, treasurer; John L. Horner, La Verne Newsome, Radford Morris, Norman Merrifield, H. M. Riley, and Chas. Thomas. Brother H. T. Riley and Brother H. M. Riley are officers is on the Election Committee and the latter on the American Educations Week Committee. Brother Norman Merrifield taught in the summer school at Fisk University this summer. Brother La Verne Newsome has been appointed to the Music Department at Crispus Attucks High School. Brother H. T. Riley was a delegate to the National Convention at Los Angeles. Upon the return trip, he and Mrs. Riley visited Boulder Dam and other scenic points. Brother Mack Spears visited in the city from Kansas City, Kansas. While in the city, he visited Brother and Mrs. H. M. Riley. Iota Lambda Chapter plans to give a formal dance October 24, 1936.

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October, 1936

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Beta Tau Chapter, New Orleans, La. Seated, left to right: H. Bouise, T. Crawford, J. Brown, N. Rousseve, G. Wright, N. Pitts, and P. Clark.

Standing, left: A. Childs, V. Malbeaux, (Holding banner) C. Patio, F. Baldwin, J. Taylor; Standing, right: F. Hammond and A. Lecesne.

ALPHA EPSILON CHAPTER

shoulders, and the willing spirit that comes swinging out when Alpha men get together. That Alpha song is some tune, isn't it ? Brother Wesley is a grand chap, yes ? But you get the idea. We had a fine time. There is much to report as to the activities of Alpha and Alpha men in this community. As our general officers will tell you this as an Alpha town (swell spot for a convention). You've been reading about the exploits of Brother Archie Williams on the track. He'll be home soon and we'll post you as to the welcome the city and our chapter extends. On the gridiron we must point again with pride to our Brother Walt Gordon—the only Negro, we believe, to be on a "big time" coaching staff in addition to his duties as head scout for the California team. The Y. M. C. A. is progressing rapidly in new quarters under the official leadership of Brother R. Thomas Smith, formerly of Detroit and Pittsburgh. And in all fields of endeavor in the East Bay region, you will find Alpha Phi Alpha men at the helm. In future articles we shall report their activities in g n a t e r detail. Keep Alpha Epsilon in mind. Associate us mentally with the New Bay and Gate bridges, the world fair, the 1940 Olympic tryouts. For those things, you and Alpha Epsilon will serve as ingredients some days for a fine dish for good felowsrip. New officers for 1936-37 are Edward Aubert, president; Dr. William Pittman, vice-president; Attorney L. Richardson, corresponding secretary; Dr. J. C. Coleman, editor to The Sphinx.

California University Greetings Brothers:— It has been entirely too quiet on this Western front and we apologize. Again we resolve to cut out the late hours, breathe deeply, bask in the inv;gorating California sun, and so-to get our articles in. Our delegates are recently back from Los Angeles. No doubt, in other columns a full account of that splendid occasion is rendered. Unofficially we treked southward a dozen strong. Officially, we were represented by Brothers Leonard Richardson and Ted Smith, who brought back inclusive reports—reports renedered S3 smoothly articulate that our stay-at-homes re-lived each moment of the convention hours. Brother Richardson convinved us that we missed a "whale of a time" just as he convinces the jurors of innocense or guilt in his inimitable daily courtroom pleas. Returning from the South with our delegates, were our esteemed General President, Brother Charles H. Wesley, Mrs. Wesley, Secretary Joseph H. B. Evans, Mrs. Evans, and Miss Evans, Brother Lowell Bennett, of Nashville, Brother Bindly Cyrus, of Chicago, Brother William Randolph, of New York, and Brother and Mrs. H. M. Riley, of Indianapolis. We were honored to entertain these guests on the campus of the University of California on the night of August 24th. the agenda included soft lights, music,

October, 1936

THE S P H I N X

Alpha

3Mu Lambda*

ALPHA MU LAMBDA Knoxville, Tennessee Greetings Brothers: Alpha Mu Lambda Chapter, situated at Knoxville, Tenn., gateway to the Smoky Mountain National Park and Norris Dam, is happy to announce that four men have seen the "Light" since the last issue of the Sphinx, namely: Brothers Clarence Graham, Darby Ervin, Leonard Jackson and Homer Saunders. They were given an initiatory banquet at tho Chicken Shack immediately after the initiation with Dr. P. M. Alexander, acting president, presiding. The Neophytes are young men with plenty of enthusiasm and ambition to accomplish something for Alpha Phi Alpha. They aro graduates of Knoxville College of one and two years ago. Brother Graham was appointed a letter carrier at tho local post office this summer. Brother Saunders is connected with the TVA and Brothers Ervin and Jackson are teachers in the local city school system. Three pupils of tho Green Junior Hi School under the supervision of Brother Jackson, teahcer of social sciences, won first, second and third prizes in a Scrap Book contest open to all the school childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;white and blackâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;of Knoxville, sponsored by the Knoxville News-Sentinel. We are glad to welcome back home our former chapter president, Dr. N. A. Henderson, who has just completed a year's study at New York University and Bellevue Hospital on a Rosenwald scholarship. Brother J. Herman Davis, head of the Sociology and

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Economics department of Knoxville College, left this week for the University of Wisconsin, where he will spend a year studying to complete work in his Doctor of Philosophy degree. Brother Geo. (Dusty) Lennon, coach of Austin Hi attended the University of Wisconsin this summer. Wo are expecting our chapter president, Monroe D. Senter, to be back with us by October 1st. He has been located in Nashville for the past six months as State Director of a Vocational Guidance project, which is sponsored by the Interior Department of the Federal Government. Brother George W. McDade, Atty., reports a very delightful vacation spent at Hot Springs, Arkansas. We were pleasantly surprised by a short visit from Jewel Nathaniel A. Murray, who was on his way from the convention held in California. Your scribe is happy to be associated with Brother Charles H. Houston, Esq., special counsel for the N.A.A.C.P. and other attorneys in the Redmond case against the University of Tennessee. On August 10th, the Brothers entertained the members of the other fraternities and sororities and their company and a few other individuals with an "outing" at Brabson's Park, located about 13 miles from the city. Weiner and marshmallow roasting, card playing, dancing and spooning were indulged in by the hosts and their guests. Fraternally yours, CARL A. COWAN, Atty. Associate Editor to Sphinx.

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ALPHA ETA LAMBDA Prairie View College Greetings Brother: Much has transpired since the last issue of our Sphinx in the realms of Alpha Eta Lambda. Brother L. A. Potts who was loaned by Prairie View College for nine months to the government has returned to the college to resume his duties as director of agriculture. He assumed the role of regional director working out of the Department of the Interior, Office of Education. The region under his directorship included Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas. Brother Potts is still employed as part time regional director of this nationa-wide survey of the opportunities and facilities for the vocational education and guidance of Negroes in the urban and rural communities. His headquarters have been transferred from Houston to Prairie View. Brother E. B. Evans has been a great factor in perfecting plans and means for the construction of a new ($50,000.00) fifty thousand dollar gymnasium at Prairie View College. Brothers Lanier and Reeves have been selected by the Texas State Department of Education to sponsor educational conferences in various sections of Texas during the month of October. Our president, Brother E. O. Smith is to be congratulated on the many units which have been added to the already extensive school plant of which he is principal. Among the many brothers who have taken extensive trips to points in the north, east, and southwest may be numbered Reeves, Dooley, Booker and Perry. All have returned much refreshed from their travels. Brother G. L. Harrison is to be congratulated on his continued appointment to the trustee board of Wilberforce University. This is a signal honor coming from the Governor of the State of Ohio. It would be negligence on the part of the writer not to mention the marriage on September 5, of Brother J. W. Davis to Miss Martha Sneed in Houston. We wish for this nuptial much success. Brother Davis is past president of the Alpha Eta Lambda and present national director of our "Go To High School - Go To College Movement." Brother F. A. Jackson is to be commended for his successful tenure as director of the extension teaching and instruction through correspondence. The Southwest Regional in Dallas will attract a large number of brothers from our chapter. The Alpha Eta Lambda accepts a challenge imposed upon us because of the change in the time and can assure tho national organization of its whole-hearted support and co-operation. Fraternally yours, J. N. FREEMAN, JR. Editor to The Sphinx.

ALPHA UPSILON CHAPTER Detroit, Michigan The history of Alpha Upsilon during the year of 1936 is a story of renewed life and spirit, a quickening of interestâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;an awakening. The force behind the arousal has been the dash and spirit of one Lawrence Bleach, our president, whose example has stirred this chapter into a surprisingly exhilarating activity. What has he done? He has instituted a two-fold financial policy stressing the responsibility resting upon every member to become financial with both the local and national chapter. Secondly, Brother Bleach, in the absence of a campus, has conceived the plan of creating campus spirit by closer and more frequent association among brothers toward social ends. Who is he? He is the guard who has been glowingly described in the local press, as "a bulwark on defense and the

SPHINX

October, 1936

spearhead of his team's attack." The captaincy of next year's basketball team of outstanding players is the tangible expression of the esteem his teammates hold for him. With Brother Bleach as our "spark plug" and with our ranks augmented by the addition in April of Brother L. H. Bailer, teacher; Brother D. B. Hayes, pharmacist; and Brother H. L. Riggs, prospective M.D., all prize Alpha timberâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;we are now functioning with a smoothness of which we are justly proud. Officers of the chapter are Lawrence B. Bleach, president, University of Detroit; Hughes H. Peterson, vicepresident, Wayne Uiversity Law School; Lonnie J. Saunders, secretary, 9613 Delmar; Nathaniel N. Leach, treasurer, Wayne University; Howard Givens, chaplain, Wayne University; A. B. Hudson, sergeant-at-arms; Lonie J. Saunders, associate editor of the Sphinx.

THETA-XI LAMBDA Chicago, Illinois Theta Xi Lambda Foundation celebrated its first anniversary May 8 at the Alpha House with a fraternity smoker honoring as its guests Bro. A. L. Jackson, retiring president of the board of trustees of Provident Hospital, and Bro. John W. Lawlah, M.D., recently appointed medical director of Provident Hospital. Bros. Nelson Glover and Clarence Payne presented an inspiring program which did much to rekindle the fires' of fraternity which had been smoldering in the hearts of many Alpha men who had become indifferent to the progress of the fraternity in Chicagoland. Over 100 brothers were present. A gay and glamorous May party, a "Night in Paris," sponsored by Bro. Penrose Goodall for th? chapters was given at the chapter house May 23. In June Theta Xi Lambda presented Clarence Darrow at p. dinner talk at the Alpha House. Continuing its policy to acknowledge outstanding achievements of brothers, Brothers David Crosswaith and Lloyd Hall, eminent in engineering and chemistry, were guests of honor at a testimonial smoker at the chapter house. On August 29 the joint chapters had a big, grand gettogether smoker for the Alpha brothers visiting in Chicagoland. We fraternized the entire evening and were exuberant with "that Good Old Alpha Spirit" until the wee hours. Tho dining room has been renovated to meet the utmost of Alpha's discriminating taste; a new refrigerator has been installed; it is being operated by a cateress of experience and is going over with a bang! Our chapter house is a success. All payments on the mortgage have been paid promptly and our furniture bill is completely canceled To insure adequate, even heat during the cold months to come that our brothers may have the utmost comfort, a new automatic coal burner has been installed in the Alpha House House Activities Regular Sunday afternoon programs are planned for one Sunday each month that will be interesting and entertaining. Smokers and parties will be held at intervals during the winter. The recreation room is open at reasonable hours for pool and cards. Joint meetings of the chapters are held monthly and all visiting brothers in Alpha Phi Alpha are invited to participate. The Chicago social season will have a brilliant opening with the formal party given Sept. 26 at Bacons Casino by Theta and Xi Lambda chapters. Bro. H. B. Shepard, chairman of the committee in charge of this affair, promises a wonderful time for the thousand persons expected to attend this affair. FREDERICK L. PARKER, Associate Editor of The Sphinx.

October, 1936

THE

ALPHA DELTA LAMBDA Memphis, Tennessee Greetings, Brothers: After a very successful year and a pleasant vacation period, we are again back in harness for a new and inspired school year. Alpha Delta Lambda still boasts of a 100 per cent chapter and with the prospective addition of a few new brothers who have come into our midst, a pleasant year is ahead. Wo are quite sure that the brothers throughout the country have been inspired by the reports from the PanPacific Convention this summer in Los Angeles, California. Never in the history of the fraternity could a more beautiful setting been selected for the summer convention, and the warm hospitality of the host chapter will be hard to surpass. Alpha Delta Lambda Chapter was as usual well represented at the convention. Alpha Delta Lambda has been the recipient of many pleasant visits from brothers outstanding in the fratei'nity. Of those passing through to and from the convention was Jewel Brother Murray, and his family, of Washington, D. C , Brother Rev. Steady, who, as you know by now, has been selected as the official representative of the fraternity to establish a chapter in West Africa; Brother J. Harvey Kerns, National Field Secretary of the Urban League; Brother Rev. Nevers, pastor of the Congregational Church in Raleigh, N. C , who chose of the charming young women of our city for a bride this past summer. We have Brother Dr. R. E. Bland, who comes well recommended from Oklahoma. He has established an office here. LeMoyne College has added to its faculty Brother L. W. Dickinson, from the University of Illinois. So you see, Brothers, our interest has been kept alive all along. We regret very much the loss of Brother Rev. E. M. M. Wright, who was called to the pastorate of an Episcopal Church in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The brothers of Alpha Tau Lambda Chapter at Tulsa are receiving a fine specimen of Alpha Phi Alpha. Our Brother Morris who for some time has been the matrimonial object of several of our local young ladies finally wedded Miss Sue Cowan of Little Rock, Arkansas, regional director of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. Other standbys are Brothers Bowman, Brown Adkins, Swingler, Tarpley, Cotton, Russell, Woolfolk, Luster, Briscoe, and King are keeping the spirit of the fraternity alive. Brother Briscoe has been selected as graduate manager of the LeMoyne College Athletic Department, and Brother Robert Lee as assistant coach to Brother "Jack" Adkins. Our educational director, Brother Hugh M. Gloster, has outlined a very constructive program for the year. Brother Latham heads our entertainment committee with Brothers Brinkley and Jones as his able assistants. We are lending our efforts to make the coming year a great one in order that by the time the general convention in New Orleans rolls around, our combined southern hospitality will be something to talk about. The combined efforts of Alpha Delta Lambda and Beta Xi Chapters have assisted greatly in helping the editor of the Sphinx in the publication of our official organ. We extend to all brothers a cordial invitation to look us up at any time they are in the vicinity of our chapter and until the next time, brothers, we are signing off. , Fraternally yours, J. EDWARD COTTON, Corresponding Secretary.

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P a g e 43

"WHAT WILL THE HARVEST BE" (Continued from page 26) and clearly defined route to that something called success. Indeed, only a very few persons are agreed upon what success really is. Our general American captilist conception of success is the acquisition and command of wealth and position. Through-out the ages men have usually favored their relatives and friends when there were spoils to be given out. I once heard a young Sunday School student argue that "even God made His Son Number Two Man in His Kingdom. And Christ gave Peter the key to Heaven because they were the best of pals." What will the harvest be to society when more boys and girls, men and women see and know that efficiency, superor preparation and sincere efforts to do right are the summum bonum and are not rewarded on the basis of merit? This disregard of real merit has found its way into practically all of our social institutions, not excluding the church. The man or woman who gains a high position is generally expected to, and often does fill the jobs within his power to awardâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;not with persons whom he finds best fitted for them, but with his relatives or "henchmen"â&#x20AC;&#x201D; regardless of qualifications. History shows us that such has often been the cause of revolt, social and political upheaval and chaos. It is equally as true of present-day society. It has produced thousands of cynical and radical men and women. More are being produced everyday. Is there much wonder therefore, that we find so many people thinking and talking communism, socialism and other non-conformist movements? There is no attempt here to play the role of an alarmist but it must be admitted that such symptoms are very definite evidences of an unhealthful society. While we do not mean even to infer that this entire situation has been created by the selfish Spoils System alone (causation is never singular), still let us be reminded that too: much selfishness eventually leads to ruin and destruction, whether individuals, social groups or nations. We axe well aware of the fact that there are a few extraordinarily strong individuals who are possessed of such powerful determination and will that they are able to push themselves through to the top in spite of those of the opposition who would prop up inferior, incompetent and weak individuals is positions of responsibility because of mere favoritism or family connections. But is this the rule or has it become the exception to the rule? During my short career as a teacher, I have had hundreds of students to express utter disgust and disbelief in the idealistic advice given them by their well-meaning parents. These students have repeatedly pointed our pastors, college presidents, teachers, business officials and others high in places who have given them this idealistic "right is might," "push not pull" advice, while the students have seen these very game individuals not only rise to positions of prominence themselves but even pull others up through and by the practice of the direct opposite philosophy. Recently a bright young woman of unquestionable character and well prepared (requirements for the Ph. D. degree almost completed) and experienced was seeking a particular job. The man in charge informed the young woman that he was saving the job for his daughter (who had only had five different jobs within the past three years and had been dismissed from each of them for inefficiency); all of the push nor even the superior qualifications of the first young woman succeeded in getting" hep that job. From this it seems that those who sow seeds of earnest preparation, sin-

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cere devotion to duty, need also to have prominent parents or acquire prominent friends in order to reap success. For fear that I may be misunderstood, I hasten to explain that there are numerable instances in which merit is justly rewarded and instances where "Right is really Might." But there are altogether too many cases where the reverse is true. The real question that faces us is,â&#x20AC;&#x201D;what kind of society are we building when we preach the "Merit System" to our young people and at the same time piactice the "Spoils System" ? What will the harvest be ? Is it "Love and Love alone the world is seeking"? Or should the word "Power" for Love?" Perhaps it should be, "love of power.,, If we contiue to sow seeds of the "Spoils System," what can we hope to reap in the harvest? It seems to the writer that we, through this infernal system or practice, are producing many pseudo-leaders, who are weak, inefficient, incompetent and cowardly. Further than that, they are so everlastingly indebted to the powers who almost literally placed them in position over the heads of better qualified persons that they are merely slaves to their benefactors. Hence they seldom if ever, have an original thought that they may put into operation without the consent of their mortagees. They are mere pawns in the hands of those who made them what they are. Hirelings! With a society headed by such pseudo-leadership, indeed, What Will the Harvest Be ? MILTON S. J. WRIGHT

"A GOVERNMENT IS NOT IN ITSELF SOMETHING" (Continued from page 26) After all, there is yet no final accepted history of the Peloponnesian wars or the fall of the Roman Empire, or of the Reformation of the French Revolution. So it is unlikely that you or I or the Minister of Public Enlightenment in Berlin or the Press Bureau in Moscow will, in our time, fully comprehend the meaning of the crisis through which we have been living. All that anyone can do is to take a personal view, and the best I can do is follow the example of the invincible optimist, Mark Tapley, in Charles Dickens "The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewitt." Mark found himself one day in an unusually tight place. "Now Mr. Tapley," said Mark, giving himself a tremendous blow on the chest by way of a reviver, "just attend to what I've got to say. Things is looking about as bad as they can look, young man. You'll not have such another opportunity for showing your jolly disposition, my fine fellow, as long as you live. And therefore, Tapley, now is your time to come out strong; or never." For a long time many of us, I imagine, talked to ourselvees in this way. This has been a long crisis. For those of us who are now about in middle age, virtually the whole of our adult life has been spent amongst the disturbances, the threats, and the dangers of this crisis. There were a few years, say from 1924 to 1929, when it seemed as if the earthquake of 1914 was over, that the ground beneath our feet had ceased to tremble, and that in our western world at least the destruction was being repaired, the wounds were healing, and men had resumed the works of peace. We know that this was an illusion, that there was only a temporary lull, and that then there came upon us convulsions greater than any for which we were prepared. Thus, for twenty years, with only short intervals of calm in which to catch our breath and to compose our spirits an ordeal of this kind. Our fathers had their troubles. In the nineties they had to work their way through panics and through economic disorders. But only two other gen-

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October, 193ft

erations of Americans, those who made the Republic between 1776 and 1810, and those who held it together between 1861 and 1880, have really known what it meant to have to defend the very foundations of civilized living against a breakdown into the anarchy of separated, quarreling groups. It is difficult to overestimate the nervous stress and strain under which responsible men and women, those who, as the Quakers say, have had a concern of mankind, have been subjected in these twenty years. Think back to 1914, then realize how tremendous have been the demands upon human energy, the constant peril and the terrible anxiety first of the great war and its huge miseries, and then of the peacemaking and the enormous complications of high ambitions and violent passions, then of the revolutions which overtherw all of the empires of continental Europe, then of the first reconstruction in the twenties, in which men had to fight every foot of the way for small installments of reason against the resistance of terrorized and shell-shocked masses of people, then of the breakdown in 1929 and all the panics and the revolutions which have swept mankind. Any man who has lived through these tremendous years and has tried as a responsible leader or as a conscientious citizen to do his part, to rise to the occasion, to contribute what he had in him, has endured anxieties, has drawn upon his reserve of moral force, to a point where at times it seems inhuman to ask any more of him. We need not be astonished that statesmen have become confused, that the people have again and again acted as if they were more than a little mad. The generation which has been passing through the ordeal of this crisis is shocked, weary and spent. It has been frightened by blow after blow for which it was unprepared, bewilderer by events which it could not understand, disappointed as one fair hope and one fair promise after another have been dashed to pieces. It is this state of mind which has been the dominating crisis. If men over all the world were calm, cool, willing to listen to reason, or at least willing to trust leaders who follow reason, it would not be difficult to make the necessary adjustments to insure peace and set the world's economy going. There have been plenty of projects proposed which could have worked in a world where men were disposed to accept them. They have not worked because they were submitted to peoples who were too frightened, too hysterical and too distracted to understand them and to co-operate in realizing them. This, at least, is the main thing which I have learned from the crisis, and upon that conclusion I base what little understanding I have been able to attain as to how we had to proceed to surmount the crisis. There are, as you well know, many persons who think they have always had the intellectual key to history and have known just what should have been done at every juncture. I envy them their own peace of mind even if I cannot share the admiration which they feel for their own wisdom. For my own part I admit without hesitation that the past twenty years have been full of surprises. Why should they not have been? Can the human reason really comprehend what passionate unreason will do? What is more, the only thing about which I feel at all certain in the next twenty years is that we cannot really imagine what they will be like, for in the present phase of human development we do not know enough to understand our own history or to predict our own future. Such a confession of ignorance seems to me to be at least the beginning of wisdom. We need to know that human affairs are too complex to be caught and held and managed by any formula- which man can now invent. But only if we know this we concentrate our efforts upon those things which need to be done and can be done, upon

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October, 1936

THE S P H I N X

BRO. N. A. MURRAY RECALLS EXPERIENCES OF THE JEWELS IN FOUNDERSADDRESS (Continued from page 20) reflection of later years has found out of taking men into this fraternity, in order to show to the other fraternities, who were in competition with us for membership, men whose ideals of life and fraternity in general were not in keeping with the ideals of your Founders, but since they were accepted and initiated into the fraternity, they enjoyed the benefits of fraternal life mostly while in college. What has become of that same brother today ? The answer, I am sure, is known to all of my audience. To all intents and purposes, that delinquent brother seemed fit Alpha Phi Alpha material. Those brothers were actuated by a greed for gambling, and a lust for pleasure, strong drink, and other forms of vice which your Founders would never have tolerated. May we never pass through such trying years again. I realize that we all make mistakes and the brother who does not make mistakes, does not belong to Alpha Phi Alpha. Your founders made mistakes; yes, plenty of them; your local chapters made mistakes, yes hundreds of them. Our present administrative officers profiting by and guided by the wisdom of the Executive Committee and the entire Administrative Personnel has labored hard to put over the service program of Alpha Phi Alpha, namely, Service to All in Order to Transcend All. Alpha Phi Alpha moves forward and is steadily carving its name in the Hall of Personal, Public, and Political Service, so that you, those prospective brothers and myself will inherit it. The present new deal administration has seen fit to surround itself with many of our outstanding brothers, who serve as advisors here in Washington and in various sections of the country. The new deal (Democratic party) is interested in knowing first hand how the Negro is faring throughout the country under the present administration (Democratic) and has therefore appointed many Alpha Phi Alpha Brothers to get this information for them and put it in a comprehensive report. We, as Negroes, must be recognized if the Roosevelt administration is to be successful in the November election. Prominent among those that hold responsible positions under the New Deal party are Eugene K. Jones, advisor on Negro Affairs in the Department of Commerce, (a brother whom I helped to initiate), our efficient General Secretary, J. H. Evans, advisor on Negro Affairs in the Rural Resettlement Administration of the Department of Agriculture, Brother J. R. Houchins, in the Educational Survey, Brother Harold L. Trigg, also assisting and one of the supervisors in the Educational Vocational Survey for Negroes, and Brother J. H. Robinson in the Educational Survey. What Brother before me now has not heard of the selection of Brother James Owens and Ralph Metcalfe, to represent the U. S. at the Olympic games in Berlin in 1936? Tho reference in the foregoing 'to names that should be broadcasted by every Alpha Phi Alpha Brother is but one of the ways we can combat and break down that tremendous barrier known as inferiority complex. So many of the masses of us still believe and feel an inferiority complex. Hundreds of Negroes are still skeptical of Black Genius. The outstanding accomplishments of the Brothers named should be sounded time and again to point out that every Negro boy and girl has possibilities if they will only fcftrive to use them. God gave all of us certain peculiar talents. If we as Brothers in Alpha Phi Alpha would strive to pioneer in those fields of human endeavor that Negroes are peculiarly fitted for, we would aid materially the uplift of many who still feel the inferiority complex stigma.

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Do what you can by example, or by precept to encourage Negro boys and girls of college grade as well as those of high school to carry the banner, of racial achievement into places where it has never been waved, when placed in Negro hands. Do this even though we as a group are in the minority or the majority. Believe in ourselves. Have a vision like Benjamin Banneker, Samuel C. Armstrong, Henry Ford, Booker T. Washington, Charles H. Wesley and Col. Lindbergh. Don't let any one persuade you to change your goal. Keep your vision or your dream always ahead and work on and on. Your Founders had a vision, a dream. They pioneered in a new field, and worked on and on to perfect Alpha Phi Alpha, to give it real significance. Those who followed caught the same vision and they, too, have sacrificed, thought, worked and conferred to see that the spirit of service once given out, should unceasingly control future actions and activities. To say that your Founders met with discouragements is only putting the matter lightly. I can recall staying up with others as late as three A. M., sometimes four-thirty A. M., trying to make some antagonistic brother see a point in argument, only to fail, and tackle the same again the following night. Did we have fights ? Yes, but only verbal fights. Did we call names, only to be bawled out by the chairman. Did wo have personal grievances ? Yes, yet despite the verbal fights, despite being bawled out, and despite personal grievances, we put Alpha Phi Alpha first and when the time came to go home at the hours indicated we all gave the good hand of fellowship and left ready to resume the battle the next night, or the next called meeting. People not familiar with the determined spirit that actuated your Founders to continue to carry on, hurled verbal epithets at us such as: 1. You will be the laughing stock of the town. 2. You cannot hope to do what white folks do. 3. You are too poor, and you have no money. 4. You will lose your jobs as waiters if you try to imitate your employer. 5. You will go bankrupt after your first big dance. Brothers, those were facts, cold facts, we had to face from an unsympathetic group of town folk. On the other hand we received much encouragement from some of the town folk previously mentioned as well as Professors of History, English and Languages in the various colleges where we had matriculated. Their stimulating and encouraging advice aided us to go forward and find a real meaning and interpretation for the phrase Alpha Phi Alpha. Who has not heard of the so-called Hell Week? Who has thought more than once of some way of reducing the brutalities and permanent physical injuries that many Brothers have carried and will continue to carry to their graves ? I believe the time is now ripe and if Brother Callis were here at this time you would hear some startling personal testimony which he in his capacity as Professor in the Medicine Ward of the Freedmen's Hospital has tended. Tho present General President is in entire sympathy with your speaker, also Brother Callis and others who have conferred at length with him. He plans to throw the entire influence of his office behind the movement to make Hell Week a thing of the past. The first stages of the initiation are utterly brutal. I have stopped many a blindfolded prospect from being beaten at the hands of an irresponsible Brother. The ceremonies as carried on in many chapters throughout the country were not the ceremonies that your Founders planned or intended for you to use. Too much of the element of personal prejudice enters into some of the initiation ceremonies and should not be tolerated. This merciless brutality must be stopped. I appeal to my hearers to use their influence to put a stop to such practices. We are losing too many good prospects who when told of the

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THE S P H I N X

October, 1936

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sufferings and also when shown the physical sears that have permanently injured some, as well as caused others to lose time in their classes and in some cases have to repeat, they turn to other fraternities where the ceremonies are more in keeping with humane practices. Why not substitute for those brutal ceremonies, less violent physical practices ? Only by so doing can we hope to attract into our Fraternity of character, outstanding ability, personality, intelligence and industry. Finally, what does Alpha Phi Alpha mean to m e ? It means that I wish to go in the record as condemning the present initiation ceremonies and offering a saner, more intelligent program that does not savor of too much of the instincts of primitive man. When your Convention Speaker Brother Eugene K. Jones was initiated in ceremonies, in which I took part, there was no prolonged after-effects in evidence. He can testify. Again, what are we, as Alpha Phi Alpha men, doing to aid our own group to receive better credit in the commercial world ? The stabilization of credit among a large number of the masses of Negroes is a huge task and yet I believe we have in this audience before me men equal to the situation. With their fertile minds they can do very much in this direction. Let it be known as well as said that Negroes can be punctual, honest, dependable and believe in honoring just debts. We all know too frequently the disadvantages which a few careless, thoughtless, indifferent Negroes have caused the whole race to suffer. Alpha men, here is a job for some one to tackle. Face this issue squarely and realize it as a part of Alpha Phi Alpha program to be lifted as we

MASSACHUSETTS

climb. Only as the masses of Negroes rise, can we hope to gain permanent footing in this country. The college trained and bred Alpha men are on trial at the bar of public opinion. Upon the actions of individuals depend the standing of the race. Let it never be said that Alpha men were afraid to face the music and were afraid to go down into the hedges and the highways. Another feature which I desire to stress at this time as having considerable bearing upon the future of our race and our Fraternity is the record we left behind us in college, as regards deportment, industry, scholarship and personal contacts with members of the opposite group. These records have done much to retard or encourage the recognition of Negroes. Those who follow in our footsteps will reap the benefit of our individual records be what they may. In conclusion there comes to my mind a t this time, what is the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity? As one of the founders, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is no longer a group of colored men bound together by bonds that are very strong, but a national union of college trained men, a union that endures with harmony as near perfect as possible and an idealism that is ethical. It stands for a race of college men united for a great purpose to carry out a program that has as its motto—Service Above Self. It is a national organization that is today making its influence felt through answering vital questions. It works with a hope, and a desire actuated by the greatest purpose that can stimulate the conscience of man and that is trying to lessen the painful achievements of the souls of Black Folk and aid them in finding their places in the sun.

CHAPTER

ROSTER-Continued

39. ALPHA SIGMA—Marshall. Texas—Pres., James Taylor; Sec, Hamilton Boswell; C. Sec., C. A. Taylor. Wiley College.

50. BETA ZETA—Austin, Texas—Pres., Eugene A. Owens; Sec. C. Jackson, 1309 E. 12th Street.

40. ALPHA TAU—Akron, Ohio—Pres., Charles L. Nunn, Street; Sec, N. O. Chestnut, 441 Pine Street.

51. BETA ETA—Carbondale, Illinois—Pres., Arnold C. Banister, Jr., 412 S. Illinois Avenue; Sec, Gaffery Taylor, Colp, Illinois.

152

Chestnut

41. ALPHA UPSILON—Detroit. Michigan—Pres., Lawrence B. Bleach, Jr.. 635 E. Elizabeth; Sec. Lonnie J. Saunders, 9613 Delmar. 42. ALHA PHI—Atlanta, Georgia—Pres., Edward B. Wallace; Sec, Edward D. McGowan, Clark University.

Thomas

52. BETA THETA—Bluefield, W. Virginia—Pres., John W. Flippen, Sec, Arthur M. Mitchell, Jr., Bluefield State Teachers Collage. 53. BETA IOTA—Kalamazoo, Michigan—Pres., Hacklay E. Woodford, 114 North Park Street; Sec, John T. Tapley, 1331 W. Michigan. 54. BETA KAPPA—Langston, Oklahoma—Pre*., Frank Whitlow, Jr.; See., Lee Edward Lewis, Langston University.

43. ALPHA CHI—Nashville, Tenn.—Pres., Thomas B. Taylor; Sec, Wythe Cooper, Jr., Fisk University.

55. BETA MU—Frankfort, Kentucky—Pres., Francis E. Whitney; Sec, Thomas A. West, Kentucky State College.

44. ALPHA PSI—Jefferson City, Mo.—Pres., Floyd L. Robinson; Sec, Robert L. Clark; C Sec, Joseph T. Johnson, Lincoln University.

56. BETA MU—Tallahassee. Florida—Pres., Lucius T. Wilson; Sec, William T. Harper, Florida A BC M College. 57. BETA XI—Memphis, Tennessee -Pres., ; Sac., Henry A. Ryan, 16 East Street.

45. BETA ALPHA—Baltimore, Md.—Pres., J. Wilbur Gordan, Morgan College; Sec, James D . Browne, Morgan College. 46. BETA BETA—Lincoln, Nebraska—Pres., J. R. Lillard; Sec, C. Hill; C. Sec, Howard H. Hatter, 1929 You Street. 47. BETA GAMMA—Ettricfc, Virginia—Pres., Thomas D . Pawley, Jr.; Cor. Sec., Charles E. Shields. Jr.; Rec. Sec, Leon M. Snead. 48. BETA DELTA—Orangeburg, Fred J. Pride, State College.

S. Carolina—Pres., Jiles Edwards;

Sec,

49. BETA EPSILON—Greensboro. N. Carolina—Pres., Judson C. Melton; Sec, Robert Hairh. Jr., A. * T. College.

58. BETA OMICRON—Nashville, Tenn.—Pres., Harold D . Mac Adoo; Sec., Elijah J. Smith, Tennessee State College. 59. BETA PI—Jackson, Tenn.—President, Chas. N. Berry, Recording secretary, Artis N. Burrow; Corresponding secretary, Wilson G. Graves, Lane College. 60. BETA RHO—Raleigh, N. C — T o be set up. 61. BETA SIGMA—Scotlandville, La.—To be set up. 62. BETA TAU—New Orleans, La.—President, Numa Rouaseve; Secretary, Giles Wright; Assistant secretary, Elmaurice Miller, Xavier University. 63. BETA UPSILON—Montgomery, Ala.—President, G. Herbert Lockhart; Secretary, Nathan E. Langford, Alabama State Teachers College.

o^g-s^o CHAPTER

ROSIER-Graduate

101. ALPHA LAMBDA—Louisville. Ky.—Pres. Dr. P. O. Sweeney, 601 W. Walnut St.; Sac, Lee L. Brown, 1012 W. Chestnut St. 102. BETA LAMBDA—Kansas City, Mo.—Pres. Burt A. Msyberry, 2446 Harrison Street; C Sec, James A. Jeffreea, 1824 Paseo. 103. GAMMA LAMBDA—Detroit, Michigan—Pres., E. R. Carney, 5769 Fiaher Street; Sec, Rollie C. McMahon, 6363 Van Court Street. 104. DELTA LAMBDA—Baltimore. Maryland—Pres., Furman L. Templeton, 1502 McCulloch Street; Sec. C. C. Jackson, Jr., 2325 Madison Avenue. 105. EPSILON LAMBDA—St. Louis, Missouri—Pres., Dr. J. Owen Blache. 2945 Lawton Avenue; C. Sec, Joseph C. Chapman; F. Sec, Louis P. Woodson, 4222 W. North Market St. 106. ZETA LAMBDA—Newport News, Virginia—Pra*., J. J. Ballou, 1364 29th Street; Sec, R. H. Pree, 2411 Jefferson Avenue. 107. THETA LAMBDA—Dayton, Ohio—Pres., Dr. C. R. Price, 476 S. Broadway; Sec, T. C. Carter, 16 Sweetman Street. 108. ETA LAMBDA—Atlanta, Georgia—Pres., J. P. Brawley, Clark University; Sec, LeRoy E. Carter, 1012 Palmetto Avenue, S. W. 109. IOTA LAMBDA—Indianapolis, Indiana—Pres., Grant W. Hawkins, 2627 Shriver Avenue; Sec, Thomas L. Horner, 1647 Bellefontaine St. 110. KAPPA LAMBDA—Greensboro. N. Carolina—Pre*., W. E. Beavers, Jr.; Sec, B. H. Crutcher, A 8£ T College. 111. MU LAMBDA—Washington, D. C.—Pres., Dr. Henry Callis; Harry S. McAlpin, 2904 Park Place, N. W.

Sec,

112. N U LAMBDA—Ettrick, Virginia—Pres., Thomas W. Cotman; Sac, Reuben R. McDaniel, Box 185 State College. 113. XI LAMBDA—Chicago, Illinois—Pres., Luther S. Peck, 4927 Michigan Avenue; Sec, Lawrence T. Young, 417 B. 47th Street. 114. OMICRON LAMBDA—Birmingham, Alabama—Pres., A. D. Shores, R F D 1, Box 755; Sec, H. Dovell Mosely, 1304 First Court W. 115. PI LAMBDA—Little Rock, Arkansas—Pres., Dr. J. V. Jordan, 610'/4 W. Ninth Street; Sec, C. Franklin Brown, 1019 Cross Street. 116. RHO LAMBDA—Buffalo. New York—Pres., Alfred D. Price, 121 Northland Ave.; Sec, Jas. L. Robinson, 352 S. Elmwood Ave. 117. SIGMA LAMBDA—New Orleans, La.—Pres., William E. Belton, 2216 St. Phillip Street; Sec, Ferdinand L. Rousseve, Xavier University. 118. TAU LAMBDA—Nashville, Tenn.—Pres., A. A. Taylor, Fisk University; Sec, J. R. Anderson, 1027 18th Avenue N. 119. UPSILON LAMBDA—Jacksonville, Florida—Pres., Capers Bradham, 426 E. Ashley Street; Sec, Dr. C. M. Thompson, 823 Devil Street. 120. PHI LAMBDA—Raleigh, N. C—Pres., B. C. Horton, Shaw University; Sec, Charles H. Boyer, St. Augustine's College. 121. CHI LAMBDA—Wilberforce, Ohio -Pres., Raymond O. Dickerson; Sec, Wilberforce University. 122. PSI LAMBDA—Chattanooga. Tenn.—Pres., Prof. B. T. Scruggs, 1909 Blackford Street; Sec, G. A. Key, 1211 Poplar Sereet. 123. ALPHA ALPHA LAMBDA—Newark, New Jersey—Pres., Dr. Charles M. Harris, 501 Bergen Avenue, Jersey Gty, N . J.; Sac, Arthur C. Williams, 136 Lincoln Street, Montclair, N. J. 124. ALPHA BETA LAMBDA—Lexington, Ky.—Pres., E. M. Chenault, 226 W. Sixth Street; Sac., Dr. H. A. Merchant, 128 DeWeese Sereet.

Chapters

125. ALPHA GAMMA LAMBDA—New York City—Pres , Dr. Farrow R. Allen, 337 W. 138th Street; Sec, Ewart G. Quinier. 254 Decatur Street, Brooklyn, New York. 126. Alpha DELTA LAMBDA—Memphis, Tennessee—Pres., Lewis O. Swingler, 390Vi Beale Street; Sec, Thomas H. Hayes, Jr.; C Sac, J. Edward Cotton, 346 N. Manaaaaa Street. 127. ALPHA EPSILON—Jackson. Mississippi—Pres., Everett R. Lswrence. Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, Miss.; Sec, Alsn T. Busby, P. O. Box 176^ Alcorn, Miss. 128. ALPHA ZETA LAMBDA—Bluefield, W. Virginia—Pre*., Leonard McClanahan; Sec, Edward W. Browne, Box 576, Kimball, W. Virginia. 129. ALPHA ETA LAMBDA—Houston, Texas—Pres., E. O. Smith, 1214 O'Neal Street; Sec, George W. Reeves, Prairie View, College, Prairie View, Texas. 130. ALPHA THETA LAMBDA—Atlantic Gty, N. J.—INACTIVE; Address: C M. Cain, Arctic Ave. YMCA. 131. ALPHA IOTA LAMBDA—Charleston, W. Virginia—Pres., Joseph R. Jones, 909 Washington Street; Sec, J. Kermit Hall, 1332 Washington Street E. 132. ALPHA KAPPA LAMBDA—Roenoke, Virginia—Pros., Dr. Elwood D . Downing, Brooks Building; Sec, G. A. Moore, 420 Commonwealth N. E. 133. ALPHA MU LAMBDA—Knoxville, Tennessee—Pres., Dr. N. A. Henderson, 123 East Vine Street; Sec, Otis R. Hogue, 217 S. Chestnut Street. 134. ALPHA N U LAMBDA—Tuskegee, Alabama—Prea., W. H. Sec, Hollis F. Price, Tuskegee Institute.

Payne;

135. ALPHA XI LAMBDA—Toledo, Ohio—Pres., INACTIVE; Actg. Sec, Charles H. Clarke, Jr., 669 Indiana Avenue. 136. ALPHA OMICRON LAMBDA—Pittsburgh, Pa —Pres., Joseph W. Civens, Esq.; Sec, Wilbur C. Douglass, 518 Fourth Avenue. 137. ALPHA PI LAMBDA—Winston-Salem, N. C.—Pres., James O. Ellia, Atkins High School; C. Sec, A. H. Anderson, Columbian Heights School; F. Sec, Dr. E. Shepard Wright, Bruce Building. 138. ALPHA RHO LAMBDA—Columbus, Ohio—Pres., Dr. H. Sherman Manuel, 275 S. Grant Avenue; Sec, Charles F. Blackburn, 53 North 21st Street. 139. ALPHA SIGMA LAMBDA—Dallas, Texas—Prea., H. I. Holland, 3910 Diamond Street; Sec, James W. White, 2700 Flora Street. 140. ALPHA TAU LAMBDA—Tulsa, Oklahoma—Pres., T. W. Harris, 101 N. Greenwood Street; Sec, J. Tyler Smith, 124 Greenwood Street. 141. ALPHA UPSILON LAMBDA—Montgomery, Alabama—Pres., C. H. Lockhart, State Teachers College; Sec, Nathan Langhorne, 910 East Grove Street; Asst. Sec, J. Carrick Hardy, State Teachers College. 142. ALPHA PHI LAMBDA—Norfolk, Vs.—Pres., G. W. C. Brown, 1619 Calvert Street; Sec, P. Bernard Young, Jr., 721 Chapel Street; Asst. Sec, Thomas W. Young, 2509 Broad Creek Road. 143. ALPHA CHI LAMBDA—Augusta. Georgia—Pres., John M. Tutt; Sec, Haines School. 144. ALPHA PSI LAMBDA—Columbia, S. Carolina—Prea,, Abram Simpson, Allen University; Sec, Harry B. Rutherford, 1330 Gregg Street. 147. BETA GAMMA LAMBDA—Richmond, Va.—Pres., Wdey A. Hall, 1106 North First Street; Sec, Walker H. Queries, 743 North Fifth Street. 148. BETA ALPHA LAMBDA—Jersey Gty, N. Jersey—President, Dr. William Carpenter, 244 Carpenter; Secretary, Dr. Keith Madison, 358 Pacific Ave.