"Membership Handbook"
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Alpha Alpha Lambda Chapter, Inc.
Founded October 13, 1926
Do your best to present
yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be
ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15
Historical Moments
READ IT, SAVE IT, COPY IT, FILE IT, FORWARD IT, DISCUSS
IT
AND BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF THE FRATERNITY
#3
VOL. 1, NO. 3 - April 19, 1999
"FIND THE GOOD AND PRAISE IT"
Alex Haley
JEWEL PROFESSOR CHARLES HENRY CHAPMAN, A POET?
I learned during my research that JEWEL Charles Henry Chapman, a renowned
and award winning professor of Agriculture at Florida A&M University
also wrote poetry before his death in Tallahassee, Florida in 1934. Though
no collection of his work has been unearthed, one poem surfaced. I present
to you one stanza of the poem.
Just to be a friend of yours, And to know you're one of mine
With a friendship that endures and grows sweeter like old wine.
Just to clasp you by the hand in a friendly sort of way
And to know you understand all the things I want to say.....
DID YOU KNOW.....
.... That another Alpha Poet Countee Cullen was initiated into Eta
Chapter in New York in 1927, the same year that Langston Hughes was initiated
into Omega Psi Phi. and that he married the only daughter of W. E. B. DuBois,
Yolande, a member of Delta Sigma Theta in one of the biggest weddings of the year.
(More on that in another issue)
In 1954, Brother Ernest Gilbert wrote a poem entitled "The Jewels of Alpha Phi Alpha"
(The first stanza is printed below:)
Poindexter was a leader at the beginning
And his efforts rate commending
But Kelley who strove for the idea of a fraternity
Stood firm when there was a great combat.
As the first president he was selected to be
A Jewel symbolizing immortality......
"We must never lose sight of the fact that we must take part in the development,
not only of ourselves but of all humanity."
Jewel Charles Henry Chapman, 1931
APRIL BIRTHDAYS OF THE JEWELS:
BIRTHDAY TO JEWEL ROBERT HAROLD OGLE (APRIL 3, 1886)
AND JEWEL NATHANIEL ALLISON MURRAY (APRIL 10, 1884)
A PASSING THOUGHT:
Wouldn't it be nice to make a "Jewel Pilgrimage" to places connected
to the lives our "Jewels." Beginning in Ithaca (visiting Cornell,
Ithaca, Lake Cuyuga, Troy and Binghamton New York where Callis, Chapman
and Kelley grew up), traveling on to Harlem on Broadway where Tandy's
Architectural Firm was located and then going to "Sugar Hill" in Harlem
where he and his family resided. While in Harlem visiting all the places
he designed, stopping by the National Urban League's old office where Jewel
Jones worked for so long. Going up to Flushing, New York where Jones lived
and is buried. Taking that bus to Washington, DC and visiting the childhood
homes of Ogle, Murray and the last place of residence of Callis (I've already
seen them). Going on to Richmond, Virginia and seeing the birth home of
Eugene Kinckle Jones and then to Lexington, Kentucky where Tandy's father
built homes including his birth home. Driving on to Tallahassee and
laying flowers on Chapman's grave. Wouldn't that be nice if we all had
a week or more to do that pilgrimage? Well, it's just a passing thought.
A BROTHER WANTED TO KNOW:
WHEN DID BROTHER MARTIN LUTHER KING ATTEND HIS FIRST ALPHA CONVENTION?
ANSWER: Brother King was present at the Cleveland Convention
in December of 1952, just six months after he was initiated into the fraternity
through Sigma Chapter.(A copy of his shingle is included in my book "The
Talented Tenth") The guest speaker at the convention was Bro. Thurgood Marshall
and all living "Jewels" were present.
CORRECTIONS:
In the first issue, Callis taught at Howard High School in Wilmington,
Delaware (not Wilmington High School as listed. (As fate would have it,
I visited Wilmington and Chester, Pennsylvania this weekend and paid homage
to the spirit of Callis during his brief stint as an English teacher.)
I was hosted by several brothers of Rho Chapter as I spoke at a church
Scholarship luncheon. "In cities of population of two, I even have a brother
there." A line taken from "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother."
In the 2nd Issue, there were nineteen charter members of Beta instead
of sixteen (which I inadvertently listed). George Lyle was initiated
in December of 1907 not 1908. (Hard to proof email text, but still striving.
:-)
A message from Skip Mason -- DISCLAIMER: This page is not affiliated with the National Organization.
I am not the Historian of the fraternity, just a brother who is and has
always been thirsty for more knowledge on this organization. The information
provided has been thoroughly researched and documented and is brought to you
with all the fraternal love and spirit I possess. Sources are available upon
request.
