So many of the masses of us still believe and feel an inferiority complex. Hundreds of Negroes are still skeptical of Black Genius.
Jewel Nathaniel Allison Murray, 1946

By Skip Mason
In the book the Talented Tenth, I share the phenomenal words of wisdom of the Jewels. The driving force behind doing this book was to allow the Jewels (themselves) to speak on issues of the fraternity as they  envisioned it. Their remarks are timeless and so applicable to Alpha today. When you read their words I, believe that you too will realize in some instances how far off track we have strayed from their original ideas. Today, I share a few pearls of wisdom from Jewel Nathaniel Allison Murray. To know Jewel Murray was to love him. He was born in wealth and privilege. He was a loving husband and caring father of two daughters. He loved Alpha.  He loved being a Jewel, so much that when he signed his name, he always placed Jewel behind it. Even in a letter to his own blood brother, he signed it that way. In the appendix of the book, I have three different speeches of Jewel Murray on the early history of Alpha and each one gives a different account. Each time he shares something different.  Jewel Murray  was fascinating, frugal and passionate about Alpha. In the book, I have dubbed him "The Passionate Jewel." 

ON ALPHA MATERIAL
"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 reflection of later years has found that taking men into this fraternity, in order to show to the other fraternities, who were in competition with us for membership, men whose ideas of life and fraternity in general were not in keeping with the ideas 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 for 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."

ON RECLAMATION
"A partial answer to the foregoing is that these Brothers need a real heart to heart talk with a view of reacquainting themselves as to how absolutely necessary it is for them to continue to affiliate with their local chapters,  as they did in the beginning of their undergraduate days. The fraternity needs them as necessary integral parts of its forward moving program. Brothers do not make the mistake of stressing the need of their returning merely to help in some financial program because that is not the idea the speaker wishes to convey. Far be such an idea. Let the Brother be persuaded by personal visits and talks to come out and see for himself what a wonderful thing it is to be a part of Alpha Phi Alpha whose efforts will live forever. "

ON THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS
"Aim to cut out too much politics in the selection of your chapter officers. Select only those Brothers for nomination who possess qualities of leadership, scholarship and character that you will feel proud in having them as leaders. Get rid of the machine politics whereby so many chapters are handicapped in carrying out any kind of program, which program would always react to the glory and fame of dear old Alpha Phi Alpha...If chapters will but work to assimilate their membership and through their programs keep up a rich"

ON UNDERGRADUATE BROTHERS
"The present decrease in undergraduate membership is due to not understanding the main purposes of Alpha Phi Alpha to help men.  This applies particularly to graduate chapters, who should take a more active interest in their undergraduate brothers. Another reason is that many undergraduates are not getting the anticipated fun, that they felt would be there's by joining a fraternity like Alpha Phi Alpha.

    The Founders of Alpha Phi Alpha did not organize the world's first fraternity among Negro College men just to have fun, but they were actuated by a desire to give service to our fellow men and to put service above self, love all mankind and scholarship."
Jewel Nathaniel Allison Murray, 1956
 

"There was real inspiration and it was the real Alpha Phi Alpha spirit present in those days that carried us on and up. I long for a return to those days. In those days the familiar slogan was "Do all you can for dear old  Alpha Phi Alpha!"
Jewel Nathaniel Allison Murray, 1947
 

ALPHA AND THE CME CHURCH
I am very proud to be a minister in the CME denomination.  The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1870 as the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church of America. Since its inception, there have been many Bishops of the CME Church who were brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha. A partial list is included and the known schools or chapters of initiation. The Beta Pi Chapter at Lane College has been the breeding ground for CME pastors and Bishops. Skip's Historical Moments salute these brethren. 

*Chester A. Kirkendoll
E. Lynn Brown (Beta Phi)
P. Randolph Shy (Omicron Lambda)
Richard O. Bass (Beta Phi)
William H. Graves (Beta Phi)
Dotcy I. Isom
Thomas L. Hoyt(Beta Phi)
*James L. Cummings(Beta Phi)
*James A. Hamlett

Around Alphadom are rich! They seem to keep coming and I appreciate your sharing them with me. Recently, Brother Julius Hall shared one with me that I found to be very interesting. Once again, this story has not been substantiated or documented, so don't rush to tell a brother. 

"Last night I paid a visit to Brother Bob Warren, who pledged at FAMU in 1959 and is currently a member of Mu Lambda in Washington.  I took him copies of all of the previous SHM and he was like a kid in a candy store, reading and reminiscing.  He wanted to read all 20 plus editions on the spot.  

While reading about Jewel Jones, he told me an interesting story about Jones and the establishment of Beta and Gamma Chapters, according to folklore. The story goes that Jones (who attended Virginia Union as an undergraduate before going to Cornell) had made plans for Alpha's second chapter to be established at his alma mater, Va Union.  The story continues that on his way to Virginia, Jones stopped off in Washington to continue a courtship with a young lady and while in Washington, paid a visit to Howard and started a chapter there before continuing on to Virginia Union to establish what became Gamma Chapter.  The point being that but for an affair of the heart, Beta Chapter would be at Virginia Union and not Howard.  

I will leave it to you and the Brothers from Va Union and Howard to debate.
Julius Hall

FROM THE EMAIL LETTER BAG

 Lionel Richie was initiated in a private ceremony in California in 1996.

Dear Bro. Mason: Recently, some of the Bros. were discussing Kappas and their canes.  It was said that Sigmas used canes before Kappas, and we used canes even before them.  We just never used it as symbol for the fraternity.  In addition it was said that some chapters in the Northeast use them. We were hoping you could shed a little light on this subject.

Bros. Roper & Baiyewu
Alpha Rho Chpt.
Spr. ' 99