#19
Vol. 1 No. 19 -
Tuesday, May 11, 1999
"Finding The Good and Praising It"
SIGMA PI PHI: THE BOULE- The First Black Fraternity
(on record)
What separates Sigma Pi Phi and Alpha Phi Alpha. One was
the first black fraternity for professional men and the latter the first
for collegiate men. The question still begs however is Sigma Pi Phi the
ultimate fraternity for African-American men or will Alpha or 100 Black Men do?
For African-American men of stature and prominence is it the group you want to
belong to? Men
such as Vernon Jordan(Omega), Andrew Young(Alpha), L.
Douglas Wilder(Omega), American Express President Kenneth
Chenault, most black college presidents and the most
prominent physicians, attorneys, dentists, and corporate
leaders are members. They do not step or chant, you
hardly ever see any members in T-shirts or jackets with
the Greek letters plastered on it. It has a quarterly
publication, and biennial conventions.
Membership is exclusive. There is no Smoker, no
informational seminar, no application packet, no cluster weekend, no lines, etc. It
is one of the most exclusive fraternities for African-American men. No, it
is not Alpha, Kappa, Omega or Sigma. It is called Sigma Pi Phi (the Boule). It
was founded in 1904 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and its membership includes
men from all Greek
letter organizations as well as those who are not. It is
not just another Greek letter organization according to
Lawrence Otis
Graham in his book
"Our Kind of People"
Dr. Henry Minton (who later joined Alpha Phi Alpha)
invited five of his colleagues, all doctors working in Philadelphia to join
him in organizing a social organization that would "bring together a
select group of men with a minimum degree of superior education and culture-men who
were congenial, tolerant, and hospitable." Minton was well educated
and married into the Wormley family of Washington. He was responsible for
opening the first two
hospitals in Philadelphia, both Douglass and Mercy.
It's the organization most professional men want to join,
but its membership is invitational only. While 100 Black Men of America (of
which I am a member of) is invitational too, there is a distinguishable
difference sometimes too
difficult to verbalize. Having socialize and presented to
the members of Sigma Pi Phi, the members are much older (in most cases
and very well established in their careers). In the meeting that I
attended in Atlanta (the chapter known as Kappa Boule), they feast on prime rib
and the trimmings each month and conduct the business with very little fanfare
and discussion. They all seem to be on one accord and no personal agendas,
perhaps because they
have reached the highest point in their career. You very
seldom read about their activities in the news.
From the Greek languages, they use terms such as
Boule- Council of Noblemen (or women as the AKA's also
use the term for the National Gatherings)
Archons- members of the Boule
Sire Archon- President of the Boule
Other officers are Grammateus, Thesauristes, Rhetoricus,
etc.
One of our Alpha Brothers, the distinguished Dr. Huel
Perkins, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor at Louisiana State University
and a graduate of Southern University, residing in Baton Rouge served as
the Sire Archon(National President of Sigma Pi Phi) a few years
ago. In my research, there was no uncovering of physical or tangible evidence
that proved that any one of the Jewels were members of Sigma Pi Phi. I thought
perhaps Jewel
Callis, but was unable to substantiate the claim as I
researched his papers. In addition, Dr. Charles Harris Wesley, who was a member
and its Historian makes no mention in his work on Callis or in the Boule's
history book. However, one half (15) of our 30 General Presidents were
and are members of "the Boule" including:
4th General President Charles Garvin
Tau Boule,
Cleveland, Ohio
12th General President Raymond W. Cannon
Omicron
Boule(Charter Member), Minneapolis, Minn
(who was a founding member of his Boule)
13th General President B. Andrew Rose
Sigma Boule,
Dayton, Ohio
14th General President Charles Wesley
Sigma
Boule (Dayton, Ohio) & Epsilon Boule, Washington, DC
15th General President Rayford W. Logan
Epsilon
Boule(Washington,D.C.) & Alpha Beta Boule
18th General President Frank L. Stanley
Psi Boule,
Louisville, Kentucky
19th General President Myles A. Paige
Xi Boule, New
York City
21st General President Thomas W. Cole
Beta Xi Boule,
Central Florida
22nd General President Lionel Hodge Newsom
Beta Delta
Boule, Charlotte, North Carolina
23rd General President Ernest Morial
Alpha Alpha
Boule, New Orleans, Louisiana
24th General President Walter Washington
Beta Gamma
Boule, Jackson, Mississippi
25th General President James Williams
Beta Rho Boule,
Kent, Ohio
27th General President Charles Teamer
Alpha Alpha
Boule, New Orleans, LA
28th General President Henry Ponder
Chi
Boule (Nashville, Tenn) & Epsilon Boule (Washington)
29th General President Milton C. Davis
(Tuskegee, Montogmery, AL chapter)
*My apologies if any General President's name was
omitted. These names were compiled from several sources including their history
book and other biographical sources on the General Presidents.
Volume One of the History of Sigma Pi Phi was written by
the illustrious Dr. Charles Harris Wesley. It was published in 1954 to
celebrate the organizations 50th Anniversary. The Second volume was
written by Alpha brother Dr. Hobart Jarrett. It was published in the mid
1990s.
Additional Source:
Graham, Lawrence Otis, Our Kind of People
Harper Collins
Publishers
New York: 1999
"Education has surely failed us unless it has given
the individual power and strength and force of character necessary to go forward
in reaching whatever adjustment of the environment may be necessary.
Jewel Henry Arthur Callis
Go To High School/Go To
College
Mass Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, May 18, 1930
"An unselfish body organized for wholly unselfish
reasons and maintained on the highest principles composed of men of honor with
trained minds, is it not a nucleus for wonderful organization of Negro men?
Frederick H. Miller
3rd General President,1916
AN EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM A BROTHER:
Fighting with One Arm Behind Our Backs!
by
Brother Thomas A. Tatum
Since the wee hours of the morning of November 21, 1981,
there has been one reverberating theme that I remember in my head:
"Regardless of what you may believe, your work in Alpha is just beginning." Over
the past sixteen years, this point has been proven itself incessantly. I
have also added a new twist on that original theme: ...there will always be
work for Alpha to do. However, this also begs the question, ...will Alpha
always be there?
History has been shown that Alpha has been the vanguard
for social and political change and justice. From W. E. B. Dubois to
pushing for passage of legislation for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument,
Alpha continues to strive for excellence. Locally, we have seen chapters
attempt to make sure that their community has a sentinel to promote education
in our schools, feeding and clothing the needy, and providing positive
role models for our
male youth.
These battles are being waged by an organization that is
less that half strength. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has been
working with this membership shortage for a long time. Our problem is
multiple: an older membership population that may provide ideas, but believe
that they have served their time; Country Club Brothers who like to be
seen at the social functions, but refuse to get their hands dirty; College
Brothers who will not make the transition from college to alumni chapters
but who "sell like hell" their home chapter; Graduate Brothers who
believe that their "Lambda" must be protected as all times, those who wish to enter
and be productive,
but do not have the gray hair to prove it; Brothers for
whatever reasons feel that they cannot be active in a chapter for they do
not agree with the national office, local chapter directives, or have
personal problems with individuals, past or present. There is a strong
contingent of "Brothers" who feel the recent changes of intake are beneath them,
unless the wood is good, then they cannot be apart of such a soft
organization. I ask these Brothers, "WHO MADE YOU THE EIGHTH JEWEL?" In
spite of these distractions, the Fraternity continues to
advance, to remain viable, there is no other choice.
There has been a push for reclamation of the population
of Brothers that have not been active for whatever reasons. Many chapters have
been successful in their reclamation efforts. Seminars and workshops are
held at the local, regional and national levels to teach creative ways to
bring Brothers back into the fold. Some Brothers state that all that they
needed was a reminder
of why they joined this Fraternity. Many believe that
this reasoning is akin to a spouse needing a reminder of why they got married
and what the vows that were taken actually meant.
The main problem is that individuals pledge, intake, join
a CHAPTER instead of the FRATERNITY. I recently attended a reunion of one
of the local undergraduate chapters; of the over 50 people who came
through, at least 35 were not active. When you talk to these Brothers, many of
the reasons that are given have been spoken above. "The Frat is not
the same, it's going downhill...," "I don't get along with...,"
"I'm to busy with family, work etc." EXCUSES, nothing but crutches to lean on. I
know because I use to say
the same things for a period of five years when I was
inactive. Inactive Brothers love to gravy train whenever there is a
convention, step-show, dance or reunion of the Brotherhood. To be a member of an
active chapter puts you in the position of actually doing something. Alpha's are
committed to the community; the work rarely subsides. In these days where
citizens of our
community see recognition from a "shout-out" on
an urban contemporary radio station; where young African-American males see their
future in professional sports than in academic and/or entrepreneurial endeavors;
where young African-Americans use the word "N---ER" as a
term of endearment.....
BROTHERS ARE NEEDED TO STEP UP AND CORRECT THIS TIDE.
The change must be formed within. College Brothers must
be challenged to cross that chasm after graduation and align themselves
with a graduate chapter, personally and yes, financially. Graduate
chapters should accommodate the College Brother (financially) to become a
member. There should not be any animosity shown to these Brothers
simply because they are
moving from the college ranks. Many of the graduate
Brothers should be able to relate. In the same stroke, College Brothers should
not have any misconceptions about alumni chapters. To all Brothers
involved, you took an oath to a national organization, not to a particular
segment to that organization. There is one undeniable fact for all
Brothers, unless you are called to Omega Chapter prematurely, you will be an
Alumni Brother longer
than a College Brother.
Each of us must continue to do are part in this struggle.
The MLK Monument must be built, no matter the active status of Brothers.
Social injustice must continue to be fought on the all levels, the needy
must be fed and clothed, even if Alpha is the only organization left
standing in the gap. Fortune 500 companies which many of us support, use
racial stereotypes such as Blacks as cannibals, freaks with tails and other
abominations in visual
marketing in Latin and South American countries. In
global world, this is detrimental. Alpha's must confront these issues with a
strong voice. Congress will address whether to extent reparations in
the form of $20,000 and a letter of apology to persons of Japanese ancestry
who were interned during World War II. I do not know about you Brothers,
but I'm willing to drop my demands for a mule in lieu of 40 acres. Brothers,
we have got to stand like grown men to confront these issues as one.
THE QUESTION IS BROTHER, WHICH HAND DO YOU FIND YOURSELF
IN, THE HAND THRUSTED FORWARD, OR THE ONE BOUND
SHEEPISHLY TO THE REAR?