""BE A GOOD ALPHA" 
As told to Brother Skip Mason from the mouth of 
Dr. Charles H. Wesley 
August 1983, New Orleans, Louisiana 

Dear Brothers: 

Before I begin this issue, let me thank those brothers who remembered my birthday on yesterday. I appreciate your cards, both mailed and electronic and the phone calls. A special thanks to the 20 plus brothers who treated me to a wonderful birthday celebration and  dinner. As I supped on filet mignon and skewed shrimp (Well it was my birthday brothers!) , I realized how blessed I was to be alive and to have so many good friends, a loving family and sincere well-wishers. The fellowship and fraternal bonding was great and the shirts, wow. Just wait to you see me in Vegas and Dallas.   July is the month of birth of many of my "old" Alpha friends and several new ones too (Carl Walton, Antavius Weems, C.C. Jones, Othell Adams). To them and others, I wish you a very Happy Birthday.  Condolescences to Brother Eugene Harper in the loss of his father. Brother Harper serves as my proofreader and editor. Well, the convention is rapidly approaching us. Brothers are pulling out their combination of black and gold ensembles, ties, T-shirts to take to Dallas. Thanks again to the brothers who have been sharing newspapers addresses to me. A special and grateful thanks to Brother Robert Frelow(Howard University) for his generosity in assisting me in this effort. 

Now about this issue.  Simply put Charles Harris Wesley was my Jewel. I never knew our magnificent and beloved  Seven, so in my early years in the fraternity I was searching for someone who could connect me with them in a special way.  Yeah, I had read the book, but I needed a moment that would transform me forever. I didn't ask for it, didn't pray for it, didn't expect, didn't anticipate, didn't know it was coming. It just happened because unknown to me at that time that this  was all a part of God's divine plan for me to meet Brother Wesley. That's why I don't fret (too much) when things don't go the way I think they should. I rest assured that "What God has for 
me it is for me." 

Many of you have heard the story before and some have viewed the photograph on my website, but its worth repeating again to my new readers and to those who are going to Dallas for their first convention or looking for a moment too.  What happened in August 1983 at the New Orleans Hilton was nothing but an act of God that created the opportunity for me to meet Brother Charles 
Harris Wesley, later visit his home and go through his papers which had been dormant for years!  THIS WAS NOTHING BUT GOD INTERVENING IN MY LIFE AND PREPARING ME FOR WHAT MIGHT COME. In the brief moment that I met Brother Wesley, introduced myself to him with him responding to me to "Be A Good Alpha, " bruhs(I can't believe I used that spelling), I have not been the same. 

In my continuing series on the General Presidents,  today's issue focuses solely on Wesley. He was the 14th General President of the fraternity, serving longer than any other General president(1932-1940). He was the author of the pioneering book on Greek Letter Fraternities, "The History of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity" and after his tenure in office,  he was named the 
official Historian of the fraternity where he served until his death in August of 1987 When I was in graduate school working on my Master's in African-American Studies at Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University) , we were assigned to do a combined  biography and bibliography of an African-American.  I did a Biobliography of Wesley which contained an index of all of his writings, publications, journals and articles in the Sphinx. I received an A on the project, that was in 1987. 

I recalled the Spring of 1982, when I was beginning the process of becoming an Alpha, that  one of the brothers had a book on his desk. When he was not in, I would try to sneak and look at the pages. That book was sacred to me. Felt like I was unworthy to touch it (you know how dramatic Sphinxmen could be. Well, we were.)  I recall after having "crossed"  receiving an issue of 
the Sphinx Magazine which featured his face on the cover. I was in absolute awe. 

I traveled to New Orleans in 1983, not even thinking that Wesley might be there. I was just so excited to go. At the close of  the Fraternal Luncheon, he was recognized and the brothers stood in thunderous applause. I was paralyzed, numbed, had chills. Could not believe that Charles Harris Wesley, the man who penned and authored the most beloved book in my possession at that time, the history of Alpha was just across the room. (Of course now it's another book with nine words HOLY BIBLE that I cherish first, then Alpha's history).  Well, I had my camera. I had taken photos of everything and everybody, including  Richard Pryor whom I interrupted while having lunch  with Jim Brown. (Pryor, who was so gracious, as I stood trembling because it seemed like Jonathan took forever to take the photo).  He put his arms around me and said "it's okay, take your time."  He was staying in the New Orleans Hilton at the same time of the Alpha Convention. Well, after that experience, surely, I could go over and interrupt Wesley(sitting so beautifully in his wheel chair with his silver hair just sparkling, his face effervescent and glowing)  and ask to be photographed with him. One of my high school classmates, Jonathan Dodd, who had pledged Beta Delta Spring 82, walked with me and took that most treasured photo. I later met Brother Wesley again at the Inauguration of General President Ozell Sutton. He signed my program. 

In the fraternal sphere, he was my hero. While I idolized him at first, after learning more about the trials and struggles he had with the writing of the history, he became my role model. He was a historian who pastored a Methodist Church, so was I.His life has inspired me in innumerable ways.  Wesley, had his fans and his critics (just yours truly). Now I am no Wesley, but God didn't create Me to be a Wesley, but to be inspired and use my own personal gifts. The beauty of Alpha is that we will never duplicate the Jewels, Lawson Wesley, Logan, Smith and others. But there is a generation of Alpha brothers who are on the verged on creating their mark and legacies in that same spirit. So brothers, "Don't tarry, just gone and do it." Alpha needs your bodaciousness, your courage, your vision in these crucial next seven years. 

On several ocassions  Wesley, caught the wrath of the Jewels Callis and Kelley. Often he and Callis would go tick for tack over some fact in the history book that Callis wanted changed and Wesley would be reluctant to change unless it was substantiated and documented. Wesley wrote to Callis in 1959,  the following: 

 " This raises, by implications, a question concerning the work of the historian. I think that you should recall that you read this manuscript section in 1928 and subsequently.  I do not ask that you share with me my responsibility in error which seems to have occurred, but I think that you share with me an opportunity to correct this error prior to the date of your speech. I assure you that I would have considered it helpful and cooperative, as we have done through the years, if you would have called this to my attention. Nevertheless, as a result of this indirect approach to accuracy, I shall make the change in the next published edition.  One of the difficulties of writing history during the life of participants is the danger of injuring some and giving praise to others, and  not treating personalities and events adequately as those who do not write history would want to be treated. Historians who write about contemporary events are continuously in hot water, while those who write of the dead past have more satisfactorily acceptance." 

In 1941,   Wesley "ruffled" Jewel George Biddle Kelley feathers on what Kelley thought was an omission of an invitation for him to be the guest founder at a convention.  Kelley commented to another brother about the "politics of Alpha," and in good ole Alpha style, his comments got back to Wesley. Wesley wrote Jewel Kelley and replied... "In the future, if I am involved in any matter where you are concerned, will you be good enough to write me directly.." Kelley wrote Wesley back again.  He said  "...The organization has become so honeycombed with politics that one group may do anything to defeat the purpose of the other..." 

The entire contents of the letters are included in the book "The Talented Tenth" so you will have to read and see what transpired and why. 

I met his daughter Charlotte, his granddaughter whose name was Charlotte Holliman, who has the distinction of having her grandfather as the Historian of Alpha and her Aunt(her father's sister)  as the Past Basileus and Historian of Alpha Kappa Alpha Marjorie Holliman Parker. She wrote the book "In The Eye of the Beholder: Alpha Kappa Alpha. Wesley's wife and daughter were Delta's and his granddaughter an AKA. 

A few years ago, I created an exhibition on Wesley(during the administration of General President Milton Davis) and featured items that his daughter loaned the fraternity. The exhibit was in New Orleans during the first Wesley Scholarship and Educational Weekend. It was well received by the brotherhood and Mrs. Hollimon(Wesley's daughter), who was a renowned concert singer, who  appreciated it to. 

Following the death of Wesley,  I badgered every General President about the continuation of the History of Alpha. Wrote Brother Charles Teamer(who appointed to me to the Historical Commission), Henry Ponder(who appointed me to the Historical Commission), Milton Davis(who appointed me as Archivist). Unfortunately the Commission did very little other than gather at the  conventions. No real work was done.  Before the death of Lionel Newsom, who chaired the Historical Commission, I received a copy of the last chapter that he wrote for review. That was over 15 years ago. Now with the new Historical Commission in place and the new Historian selected, perhaps the brothers will finally get what they have been waiting for, a 2nd Volume to the history. 

I wish the Brother Harris, the new Historian and the Historical Commission well. As for me, I look forward to sharing with you in the awesome spirit of "my jewel" Charles Harris Wesley, my book "The Talented Tenth" which should be making an appearance in some of your mailboxes soon and in Dallas. 

THE 14TH GENERAL PRESIDENT 
CHARLES HARRIS WESLEY 
 

Several brief excerpts from the book "The Talented Tenth" by Skip Mason: 

"As divine fate would  dictate, Wesley as a student at Fisk studied botany under Professor C. C. Poindexter. Poindexter had been affiliated with the early organization of the fraternity at Cornell  University from 1905 to 1906... 

Wesley, at the age of 19, graduated with honors from Fisk in 1911 with a degree in the Classics and sang at the Commencement.  He later earned membership in Phi Beta Kappa when it was charted at Fisk in 1953 …" 

"... A classmate George Edmund Haynes, who helped to establish the National Urban League,  suggested that after Wesley graduated from Fisk, that he might want to consider graduate studies at Yale University.   Wesley pursued that suggestion and entered graduate school on a tuition fellowship. During his first year his grandfather died. Wesley felt it necessary that he find work to provide financial assistance to his mother in Louisville.  He found work at a white fraternity house.  In exchange, he was provided board.  Wesley also worked as a banquet waiter in New Haven, Connecticut and joined a trio with Roland Hayes. This musical group earned money from engagements as they traveled from Atlantic City to Philadelphia as well as proceeds from a record  cut with Columbia Records …" 

"...The writing of the history was exhaustive and challenging.  There were times when he could not get founders to respond to his letters requesting information. General President B. Andrew Rose formed a   historical committee to assist in obtaining information for Brother Wesley.  This committee consisted of Founder Nathaniel Murray (Washington, D. C; Henry A.  Callis (who was now in Chicago); Charles H. Chapman in Tallahassee; Robert H. Ogle in Washington; George Kelley in Troy, New York; Vertner W. Tandy in New York; Past General President  Charles H. Garvin in Cleveland, Ohio and Past General President Roscoe C. Giles(also in Chicago).  By November 1927, all chapters had been sent a copy of the historical commission questionnaire..." 

"...Following the death of Brother John Hope in 1936, who was  President of Atlanta University,  Wesley was named as one of the candidates for the presidency. In 1942, he began  his work at Wilberforce and in 1948, the newly formed Central State College elected him as President. A post he held for seventeen year. His collegiate  accomplishments  along with the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, of which  he was president,  kept him busy throughout the next three decades. A Charles H. Wesley Research fund was established by the association.  Over the decades he would publish other books including : 

-Negro Labor in the United States 1850-1925 
-The History of Sigma Pi Phi first of the Greek Letter Fraternities for Negro Americans(1954) 
-A History of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World, 1891-1954 (1954) 
-The History of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Mason of the State of Ohio, 1849-1960: An Epoch in American Fraternalism  (1961) 
-The History of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs: A Legacy of Service(1984) 
-Richard Allen, Apostle of Freedom(1937) 
-The Collapse of the Confederacy (1937) 
-In Freedom's Footsteps, From the African-Background to the Civil War (1968) 
-Neglected History: Essays in Negro History by a College President (1965) 
-Negro History in the School Curriculum (1925) 
-Ohio Negroes in the Civil War (1962) 
-The Quest for Equality: from Civil War to Civil Rights (1978) 

Wesley jointly authored three books, edited three book, wrote over 100 articles. In one word, he was prolific. 

ON THE HISTORY OF ALPHA 
"Brother Cannon immediately set about aiding in finding the whereabouts of early members and some of the Founders and others in position to shed light on the early history, getting them in touch with Dr. Wesley and urging them to give Brother Wesley whatever they had in the way of old records, facts, pictures, documents. Thus was the history of Alpha Phi Alpha begun. Brother Wesley came to the 20th Convention in Cleveland and presented as much of the history as he had then completed. Brother Robert Harold Ogle, another Founder was present at this convention. The printing of the history was authorized and two years later in Atlanta, Georgia, Brother Dr. Charles Wesley presented the 22nd Convention with the printed "History of Alpha Phi Alpha." 

>From the February 1930 edition of  The Sphinx 

Comments on the History of Alpha Phi Alpha- A Development on College Life: 

"At the convention, you again thrilled me, as you did in Cleveland, with the remarkable history you compiled for our organization." 
Dr. Walter F. Jerrick, Rho Chapter, 1929 

"I am looking forward with interest to seeing a copy of the fraternity history. Roy Wilkins says he has not received the copy of Richard Allen"Charles Hamilton Houston, Attorney, 1936 (Houston was the dean of Black Lawyers int he 1920s and 30's and preceded Thurgood Marshall as Special Counsel for the NAACP. 

"This is a piece of good work. Thoroughly characteristic of yourself. Many thanks. 
" 
Dr. Numa P. G.  Adams, Dean, Howard University School of Medicine, 1939 

"As we undertake the work of this convention, let us do it with the shadows of the past years about us and with the earnest belief that the best days ar not behind us, but always before us." 
Bro. Charles H. Wesley, December 30, 1935  

ON OUR PROGRAMS: 
"Alpha Phi Alpha has a policy and a program. These are best expressed in the words "Servants of All. We along with other fraternities have been criticised for inactivity...The general purposes of Alpha Phi Alpha habe been to strengthen the intellectual and spiritual life of its members  and to 
increase their usefulness om tjeor communities." 

ON ITS MISSION 
"Alpha Phi Alpha has of special significance to fulfill in the maintenance on the intellectual life and cultural progress. "  December 1935 

ON MEMBERSHIP 
"May we be as wise in our selection of men in the future as we have been in the past.! " 

ON BROTHER'S INDIVIDUAL GOALS 
 I would urge that...brothers individually, would continue to be inspired to worthy actions through the ideas and visions of the Fraternity and its leadership and strive for even greater achievements in the future than we have in the past.
Charles Harris Wesley, February 1949 

DID YOU KNOW THAT: 
Wesley was an ordained minister in the AME Church, who once seved as Presiding Elder and was a candidate for Bishop. Because he would not raise money to campaign, he lost the election. 

THE HISTORIANS OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA 

Past General President Charles Garvin 
Charles Harris Wesley 
Revis Mitchell (During the administration of Henry Ponder) 
Thomas Pawley (during the administration of Milton Davis) 
Robert Harris (during the administration of our current General President) 

Dr. Janette Hoston Harris, completed her dissertation on Dr. Wesley. It is available through University Microfilms. 

LETTERS FROM THE BROTHERS 

Greetings Bro. Mason: 
 My name is Antonio M. Fore, and I currently attend Marquette University as a Biomedical Engineering major. An older brother  I bumped into one day was pleased with my representation of the fraternity, and soon took me under his wing. Instilling in me not only the knowledge of our great 
fraternity, but the role as a "Alphaman" in society as well. With this knowledge I become stronger as a whole, I am constantly looking for the light. After stumbling onto another older Bro. and chatting with him for a seven minutes or so, he was delighted to see my enthusiasm for the fraternity and soon e-mailed me your site. I was very pleased when reading it's contents, it was like a gold mined and I can't wait to read the back issues. If it's not of any trouble Sir, I would love to be placed on your  mailing list. In closing, I would like to thank you for giving a glimpse of the light. 

"Out of the night that covers me..." 
Fraternally Yours, 
Bro. Fore 

AND THE DEBATE ON THE TALENTED TENTH CONTINUES: 

Brother Buckley.  I read your letter to Skip, and agree that your insight is worthy of consideration.  It is glaringly obvious that you truly love our Fraternity, and to that end, I will respect your opinion to disagree with Bro. Harris and myself.  What I will urge you to consider, however, is the notion that your perception of DuBois's Talented Tenth is flawed.  In his essay describing the "talented tenth," Bro. DuBois gave very detailed descriptions as to who he was referring to.  Do not let idealism misconstrue his original intentions towards the belief in a privileged class.  DuBois states that culture has always flowed from the top downward, and that it never has nor will flow in the reverse.  He made mention of the doctors, lawyers, teachers, and other "professionals" in our midst as being the bearers of the torches.  By being blessed with the gifts to succeed and lead, he placed upon their shoulders the obligation to secure for the masses the benefits promised to our foreparents.  What happened, however, is that we gave in to an individualistic way of thinking.   We removed ourselves from the masses, and as we ascended from the ghetto, we forgot about the brothers and sisters that we left behind.I think what you have articulated in your letter is who we SHOULD regard as the talented tenth, but these individuals are the antithesis of who DuBois envisioned.  The brothers and sisters who are out their struggling and striving with the common folks, or as Bro. Harris so eloquently proclaimed - the untalented ninetieth, are those who engage in the true spirit of selflessness. Their vision of freedom and liberty is inseparably intertwined with the attainment of the two for us all.  And while it is irrefutable that a great many of these numbers are Alphas, their acts are SEPARATE and APART from those of the Fraternity as a whole.  If you revisit Bro. Harris's letter, as well as the History book, you will find documented how Alpha moved  from the mass protest movement towards organized litigation.  Once upon a time, the Fraternity would represent certain individuals (Skip correct me if I'm wrong here), pay the legal fees, and serve as lead and supporting counsel.  Bro. Belford Lawson was instrumental, in fact, in winning a great many cases in the name of Alpha.  What we find nowadays, unfortunately, is an adherence to a corporate political mentality that sees everything from the vantage point of a liability. 

Again, I am truly feeling you along the lines of loving Alpha, yet let's be real about a few things.  First, according to our Constitution, Alpha is embodied in the General Organization.  Yet, in order for one to be active, or in good standing, among this number, then there are certain financial obligations that must be met.  The vast majority of men who have been initiated into Alpha during the past 50 years are not fulfilling this "obligation" and as such, are not perceived as doing the work of Alpha when they participate in the uplift of the community.  Now to you and I, this is absurd, and we both know that in fact these men ARE indeed doing Alpha work.  However, in the event that they wore their letters to a protest (like here in St. Louis recently) and they were arrested, I guarantee you that the General Organization will emphatically disassociate itself with their actions.  This is because Alpha Phi Alpha of 1999 is grossly corrupted by politics and egotism. Idealistically, it would be wonderful to say that those who have been blessed by God will on their own accord see to it that everyone else shares in their blessings, yet this is not the case.  Moreover, as evidenced 
by DuBois's abandonment of the idea of the talented tenth during his later years, those who were entrusted with the ability to move the masses onward and upward, due to the fact that they had been given gifts from God, are only concerned with individual gain, otherwise we would see less disparity among our people in income, status, and education.  I invite your feedback on this subject, as well as anything that Skip or Bro.Harris would like to enlighten us with. 

Stay Tenacious in Alpha Brother, 
In Brotherhood, 
Will Dailey 
07BT96, Epsilon Lambda 

A FEW JOB LEADS 

Greetings brothers in the wonderful name of ALPHA!  My name is Wayne Emilien, Jr. and I'm just sending an email out for all of you brothers who may be seeking internships and or other types of employment.  This site is devoted to college students and grad students, so I hope that the information found within may assist someone to move up in the ranks. 

Fraternally yours, 
Wayne Emilien, Jr. 
#3/Mnemonic-Fall97-'Triple Threat' 

ANOTHER JOB OPPORTUNITY 
 
Benton Foundation's Communications Policy & Practice program Seeks Senior Associate for Digital Divide ProjectAvailable Immediately 
 
The Benton Foundation seeks an individual with strong organizational and communication skills for a project in its Communications Policy & Practice  (CPP) program (www.benton.org/cpphome.html). CPP staff track communications  policy and research effective applications of nonprofit use of 
communications technology.  The senior associate will focus on tracking and documenting  policy and practice issues as they relate to bridging the digital divide.  The  position is located in Washington, DC. 

  BACK ISSUES OF SKIP'S HISTORICAL MOMENTS

No 1- Callis's First Wife 
No 2- The Ties That Bind: Lyle and Hedgeman/APHIA/AKA 
No 3- Charles Chapman, A Poet? 
No 4- The APHIA/Delta Connection (Most requested issue) 
No 5- Frederick Douglass: He was the Spirit of the Fraternity 
No 6- Rev. A Wayman Ward: The Author of the Fraternity 
No. 7- Abram L. Simpson, Author of the Fraternity Hymn and other Alpha Songwriters 
No. 8- Revisionist Fraternities: The Omega, Kappa, Sigma Conspiracy 
No. 9- The Daughter of Jewel Ogle 
No 10- How Alpha is Portrayed in Current Literature 
No. 11- Duke Ellington and Alpha Phi Alpha 
No. 12- Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy's Connection to  Tuskegee 
No. 13-  The Mothers of the Jewels, Part One 
No. 14- Jewel Jones Mother: Mrs. Rosa Kinckle Jones/ Dr. Roscoe C. Giles 
No. 15- Jewel Murray Mother: Mrs. Anna Evans Murray 
No. 16-  Jewels Ogle and Tandy's Mothers 
No. 17- Mrs. Annie Singleton and the Mothers of Ithaca 
No. 18- Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones: Truly A Servant of All 
No. 19- Alpha and Sigma Pi Phi(The Boule) 
No. 20- The Sphinx Club and Pledging 1906-1930 
No. 21- Masonic and other fraternal ties to the Seven Jewels 
No. 22-DuBois and Alpha Phi Alpha: Was it the pride of his heart? 
No 23- The Book: The Talented Tenth 
No. 24- Jewel Ogle's Grave/Alpha's Second Honorary Member 
No. 25- Having Their Say: Letters from the Brothers 
No. 26- Jewel George Biddle Kelley, An Eternal Neophyte and Advocate for College Brothers 
No. 27-Charles Henry Chapman: The Reclaimed Jewel 
No. 28-The Lighter Side of Alpha(White Brothers in the Fraternity, pt. 1) 
No. 29- The Lighter Side of Alpha, pt. 2 
No. 30- Egyptian Excursion/The Jewel's Granddaughter visits Atlanta 
No 31- The Fathers of the Jewels /Men of Ithaca 
No 32- Jewel Murray Speaks 
No 33- Having My Say: 
No 34-"God Give Us Men/ The General Presidents -part one 
No. 35-The General Presidents- part two 
No 37- The General Presidents- part three 
No 38- All About Wesley, the 14th General President 
________________________________________________ 
THE TALENTED TENTH: 
FOUNDERS AND 30 GENERAL PRESIDENTS 
OF  Alpha 
By Skip Mason 
Foreword by Brother Andrew Young 

Published by Four G's Press, c. 1999 
Winter Haven,  Florida 
480 pages; 28 cm, 100+ photographs 
ISBN: 1885066-63-5 
$25.00 (soft back) 
$32.50 (hard back) 
To be released in June '99(hardbacks in July) 
ORDER FORM, PLEASE PRINT, FILL OUT AND MAIL . 
_____________________

$25.00 (Soft back)                  $32.50 (Hard back) 
This is still prepublication price. So get it while it lasts