FRATERNITY
FUN
(Continued from Page 63) the Carioca, he was doing a modified version, for want of a better name, let's call it the Tapioca. * * * Brother Charlie Lane of Chicago will not soon forget the speech of Brother Jerrick at Atlantic City in nominating Brother J awn Sandifer as general counsel. After giving all the encomiums usually bestowed in this type of up hill battle. Brother Jerrick said, "I know you will elect him, look at him brothers, look at him, he bears the burnished livery of the sun." So descriptive was the appellation 'tis said, Brother Lane, himself, voted for Sandifer, the sun kissed hero. * * * Were you there in Kansas City in 1940; did you not laugh at Brother Prince Nyabongo in his misguided invective against Brother Lovelace; did you not go into hysterics at the Oxonion English dialect screaming "Lovelace, it's "tvme" for a "chiange." Yes, it was a time for many changes. * * * Humor and sorrow are not far distant. We smile and sigh when we think of impeccable Joe Evans, benign Joe, forlorn of mien while the political Basset hounds howled for his scalp at every convention, only to resume his jaunty, debonair self after the election re-elected him year after year. Of course, you didn't laugh at Archie Burrell nominating him at New York. In the warmth of his arguments Archie forgot the name and blurted out: "Say it was only ten minutes ago they asked me to nominate Brother-er-er-er-what's his name." 'Taint funny, but any recounting of 50 years of Alpha could not omit Brothers Wayman Ward of ecclesiastic dignity compounded with nonpareil fraternalism; Atwater and Frankie Dee guardians of the convention portcullis; besmeared with Oklahoman oil and surcharged with beaucoup coin of the realm (money to you) Lloyd Williams and Tollie Harris; the inobtrusive benignity and erudition of Henry Lake Dickason and Howard Hale Long; the sortorial splendor of Charlie (Dawg) Anderson and Kermit Hall; the beneficence of Brothers Boyd of Nashville and James of Charleston, West Virginia; the eloquence of Brothers Wesley, Bindley Cyrus and Henry L. Richardson: the tenacity of Brothers Shortridge and "Bul'l" Allen; the fulminating passion of Barton Beatty and B. V. Lawson; the fidelity of Merideth Ferguson and Andrew J. Lewis; the ease with which you conjure up a smile at the mention of B. V. Harvey, Sir Walter (Theresa) Scott, Sydney (I am Alpha Phi Alpha) Brown; Sidney (Order of Coit) Jones. There are only ten thousand more fun loving, Alpha serving names I could mention, even cherubic Bennie Brown and ubiquitous Jimmy Huger. Chapter eleven of the seventh edition of the history, page 86 says that I said in 1931, prior to the Silver Jubilee at Cincinnati, "Alpha is twenty-five years old. Let's all be present, depression or no depression." See here Brother Wesley, I think I can go down in Alpha history with something more profound than that inanity. So I'll say in 1956 prior to the Golden Jubilee, "Alpha is fifty years old. Let's all be present, mortgage or no mortgage." At least I get a little further out of a rhetorical rut, don't I? History do your worst. On page 335 of the same edition, the historian said: Brother O. Wilson Winters placed his hand upon one of the major obstacles when he referred to the revival of the real Alpha Spirit." Come, come, Brother Wesley, reporting that Brother Winters "placed his hand upon one of the major obstacles—" Well, what did he do with that hand? That's not the way I heard it. Alpha also has men of distinction, ex-prexy A. Maceo Smith, bottled in bond, aged in service and indorsed by Calverts and adored by his wife, Fanny. As I write here in the stillness of the midnight hour the spirit of my fraternal mentor, and boon companion, another man of distinction, communes with me. Walter Fitzgerald Jerrick, I can hear him now: "1 was born in South America, British Guiana, in the town of Georgetown. My father and mother died in my early childhood and I was reared by my strict, but very kind, aunt. After absorbing all the learning I could get in my native town I was prepared by my aunt for American education and culture." Many in Alpha have heard the story over and over and remember the picture of the little urchin dragged by a fond but determined Aunt to a tailor to have suitable raiment of more or less American design made for a chap who just one hour before had emerged from bare foot, bare headed and (Continued on Page 107) PAGE 106
CHAPTER PRESIDENT PRESIDES Brother R. W. Harrison. Jr.. President of Alpha Epsi'on Lambda, is shown presiding during the Education for Citizenship Week Program held at Tougaloo Southern Christian College. April 22. 1956.
Spirit of Anniversary Touches Alpha Men In Jackson, Miss. By BROTHER B. W. HARRIS Editor to SPHINX
JACKSON, Miss. — As a spirit of gratefulness and renewed hope must be permeating the hearts of Alpha men on this our 50th Anniversary, brothers of Alpha Epsilon Lambda are reminded of their own chapter's beginning — 29 years ago. On June 10, 1927 in Jackson, Mississippi, Alpha Epsilon Lambda was organized. Brother D. J. Jackson officiated for the General Organization. As high tribute is paid to the seven Jewels, Alpha Epsilon Lambda remembers its charter members. The charter members were: Brothers J. W. E. Bowen, Frederick Hall, E. A. Lanier, H. C. Latham, E. R. Lawrence, F. W. Martin, S. R Redmond, and D. J. Thomas. Brother Latham is still active in the chapter today. Brother R. W. Harrison, Jr., a prominent dentist in Yazoo City, Mississippi, is President of the chapter, and other officers are as follows: Brother E. L. Lipscomb (Jackson), Vice-President and Dean of Pledgees; Brother J. Dennis Beck (Jackson State College), Secretary; Brother A. H. McCoy (Jackson), Treasurer; Brother Rollin P. Greene (Jackson State College), Assistant Secretary; Brother B. W. Harris (Alcorn A. and M. College), THE SPHINX