FIFTY YEARS OF THE SPHINXAN HISTORICAL RETROSPECT By Charles H. Wesley
EGYPT'S GREAT SPHINX AT GIZEH—Though marred by the ravages of time and sandstorms, it still guards the Nile Valley. Others, resembling Egyptian kinizs. ;ilso exist.
I.
T H E RISK O F THE SPHINX, AS TOLD BY CONTEMPORARIES. 1912-1916 There are three major influences in the early history of The Sphinx, our Alpha Phi Alpha Journal. The first is the historical significance of the Sphinx as a concept in the history of the darker peoples of North Africa. The second is the desire of the Alpha contemporaries of fifty years ago to keep the Alpha alumni informed and proud of having a continuing relationship with the Fraternity. Thirdly, the need for a bond of union and a channel of communication between the chapters and brothers across the distances, and between meetings and personal contacts. The story of the celebrated Sphinx of Giza in Egypt and the famous Sphinx of Thebes in Boeotia Greece is well known to sttidents of history and archaeology. The oracular Sphinx of Thebes in its enigmatical character proposed riddles to passersby, and upon their inability to answer they were said in Greek mythology to have been destroyed. As a result the traditional saying has arisen "the Riddle of the Sphinx." The Sphinx of Giza with the body and form of a recumbent lion and the head of a man, is 172 feet long and with its paws it is about 2C0 feet, while in height it is 66 feet, and was hewn of limestone. It is significant to note that its face and features have been described as those of a Negro whose ancestors are known to have built the greatness of Egypt. Historically the original Sphinx is the Sphinx of Giza. The solidity of this silent creature, its appearance of strength, and its character of permanence influenced the student fraternity founders of Alpha Phi Alpha to give it a definite place in our Greek ritualistic tradition. Accordingly. there can be no misunderstanding nor is there any strange explanation for the selection of the name of our Journal as The Sphinx. This historical background was expressed poetically by Brother Charles F. Gandy, undergraduate, of Gamma Chapter when
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he wrote "The Sphinx": The Sphinx in massive grandeur stands Upon fair Egypt's burning sands, An emblem of power and strength imbued, And love in stone so fitly hued To Thee we sing our Praise To Thee we sing our Praise. (The Sphinx, Vol. 13, No. 2, April, 1927, p. 13.) At the same period. Brother G. W. A. Scott, Alumnus, Eta Chapter and Vice President in 1911, wrote: Mighty Sphinx in Egypt standing Facing eastward toward the sun, Glorified and e'er commanding Your children bravely on Be to us a bond of union Held fast by Peace and Right. (History of Alpha Phi Alpha, p. 141). Out of such expressions and rhetorical statements about the Sphinx as a figure. there has come the recognition and reverence of the Sphinx as an emblem, which made possible the choice of the name for Alpha Phi Alpha's Journal. It was called at first a "paper," an "organ" and then a "Journal." The Sphinx was made a part of the Fraternity Shield, designed by Brother James A. Dunn, Kappa, and adopted by the Fourth Annual Convention, Ann Arbor, Michigan, December 27-31, 1911. It was again placed in a second and more modern design by Brother Ferdinand L. Rousseve, Sigma Lambda. A second important factor in the rise of this idea was the growth of the alumni of our Fraternity. Having been established in 1906, there had been by 1911 and l l >i.' an increasing number of undergraduates who were completing their undergraduate courses, graduating from college, and moving out into their professional preparation or their careers thereby becoming at this time "alumni" rather than "graduate brothers" as we know them. By 1912, there were seven chapters—Alpha, Beta, Theta, Kappa, Mu, Lambda and Epsilon—with 97 active members, 15 non-resident members, 21 honorary members and 73 alumni. There was considerable concern among undergraduates for this latter group. One of the proposals for the interest of the alumni was an article concerning the fraternity for publication in the Crisis. President Charles H. Garvin then requested Brother W. E. B. DuBois, Editor of The Crisis, to consider the publication of an article concerning the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Brother DuBois had replied that he would accept an article of a general character. Brother Joseph R. Fugett.
General Secretary, wrote to Brother Garvin on September 8. 1912, "Dr. DuBois' reply seems peculiar to me in that he asks you to write of the Sigma Pi Phi and refers you to Mr. Davis—(Carrington Davis, an Alpha man and a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity)—otherwise I have no comments." However, the article specifically on the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity was submitted by Brother Garvin and was accepted for publication. In the consideration of these officers was the knowledge which had come to members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity that there had been organized in 1904 a graduate fraternity known as the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity which had initiated several of ihe Alpha alumni members. Therefore, in order to maintain the alumni connections with Alpha Phi Alpha. special efforts were made to reach the alumni, to interest them, and to hold them in the Fraternity, in association with the undergraduates. This process was the general plan among the older and more traditional American college fraternities. In 1910 an Alumni Club had been organized at Louisville by the Alpha brothers, and its program was discussed in the Third Annual Convention at Philadelphia, December 27, 29, 1910. On April 11, 1911, the First Alumni Chapter, or Graduate Chapter as it was known later, was established as Alpha Lambda Chapter at Louisville, Kentucky. Then, on November 19, 1912, General President Garvin gave official sanction for the establishment of an Alpha Alumni Chapter in New York City. General President Garvin shortly thereafter urged the alumni in several centers to "form alumni chapters wherever there are sufficient members to reach the constitutional requirements." When the Fifth Annual Convention was being planned Brother Charles H. Garvin as the fraternity's fourth General President. authorized the establishment of an Alumni Day at the Convention. This was to be the first Alumni Reunion, and as Secretary Fugett stated, "the first effort made to get our many alumni together to hear and see the actual work and workings of the fraternity." These alumni proposals were closely related and influential in the establishment of a journal for Alpha Phi Alpha. The correspondence of the officers of this period lead directly to the conclusion that a journal was regarded as a major channel for reclaiming and holding the alumni members.
THE SPHINX