THE SPHINX9 90th Anniversary Limited Edition
FIFTY YEARS OF THE SPHINX:
AN HISTORICAL RETROSPECT By Charles H. Wesley
The Sphinx, May/June 1964
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here 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 students 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 200 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 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
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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 Heldfast 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 1912 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 chaptersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Alpha, Beta, Theta, Kappa, Mu, Lambda and Epsilonâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;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 intent 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