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THE BIRTH OF OMEGA
On Friday evening, November 17, 1911, three Howard University
undergraduate students, with the assistance of their faculty
adviser, gave birth to the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. This
event occurred in the office of biology Professor Ernest E.
Just, the faculty adviser, in the Science Hall (now known
as Thirkield Hall). The three liberal arts students were Edgar
A. Love, Oscar J. Cooper and Frank Coleman. From the initials
of the Greek phrase meaning "friendship is essential
to the soul," the name Omega Psi Phi was derived. The
phrase was selected as the motto. Manhood, scholarship, perseverance
and uplift were adopted as cardinal principles. A decision
was made regarding the design for the pin and emblem, and
thus ended the first meeting of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
. The next meeting was conducted on November 23, 1911. Edgar
Love became the first Grand Basileus (National President).
Cooper and Coleman were selected Grandkeeper of the Records
(National Secretary) and Grandkeeper of Seals (National Treasurer),
respectively. Eleven Howard University undergraduate men were
selected as charter members.
Alpha Chapter was organized with fourteen charter members
on December 15, 1911. Love, Cooper and Coleman were elected
the chapter's first Basileus, Keeper of Records, and Keeper
of Seals, respectively. On March 8, 1912, the previously submitted
fraternity constitution was rejected by the Howard University
Faculty Council. The Faculty Council proposed to accept the
fraternity as a local but not a national organization. The
fraternity refused acceptance as a strictly local organization.
Oscar Cooper became the fraternity's second Grand Basileus
in 1912. Cooper authorized the investigation of a proposed
second chapter at Lincoln University, Pennsylvania. Edgar
Love was elected as the third Grand Basileus in 1912 and served
until 1915. In 1914, Howard University withdrew its opposition,
and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity was incorporated under the
laws of the District of Columbia on October 28, 1914. Beta
Chapter at Lincoln University was chartered in February, 1914.
George E. Hall, the fourth Grand Basileus, had been initiated
at Alpha Chapter in 1914. Grand Basileus Hall authorized the
establishment of Gamma Chapter in Boston, Massachusetts. However,
the chapter was eventually established during the administration
of the fifth Grand Basileus, James C. McMorries. During the
administration of the sixth Grand Basileus, Clarence F. Holmes,
the fraternity's first official hymn, "Omega Men Draw
Nigh", was written by Otto Bohannon. Raymond G. Robinson,
the seventh Grand Basileus, established Delta Chapter in Nashville,
Tennessee in 1919. Robinson left office in 1920 with a total
of ten chapters in operation. Stanley Douglas served as Editor
of the first Oracle published in the spring of 1919. Harold
K. Thomas, the eighth Grand Basileus, was elected at the 1920
Nashville Grand Conclave. It was at this Conclave that Carter
G. Woodson inspired the establishment of National Achievement
Week to promote the study of Negro life and history. The 1921
Atlanta Grand Conclave brought to an end the first decade
of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
INTERNAL GROWTH
In 1922, Grand Basileus J. Alston Atkins appointed the first
District Representatives. Today, there are eleven such officers
who are elected annually by the district conferences/meetings.
In 1922, the office of Vice Grand Basileus was created. The
Grand Keeper of Records became the Grand Keeper of the Records
and Seal. The first Omega Bulletin was published in 1928.
Campbell C. Johnson was the Editor. "Omega Dear"
was adopted as the official hymn in 1931. Two faculty from
Howard University, Charles R. Drew, Professor of Surgery,
and Mercer Cook, Professor of Languages, were the composers.
Cook wrote the music and first stanza; Drew wrote the last
two stanzas.
THE FORTIES
The Omega "Sweetheart Song", with words and music
by Don Q. Pullen, was adopted as the official sweetheart song
by the 1940 Nashville Grand Conclave. Founder Ernest E. Just
entered Omega Chapter in 1941. In 1941, Dr. Charles Drew perfected
the use of blood plasma as a life saving tool. William Hastie
resigned as Civilian Aide to the Secretary of War in protest
against discrimination in the Armed Forces. He was later appointed
Governor of the Virgin Islands by President Truman. In 1949,
the first National Headquarters Building at 107 Rhode Island
Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. was purchased. H. Carl Moultrie,
I was selected to serve as the first National Executive Secretary.
In 1949, the scholarship fund was renamed the Charles R. Drew
Memorial Scholarship Fund.
THE FIFTIES
During this era, the thrust was social change. Thousands
of Omega men in every area of the country were actively involved
in the fight to eliminate racial discrimination. An entire
book could be written about this phase of Omega activities.
The 1955 Los Angeles Grand Conclave initiated a program whereby
each graduate chapter would purchase a Life Membership from
the NAACP. Between 1955 and 1959, chapters contributed nearly
$40,000 to the NAACP. In the fifties, Omega Psi Phi took an
official position against hazing as a fraternity activity.
This anti-hazing position remains in effect today, and the
policy banning hazing has been strengthened.
THE SIXTIES
The struggle for social justice shifted into high gear. Brothers
were active participants in the "sit-ins" and other
demonstrations designed to call attention to the plight of
black Americans. Undergraduate brothers especially were involved
in the demonstrative aspect of the civil rights struggle.
In 1961, the Washington, D.C. Grand Conclave did an excellent
job of highlighting the fifty years of accomplishments by
Omega. Brothers attended the 1961 Golden Anniversary Conclave
in record numbers. Founders Love, Cooper, and Coleman were
present. Thirteen of twenty-three former Grand Basilei were
in attendance. Young brothers had the once-in-a-life-time
opportunity to mingle with some of the greatest black men
that America had produced. The Golden Anniversary Conclave
authorized $140,000-$150,000 for the construction of a new
National Headquarters Building in Washington, D.C. In 1964,
the new National Headquarters Building was dedicated. The
building was a dream come true and was the first building
of its type to be built by a black fraternity. Founders Love,
Cooper and Coleman participated in the ceremonies. The name
was later changed to the International Headquarters. It is
located at 2714 Georgia Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001.
Robert H. Lawrence (in 1966) was selected as the first Black
to serve in the Astronaut Program. Lawrence had earned a Ph.D.
Degree in chemistry at Ohio State University. Founder Frank
Coleman entered Omega Chapter in 1967. The 1968 Charlotte
Grand Conclave mandated a Constitutional Convention for the
revision of the Constitution and By-Laws as well as the Ritual.
The Convention was held in Atlanta in 1969.
THE SEVENTIES
The newly revised Constitution and By-Laws and the Ritual
became effective at the close of the 1970 Pittsburgh Grand
Conclave. H. Carl Moultrie I, Omega's only National Executive
Secretary to this point, was appointed as a judge to the Superior
Court of Washington, D.C., in 1972. Moultrie's resignation
was accepted with regrets. Omega conferred upon Moultrie the
title of National Executive Secretary Emeritus which was later
changed to Executive Secretary Emeritus. The Seventies brought
more unpleasant news. Founder Oscar J. Cooper entered Omega
Chapter in 1972. In 1974, Edgar A. Love, the only surviving
founder, entered Omega Chapter. On November 16, 1975, an impressive
granite monument was dedicated to the memory of the four founders.
The monument is just a few feet away from Thirkield Hall,
the site of Omega's birth place on the Howard University Campus.
A revived Life Membership Program resulted in a very large
number of new Life Members. The 1976 Atlanta Grand Conclave
was the largest in the history of the fraternity up to that
point in time. Many new undergraduate chapters were chartered,
because of the increased enrollment of black students at previously
all-white colleges and universities. "Operation Big Vote"
was successful in getting thousands of black people to vote
in the 1976 election. Many Omegas were active participants.
The 1979 Denver Grand Conclave made a commitment to contribute
a minimum of 250,000 dollars to the United Negro College Fund
over the next five years.
THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES
In 1981, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity endowed its first Omega
Faculty Chair. Rust College, Holly Springs, Mississippi, was
the recipient. President W.A. McMillan stated that the Chair
would be used to promote the humanities. The fraternity completed
its 250,000 dollars contribution to the United Negro College
Fund, an organization under the direction of Christopher Edley,
and approved a plan to continue the annual gift of 50,000
dollars to that organization in perpetuity. The fraternity
accelerated its financial support to the National Urban League.
Mr. John Jacobs, Executive Director of the Urban League, participated
in Grand Conclaves on a regular basis. Jesse Jackson, former
president of Operation PUSH and founder of the Rainbow Coalition,
attended Grand Conclaves on a regular basis and received support
for these organizations as well as for his 1984 and 1988 campaigns
for the presidency of the United States.
The Seventy-fifth Anniversary Grand Conclave celebration
was deemed the single most significant event on Omega's horizon.
The dates selected were July 25-August 1, 1986 in Washington,
D.C., the city of Omega's birth. It was the largest Conclave
ever. Grand Basileus Moses C. Norman, Sr., elected at the
1984 Louisville Grand Conclave, appointed a committee to review
the structure and operations of the fraternity as a means
of future focus. In 1984, John S. Epps was selected as only
the fifth Omega Man to wear the title of Executive Secretary.
In 1990, the title was changed to Executive Director. Two
revised methods of bringing members into the fraternity were
approved by the organization. Pledging was abolished and the
new Membership Selection and Education Program came into being
on August 1, 1985. In April, 1991, the new Membership Intake
Program was implemented. Initial plans were begun for the
writing of an updated history of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity,
Inc. H. Carl Moultrie, I, Executive Secretary Emeritus and
Ronald E. McNair, noted Astronaut, entered Omega Chapter.
Don Q. Pullen and W. Mercer Cook also entered Omega Chapter.
Omega continued to flourish, largely because Founders Love,
Cooper, Coleman and Just were men of the very highest ideals
and intellect. The Founders selected and attracted men of
similar ideals and characteristics. It is not by accident
that many of America's great black men are/were Omega Men.
To this date, there are very few Americans whose lives have
not been touched by a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
Omega has a rich heritage to be protected, celebrated and
enhanced!
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