This inaugural post is intended to offer just a ‘taste’ of forthcoming posts from your  fellow EAC brethren, who have agreed to share their insights toward motivating FIFTH HOUSE to maintain and restore the drive for EXCELLENCE that we experienced, and remember ( ” … college days swiftly pass, embued with memories fond ” )

For over 100 years ( 116 on December 4, 2022 ) ALPHA MEN have met life’s challenges with an understanding that humility with grace exercised therein, were key components towards achieving victory and/or success.  And the mission of ALPHA remains the same :

TO  THE  YOUTHS
WHO  MARCH  ONWARD  AND  UPWARD
TOWARD  THE  LIGHT
THIS  VOLUME  IS  RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED

As ALPHA MEN, we recognize and accept the responsibility that was embraced by our founding JEWELS and mandated by a sovereign Creator God, to reach and empower those who follow our lifetime ( on the planet Earth ), to achieve and even exceed imagined cultural aims intended to better humanity.  We passionately sing about ” brotherhood, scholarship, and love for ALL mankind ” – therefore we must be ever vigilant to ensure the record reflects exactly, that this purpose has been attained.

To this end, the Epsilon Alumni Council has empowered an esteemed cadre of anointed and ordained clergymen – each one hailing of course from FIFTH HOUSE ( including yours truly ), to offer timely words of encouragement to inspire and edify.  Pray for US as we seek to ‘stir’ up the gifts that we each have been given.

NOT TO PREACH … BUT TO ENTREAT.

For our mission as Men of ALPHA PHI ALPHA has always endeavored to – and remains, focused upon paying it forward.  At the turn of the twentieth century ( 1905 ), Charles Albert Tindley, born of an enslaved father and freed mother, was inspired to compose lyrics which yet encourage listeners today.  He wrote:  ” We are often tossed and driv’n on the restless sea of time, Somber skies and howling tempest oft succeed a bright sunshine; In that land of perfect day, when the mists have rolled away, … we will understand it better … by and by. ”

Brethren, these gifts that we’ve been given ( reference Ephesians  4 : 1 – 8, KJV ) and the subsequent life challenges we face, will translate into the resultant legacies that we leave to those ‘YOUTHS’ mentioned by Brother Charles H. Wesley in his dedication provided from our ALPHA  PHI  ALPHA  history book.  The dedication was NOT provided for the singular edification of Brothers, but specifically as witness and instructed testimony to literally pay the fruit of our collective fraternal gifts ….. forward.

A  PHI  AMEN.

Reverend Carl L. Baker  ( Life Member # 11738 / Rotundus IV, crossed on 4-15-1973, 12:01 a.m. )
New Creation Church of God, Associate Pastor ( Flint, MI )