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Reflections of Early Conclaves
I had just crossed the burning sands on December 4, 1954, … what was so unique about that experience was the fact that much of the 1954 [44th] Grand Chapter Meeting activities were taking place near the campus of Howard University. While I was a neophyte, having yet to have been in the Fraternity for a month, the older Brothers, including alumni, treated me as if I had been in the Bond for 20 years. In fact, at the Grand Chapter Ball, I had the honor of being the escort for Xi’s Chapter Kappa Sweetheart, and though I was just a sophomore and she a senior, we danced the night away. But, more importantly, the older brothers welcomed us at the event because I wasn’t a younger brother, I was a brother with all the rights and privileges appertaining there to. Remember, in those days, the Grand Chapter Meeting took place on an annual basis; which means I attended as an undergraduate the 44th, 45th, and 46th GCMs. And, when you attend those events annually, you get to be known, but more importantly, you get to know those alumni brothers in leadership positions and those striving to become the voices and leaders in the Fraternity. The brothers of Washington (DC) Alumni not only got to know me, but they wanted to hear what I had to say on Fraternity issues. Those same brothers at the National Meetings amplified those conversations. I was elected Lt. Strategus of the Eastern Province not only as a result of my leadership in Xi Chapter and my closeness to Washington Alumni, but of equal importance due to my visibility at Grand Chapter Meetings. I knew and was known by Grand Polemarchs
because I attended Grand Chapter Meetings and I represented the Flagship of the Fleet, Xi Chapter as we liked to be viewed, in those days, and because in many ways we were treated as the chapter under the umbrella of Washington (DC) Alumni. It is my view that the Grand Chapter Meetings of the earlier years were more brotherhood-focused than those of today. They were smaller; they met annually, and they were less expensive. They were held in smaller venues, and as a result, in my opinion, they encouraged undergraduate participation. Xi Chapter wasn’t a wealthy chapter, but we were able to budget for two brothers to attend each Grand Chapter Meeting out of the chapter’s budget, because the event was held during the Christmas Holidays, we could often stay at the home of a classmate from the host city. That is how Xi Chapter was able to send two brothers to the Atlanta Conclave in 1956. If you look on page 320 of The Story of Kappa Alpha Psi, 2nd Ed., there is a photograph of five young brothers [singing at the 48th] Grand Conclave Meeting. I am one of those five undergraduate brothers.
JOHN E. JACOB (Xi 1954), 60th Laurel Wreath Laureate
SPRING 2025 ♦ THE JOURNAL 61
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