A LOOK BACK: KAPPA HISTORY
sought and is seeking to imbue our own members and progressive peoples everywhere with the central principle of achievement. Not essentially unlike Mr. Lincoln’s pronouncement, the ideal of achievement for which we stand “must not perish from the earth.” Here are the roots of organization as we conceived it. The means are explicit in Phi Nu Pi. Throughout our fifty years of existence, however, our concept of group achieve- ment, in particular, has been subject to severe strain, notwithstanding its intrin- sic excellence and desirability as a Fra- ternal ideal. Certainly, it has had some meaning, but hardly enough to ensure the dedicated participation of a sizable segment of progress-minded members who forsake us in pursuit, as paradoxical as it may seem, of the very purpose for
which we stand. Some of this is explica- ble in terms of factors external to Kappa Alpha Psi, but altogether too frequently, the cause is seen in our group failure to give meaningful implementation to the purpose of achievement. Simply to expatiate on the uniqueness of achievement as a group purpose is fatu- ous. We have, indeed, come a long way since the gloomy days of 1911, but not far enough for complacency. Should we forget our shortcomings and fail to erase them over the years ahead, the contin- ued loss of progress-minded members will joltingly recall them for us. A cheap satisfaction with whatever has been done, however worthy of praise, will ill-comport with the demands of another day.
Diggs, sweeping changes have occurred to rob us of the luster that was ours throughout the early decades of the cen- tury. We are confronted by formidable competitors with dynamism as great as that of Kappa Alpha Psi in our youth. If we believe that the ideal of Frater- nity demands more of purpose, more perception, more of projection, more of dedication, more of sacrifice than we can render, then our founding was in vain, and celebration of our Golden An- niversary is but a mockery. In the strain and anxiety of survival, can we maintain our faith in the ideals of the Fraternity? Can we vindicate our purpose of achievement and make of it as compelling a value to posterity as it was to our Founding Fathers? Let us apply the tests of faith, conscience, and
Since the life and times of Elder Watson
THE JOURNAL ♦ FALL2021 | 53
VIRTUAL 85 TH GRAND CHAPTER MEETING
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