THE ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CHAPTER
OF PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY, INCORPORATED
History
In the brief statement on the origin and growth of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, we discovered that it was during the period from 1921 to 1930 that the Distinguished Service Chapter was established. Further research indicates the year was “1929”, the city was New York City, the occasion was the 1929 Conclave of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated and the “event” was the “creation” of the National Distinguished Service Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated. This special chapter was established to provide the highest level of recognition the Fraternity can bestow upon a Brother who has made outstanding contributions and given extraordinary service to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, the community, the state and nation.
A special Distinguished Service “key” that looked much like the Phi Beta Kappa key, was authorized at the 1929 Conclave. Honorable Brother Jesse W. Lewis, who had worked so well as Field Secretary and Secretary-Treasurer, was voted the first Distinguished Service Key. At the 1930 Conclave in New York City (after some debate), the Conclave established more precisely the rules whereby members could qualify for the “Distinguished Service Key”. The candidate must make an “outstanding contribution” to the work and the general welfare of the Fraternity on a national scale. Honorable Brother Alain L. Locke, I. L. Scruggs, Cornelius V. Troup, Robert R. Moton, Augustin A. Arestin and Arthur W. Mitchell were voted Distinguished Service Keys at the 1930 New York Conclave.
We pause to give credit to Brother I. L. Scruggs, who wrote the words to our Fraternity song “Our Cause Speeds On” in 1914-1915; however, it was at the 1929 Conclave when the Fraternity adopted officially a new melody for the Fraternity Hymn, which was strikingly original and beautiful. Since Brother Scruggs had written the words for the song back in 1914, the brothers had been singing the song to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne”. Through the years various efforts were made to secure a distinctive melody and Brother Foster finally came up with the answer. In the spring of 1929, Brother Foster created the melody for “Our Cause Speeds On Its Way”. Adoption took place by common consent and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity now had a Fraternity Song with original words and original music.
Records reflect no Distinguished Service activity at the 1932 meeting. At the twentieth Anniversary, the Conclave came home to Washington, D. C., in 1934. Former Vice-President C. L. Roberts along with Founder A. L. Taylor were voted Distinguished Service Keys. In 1934, the Distinguished Service Chapter, according to the by-laws, was limited to two (2) new members at each Conclave. Candidates must have made remarkable contributions to humanity, as well as to the Fraternity. A two-thirds majority vote of the Conclave was necessary for election.
The names of nominees, ordinarily, were to be submitted thirty (30) days before the convention and would be published in the December Crescent, if the magazine appeared that month. Somewhat in contradiction to this requirement, the Conclave itself, while in session, could make nominations and vote upon them.
At the 1935 Atlanta Conclave, Distinguished Service Keys were voted to Brothers John Ashurst, Phi Beta Kappa Scholar from New York City College and R. A. Billings, the wheel horse of Atlanta. In 1936 at the New York Conclave, the Constitution of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity was strengthened. Each region would have one representative on the committee that would make nominations for the D.S.C. Key. Brothers James Weldon Johnson and H. S. Crawford were voted D.S.C. Keys. The 1937 Conclave inducted four members into the Distinguished Service Chapter namely, James A. “Billboard” Jackson, High Fisher Lewis, Leonard F. Morse and George Washington Carver. Dr. Carver sent special thanks for this Distinguished Service Key
From 1936 to 1955, twenty-seven (27) outstanding brothers were inducted into the Distinguished Service Chapter. It was not until 1955 at the General Board Meeting when the General Board established new criteria for induction into the Distinguished Service Chapter (see criteria on separate page).
Since inception to the present (July 6, 2009), one hundred and fifty nine (159) D.S.C. Brothers whose services over the years have characterized them as “Fulfillers of the Dream” have been inducted into the D.S.C. The 159 role models that have been admitted to the Distinguished Service Chapter represent all that is laudable in Sigmadom. Their years of commitment to the Fraternity and its ideals, not to mention the recognition of their professional peers, has won them a place in this esteemed group…a group that has also been enlivened and enlightened by their membership.
The Distinguished Service Chapter and its members stand as beacons, guiding all of Sigma down a path of righteousness and public service. It is their example that serves as a constant reminder of our mission, their towering presence that braces us when doubt clouds our path, their calming influence that tempers us when hot heads spark fiery tongues. We are grateful for the men of the D.S.C., for all they do for Sigma and for all they will continue to do for mankind.
At a regular meeting of the D.S.C. held on December 19, 1982, at the Peachtree Plaza Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, a motion was duly passed which required the chapter to propose an amendment to the constitution of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated. This amendment would, in effect, give the Distinguished Service Chapter representation on the General Board of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated.
Criteria for Selecting Distinguished Service Chapter Members
It was not until 1955, at the General Board meeting when the Board established the following criteria for Distinguished Service Members:
- Must have been a member of the Fraternity at least ten (10) years.
- Must be recommended by local chapter first, then by the region.
- Must have been in good financial standing with the Fraternity for at least five (5) of the qualifying years.
- Must have attended at least three (3) Conclaves in the five years immediately preceding nomination.
- Must have made some constructive contribution to community, as well as the Fraternity, but especially the Fraternity.
- Must be in good financial standing in the year of nomination.
- Must have held a Chapter, Regional or National office.
- A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the electing General Board is necessary for recommendation to the Conclave.
- All recommendations for the Distinguished Service Chapter must be made by chapter to the Regional Conference and then forwarded after approval to the Executive Secretary of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated.
Formula for presenting citations for the Distinguished Service Chapter to fruition:
A Chapter decides that a Brother is worthy of the highest honor our Fraternity can give and prepares on letterhead, a citation on the member’s qualifications, which when properly signed by officers of the Chapter is presented to the Regional Conference for approval. When the Spring Regional has approved it, the citation, accompanied by a letter on Regional stationery and signed by the Regional Director and Secretary, is then forwarded to the International office for presentation to the General Board at the meeting the day or night before the Conclave opens.