The Story behind the Founding
THIS IS THE STORY behind the creation of Alpha Phi Omega. It is also the story of the beginning of the first chapter – the ALPHA Chapter – at Lafayette College. It is also the story of the formation of the first national organization of the Fraternity. Above all, it is the story of the dreams of one man for an organization through which men might better the conditions of other men, as well as of themselves. This man is FRANK REED HORTON
DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR, I served as an ensign in the United States Navy aboard a minesweeper in the North Sea. Our ship and its partner exploded more than 1,000 magnetic mines. My law school background at Boston University led to my appointment to try court-martial cases in our Division. When we reached ports some of the sailors ran wild. Many court-martial cases resulted. I saw young boys in their teens getting into trouble. Because of these experiences, I made a firm resolution within myself that if I returned alive I would try to do two things and do them with all my power: First, do my best to help young people get the right start in life, by holding up before them a “standard of manhood” that would withstand the test of time! Second and just as important, try to help the nations of the world settle their disputes in a more sensible and legal manner than by war.
After the war, I become a student at Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania. One evening, while attending an American Legion banquet during my sophomore year, I say next to an inspiring man named Herbert G. Horton. We were not related but we became fast friends. He too had been a naval officer but was now serving as the local Scout Executive. He helped me to become a Deputy Scout Commissioner. One of the troops needed a leader, so I became a Scoutmaster as well. Through these experiences I found that the Scout Oath and Law were what I had been seeking—a standard of manhood that would withstand the test of time and a code of ideals created and accepted by some of the greatest leaders the world has ever known. The summer of my junior year was spent as an Associate Camp Director at the Easton Scout Reservation. Here I was impressed with the religious tolerance in the hearts of boys. This I have not found so easily among older people. Scouts of he Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant faiths worked together in everything at camp, and everyone had an opportunity to worship on his Sabbath in his own way. My brothers in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity house, where I lived, who were outstanding for high ideals and clean living, were all former Scouts. I felt a college organization should be formed that would strengthen men in these ideals, and give them an opportunity for Leadership experience and for Service to others. As a senior at Lafayette College, I talked to some of the men with a Scouting background and the response was good. These men would join an organization based on the ideals of Scouting. I created the name Alpha Phi Omega, the motto and the Greek words and their meaning and wrote the Ritual. Everett W. Probst designed the pin and drew the Coat-of-Arms. Thane S. Cooley suggested the handclasp. Ellsworth S. Dobson and Gordon M. Looney helped write the Constitution and Bylaws. Fourteen undergraduates signed as charter members. Scouting advisors were Dr. Ray O. Wyland and Herbert G. Horton. The Lafayette College Faculty approved the petition for recognition. On December 16, 1925, I conducted the Ritual initiation at Brainerd Hall, second floor, and Alpha Phi Omega was born. My purpose was to make Alpha Phi Omega an organization for college men who cooperated with all youth movements, especially Scouting. I also anticipated that our Service program would expand to help people in need everywhere and to do service on the campus of each chapter. As Scouting is worldwide, so should Alpha Phi Omega be worldwide, gradually in the colleges and universities of all the nations. Alpha Phi Omega can help bring about more nearly, through the future statesman of the world, that standard of manhood and international understanding and friendship that will lead to a better, more peaceful world in which to live and in which to make a living and a life |
History of Alpha Phi Omega Philippines
It all started with a service project.
(1) World War II had recently ended, but it had left its devastation around the world. The major cities of Europe had been heavily damaged, and many of the cities of Asia and the Pacific had been destroyed. Manila, the capital of the former US colony Philippines had been occupied and was now in ruins; its universities, rubble. What, if anything, could college students across the Pacific in the United States do that would have any real effect? It turns out, quite a lot! Some of the Alpha Phi Omega-USA Brothers in Texas and the Pacific Northwest had fought in these islands. They knew, firsthand, of the friendliness of the people and of their need. They knew that education of the young people was a vital necessity if the country was to get back to its feet. They could do something, and they did. Book drives were started on their campuses and hundreds of textbooks, used but useable, were gathered from their libraries and fellow students to be sent to the Philippines to help re-stock the many burnt-out college libraries in Manila. It was a successful service project, but like many one-time projects, it was soon forgotten, remembered only in the scrapbooks of the chapters involved and in the mind of the then APO-USA National President (1931-1946) H. Roe Bartle “The Chief”. It was a good example of a service project; it had all of the elements of a good story; and the Chief never forgot a good story. Time passed. It was January 1950, and (2) Sol George Levy (Gamma Alpha 1947), a professional scout, an APhiO member at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington and a friend of Dr. Bartle, was going to the Philippines to help generate more interest among the Scouts here. The Chief told him what APO had done a few years earlier to help re-establish Filipino university libraries. One January evening that year, scouts in Manila were invited to a conference by Mr. Levy. He passed on the story to them, mentioning how nice it would be if a Scouting-based fraternity similar to Alpha Phi Omega could be established in the country. He expessed his desire to organize Alpha Phi Omega, and distributed some copies of three APO publications: Questions and Answers, National Constitution and By-laws, and Ritual Rites and Ceremonies. The story was of particular interest to a group of Scouts at Far Eastern University in Manila. It may be that their library was one of those which had been helped, or it may be that the idea of a Scouting-based fraternity just struck fertile ground. Librado I. Ureta, an Eagle Scout, a graduate student, and was among the audience; together with a group of over twenty Scouts and advisors began organizing work. History of Alpha Phi Chapter - UERMMMCI
The Alpha Phi Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega was founded on the 18th of December, 1968 by the 12 Founders:
The Alpha Phi chapter is autonomous and its members are inclined towards one particular goal: becoming a medical doctor. Over the years, our chapter alumni have exemplified and extended leadership, friendship, and service-the cardinal principles of the fraternity-in their respective medical careers. By upholding the traditions of its founders, the members of the Alpha Phi chapter share the prestige of being called excellent and honorable like all their brothers and sisters throughout the whole country. At 87 years strong, Alpha Phi Omega can only produce even more leaders, men of integrity, and professionals for the country. Alpha Phi is the pioneer chapter of APO in the Philippines when it comes to the field of medicine. It is one among the lot specifically organized to contribute to the vast existing network of our professionals in the country. And hence with the pride of our heritage and tradition we gallantly say, that there cannot be one Alpha Phi Omega without the Alpha Phi. Through the effort of Dr. Jose Albert Reyes III, the chapter was formally recognized as a bonafide fraternity and sorority in the UERMMMCI campus and was registered in the Alpha Phi Omega National Council on March 1970. Ever since then, the Alpha Phi Chapter has been actively participating in efforts to give service to the student body through medical and surgical missions that happen throughout the year. The Alpha Phi Chapter of APO Sorority was formally recognized on April 1979 during the APO convention held in Cebu City. Time management is the key factor that allows the members of the fraternity and sorority to balance education and pleasure. |