It was always my understanding that the Boule was the first BGLO. It was for professional men and A Phi A hence was the first BGLO for collegiate men. Although the Masons are a fraternal organization, I have never heard them called a BGLO. I always beleived that was the distinction.

Although the article described them as the first Black Fraternity, I think it was poor choice of words and that the implication really was BGLO.

Fraternity just means fraternal . . . i,e. fraternal order of police, etc.

True, I have often heard a distinction made about Greek letter organizations and other fraternities. I have encountered many who believe there is a distinction to be made about a reek lettered organizations and other similar organization. That has always been my impression about the statement that the Boule was the first GREEK LETTERED fraternity for Black men.

That is just my impressionfrom what I have ssen and in no menas definitive.

The First...
 

What is the point?

If the point is what was the first Black Fraternity, then The Masons were the first. If the question is what was the first Black Greek-Lettered fraternity, then Sigma Pi Phi was. If the question is what was the first Collegiate Black Fraternity, then Alpha Phi Alpha was.

Incidentally, fraternity means "Brotherhood";and implies men only.

So Mote It Be

I am going to agree with Bro. Ape. Although this is a damn hot topic and I have been discussing it all over the place since last week,I think it really does come down to wording. I'm going to see if I can get some facts to add to this topic. But from what I have always been told even when I was "on Line" that Prince Hall was the father of all black Frats. I mean when you take a look at A PHI A membership rosters and then look at the rosters from the PHA MASONS they are damn near the same. I don't care what anyone has to say but there has to be a connection between the PHA MASONS and A PHI A.

Masonry?
 

I thought this thread was about the Boule'? Arguements about the first black fraternity are again a tussel with semantics. PHA Masonry is an offshoot of Scottish Rite Masonry or the European Masonry isn't it? Did Prince Hall come up with new rituals, passwords, and symbolism? I do not think so, it is just White (European) Masonry with black people in it. I know "travellers" from all around will argue with me about Hiram Abiff and all of the Egyptian Mystery System stuff that the Europeans stole and rebirthed During the "Enlightenment" period of the 1700's therefore making there be no such thing as "white" or "European" masonry. But let's be real, PHA Masonry, while a great fraternity of men who are civic minded and ideally morally upright, should be considered at best a strike for African-Diasporic reclaimation or redefinition (like the founding of the AME Church, taking something and making it our own) and at least another result of white racism in the fact that most white masons would not allow blacks in their lodges, therefore someone (Namely Prince hall) starts a lodge of his own, with the same rituals, grips, and symbols. I ask, were there people in Nubia who practiced PHA Masonry before the 1700's? No, they are a fraternity of men paying homage to the Egyptian Mystery System.


This "paying homage" was a result of intense humanism in Europe that sought to destroy the power of the Church by establishing that the ultimate power on Earth came not from God, but knowing what God knows, thereby making God obsolete and exalting man as the keeper of light (thus we get enlightenment). Men would be enlightened by the acquisition of knowledge, not by adherence to an oppressive Church-State. The Eyptian Mystery System would be appealling to enlightenment thinkers because, as the story of Hiram Abiff suggests, humans could get the knowledge of God without submitting to the will of God (For further explanation, read .The Hiram Key published by two former Masons.)


This is different from Alpha, in that the founders of Alpha created a new fraternity, not a black version of a white fraternity. Though there are obvious similarities among all fraternities, we do have different grips, rituals, hailing signals, etc. that make us different from each other. A member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon cannot grip me up and vice versa. I am a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha, not a black member of a black version of a white frat. Therefore, I think that Masonry is fundamentally different from Alpha and the Boule'.


The Boule' is not a professional honor Society, it is a Social Service fraternity, just like Alpha Phi Alpha, And all of the others. A professional honor Society (like Phi Delta Kappa) normally exists within specific professions, not across different professions, and are co-ed. Sigma Pi Phi has the same thrust as any other Social Service fraternity, a selective membership of like minded men who commit themselves to community uplift and personal progress. Many would say that the difference is that Sigma Pi Phi only admitts professional men and that Alpha only admitts college men, or college grads. Well, I have yet to meet any member of the Boule' who was not a college grad. Are there rich athletes who may not have graduated from college who are members? Are there any retired assembly line workers? Lumberjacks? Let's be real, the Boule is a social service frat that has become a status symbol among the black men in other fraternities!!!!
Blackwatch!!!

a little sumpin' sumpin'...
 

If yall REALLY wanna git down wit it, check out "The Essene". Pay close attention to where and when they operated, and their purpose. Their geographical location will give you an indication of their membership. You'll also find that THEY were the first Black fraternity.

Bruh Blackwatch, help me out.
 

I know very little about Sigma Pi Phi. Can you tell me about their service to the community? What programs do they have, and on which ones do they focus most?

They don't promote their activites or involvement in civic efforts.

Bruh Ape...
 

Here's a link to their National Website that talks about some of their philanthropies and community service.
http://www.sigma-pi-phi.net/journal/...ont/index.html

dat dere bruh!
 

Thanks.

I know for a fact that Sigma Pi Phi, the Boule, does community service because I am living proof. They are helping to put me through college. I won a merit-based scholarship from the Boule during my senior year in high school. They invited my family and I to one of their meetings where we were treated with the utmost respect and then presented with the award.

I still keep in contact with the president of that chapter and can always count on those men and their wives. They are truly concerned with how I am doing academically and have offered their help in many situations. My scholarship money from the Boule is paid on the first day of every semester and I have yet to have any problems regarding it.

I have heard people say a lot of bad things about them. I have even received a few emails saying that the Boule has embarked in quasi-warfare against the black community :rolleyes: I have so much respect for the men of Sigma Pi Phi and what they stand for.

If you've never set foot inside of the lodge, then.......never mind. I'll leave that alone.:mad:

What kind of response was that. If you are going to speak your mind then speak your mind.:confused:

Re-read the first couple chapters of the history book......