Bahamas Then & Now – Rosemary C. Hanna

Patricia Glinton-Meicholes, Educator and Writer

Gilbert A. Thompson, Suffragan Bishop (Ret.) – Diocese of The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islsands

The Bahamas – then and NOW: Cleophas R.E. Adderley, Lawyer, Composer, Director BNYC

The Lucayan Chorale

The Lucayan Chorale was born in Bethel Baptist Church,
Meeting Street, which is the oldest Baptist Church in The Bahamas. The Chorale was the brainchild of the late Dame Dr. Doris L. Johnson. an educator who later served as the first female President of The Senate in The Bahamas. Dr. Johnson was a member of Bethel Baptist Church, and she invited her former colleague, the late Dr. Robert A, Henry, of Huston Texas and Ms. Erna Massiah (a teacher from Barbados and former leader of The Y Choral Society), to assist the Lucayan Chorale. Consequent Ms. Massiah became the resident director and Dr. Henry (often accompanied by a few of his music students from Prairie View University) came to The Bahamas for number of years to conduct workshops for the Chorale which culminated in concerts held at Paradise Island, The British colonial Hotel, various churches and also in Freeport. E. Clement Bethel and Father Bartholomew Sayles and Father Fred Fleischer (St. Augustine College) also lent their expertise to the group; and Veronica Ingraham (then organist at Zion Baptist Church) was also an accompanist. This was truly a community group, comprised of people from all walks of life. The group sang various genres of music including classical, Negro Spirituals, folk, calypso, etc. A number of marriages came about through membership or association with the Lucayan Chorale.

The Chorale is pictured at left at Le Cabaret Theatre, Paradise Island 1967, singing the music of Irving Burgie (Lord Burgess), who wrote songs such as “Jamaica Farewell” made famous by Harry Belafonte. Lord Burgess was a friend of the Director, the late Erna Massiah (pictured with Dennis Morgan, then leader of the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band and Father Bartholomew Sayles), and he was present at the show. Lord Burgess’ mother was from Barbados and they were family friends of the Massiahs. The late Sonny Johnson and Ishmael Lightbourne were soloists. The Lucayan Chorale was the first group commissioned to sing The Bahamas National Anthem. The Chorale was also a part of the Folklore Group, led by E. Clement Bethel, that travelled to Mexico City to perform at various cultural venues during the 1968 Olympic games.

Prominent Bahamian musicians who studied with Dr. Henry at Prairie View University include Father Crosley Walkine, Jeffrey Sturrup, Gladstone Adderley, Cleveland Williams, Kendrick Coleby, and Cora Johnson. Others who were influenced by Dr. Henry include Patricia Bazard, Audrey Dean-Wright, Florence Carter-Gittens and Rosemary C. Hanna. Through their affiliation with the Lucayan chorale other Bahamians got the opportunity to receive a tertiary education at Prairie View, first among them being Maxwell Poitier. Other alumni include Philip Dorsett, Cecil Dorsett and members of the Zonicle family.

The Bahamas Choraleers of the 1950s

By Kendrick L. Williams

The Bahamas Choraleers first got together, under the leadership of Addington Cambridge and met at the home of his parents, Bert and Doris Cambridge on Hay Street, New Providence. The Group performed for approximately ten years from the late 1940s until the late 1950s. At the beginning, it was comprised of six males and a lady named Miss Gwendolyn Munnings (later McDeigan) who sang with the group throughout the entire period of its existence. The group also practiced at the home of Percival and Leona Hanna on Anderson Street.

The repertoire of the Choraleers included a variety of choral music – unison, four part harmony, solos, mostly accompanied by George Kerr on the piano or organ, sometimes a capella, religious, classical, secular, negro spirituals and humorous pieces.

The group usually performed on Sunday afternoons and, at the beginning, the main performance venues were: the British Colonial, the Fort Montagu Beach Hotel, the Royal Victoria Hotel and the Buena Vista. They also performed at the Balmoral and later the Emerald Beach hotels on Cable Beach. The Choraleers also sang at churches, weddings, funerals, private parties, and old fashioned concerts, etc.

Over the period of its existence, membership fluctuated from a low of six to high of fourteen. It is interesting to note that the members never agreed on just one spelling of the name: Some used “Choraleers” and others used “Choralaires”.

The Group was very popular and well received. Pictured above are: Alvin Bailey, Matthew Sawyer, Aaron “Cat” Cartwright, Gwendolyn Munnings-McDeigan, George Kerr, Ivan A. Hanna, Kendrick L. Williams, Addington Cambridge, J. Edison Deleveaux, Francis Albury, Leon Knowles and Roderick Simms.

November 2011

St. Agnes Anglican Church, Blue Hill Road, Grant’s Town, New Providence, The Bahamas

Excerpt from “Pictorial History and Memories of Nassau’s Over-The-Hill”

By Rosemary C. Hanna

St. Agnes Anglican Church played a pivotal role in the lives of my family and many others Over-the-Hill. When I was a child all of the families that lived on Gaol Alley were members of and actively involved in the life of the Church. Parents took their children to Church and children attended Sunday School, were involved in the Guilds, Boys Brigade, Anglican Young people’s Association (AYPA) and other organisations.

The Church was established in 1841 and dedicated on 12^th July 1845. It was established to provide a place of worship for the freed slaves who had settled in Grant’s Town. Both St. Agnes and the Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin were Chapels of Ease under Christ Church Cathedral and designated parishes on 18^th July 1889. The current Rector of St. Agnes, Archdeacon I. Ranfurly Brown, points out that St. Agnes and other churches Over-The-Hill played an importnt role in the education of the people. The Anglican Church first established schools in The Bahamas in the 1700s.

In 1840 Deacon Edward Jordan Rodgers came to The Bahamas from Falmouth, England as a missionary. He was the first Anglican Priest to work with the freed black slaves in Grant’s Town. He returned to England in 1843 to be ordained as a priest. Rodgers held the first St. Agnes services in the old African School House in 1841. He served at St. Agnes from 1841 to 1847. At the time The Bahamas was part of the Diocese of Jamaica. The Bahamas became a diocese on its own in 1861.

Reverend William John Woodcock was ordained as a Deacon on 12^th November 1848 by the Lord Bishop of Jamaica, Aubrey George Spencer, and licensed as Assistant Curate at Christ Church Cathedral, New Providence, with charge of the St. Agnes District Chapel. At that time the Chapel was located at the present site of the St. Agnes Pre School. Woodcock began his duties at St.Agnes District Chapel on 1^st Janury 1849 and he served the Church until 1851.

He realized that good schools were of paramount importance in the district and opened the Woodcock School on 28^th March 1849. The wooden building with thatched roof accommodated seventy students and the attendance quickly expanded, making it necessry to add another room. Father Woodcock left all of his assets to the Woodcock School. His remains are interred inside the Chancel Gate at St. Agnes Church.

Reverend James Fisher served as Rector for fifty years (1856-1906). He was te first rector to be called “Father”. It was during his tenure that the new Church was built on Blue Hill Road to include a new Chancel and Lady Chapel.

Reverend Audley Browne was appointed Rector on 14^th October 1906 and he served until 1925. He was made Archdeacon of Nassau in 1918. He was an accomplished musician who built and repaired organs and installed the the first organ in St. Agnes. He and Mr. Austin Destoup taught my father, Percival Hanna, to play the organ. St. Agnes had other accomplished instrumentalists and vocalists who took part in church services and regularly presented concerts.

In 1916 the porch at the Western entrance to the Church was erected and dedicated in memory of Father Fisher and the former rectors of the parish. The addition was planned by Father Fisher but he did not live to see it come to fruition and the project was completed by Archdeacon Browne.

Reverend Herbert George was Rector from 1925 to 1936. During his tenure the Church was destroyed during the 1929 hurricane. During the time that the Church was being renovated, services were held at the schoolroom and at the Woodcock School. The newly renovated Church included the enlarged nave and other changes shown in the 1952 and 2009 pictures below.

Bahamian Rectors of St. Agnes Church

Canon George Loran Pyfrom was born on 16^th April 1883, the only son of George Loran Pyfrom, a pineapple farmer, and his wife Elizabeth of Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera. They also had three daughters, Lucilla, Ella and Meta. George Loran was a young boy when his father died and he was greatly influenced by Reverend Charles Smith who was then the Rector of St. Patrick’s Church, Governor’s Harbour.

In 1902 George Loran and one of his sisters came to New Providence where he ran the Church’s bookstore. He worshipped at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin on Virginia Street, and was a member of the serving choir. In 1911 he went to England to study theology at Dorchester College. In 1913 he was ordained Deacon at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.

After his return to The Bahamas he was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood on 17^th July 1915, by then Bishop Wilfred Hornby, at St. Mary’s Church, Virginia Street. After his ordination he was sent to Long Island where he served for twenty-two and a half years, travelling the length and breadth of the 70 mile Island by horseback, sometimes accompanied by his wife, Ethlyn, who was from Simms, Long Island. In 1931 he was appointed as a Canon of Christ Church Cathedral He was honoured as a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1935.

Canon Pyfrom was appointed as Rector of St. Agnes in 1936. He was loved by his parishioners and well known for his emotional sermons. Below is a quote from an article written by his son Roscow Napier and recorded in “The Voice of the Church”. Lent 1988:

The beauty and dignity which still surround the services at St. Agnes are a reflection of Canon Pyfrom’s high standards for correctness and proper decorum and his passion for dignified ceremonial. He often affectionately referred to St. Agnes as the Pro Cathedral. The people of St. Agnes responded with affection and enthusiasm to Canon Pyfrom’s ministry among them, and together they built St. Agnes into a very vibrant institution and it most certainly became one of the leading parishes in the Anglican Church in The Bahamas.

Canon Pyfrom made plans for extensive improvements to St. Agnes; however, due to ill health, he resigned in January 1947. He died on 2^nd January 1950, five months after the passing of his wife. Their children were George Loran III, LaGloria, and Roscow Napier.

Canon Milton Edward Cooper was born in Exuma on 25^th May 1903. He was the first Bahamian to go to Codrington College in Barbados. He was ordered Deacon in 1928 and served at churches in Cat Island, Long Island and Andros before his appointment as Rector of St. Agnes. He was made a Canon of Christ Church Cathedral in 1950. Archbishop Drexel W. Gomez, who was an acolyte when Father Cooper came to St. Agnes, recalls that he was always impressed with the attractive manner in which Father Cooper conducted services. Many persons who were not Anglicans used to come to Stations of the Cross at St. Agnes to observe how he conducted the service. Father Cooper had an outstanding tenor voice and people also came to Evensong on Sundays to hear him sing the Divine Praises.

Father Cooper encouraged many young men to become priests, prominent among them being: Archbishop Drexel Gomez, the late Archdeacon William Edward Thompson, Bishop Gilbert Arthur Thompson, the late Archdeacon Murillo Bonaby and the late Canon Dudley Strachan. Archbishop Gomez states that Father Cooper was the person who solidified the parishes. When he preached his last sermon at Evensong on 11^th June 1967, Father Cooper quoted the first line of the A&M Hymn 271: “O Jesus I have promised to serve thee to the end”. He left the pulpit, took his seat in the Sanctuary and quietly died.

He was married to the former Gwendolyn Ramming and their two sons are Christopher, who resides in Freeport, Grand Bahama and Paul. Canon Cooper and Father John Taylor are pictured at left and right respectively in the above picture with Acoyltes.

Archdeacon William Edward Thompson, OBE was born in Eleuthera on 17^th December, 1933. He was the oldest child of William Edward and Corene Thompson (née Hutcheson). Father Willie, as he was affectionately called, was educated at the St. Agnes Day School, the Western Preparatory and Junior Schools and St. John’s College. He was one of Canon Milton Cooper’s protégés and entered Codrington College in 1952. He obtained an Honours Degree in Theology as well as a Masters Degree in Theology from the University of Durham, England.

He was made a Deacon in Barbados on 21^st December 1956 and ordained to the Sacred Priesthood at Christ Church Cathedral on 21^st December 1957. He travelled throughout The Bahamas in his capacity as Diocesan Missioner. He was Priest in Charge of Exuma from 1958 to 1961. He subsequently returned to New Providence and taught Latin, English and Religious Studies at St. John’s College. In 1967 he succeeded Canon Milton Cooper as Rector of St. Agnes and retired in December 1999, having served for thirty-two years.

Father Willie followed Canon Cooper’s example and mentored many young men whom he encouraged to enter the priesthood namely, Keith Cartwright, I. Ranfurly Brown, Laish Boyd, the late Brian Colebrooke, Charles Simmons, Andrew Toppin, Roland Hamilton, and others.

During his time at St. Agnes, Father Willie was made a Canon of the Cathedral, Archdeacon, Vicar General and Sub-Dean of the Cathedral. He served the Church as Chairman of the Anglican Central Education Authority, and in many other capacities both locally and internationally. He also served on the Anglican Consultative Conference which is made up of bishops, priests, and lay persons throughout the Anglican World Communion. Father Willie was regarded by many as a Bahamian National Treasure.

Father Willie was married to the former Rosemarie Bailey. He was a sports enthusiast and in 1995 the softball field in the Southern Recreation Grounds, just North of St. Agnes Church, was renamed in his honour as the Archdeacon William E. Thompson Softball Park. Tragically, he was shot by an intruder at the St. Agnes Rectory and died a few weeks later on 23^rd June 2000.

Father Simeon Patrick Johnson (Father Pat) was born in Gregory Town, Eleuthera, on 3^rd November 1950. He attended primary school in Eleuthera and later came to New Providence where he attended St. Augustine’s College. He worked at the Public Treasury in New Providence and Grand Bahama and subsequently at El Casino in Freeport. However, from early childhood Patrick always felt the call to serve God and, after much prayer, he gave up his lucrative employment at the Casino to study for the Priesthood at Codrington College. Upon his return to the Bahamas Father Pat was posted at several churches in the Family Islands and New Providence, prior to taking up his appointment at St. Agnes on 1^st March 2000. He died suddenly on 15^th December 2005. He was married to the former Ethel Bethel and they have two daughters. Sonja is married to Kendyce Moss-Moultrie and they are the parents of a son and daughter, Kaleb and Kaiden. The Johnsons’ second daughter, Shaundica, is married to N’Krumah Vontez Edwards.

In the interim, between Fathers Johnson’s death and the appointment of Archdeacon I. Ranfurly Brown, Bishop Gilbert A. Thompson served as Rector pro tempore 2006-2007.

Archdeacon I. Ranfurly Brown was installed as Rector of St. Agnes on 1^st February 2007. A “Son of St. Agnes”, he served as an altar boy under Canon Milton Cooper and also under Archdeacon William E. Thompson. Archdeacon Brown attended Queen’s College. He attended Codrington College and graduated with a Licentiate in Theology from The University of The West Indies. He also studied Urban Ministry at Colgate Divinity School in Rochester, New York and obtained a Master of Arts degree from Princeton Seminary in New Jersey.

He was made a Deacon on 24^th June 1977 and ordained to the Sacred Priesthood on 24^th June 1978. He served as Rector of the Parish of Our Lady and St. Stephen in Bimini from 1980 to 1988 and as Rector of Christ the King Parish in Ridgeland Park from 1988 to 2007. He was appointed a Canon in 1996 and as Archdeacon in 1998.

Archdeacon Brown is married to the former Olga Maria Rolle. Their two sons, Michael and Ian, serve in the Sanctuary as members of the Guild of St. Ambrose. A third son, I. Ranfurly Brown II, is deceased.

This is an update to include Archdeacon Keith Cartwright, another Son of St. Agnes, who succeeded Archdeacon Brown in…….

St. Agnes Influence Abroad

The historic St. Agnes Episcopal Church in Miami, Florida had its beginnings as a result of the washtub singing of a former member of St. Agnes Anglican Church in Grant’s Town. To quote from “The Historic Saint Agnes Episcopal Church”:

“Saint Agnes Episcopal Church, one of Miami’s oldest and largest churches had its origin in October 1897. The Reverend James O S. Huntington late Father Superior of the Holy Cross came to the Miami area accompanied by two monks to supply the religious needs of the Episcopal Church until a priest was called to replace them.

One day while Father Huntington was visiting at the home of the late John Sewell he was attracted by the voice of Mr. Sewell’s washwoman, Louise Newbold. Mrs. Newbold, a Bahamian by birth was singing lustily the hymn, “The Church Is One Foundation”, to ease the burden of her chore. Father Huntington approached Mrs. Newbold and asked if a church existed in the area where Colored Anglicans could worship. She answered no, but told him there were scores of Anglicans in Miami who desired to worship in a way which they were accustomed. Father Huntington requested that Mrs. Newbold invite some of her friends to a meeting on the following Sunday. She complied.

“Thirty members assembled with Father Huntington in a private home located on North West 2^nd Avenue near Flagler Street, then known as Avenue C and 12^th Street. It was then that an idea “born in a washtub” became a reality.

“The founders chose the name of Saint Agnes for the new Church because the majority of them had been members of the popular and vigorous Saint Agnes in The Bahamas. When Father Huntington wrote to Bishop William Crane Gray to inform him of his meetings, he stated that he found the people to be quite intelligent and comfortable with the worship service.”

St. Agnes, Miami is designated as a local historic site. Two other Episcopal churches, The Church of the Incarnation and The Church of the Transfiguration, have come out of St. Agnes, Miami. As well, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is a mission of St. Agnes. The current Rector of is Canon Richard Livingstone Marquess-Barry, who was born in Miami of Bahamian parents. Bahamian, Father Denrick Rolle, is now at St. Agnes and he is expected to succeed Canon Barry as Rector in December 2012.

The late Fathers James Edden of Lewis Street and Bruce Williamson of Blue Hill Road, who were both members of St. Agnes Church, served as priests in the United States as did Father John Taylor, who was a former Curate at St. Agnes. Father Taylor’s home Church was St. Mary The virgin. Father Charles Simmons, a protégé of Archdeacon William Thompson, is the Rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in the Bronx, New York.

Dr. Joseph Robert Love

Dr. Joseph Robert Love was the grandfather of the late Vera Love and great grandfather of the late Cynthia Love, who were both lifelong active members of St. Agnes Church. Another of Dr. Love’s great granddaughters, Gloria Archer, lives in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Dr. Love was born in Nassau in 1839. He grew up in Grant’s Town and was a member of St. Agnes Church. He moved to the United States in the 1860s and became a priest in 1877.

In 1879 Dr. Love became the first black medical graduate of the University of Buffalo. He went to Haiti in 1881 as a medical missionary. In the 1880s many black West Indians went to Haiti in search of work as they felt more comfortable living in a Black Republic, where they would not be discriminated against by Colonialists. Dr. Love was among a number of foreigners who became involved in Haitian politics. He later moved to Jamaica where he also became active in politics and published a weekly paper the Jamaica Advocate. He was elected to the Legislative Council in 1906 and served in other high offices in Jamaica. Dr. Love was a proud black man and he always encouraged black Jamaicans to become involved in politics. Marcus Garvey, the Jamaican Black Nationalist Leader, was influenced by the writings of Dr. Robert Love, who died in Kingston, Jamaica in 1914. The bust of Dr. Love was created and photographed by Andret John.

Percival James & Leona Aurelia Hanna (nee Butler)

c. 1954

2011

Our house at Anderson Street and Gaol Alley was built in 1934. My parents, Percival James and the former Leona Aurelia Butler were married on 4^th November 1925. The pictures below left were taken on their wedding day. My two oldest siblings were born at the Butler homestead on Market Street and the rest of us were born at Anderson Street, which was at that time called Harding’s Lane.

Below is the article about my parents’ wedding that was published in The Tribune on the day of their marriage:

WEDDING BELLS!

A very pretty wedding took place at St. Agnes Church this morning, when Mr. Percival J. Hanna of Meallett’s Orchestra, and organist of St. Agnes Church, was married to Miss Leola [Leona], eldest daughter of the late Mr. Chas. Butler and Mrs. Butler of the Southern District, by Rev. Canon George, assisted by Revs. Senior and Tillard. The bride and party arrived at the church at 7:30 a.m. where they were met by the Choir, and the Gym Club, (of which Miss Butler was a member), under Nurse Wood. The club formed a guard of honour and strewed their colours on the ground as the bride passed, leaning on the arm of her uncle, Mr. Herman Butler, who gave her away. Mr. John Forbes stood as best man. Miss Gladys Bailey presided at the organ and some of Mr. Hanna’s friends in the Orchestra provided other music. After the wedding a photograph of the party was taken by Mr. A. E. Armbrister of Armbrister’s Studio, and the party proceeded to the groom’s home in Meadow’s Street, where they will hold a reception this evening.

Bahamas National Youth Choir Press Release

Bahamas National Youth Choir
PRESS RELEASE
Dec. 8, 2015

The Bahamas National Youth Choir under the direction of Cleophas R.E. Adderley, Founder/Director, will present its Seventh Annual Concert of Music for Christmas on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at Trinity Methodist Church, Frederick Street and Trinity Place at 7:30p.m. The concert is under the distinguished patronage of Her Excellency, Dame Marguerite Pindling, DCMG, Governor General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. There is no admission charge but a collection will be taken to help defray expenses. A number of talented new singers will make their debut at this performance.

The Bahamas National Youth Choir was established in 1983 under the direction of Mr. Adderley as a part of the celebrations marking the tenth anniversary of Bahamian independence. During March, 2015 it presented its 25^th Annual Concert season at the Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts and in May celebrated twenty-five years of continuous existence with a church service at Christ Church Cathedral and in October an Exhibition of Photographs and Materials at The Central Bank of The Bahamas Art Gallery. The singers are between the ages of 15 and 25 years and give of their time and talent without remuneration as a form of national service.

Over the years the choir has toured and given performances in twenty-five countries on four continents including The United States, Canada, Mexico, England, France, Germany, Finland, China, South Africa, and Swaziland. They have also sung in twenty-five languages including German, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Hungarian, Italian and five African languages.

The singers have graced the stages of internationally acclaimed venues including the Concert Hall of The John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts (Washington, D.C.), The Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall (New York City), The Grand Hall of The Moscow Conservatory (Russia), Beijing Symphony Hall and The Poly Theatre (China), Oxford University Playhouse and The Barbican (England); and have rendered anthems and sung the responses at mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City.

During the summer of 2015 the singers toured the Dominican Republic and performed with Maestro Darwin Aquino and the seventy plus member National Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic. The singers also toured The Republic of Haiti and were delighted and honoured to meet and perform on the same programme with internationally acclaimed Haitian composer Sydney Guillaume. The Bahamas National Youth Choir will perform Mr. Guillaume’s Dominus Vobiscum at this year’s Christmas Concert. Mr. Guillaume’s music is in great demand and has been performed on five continents. It is the first time that his music is being performed in The Bahamas. “This piece is quite challenging and is a wonderful synergy of the European music of the Roman Catholic Church and ever emerging African rhythms and Haitian Creole and culture” comments Mr. Adderley.

Also included on the programme is music from Handel’s Messiah featuring Guest Artist Garrad Rigby (tenor), and well known carols Sleigh Ride, Joy to the World, The First Noel; a gospel carol Pretty Little Baby arranged by James Cleveland/Rollo Dilworth; Nigerian carol “Betelehemu” and Bahamian carol “O Mary” written by Cleophas Adderley. There are also works by C.P.E. Bach, Phillip W.J. Stopford, John Alexander, and Heather Sorenson amongst others.

Mr. Nathan Lightbourn, the Choir’s 2^nd Assistant Director will perform two piano solo works, Sonata Number 8 (Second Movement) by Ludwig Van Beethoven and Concert Etude No.1 by Nikolai Kapustin. The Choir’s Assistant Director, Mr. Dexter Fernander will be on the harpsichord and will assist Mr. Adderley with conducting. He is also responsible for rehearsing the Bahamas National Youth Choir Alumni who will make a special appearance as the Choir brings its twenty-fifth anniversary celebrations to a close. The Alumni will augment the choral forces on some of the larger works.

The director and members are grateful to Reverend William “Bill” Higgs and the Trustees of Trinity Methodist Church for their continual support of The Choir, the Government High School for the loan of handbells and to all others who have helped to make this performance possible. The concert should run for approximately one hour and fifteen minutes, so please try not to be late.

The Bahamas Press Club – Welcome Address at the Pioneer Awards Recognition Banquet – 21st November 2015 – British Colonial Hilton

Welcome to all of you and thank you for coming out tonight and supporting this first ever Pioneer Awards Recognition banquet.

This is indeed a wonderful evening and I am hopeful that more of you will be involved I t this process next November!

I consider the night a success already, just by virtue of the fact that so many of you are here! I have to admit, that we planned for a little more than seventy persons. This then is a more than pleasant surprise.

That occasions me to sing the praises of my team without whom none of this would be possible, nor would the press club have reached this far: Anthony Capron, Vincent Vaughan and Lindsay Thompson – fantastic people!

Deryn Prabhu from the Hilton and her team – all of the reputation I had built up over my life, I have to rebuild with her – because every time we’d agree to something – dealing with the wonderful people who are the Bahamian press, I had to go back and change it… and she is a professional of the highest order. So, you can imagine two of us having to go through that dance… thank you Deryn.

I hate long speeches, and I believe so do most of you. However, there are a few things I would like to bring to your attention. This night and what it means and does, has been a dream of mine, ever since a group of us first talked about a press club back in 1996. We must do more and I hope that this becomes a yearly must attend event on your social calendar.

The goals of the Press Club today remain much as they ere back in 1996 when Darold Miller became the first president in the modern era: a forum for social intercourse, further training and education, especially of the younger members, through seminars and presentations by senior members of the profession, both local and international; exchanges with like organizations worldwide and the enactment of a Freedom of Information Act, with teeth.

As we recognize some of those who paved the way, we also recognize the sacrifices they made and the examples they set. And I say some because, and this is especially for those who have been giving me instructions and directions since we announced these awards, we cannot recognize everyone at once.

As we gather here on this balmy Nassau evening, I remind you members of the press, that the group of citizens who most come under the glare of our scrutiny comprises mostly of the political class.

Remember also that both of our vocations, professions, require, no, demand that we all be above reproach! That we be as honest as possible with each other, as both groups work to build up the common good! We are not always that, but even if those who are our targets aren’t, we must strive to be!

We must also be careful and vigilant lest we are beguiled by the serpent called social media and the internet. Someone not long ago called it a sewer. I will not go that far tonight, but let me say that it is the perfect venue for a tar baby experience. So if we are not careful, some of the sewage that floats around in there will stick to us.

And finally for this part of the evening… the last month has been the press’s finest hour. But we are better than that, or we should be! The public has no time for the press to be sniping at each other!

We all should know the rules of civility and decent behavior, and almost instinctively hew to those principles. I cow that young people, especially, are not always friends with patience and are not always as politic as they ought to be, but they must learn as quickly as they can, especially those in responsible positions. It is a requirement, otherwise, you will crash and burn and wonder whatever happened to your career.

There is still some work to be done in the media… I still believe, for example, that ZNS should be a public broadcaster, in order to really do what it should e be doing. Meaning that it would not be under the control of any Government! There is always BIS and the Parliamentary Channel… The private stations still need to pull up their socks because they are far from perfect, so don’t roll your eyes at ZNS… one of my beefs wit private radio is the often unacceptable, churlish behaviour of too many of the talk show hosts, who seem to always eek the lowest common denominator

Remember, the media in general, but the working press specifically , is part of the leadership of the country… and what is distressing is that some of us may not even realize it, which is quite scary!

I often ask if those who sit in front of microphones daily understand the tremendous power resident in that position… and the consequent responsibility that goes with that power?

We help to shape pubic opinion! We determine what goes on the front page, what is the top story and what makes the line up at all! The public look to us for guidance.

Keep the language out of the gutter and practice a high level of standard English… the public mimics you… there is no such word as “assessories” and the expression “You Guys” is an affectation and abomination, that is so impersonal, demeaning and insulting that it should carry with it five lashes with the cat o nine tail… we members of the press and media.. we can’t afford to be mediocre or pedestrian. Our country needs us now more than ever, to be at the top of our game… be judicious… be fair…be balanced… be accurate…and be on time!

Enjoy the wonderful repast prepared for us, and the great company… and then we will get to the real reason for the evening.

Enjoy!

Anthony A. Newbold

History of The Bahama Brass Band – Church of God of Prophecy

Music is a heavenly gift. It is one of the only gifts that transcends the barriers of language and creed. The inspirational and charismatic music of the Bahama Brass Band stirs a range of emotions from overwhelming peace and contentment to sheer bliss.

The Bahama Brass Band (or The Big Jumper Church Band) of the Church of God of Prophecy came about as a glaring need for a music ministry in the oldest Pentecostal denomination in The Bahamas in 1925. From the outset, a handful of ordained Ministers of the Gospel who were musically gifted introduced brass instruments to the church service-, which was still in its fledgling stages during those years. The names of the founding members were Bishop Hermis A. Ferguson (first director), Bishop James R. Cooper, Bishop Alvin S. Moss and Pastor Frank H. Cunningham.

By 1927 after much preparation and rehearsals the band made its first public appearance during the church’s colonial convention which held at the Taylor Street Tabernacle.

In 1938 the membership grew to sixteen (16) and twelve (12) of the most seasoned players were selected to perform at the worldwide General Assembly in Cleveland, Tennessee. This group of musicians traveled via the motor vessel Ena K from Kelly Dock on Bay Street to Miami, Florida. Following a fund-raising concert in Florida, they rode to Tennessee on the back of a truck. Today, the world famous Bahama Brass Band (the Official Assembly Band) has been ministering to the international gathering for almost 78 years.

Recording sessions and tape mastering became an integral aspect of the Bahama Brass Band musical influence in 1956. There have been over 11 successful “Music with Spirit” albums documented that was also used as a marketing thrust for The Church of God of Prophecy globally.

The Bahama Brass Band- the all-male, generational, ministry oriented brass band, which comprises of membership belonging solely to the Church of God of Prophecy New Providence, Grand Bahama, Turks & Caicos, Andros, Eleuthera and Florida has ministered extensively throughout The Bahamas, Caribbean, United Kingdom, Continental USA, South America and Carnival Cruise Line destinations.

Other notable achievements:

Appearance at the Bahamas Independence in 1973
Playing at the funeral services for the late Sir Milo B. Butler (first Bahamian Governor General) and Sir Lynden O. Pindling (former Prime Minister).
The official brass band for the international AZUSA Street Centennial in Los Angeles, California etc.

Since its inception in 1925 over 300 members have served in this band which helped to contribute to the Gospel of Christ and the building of our Bahama Land.

We are also proud to say two members of the Bahama Brass Band produced solo albums, which were distributed internationally. These were Vanderson Ferguson (on Trumpet) and Dr. Albert S. Ferguson (on Clarinet).

Today, the National Band Director and Director of Bands is Mr. David G. Beneby and he is assisted by John L. Butler, Charles Hanna, Jr., Pastor Barry Morris (G.B.), and Billy Dickerson (G.B.)