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Mechanics celebrate St. John’s Day in Brooklyn
Caribbean L 36 ife, June 28–July 4, 2019
By Nelson A. King
The Independent United
Order of Mechanics (IUOM) on
Sunday celebrated St. John’s
Day in Brooklyn.
Members in the New York
City metropolitan area, along
with members from the five
District Grand Lodges in the
area, celebrated the event with
a Thanksgiving Service at St.
Peter Claver Roman Catholic
Church in Brooklyn.
According to Hyacinth
Robinson-Goldson, IUOM’s
Jamaican-born community
liaison officer, the fourth
Sunday in June is usually set
aside in the Mechanics Order
throughout District Grand
Lodge jurisdictions around the
world for the celebration of St.
John’s Day.
She said St. John’s Day
commemorates the memory
of St. John the Baptist, the
Patron Saint of Sir Knights of
the Order.
Deacon Richard “Ritchie”
Hurst substituted in officiating
for Fr. Alonzo Cox, rector, who
was scheduled to preside at the
service.
But, because of other urgent
responsibilities, he “had to
cancel at the last minute,”
Robinson-Goldson said.
The Rt. Hon. Errol Collins,
IUOM’s Deputy Master,
represented Rt. Hon. Walter
L. Benjamin, Most Worshipful
Grand Master of the Order,
who also had a last-minute
cancellation, Robinson-
Goldson said.
Before delivering the Most
Worshipful Grand Master’s
address, Collins thanked Deacon
Hurst for “pitching in” at the
last minute, stating: “Today is
a day of deputizers,” evoking
thunderous applause from the
large gathering, according to
Robinson-Goldson.
In his address, Guyanese-born
Benjamin called on Sir Knight
Companions to “practice the
essential virtues of knighthood
— courage, justice, mercy,
generosity, faith, nobility and
hope” — so that their families,
friends and the community can
be “impacted by the presence of
these qualities in our lives.”
“Each of these virtues is
important,” he said. “However,
when blended together, serving
with integrity, our families,
friends and associates will observe
and experience the true qualities
of a Christian Knight, reflecting
like a shining armor in us.
“On this St. John’s Day, ‘let
our light so shine before men
that they may see your good
works and glorify your Father,
which is in Heaven,’” he added,
quoting a popular Scripture
verse.
“I call upon all Sir Knights
of the Order to continue to
be ‘Beacons of Hope’ and to
protect and defend the gospel
of our Lord and Savior, thereby
honoring our Patron Saint, St.
John the Baptist,” the Most
Worshipful Grand Master
continued.
Robinson-Goldson said the
theme of “Living together in
Love and Unity” continued
throughout Deacon Hurst’s
sermon.
He also reminded Sir Knights
of the “good news which St.
John the Baptist brought to
the people of his time” and that
“we can share what we have
to create an atmosphere where
love can grow, especially in a
world where there is so much
suffering and chaos.”
John the Baptist, he said,
“kept it basically simple.”
“Just follow the simple rule
of loving each other, and we
will be building the community
of unity we so desperately strive
for,” Deacon Hurst urged.
Robinson-Goldson said
members of the New York City
Combined Encampment Choir,
accompanied by organist Luc
Dorsinville, gave “a beautiful
rendition” of “Worthy is the
Lamb”, composed by Darlene
Zschech, and “God and God
Alone,” written by Steve Green.
Hon. Donald Cameron,
District Grand Master of the
Composite District Grand
Lodge #2 and host for the 2019
St. John’s Day celebration, made
a presentation to, and thanked,
Deacon Hurst for consenting to
officiate at the service.
Cameron also thanked
Dorsinville, “who continues to
bless us with his gift of music
over the years.”
A reception followed at the
Mechanics World Headquarters,
65 Putnam Ave., Brooklyn,
during which the Rt. Hon.
Cecilio Leacock, executive
grand secretary of the order,
presented a gift to Howie
Prince, consul general of St.
Vincent and the Grenadines to
the US.
Mechanics attend a church service as part of their celebration
of St. John’s Day in Brooklyn Hyacinth Robinson-Goldson