14
Over time they became involved in various church and lodge activities. Clive joined the choir and was Superintendant of the Sunday School for a period. He also joined the Mount Olive Lodge #1 and his wife Barbara later became a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Esther Chapter #2. These fraternal orders are subsidiaries of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F.& A.M., Province of Ontario and Jurisdiction. It is an all-Black fraternity founded across the United States and Canada by Prince Hall, who was born in Barbados in 1748 The very first lodge in Ontario was the Mount Olive Lodge, established in Hamilton in 1852.According to Clive,
"We never had cause to go to any other church. We came to feel like family. It was natural… We can miss several weeks and just pick up where we left off. It has always been very welcoming. Even with guests, it has been welcoming."
15
Memorial Corner.2004
Stewart Memorial Church, John St. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Photo by Inessa Petersen.
Courtesy of Stewart Memorial Church.
16
The Barnes family have worked hard and achieved much since arriving in Canada. After 11 years as a machinist at Brown-Boggs (1966-77), Clive enrolled in Technological Studies at the University of Toronto. Upon graduation he taught Machine Shop briefly, then transferring to academics, he taught mathematics and other subjects. Subsequently, he was nominated provincially and nationally for teacher of the year awards. He was rewarded with the former, receiving the Bishop Reding Outstanding Teacher Award. Currently, Clive works as a programming and assessment teacher, where his portfolio includes collaborating with psychologists, guidance counselors, speech pathologists etc. to devise effective programs for students who might be experiencing difficulties of one kind or another. The couple's three children have all obtained Master's degrees and are working at successful careers.17
Close-up, Memorial Corner.2003
Stewart Memorial Church, John St. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
18
Although incoming immigrants felt a kinship with the church on John Street, relations with the established membership could be chilly. The current minister of Stewart Memorial Church is Reverend George Horton. He believes that while there has been tension between the two groups, this has started to subside to some degree. Reverend Horton hails from Guyana and came to Canada via New York in 1972. He trained in human relations education, teaching at Mohawk College and working as Superintendant of Sprucedale Training School for in-crisis youth. Apparently, this was not his true calling because Horton returned to school and obtained a second Master's Degree in Divinity at McMaster University in 1984. Eventually, after a bit of a winding road, Reverend Horton ended up at Stewart Memorial. He has been the presiding pastor of the church since 1999. Reverend Horton estimates that roughly two-thirds of the congregation is now from the Caribbean and one-third are descendants of the nineteenth and early twentieth century pioneers. However, the Hamilton African Methodist Episcopal Church has recently been established on Main Street. Some of the older Stewart Memorial members now attend this church.19
Reverend Bob Foster, Assistant Pastor1980
Stewart Memorial Church, John St. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
20
Reverend George Horton, current minister, Stewart Memorial.2000
Stewart Memorial Church, John St. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
21
Reverend Horton.2003
Stewart Memorial Church, John St. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Photo by Roger Ferreira
22
Reverend Horton ministers to his youngest congregants.2000
Stewart Memorial Church, John St. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Credits:With permission of the Hamilton Spectator.
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