ST. James Parish Church in Somerset was packed to capacity on Sunday, as the Rector, Archdeacon Dr. Arnold Hollis, conducted a combined service for members holding their annual Senior Citizens celebration, and for members of the Hamilton and Somerset Districts of the Independent Order of Manchester Unity Oddfellows and kindred societies holding their annual Thanksgiving Service.

The seniors and Oddfellows found themselves united in divine worship as a result of the Archdeacon having inadvertently double-booked the date. Dr. Hollis said he was pleased when they reached an amicable compromise not only for the joint service, but to combine for the repast afterwards in the church hall.

"As I reflect upon this joint service, it seems very appropriate that it should be so, for many of us who are as old as I am undoubtedly recall the days of our youth when the lodges flourished and most every black family in the land was connected.

"In fact, I can almost say that it was probably through the black lodges that the people could exercise self-worth and togetherness. It was probably as a result of the pull of the lodges in the olden days that our communities were knit together and lived closer to the communal life of the early Christians," remarked the Archdeacon.

"But let us reflect for a bit upon each group gathered here today. The senior citizens of our land in the not-too-distant past were that part of our society that had come to those years when they needed to be able to sit back, realising that they had worked so very hard for their families. They were for years a respected though fairly ignored group. People have always recognised the amount of knowledge and know-how that was stored up in the minds of the seniors, and from time to time they delighted in hearing about how life was back then, or about old recipes.

"When thought was given to gather together the seniors in each parish for fellowship, the seniors came, rejoicing in the fact that they could mingle and have fellowship with one another. Then the Government stepped in to ensure that the seniors were able to get together on an island-wide basis. As a result, there are many groups throughout the country who meet regularly for fellowship and for outings.

Dr. Hollis recalled how only ten days earlier senior citizens were invited to St. James Parish Hall to talk about the rash of attacks on their number, and what they should do if and when they were confronted with an intruder in their homes.

He sat in on part of the meeting, and listened to some of the presentations. One in particular about the seniors being educated to know how to deal with situations. The presentation was good, but very clinical. To me there should have been more of the human element in it, for senior citizens like me don't have the energy to become detectives when confronted with an intruder.

"Then I thought of the Independent Order of Oddfellows and what they stand for, and what they offered to their members and community. I was pleasantly aware of the fact that the meeting with the seniors was almost identical to what the Friendly Societies stand for."

The senior citizens were told to look out for their neighbour. The Friendly Societies provided protection and security, sometimes even from the strong arm of the law. They came to the aid of any member when there was a need, and especially in sickness and in death; and provided help for the children of members to be schooled.

"The Friendly Societies were a great support system for their members. They gave expression to a sense of good community life., for they spanned the generations in their activities and embraced the youth, the teenagers, the young adults, and the mature adults . . . Every person, no matter how young or how old, had a sense of belonging.. They participated in the social activities. They had their role to play in the ceremonial activities. Each was able to develop self-esteem and a sense of worth.

Dr. Hollis said the way our society was going today there might well be a real place once again for the Friendly Societies.

"There are very grave concerns about our youth. Sandys Parish once had two Brownie Packs, a Girl Guide troop, a Scout troop, youth groups in the community and the churches. All of these have disappeared. Yet there are so many youth hanging about the streets - aimlessly going from place to place. Our young men would rather sit on the wall than take on gainful employment. Our jails are full.

"The spirit of the Friendly Societies is needed even more than ever in our present-day community. The senior citizens of our land are in need of group support, protection and security, benevolence in the way of caring and sharing, and being informed of the ways they can help to protect themselves. The younger generations are in need of education, religion, social integration, and community life, all things that were the hallmarks of the Friendly Societies, and all of their activities were religion-based.

"With the great amount of wisdom stored in the minds of our senior citizens, and with the basic tenets of the Friendly Societies, we have to hand one of the most powerful tools for bettering our community, if only it could be pulled together for use."