WASHINGTON, D.C., August 6, 2023 – His Excellency Wendall Jones, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States, on Friday, August 4, was one of the featured speakers at the 122nd annual Gand Lodge and 118th Grand Temple Convention of the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World, Inc. currently being held from August 3 to August 11, 2023, at Hilton Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland .
A pre-convention release on the Internet noted that it was anticipated that the convention would attract “nearly 5000 attendees.”
In his remarks, Ambassador Jones noted that he “grew up in Nassau, Bahamas, hearing about members of our Elks fraternity, and later in his “adult life as a journalist and broadcaster, I became very familiar to hearing about this organization, The Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of The World.”
“What impressed me more was the large number of outstanding Bahamian leaders who were members,” Ambassador Jones added. “There were men like the late Charles Rodriguez, who became one of the first black Senators in The Bahamas, and the late Clarence Bain, a freedom fighter, who is one of our national heroes, and countless women of the Suffragette Movement who fought for the right of women to vote in The Bahamas; they were members of this organization.”
Continuing, Ambassador Jones said, “You have had a tremendous impact in shaping the economic, social, and political landscape of The Bahamas. Beyond this, your members were at the forefront of developing a culture of volunteerism in my country.
“As we now celebrate the 50th anniversary of our independence in The Bahamas, it must be acknowledged that your organization played a role in our nation-building efforts as you assisted in awakening and inspiring black leadership about self-reliance and self-determination.
“You see, there was a time when the vast majority of the people in The Bahamas were not privileged. They were not poor – because they were naturally rich.
“The Elks gave thousands of them an empowering experience that lifted their spirits beyond the ordinary.
“The fraternal organizations were able to teach The Shema and got people grounded in the biblical mandate which is what Moses told the Israelites to teach to your children: ‘Love the Lord with all your heart, your soul, and your strength, and to love your neighbour as you love yourself.’”.
Ambassador Jones said that what “Elkdom did in The Bahamas for decades was to help our people create and sustain a sense of community, adding what when the Elks “turned out” in procession, based on their deportment, they inspired a whole community.
“During my childhood, my parents felt that the organization was critical in the formation, for the males in particular, because of its strong Christian principles,” Ambassador Jones said. “You imbued the members with a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood and there was a transmitted ethic that you were required to be in an organization like Elks to be a man. You trusted your fellow members and cared for one another.”
Continuing, Ambassador Jones said, “When Bahamians came to Elks Conventions in the United States over the years, they returned home infused with an inspiration that they were able to share in the community. I have no doubt that the Bahamian delegates here will do the same.
Noting that The Elks organization made “the good old days good in The Bahamas”, Ambassador Jones added, “In this post-modern era, may I be audacious or even presumptuous to invite this august body to return to the biblical Bethel, to rescue our youth who are at risk in social degradation.
“Your contribution to the educational development of many young Bahamians paid huge dividends over the years, enabling them to be productive global citizens. This must continue.
“On behalf of the government and people of The Bahamas, I wish to thank the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of The World for your enormous positive impact on the orderly development of our society. I also extend a warm invitation to you to hold one of your conventions soon in our beautiful country. We want you to not only enjoy the great hospitality of our people, but to experience what the American Scott Kelly saw when he looked down from space. He exclaimed: ‘The Bahamas is an infinite wonder’.
“Thank you and best wishes for a highly successful convention.”
CAPTION: Ambassador Wendall Jones (centre) with Leonard J.Polk, jr.,. Grand Exalted Ruler Grand Patriarch, and Margaret D. Scott, Grand Daughter Ruler.
