Stalwarts of Moravian Church Honoured with Commemorative Stamps

The Postal Corporation of Jamaica has launched a commemorative stamp series to mark the 250th anniversary of the Moravian Church in Jamaica.
At the launch held at the Central Sorting Office in Kingston this morning (Dec.14), Reverend Livingston Thompson, President of the Provincial Elders Conference (PEC), explained that the stamps were designed to honour posthumously, three stalwarts of the Moravian movement.
They are: Rev.Walter Malton O’Meally, the first native president of the PEC executive board and co-founder of the Jamaica Progressive League; Selvin Uriah Hastings, first native bishop of the Moravian Church in Jamaica and the first Jamaican to serve as chairman of the Unity Board of the Worldwide Moravian Church; and Mary Morris Knibb, benefactor and founder of the Morris Knibb Preparatory School and the first elected female councillor of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation.
In her tribute, Dr. Blossom O’Meally Nelson, Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer of the Postal Corporation, lauded the honourees for their contribution to the church and society, noting that their work was largely unrewarded.
Dr. O’Meally Nelson, who is also the granddaughter of Walter O’Meally, spoke about the need for children to be taught to give unconditional service to the society. “Mary Morris Knibb, Walter O’Meally and Selvin Hastings died practically penniless, but they were about nation building and the family. We need to teach our young people about being leaders from where they stand and being unselfish,” she stated.
Fay Rogers, a past student of Morris Knibb Preparatory and Professor Errol Morrison, member of the Redeemer Moravian Church, also paid tribute to Mary Morris Knibb and Selvin Hastings respectively.Commerce, Science and Technology Minister, Phillip Paulwell in his remarks, acknowledged the role the Moravian Church has played in the Jamaican society from the days of slavery and expressed government’s support of the movement.
The Moravian Church is the oldest protestant church in Jamaica and has 21 provinces in Africa, Europe, Central America and the Caribbean and North America. The church supports and establishes institutions in education, health, the media and religion. The Rosemount multi-purpose building in Montego Bay is among the projects being carried out by the church. It has a membership of 30,000.
The church began one-year of celebrations on December 9 with prayer vigils and activities will culminate on December 9, 2005 with the Rosemount dedication. Celebrations continue on February 9, with a youth rally.