Four tall coconut trees loaded with coconuts provided the backdrop to the hilly terrain on which Carmel Moravian Church, Westmoreland, Jamaica West Indies, boasting its German Gothic Architecture and buttresses punctuated with Greco-Roman Arched Stained Glass Windows and Wooden Doors made of hardwood that is termite free and has lasted for many years, stood as mourners from far and near, began filing into the sanctuary as early as 7.45 a.m. so as to ensure that they got the best seats.
Not to be out done were vendors in the church yard and also on the Carmel Primary School grounds who staked out the best spots to peddle their wares. Pews filled to capacity with additional mourners accommodated under two white coloured gazebos that were pitched on the eastern and western sides of the Gothic Building. The bell began its somber toll at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2013, signaling that the dark brown mahogany casket bearing the remains of Rev. Noel Keith Monteith, O.D., J.P., Educator, Statesman, Former Government Senator (1993 – 2007), Politician was about to be brought into the sanctuary by Pall Bearers accompanied by Honeyghan’s Funeral Service Personnel, Waterworks, Westmoreland, to whom funeral arrangements was entrusted.
Pre-Tribute Service (9:30 A.M. – 10:15 A.M.
As the dark brown opened mahogany casket laid in state in front of the altar in the sanctuary, dwarfed by illusory image and mirage of the huge pipe organ on the eastern balcony with its wooden foot notes and bellows at which Rev. Noel Keith Monteith’s father John Monteith – an accomplished musician who could be seen wearing his jacket on all occasions – sat at the keyboard over the years as he accompanied the choir in the singing of HANDELS MESSIAH, the miniature electronic organ enriched by acoustics in the sanctuary, played gospel songs to which mourners hummed along.
Rev. Phyllis Smith-Seymour, Moravian Minister and Moderator for the Pre-Tribute phase of the thanksgiving service, announced over the public address system that the casket would remain open during the Pre-Tribute Phase of the Service. Like the Captain who is in full control of his ship, her face is ice, the Moderator adorned in cleric garb, maintained full control over seventeen (17) tributes that were offered and she made her sternness known when she told participants that she was sitting behind them at the podium and she would pull the tails of their garments if they took longer than three minutes for each tribute.
Among the seventeen (17) participants who gave tributes in the Pre-Tribute Phase of the Service were:
The Deputy Mayor of Savanna-la-mar and Vice Chairman Westmoreland Parish Council, Belmont Academy, Maud McLeod high School, Cornwall College, Bethlehem Moravian Teachers College, G. C. Foster College, Wolmers Boys School, Jamaica Teachers Association, Moravian Talents For Christ who maintained a guard of honour vigil at the casket, and Hon. Derrick Kellier, Vice President PNP Region 6 and Minister of Labour who led mourners in the congregation in singing Rev. Noel Keith Monteith’s favourite hymn that he always used at political meetings: I MUST HAVE THE SAVIOUR WITH ME FOR I DARE NOT WALK ALONE.
Order of Service (Second Phase, Closed Casket)
With an announcement coming over the public address system from the main entrance of the sanctuary: “CONGREGATION PLEASE RISE!” several white and blue robed male and female Moravian Clerics along with their counterparts from other denominations, marched in single file in the procession chanting biblical sentences to the main platform in the sanctuary where they led the congregation in singing the opening hymn, HOW GREAT THOU ART. Lying bespectacled in his closed mahogany casket with the Seal of the Moravian Church with the haloed Lamb carrying the flag with the red cross firmly held in its right front leg, bearing the Latin words: EUM VICIT ADNUS NOSTER SEQUAMUR which means OUR LAMB HAS CONQUERED, LET US FOLLOW HIM.
Tributes numbering six (6) were given by The Most Honourable Portia Simpson-Miller, Prime Minister of Jamaica, The Most Honourable Percival J. Patterson, O.J., Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Hon. Dr. Peter Philips, Minister of Finance, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, Minister of Education, Hon. Senator A. J. Nicholson, Attorney General of Jamaica, Her Excellency Sheila Monteith, Jamaican High Commissioner to Canada. Other distinguished persons who were recognized among the mourners were: Hon. Bruce Golding, Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, His Excellency Sir Kenneth Hall, Former Governor General of Jamaica and Lady Hall, and Senator Lambert Brown.
Highlights From Tribute Given By the Most Honourable Portia Simpson-Miller, Prime Minister of Jamaica.
“A good name is to be desired than many riches.” Rev. Noel Keith Monteith took this advice from the Book of Proverbs. Noel lived a consistent life of integrity and service so that he was able to become the person that God wanted him to be. Noel had clear ideas of what is right and what is wrong and he never departed from his principles neither did he compromise. Noel was never combative; he was a peacemaker who always put the interest of Jamaica ahead of his own interest. Noel’s humility was genuine. His life was a life of virtue and throughout his illness he remained faithful and cheerful.
Eulogy Followed by the Sermon
In the eulogy given by Ryland Campbell, Scout Brother of Rev. Noel Keith Monteith, Mico Teachers College Trained Teacher, Former Banker, Vice Chancellor Mico Teacher College, followed by the sermon given by Rev. Dr. Paul Gardner, Mr. Campbell explained that Rev. Noel Keith Monteith’s pedigree was no coincidence because it has its genesis in Archilbald Monteith, the Ibo Ancestral Slave who was snatched against his will from his ancestral tribe in Western Nigeria and taken to Jamaica where he was enslaved on an estate in Paynes Town, Saint Elizabeth. It was not long thereafter, that Archibald Monteith bought his freedom from the estate owner and pioneered work in the Moravian Church at Carmel.
A Rainy End To The Service
It was 3:35 p.m. when mourners in the congregation began singing MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY OF THE COMING OF THE LORD (The Battle Hymn of The Republic) when dark nimbus clouds were visible through the opaque stained glass windows. This phenomenon was swiftly followed by rumble of thunder and heavy down pour of rain that prevented mourners from existing the sanctuary and delayed the internment that was to be done in the family plot in Kilmarnock, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies.
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