Archive for November, 2008

Concert Pianist: Bruce Wendell

Bro. Bruce Wendell was a musician who was born and educated in British Guiana, Kible College, Oxford and under private tutors. During World War I he fought with the British Royal Univ. Corps. He made his debut in London in 1926 and later at Town Hall in New York City. He traveled in the Caribbean and had broadcasts on WJZ. Eventually he was a teacher in New York City.

Unfortunately, I was not able to find much information on Bro. Wendell. The only information I could find was a book written by his daughter [titled] From Your Daddy. (pictured)

Church of God and Saints of Christ Bishop: Howard Z. Plummer

When Rabbi Bro. Howard Z. Plummer accepted the mantel of Leadership of the Church of God and Saints of Christ, it was during a difficult period in American history. The Great Depression held the nation within the throes of its grip. Banks and businesses failed. The Stock Market Crash of October 1929 reverberated throughout the 1930’s. The African-American population in general suffered greatly.

It was during this time of great challenge that Bro. Howard Z. Plummer began his reign as Executive Leader. He was, at 32 years of age, young, dynamic, protean, and driven. During the early years of development in Belleville, under the leadership of Bishop William H. Plummer, the young “Elder Howard,” as he was called, was his father’s right hand man in all affairs pertaining to Headquarters.

After a prolonged period of illness, Bishop William H. Plummer fell asleep in Belleville, December 22, 1931. At a meeting of Church Officials held December 28, 1931, proclaimed Bro. Howard Z. Plummer, Grand Father Abraham and Leader of the Church of God and Saints of Christ. The Board of Presbytery consecrated him to the Bishopric.

Bishop Bro. Howard Z. Plummer had personal contact with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, visited him occasionally, and wrote some of the prayers used by the President in his speeches. Some of the gifts received by Bishop Bro. Plummer after the death of the President included a personalized ash tray which held a daily rose, a complete service of dishes for one person (china, crystal, silverware, napkin), also a Christmas Greeting signed by President Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor, with the fountain pen used to sign, attached. During the Passover of 1947, Bishop Bro. Plummer displayed some of the personal items of the President, which had been given to him as keepsakes by Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt after the President’s death.

Bishop Bro. Plummer was a member of the Interracial Interdenominational Hampton Ministers Conference. In 1954, he was elected President of the Conference and it was during his administration that Dr. Gardner Taylor and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made one of their memorable appearances as Conference Preacher.

After a lifetime of giving, Bishop Bro. Howard Z. Plummer fell asleep February 24, 1980, and his funeral was held in the Tabernacle in Belleville, Virginia, February 28, 1980. Saints from all over the United States and Jamaica were present.

Sigma Cookbook – Bon Appetit!

Well, from the world of unique Sigma projects is the PBS Eastern Region Cookbook. I don’t remember how I received a copy of this cookbook, but it was published by the 1995-96 Eastern Regional Board as a Bigger and Better Business project. I like it when our fraternity members “think out of the box” like this cookbook. This was volume #1, but I don’t know if there were other volumes. Bon Appetit!

 

Omaha Star Co-Founder: S. Edward Gilbert

The Omaha Star is a newspaper founded in 1938 in North Omaha, Nebraska by Bro. S. Edward Gilbert and his wife Mildred Brown. Housed in the historic Omaha Star building in the Near North Side neighborhood, today the Omaha Star is the only remaining African-American newspaper in Omaha and the only one still printed in Nebraska.

Bro. Gilbert also was a pharmaceutical chemist and business man. He graduated from Turner College and Howard University. Bro. Gilbert founded the Booker T. Washington Community Center in Sious City, IA. During War World II he was a coordinator for the Glenn L. Martin bomber plant. He has served as an advisor to the Mayor of Omaha and represented the Governor of Nebraska at the American Nego Exposition.

Beta Beta Chi Chapter

Taken from ctsigmas.org, the brothers of the newly chartered Beta Beta Chi Chapter (Wesleyan University) recently crossed on November 15, 2008.