Memories of VUC and YAG

“Dad was present as a young lad at the laying of the cornerstone at VUC,” wrote Eileen Morrow in a recent email. “He did not have a very happy family life, so the church became his second home.”

If the church gave Harold Morrow a place to belong, Harold over the years gave a great deal to the church, in particular his musical talents.

“He had a beautiful baritone voice and was a member of the choir, and often sang solos at many wedding ceremonies,” Eileen told me.

Harold Morrow also directed and performed in the annual YAG Revue, named after the Young Adult Group at Verdun United Church. Thanks to fellow performer, the late Ed Chaffey, we have quite a few photos from those shows in our collection at SouthWest. I was delighted to find there pictures of Harold, his wife Meta, and even one of their young daughter!

“The picture of me I think was from 1962,” wrote Eileen after I shared it with her. “I ‘opened’ the show by running from one side of the stage, then to the other, blowing kisses, back to centre stage saying ‘Welcome to the YAG Review of '62 - and away we go!’ (Jackie Gleason's line at the time!).”

The Morrow family also contributed to the church in other ways.

“During the sixties, my family were the ‘caretakers’ of the church,” wrote Eileen. “I can still remember vacuuming the long red-carpeted church aisle with the old upright Hoover!”

“On May 5, 1984,” Eileen recalled, “a reunion of the Young Adult Group was organized by my parents, Edie & Dave Jones, Sue Mercer and Joyce Weippert Ryner, and held in the old church hall at VUC. Close to 100 members of the group attended from near and far - it was quite the soiree, with lots of music, laughs and memories. I was so happy that my Dad was able to reconnect with so many from the group that were so dear to him - he passed away later that year in December.”

Eileen shared some photos she had of the shows, as well as the programme from 1959. The slideshow below combines both photo sources. I have kept Ed Chaffey’s captions on his photos, as they identify most of the people.

Text of the newspaper clipping:

Pictured above are experts in the dance department going over a few fine points with Choreographer Bernice Marvin and Director Harold Morrow of the YAG REVUE of ‘59, which will be held Thursday and Friday, April 2nd and 3rd at 8:15p.m. in the Verdun United Church Hall, 650 Woodland Ave., Verdun. From left to right are Marilyn Knight, Don Peddar, Dorothy Johnston, Ed Chaffey, Miss Marvin and Mr. Morrow.

The Revue plans a departure in programme this year: In addition to the usual variety numbers, a half-hour comedy entitled “Why I am a Bachelor” by Conrad Seiler will be presented depicting, in a lighter vein, the proverbial contrast between the days of the Belle and the Beau and those of the Husband and Wife.

“Gai Paree”, the musical highlight of this year’s show, has a realistic French atmosphere created by material generously contributed by the Tourism and Cultural Attache of the French Government Consulate in Montreal, who will be in attendance, with party, the opening night.

The YAG Revue will run for two days — April 2nd and 3rd — before travelling. Any Service Club or Charitable organization wishing to have the show, or any individual wanting tickets, should contact Mr. Harvey Mercer, P.O. 7-6425.

Facing Our History

Over the years that I’ve been putting out this newsletter, I’ve shared a lot of images and written quite a lot about the “old days” in Verdun. Just over two years ago I put together an exhibit to mark 120 years of our United Church presence here. It traced SouthWest United’s roots in Crawford Park United, formed in the 1940s, and Verdun United, which began as Verdun Methodist Church in 1899.

I loved learning about the individuals who built these churches, often with their own sweat. I love that there were cub packs, CGIT, young people’s bands and choirs, men’s groups and women’s societies … literally some group meeting in the church every day of the week back then. Seemingly, something for everyone. I felt proud of how church folk banded together in times of crisis – the Depression, two World Wars – to support each other and the wider community.

While digging through old pictures and documents, I came across one thing that didn’t make me proud: Blackface.

In the early decades of the 20th century, church cabarets and revues were not only fun for the whole family, they were good fundraisers. Unfortunately, in retrospect those events may not have been as inclusive as the participants thought. Well into the 1950s and even the 60s, many churches, including our two founding congregations, featured minstrel shows (white performers in stylized black makeup) as part of the entertainment.

I have to admit, when I stumbled across evidence of blackface in our church’s history, my first instinct was to sweep it under the rug. After all, this 120th anniversary was meant to be a celebration. Wouldn’t including references to blackface seem like condoning it? But leaving them out didn’t feel like the right thing to do either.

In February 2020, I attended a talk by Prof. Dorothy Williams about the history of blackface in Quebec. Dr. Williams is a respected academic and her research into the topic was a response to the persistent attitude that “we do not have that history here.”

I learned that minstrel shows had existed in the U.S. since the 1840s, but they really gathered steam after slavery was abolished. The stock characters of minstrelsy were created to send a message that people of African descent were stupid and lazy. Minstrel shows even suggested that Southern Blacks had been happier as slaves. All of this was a reaction to the fact that barely a decade after Emancipation, Black people had established universities and were demonstrating that they could compete with Whites in any arena.

There’s no question that blackface and minstrelsy were born in the U.S., but like everything from Model T’s to McDonald’s, they were successfully exported over the border. One thing that Dr. Williams’ presentation made very clear was that in the early decades of the 20th century, these shows were everywhere in North America. You’d have had to be living under a rock not to be aware of them. Minstrel shows were performed in English and in French in Quebec, in big cities and small towns.

Professional minstrelsy had petered out by the 1950s, but it lived on in amateur nights. The school, community and church groups that included blackface numbers in their shows probably thought of them as nostalgic. I’m sure they never intended any harm, but the perpetuation of stereotypes was harmful and continues to be today.

Ultimately, my 120th anniversary exhibit did not contain any references to blackface or minstrelsy. I didn’t feel able to adequately address it within that context.

My reasons for bringing this up now are partly selfish: after carrying it around for two years I need to get it off my chest. I also think it’s important to talk about the less admirable parts of our history, not to make us feel guilty, but to make sure we keep trying to do better. Lots of things that are acceptable in one time and place are recognized down the road as unacceptable.

As a white person I can’t pretend to know what it was like to be one of a small number of non-white people in our pews 60 years ago. I don’t pretend to know what it’s like now. As the United Church, we proudly assert that “all are welcome,” but I wonder how welcome a Black family would have felt sitting in pews on a Sunday morning and hearing an announcement about next Saturday’s minstrel show in the church hall…

I’m not writing this to single out our church or our community as racist. We weren’t any more or less racist than any other community across the country at the time. But that doesn’t make it okay.

I am writing this in hopes of starting a conversation. I think that conversation has to include asking ourselves, as a majority-white congregation: how are we unintentionally discriminating against and excluding people today?

We must not just say “all are welcome” we must live it. That means calling out friends or members of your congregation when they use offensive language.  And it means listening with an open heart and not getting defensive when people of colour talk about their experiences.

We have come a long way as United Church, in our attitudes toward Indigenous peoples, the LGBTQ+ community, People of Colour, even women! There’s no point beating ourselves up for past transgressions, as long as we keep trying to do better. Rooting out our own prejudices may be a life-long effort, but it’s time well spent.

 - Amy

Learn more about the history of Blackface in Quebec

Prof. Dorothy Williams was recently profiled as a Black Changemaker in Quebec:

 

 

Blog: February is Black History Month

With so many other things screaming out for our attention over the past week, we may not realize that other things are equally deserving of awareness and care.

 Below is the letter sent out by our own United Church of Canada Foundation:

-Beryl 


Black history is Canadian history! Black History Month seeks to be inclusive of the many historical experiences in the Black community in Canada, and the rich contributions the community has made to the foundation of our country. The United Church of Canada Foundation proudly celebrates the history of Black Canadians, including those in our United Church. 

The United Church of Canada has an abundance of Black History Month resources on their website. Whether you are leading your congregation in worship, engaging in study and discussion with a small group, or simply want to learn more for yourself about the strong and vibrant history of Black peoples in Canada and The United Church, I encourage you to check out the collection. These prayers, testimonies, stories, songs, worship services, pictures, videos and essays can be found here: united-church.ca/worship-special-days 
 

It is also a time of lament, as we mourn the injustices of the past, and those that continue today. As a Church, we believe in forgiveness, reconciliation, and transformation and the potential to learn from stories and experiences. The Foundation is committed to listening deeply to these stories and working to remove the inequity and injustices created by racism to create a more just planet where everyone can share and celebrate God’s abundance.
 

In June of 2020, Rev. Dr. Paul Douglas Walfall, member of the United Church of Canada Foundation Board, called on White people in the Church to put their love into action to counteract racism. You can read his words here: unitedchurchfoundation.ca/dear-white-people/


I hope that this Black History Month is meaningful and transformative for you.

With blessings and solidarity,
 
Sarah Charters
President

Winter Playlist 2

This is small collection of gems, music that says so much in a short space of time.

 

I love French ‘chansons,’ from Gabriel Fauré to Edith Piaf to many others. And since this is a winter playlist, how can I not include Quebec’s own Gilles Vigneault singing his winter anthem, Mon Pays. Mon pays ce n’est pas un pays, c’est l’hiver…. 

Now, for a singer who inhabits all he sings, emotion in every syllable, here is Jacques Brel singing Dans le port d’Amsterdam. Personal for me, I’ll admit, since I lived for such a long time in Amsterdam and discovered Jacques Brel while I was there.

The next Jacques Brel is the classic Ne me quitte pas. Three years ago, for the Remembrance service at SouthWest, Arielle Soucy sang this song. She was reluctant at first, but sang it so well.

  

Another gem, but this one at the piano. Sad? Not really, but pensive, emotional, and reflective, yes.

Chopin: Piano Nocturne #1


For a song that soothes, inspires, and will never fail to make you feel better about life, there is nothing like the wonderful Louis Armstrong singing What a Wonderful World.


Greetings to everyone.

Stay warm, stay safe,

And til soon.

 

Sarah 

 

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The Winter Hymn Project, Week 3

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As winter wends its way to closing the door on January, the light becomes brighter and the days ever longer... very, very soon our thoughts will turn to spring and yellow daffodils!

Once more, we have hymns from close by and far away. And once more I say: open your books and send me a message, please!

Sarah: saromica@yahoo.ca

 

Marco Ste Marie

Mes deux hymnes préférés en ce moment sont :

These days, my two favourite hymns are:

VU701 What Does the Lord Require of Me

MV 209 Go Make a Difference

Dis un gros bonjour à tout le monde à SouthWest. Vous me manquez tous beaucoup !

A big hello to everyone at SouthWest. I miss you all a lot!

 

 

Allan Bevand: VU 642 Be Thou My Vision

One of my favorites is "Be Thou My Vision." It relaxes me and seems to take a lot of my stress away, calming me down inside. It warms my soul and makes me feel I am not alone.

I know there are always friends and family but often I think we feel alone in this world, when I hear this song that feeling goes away for a while.

 

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Violet Grant States, Jan. 7, 1923 - Jan. 4, 2022

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A Verduner born and raised, Violet Grant States was a trailblazer who led a life of service despite the racism of the time. Violet studied piano as a child and hoped to become a music teacher, winning admittance to McGill's Macdonald College.

Her path was blocked by the college dean who asserted that parents would not allow their children to study under a woman of colour. She withdrew from the college but soon won a scholarship to the Conservatoire de musique. She graduated and began teaching music!

In 1940, she attended a recital on Mount Royal by the Montreal Women's Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of conductor Ethel Stark. Young Violet was determined to join the orchestra. Curveball, the MWSO already had a pianist. So Violet took up the clarinet.

She joined the orchestra in 1943 at the age of 20. The MWSO was the first professional Canadian ensemble to play Carnegie Hall and Violet Grant had the distinction of being the first woman of colour to perform in a Canadian symphony. She remained a member until 1965.

That experience was transformative for Violet, giving her confidence to pursue her educational goals. She earned degrees in Arts and Education at a by then more enlightened McGill University in 1968, becoming a public school educator.

Which brings us back to Verdun. Violet taught music in English schools for many years. Remarkably, she also helped Verdun Elementary kids open their first bank accounts, imparting early lessons on saving and money management to hundreds of children.

Though she attended Union United Church, was married there to Roy States in 1958 and played organ and led the church choir for several years, Violet became a Bahá'i in 1961 and remained an active member of that faith community.

Violet Grant States was named a Grande Verdunoise and a Bâtisseuse de la Cité in 2017, in recognition of her life's work. though she was by then too frail to take part in the event. She died at the beginning of 2022, just a few days shy of her 99th birthday.

She was by all accounts an exceptional woman, one not discouraged by those who said "No." She touched thousands, whether by teaching music, leading choir, helping kids save their pennies or by being the lone Black role model in a classroom or orchestra seat.

I hope that one day Montreal honours her by naming a street after this Grande Verdunoise and Bâtisseuse de le Cité, Violet Grant States.

-      Mary Lamey

 

Epilogue:
In the fall of 2019, a digital exhibit celebrating the historic Montreal Women’s Symphony Orchestra was installed in a public space at Place des Arts. Mrs. States, in a wheelchair, was able to visit and see the projected images of herself and the other orchestra members while hearing some of the pieces they played back in the 40s.

The story of the orchestra is told in a 2015 book titled From Kitchen to Carnegie Hall, by Maria Noriega Rashwal.

Blog: My Heart is Looking for Signs of Hope

Ah, January is fast fleeing and things seem to be looking brighter in this last Newsletter of the month.

As I write, I remember the words of Anna Quindlen in One True Thing:  "February is a suitable month for dying.  Everything around is dead, the trees black and frozen so that the appearance of green shoots two months hence seems preposterous, the ground hard and cold, the snow dirty, the winter hateful, hanging on too long."

Yes, to most of us things indeed seem lifeless at the beginning of February.  But only on the surface. Below the snow-covered ground, things are stirring; roots are stretching, seeds are plumping, chipmunks are turning over in their slumber – even bears are beginning to stir in their winter dens.

The month of February brings with it longer days and this increase in daylight sets off a chain reaction in the forests.  Life-giving sap begins to flow in the trees and nowhere is this a more welcomed sign of spring than in the majestic Maples.

Maple trees make me think of sweet maple syrup.  And maple syrup makes me think of pancakes.  And pancakes, of course, bring thoughts of Shrove Tuesday and the beginning of Lent.

Yes, it will not be long before the migrating birds begin their journey homeward.

And, of course, the crocuses, tulips and hyacinths will have already poked their furtive heads above the ground.

I for one am looking forward to February.  Tentative thoughts of putting those winter boots and scarfs to bed for yet another season.  Storing the shovels and bags of salt back in the garage. Shedding the heaviness which has weighed us down through the past winter, especially this year as yet again we have been faced with restrictions, masks, hand sanitizers, and daily reports of Covid deaths and infections.

I am ready to dance the dance of new life, the dance of resurrection and change for spring is a metaphor for change. Some changes we eagerly await, some changes we plan and others arrive uninvited.

In all these changes we ask the gift of God’s perspective beckoning us to expectation, hope, and rebirth.  And we pray:

God, thank you for Spring and the hope of warmer, longer, brighter days.
Thank you for the coming of growth and life and birth.
Thank you that things are coming awake in the world.
This is what our calendar says, and we do see some signs that it is real.
But we also still struggle with the residual layover of winter.
Now we ask that you bring into reality all that belongs in this season.

Your word says that we will have provision, and hope, and joy, and health and loving relationships here and now in this life.
We ask that what belongs in this season would become actual in our practical lives.
We hope in you and in your promises.

We hope in your gift of Spring.  Amen - Author Unknown

In hope and deep peace

Pastor Beryl, DLM

 

Support Circles for People of Colour

Source: United Church of Canada E-ssentials newsletter

Are you looking for support around experiences of racism in the United Church? Join other people of colour from across the church for a monthly time of sharing, support, and community-building.

These gatherings are open to people of colour (including those who identify as Indigenous, racialized, mixed-race, and/or non-White). To register, please complete this form.

When: Every third Thursday of the month (next gathering on January 20, 2022), 4:00-5:30 p.m. ET

[Image credit: Neil Thomas on Unsplash]

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