By Bro Kojo Vieta
THE Supreme Knight, Sir Kt. Bro. Ernest Amoako-Arhen, has called for the appointment of Brothers and Sisters of good character as organisers of the Junior Order.
Beyond being of good character, he said junior organisers must also be abreast with the times and competent.
According to him, an organizer without character would be a poor role model while his/her moral authority would always be in question.
In the same way, he said, an organizer who was not current would be incapable of providing the needed leadership to the juniors, many of whom had access to all types of information through the internet and other forms of social media.
Addressing the opening session of the Junior Organisers’ forum in Kumasi recently, Sir Kt Amoako-Arhen said an organizer who was not competent would always find the juniors questioning his/her decisions.
The forum was part of activities marking the 90th anniversary of the Noble Order.
Pillar to the Noble Order
The Supreme Knight stressed that the junior order was very important to the Noble Order as it served as preparatory/recruitment ground for entry into the adult order, a stage of introduction of children to religious vocations and a place to teach children proper use of leisure time through organized programmes of social activities.
He said the future of the Noble Order greatly depended on the junior order and hence junior organizers had a crucial role to play in the sustenance of the Noble Order.
Beaded juniors
Sir Kt Amoako-Arhen spoke at length about over aged junior knights and ladies, stressing that junior organizers must ensure that all juniors above age 25 transfered to the adult council and court.
That, he explained, was because many of the over-aged juniors were bad influences on the younger juniors.
He expressed concern that a sizeable number of the juniors kept beard that was contrary to the regulations for juniors.
“There were also some who were married, with some having children. Any junior who wants to marry must transfer to the adult council/court, and no junior should wear his/her regalia for a marriage ceremony. Irrespective of how active such a junior brother or sister is, no member of the Noble Order should attend such a marriage ceremony in full regalia,” he stated.
Drinking spree
Delivering a talk on “The Growing Indiscipline in the Junior Order and how to Curb it” Respected Lady Sis. Vivian Edoh Gyamfi, identified eight causes of the growing indiscipline.
She mentioned them as unbridled adoption of western lifestyles; influence of social media; peer pressure; social disorder; domestic disharmony; lack of role models for the juniors; lack of commitment by adult council/court to affairs of juniors; and problems of transmission of juniors from junior to adult council/court;
RL Sis.Gyamfi was particularly unhappy with the poor leadership provided by some junior organizers.
She decried the situation where some junior organizers went on a drinking spree with juniors and also kept some juniors as girl-friends.
“How can you keep up discipline with the juniors when you keep unhealthy relationship with some of the girls”, she said.
The three-day forum was held on the theme “The Marshallan and the New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Faith”.
In attendance were the Grand Lady, MRL Sis. Alice Ayebi; Immediate Past Supreme Youth Co-ordinator, Sir Kt. Bro. Captain (GN) J.W.K. Boateng (rtd); Supreme Youth Co-coordinator, Naval Commander Mark Yawson and the Grand Youth Co-ordinator, RL Sis. Gloria M. Bramson..