PROHIBITION
From 1917 to 1951 the Spiritual and Shouter Baptist faith was banned in Trinidad by the colonial government of the day. The legislation to enact this ban was called the Shouters Prohibition Ordinance and it was passed on 16 November 1917.
The reason given for the ordinance was that the Shouters made too much noise with their loud singing and bell ringing (Henry 32-35) and disturbed the peace.
During worship, participants danced, shouted, shook and fell to the ground in convulsions. Such behaviour was deemed unseemly by the more traditional and conservative elements in the society. Also, the established churches regarded such behaviour as heathen and barbaric.
Furthermore, they were concerned about the large number of people who were leaving the traditional churches to join the Spiritual Baptist faith. The police, who had been persecuting the Baptists for several years, also wanted them silenced.
Although not said openly, the real reason for the antagonism towards the Baptists was that many of their practices were of African origin. Things African were associated with the shame and degradation of slavery and a large part of the population of Trinidad did not want to be reminded of this. Hence the strong lobbying to have the religion banned.
In the end, the colonial government responded to the complaints of the taxpayers, landowners and police by passing the Shouters Prohibition Ordinance.
Those thirty-four years of prohibition were difficult for the Spiritual and Shouter Baptists. The ordinance forbid them from erecting or maintaining any “Shouter House” or from holding meetings. Estate managers and owners were required to report any meetings to the police, and the police were authorized to enter a building where a meeting was being held without a warrant. (See full-text of Ordinance).
Worshipers were arrested, beaten and jailed if they were caught practising their religion. They had to flee to the hills and forests to practise their religion. Even then, the police still pursued and brutalized them. Nevertheless the Spiritual and Shouter Baptists survived. During the 1920s and 1930s, the Baptists fought many court battles and tried to counteract the negative perceptions of their faith.
It was only when Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler emerged as a labour leader that attitudes towards the Baptists gradually began to change. Butler himself was a devoted Baptist and controversial figure. His public meetings were reminiscent of a Baptist prayer meeting. His prominence gave the religion some legitimacy although he too was jailed for his political and religious beliefs.
During the 1940s a new leader emerged to champion the Baptists’ cause. Grenadian-born Elton George Griffith started a campaign to have the Shouters Prohibition Ordinance repealed. Under his leadership the numerous independent Baptist Churches formed the West Indian Evangelical Spiritual Baptist Faith.
In 1940, as a united body, they presented a petition to the Legislative Council asking for the Ordinance to be repealed. It was not granted but a few years later Albert Gomes asked the Council to appoint a committee to look into a repeal of the 1917 Ordinance. A committee was formed but it took several years before it released its findings.Meanwhile Griffith and his followers continued to lobby members of the Legislative Council to support the repeal.
Finally, after much lobbying, the bill to repeal the ordinance was passed on 30 March 1951, as The Repeal of Shouters Prohibition Ordinance. The Spiritual Shouter Baptists were free to practise their Religion.
The year 1996 saw another victory for the Spiritual Shouter Baptists in their fight for recognition. The United National Congress (UNC) Government granted them an annual public holiday. This holiday is celebrated on the anniversary of The Repeal of Shouters Prohibition Ordinance, 30 March, and is called Baptist Liberation Day, in memory of the struggle for, and repeal of, the Shouters Prohibition Ordinance of 1917. In addition, the Baptists were granted twenty-five acres of land in Maloney to build churches, schools and a spiritual park.
The granting of an annual holiday has given the Spiritual/Shouter Baptist faith status and recognition in Trinidad and Tobago. Members no longer have to hide to practise their religion but can worship openly like other religious groups. Membership is growing. Today, the religion is practised not only in Trinidad and Tobago but also in other Caribbean islands, as well as other countries to which Caribbean people have migrated, such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
ORGANISATION
he Spiritual and Shouter Baptist Churches are not affiliated to any foreign religious organisation. It is totally indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago.
Until recently, all that was needed to set up a church or camp was for an individual to get a call from the Holy Spirit instructing him or her to do so. As a result, hundreds of independent churches were established and while the religion grew there was very little unity among the numerous churches. The Religion has lacked the formalized infrastructure of other religions.
The first attempts at unity came in 1940 when Elton George Griffith formed the West Indian Evangelical Spiritual Baptist Faith. Today, the organizational structure of the Spiritual and Shouter Baptist Faith more closely resembles that of traditional religions.
In Trinidad there are three archdioceses that were incorporated in 1985. They are The Council of Elders Spiritual Baptist (Shouters) Faith of Trinidad and Tobago, The National Evangelical Spiritual Baptist Faith Incorporated, and The National Congress of Incorporated Baptist Organizations of Trinidad and Tobago. Later, a splinter group from the National Congress was formed, called Spiritual Baptist Christians.
Later, a splinter group from the National Congress, called Spiritual Baptist Christians, was formed. Although many churches came under the umbrella of one or the other of the archdioceses, they still maintain their autonomy. Yet many others remain unaffiliated with any organization and function totally on their own.
Although many churches came under the umbrella of one or the other of the archdioceses, they still maintain their autonomy. Yet many others remain unaffiliated with any organization and function totally on their own.
At the church level, organization of the Spiritual and Shouter Baptist churches can sometimes be complex. There are as many as twenty-two ranks or positions.
While the duties and privileges of these positions may vary from church to church, the positions of Leader and Mother are always the highest-ranking male and female members respectively. Leaders and Mothers usually have their own church and congregation, over which they have complete autonomy.
The most important of the church’s positions in descending order of importance are Leader/Pastor, Mother, Captain, Teacher, Shepherd, Shepherdess, Prover, Watchman, Nurse, Surveyor and Healer.
DESCRIPTION OF THE POSITIONS
Leader: This is the head of the “home” or church. He is the officiating minister who is gifted in leading the flock/membership. Often he is an ordained minister called Reverend. He may also have other spiritual designations, e.g. Pointer, Teacher.
Mother: She is the female counterpart of the Leader. The term mother is also a spiritual designation for someone who cares for other members of the church and who has spiritual children.
Captain: This is a senior position usually granted to a male. The Captain is in charge of the church during the service. He is second to the Leader but often he is also the Leader. His duty is to ensure that the service is carried out with vigour and vitality in the spirit of holiness and pure worship.
Teacher: This is the title given to someone, male or female, who has attained sufficient spiritual height to teach other members of the faith. The teacher is sometimes a Leader/Mother or Pointer as well.
Pointer: This is the person who ‘seals the bands’ and places the mourner or pilgrim on the mourning ground. He thus points the way for the pilgrim or mourner, and is responsible for his or her welfare during the mourning period. The gift of the Pointer is given by the Spirit and is attained during the mourning period. The administration of this gift is dependent on instructions from the Spirit.
Baptiser: This is the person (male) who baptizes the candidate. This is also a gift from the Spirit. The administration of this gift is dependent on instructions from the Spirit.
Shepherd/Shepherdess: This is the spiritual leader with the responsibility for guiding and caring for the flock/membership. Potential leaders receive this gift early in their spiritual career.
Prover: Usually male, this officer’s duty is to prove whether the spiritual activity in progress is of truth or if the claims of a pilgrim or member are authentic or not. He is a discerner of spiritual manifestation.
Watchman: Usually male, the watchman stands guard (sometimes at the door) and is alert to the arrival of visitors, and their activities and intentions. In the old days, the Watchman would warn the congregation when the police was coming, which foiled many raids. Most Provers are also Watchmen, but not all Watchmen are necessarily Provers.
Nurse: Usually female, this is the name given to the person who attends to the needs of pilgrims during the rites of Baptism and Mourning. This title also represents a spiritual gift.
Surveyor: This position is held by a male who surveys the water for Baptism. He chooses a portion of the water (usually a river or the sea), setting boundaries around it, for the purpose of performing baptismal rites. The Baptiser is also the Surveyor.
Healer: The Healer is any member (male or female) who has the gift for healing the sick. This may be done either by praying with the sick person, prescribing medicine or administering treatment.
BELIEFS
The Spiritual Baptists believe that their religion comes from John the Baptist and their name from the practice of immersing their practitioners in water as a means of baptizing them into the faith (Henry 36-39). Rituals are characterized by bell ringing, mourning, shouting and visits from the Holy Spirit.
The term “Spiritual” indicates that the Holy Spirit is actively involved in the lives of the believers and in their religious service. According to Gibbs de Peza (1999) Spiritual Baptists are defined by their belief in:
The guidance of the Holy Spirit
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit
Symbolism plays an important role in the Spiritual and Shouter Baptist faith. Pictures, engravings and flags may contain symbols representing justice, righteous living, deliverance, victory over death and the Holy Spirit.
The bell, sword, shepherd’s rod and flags play important parts in many of the rituals. Candles are also important and the colour of the candle is significant. For example, a white candle symbolizes purity, truth and righteousness.
PRACTICES
There are several practices that are important to the Baptists.
Baptism: Baptists believe that repentance and faith are essential, and that man must be born again of water and the Holy Spirit in accordance with the teachings of the Bible. Candidates are given instruction over a period of time to prepare them for Baptism. This preparation ends in a service of praise and rejoicing, followed by the candidate’s acceptance of Jesus Christ, by immersing in living water, such as a stream, river or the sea.
Mourning: The mourning period can last for three to seven or more days. According to Gibbs de Peza, “Mourning is characterized by the denial to one’s self of the freedom to move about, to speak, to eat, drink, bathe or any other comforts, and the acceptance of the naked earth for a bed, a stone for a pillow” (1999, 64). In addition, the church member prays, fasts and meditates day and night. During the mourning period, the member receives spiritual instruction through visions and dreams. Mourning is considered important for developing the soul, strengthening the spirit and achieving spiritual knowledge, wisdom and understanding.
Pilgrimages: These are visits from one church to another in a different district. During the journey there is much singing and praying.
Commemoration of the Dead: The Spiritual Shouter Baptists believe that the death of a loved one who lived a life of righteousness causes surviving friends and relatives to turn to God. It is the duty of the minister therefore, to provide hope and comfort so they can realize that the greatest solace comes from God.
Bands: These are pieces of cloth with seals on them. They are used in baptism and mourning to cover the member’s eyes, so that he or she would not be distracted by his or her surroundings.
Doption: This word was derived from the English word adopt. It is a groaning sound made to various rhythms while praying or while on a spiritual journey.
Speaking in Tongues: This is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit referred to in the Bible. It can be described as a phenomenon during which the believer speaks in languages unknown to him or her in his or her everyday life.
Roadside Preaching/Missions: Following the teachings and practices of John the Baptist, members of the Faith are encouraged to spread the messages they receive in their visions and dreams by preaching in public areas, such as at street corners or public parks.
Praying Aloud: Individuals or groups pray aloud during the church service, kneeling either in the center of the church or at the steps of the altar.
Mode of Dress: Members of the Baptist faith wear uniforms or spiritual clothes in various designs and colours. The choice of colour is guided by the instructions received during spiritual journeys. The uniforms define the office and function the member has in the church. Women must cover their heads during worship with large pieces of cloth called head-ties. Senior female members often wear their head-ties at all times and not just during worship.
CELEBRATIONS
Like other religious groups, there are special days that are celebrated in the Spiritual/Shouter Baptist Faith. These include the following:
Christmas: This festival is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Passion Tide: This celebration begins with Palm Sunday. The Baptist Church follows Jesus Christ in his suffering, death and burial. The Services of the Holy Week provide the Members with the opportunity to live again through these historic events and relate these experiences to their own lives. The week ends with the celebration of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ on Holy Thursday night, and the services to commemorate His death and burial on Good Friday.
Easter: This celebrates Christ’s victory over death and is a joyous occasion.
Pentecost: This celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus Christ. Pentecost is significant for Spiritual Shouter Baptists because it serves to remind members of the importance of unity and the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church.
Church Anniversary: The establishment of a local church is a great achievement so, each year, members come together to review the past year and give thanks to God for keeping the Church together. It is also an opportunity for them to reflect on their achievements, count their blessings and make a commitment to serve God in the coming year.
Harvest: This celebration is held to recognize that God is responsible for the bounty of the land and the achievements in members’ lives. It also recognizes God’s mercy towards mankind.
Thanksgiving: This is held at various times throughout the year. It is a means of expressing gratitude to God for his blessings and is held after special occasions in members’ lives, such as success in an undertaking, or recovery from an illness. It also recognizes God’s mercy.
Flower Service or Candle Light Service: This celebration represents a time for reflecting on one’s life. According to Gibbs de Peza, “it is a time when man’s life is compared to that of the flower whose beauty fades at the end of the day and the candle whose light wanes as the wax is burnt out.” (1999). The flower and the candle are meant to remind mankind of the frailty of human existence. They also symbolize Jesus, without whose Light we would live in darkness.
Old Year/New Year: Members gather on Old Year’s Night to give thanks and praise to God for the passing year and expectantly await the new year.The new year is heralded with rejoicing, greetings and new year’s resolutions.
https://www.nalis.gov.tt/Research/Subject-Guide/Baptist-Liberation-Day
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