Arthur Stephenson: "Whole-hearted Consecration to his Lord"

 

 Arthur Stephenson

In an earlier blog discussing T. B. Stephenson, reference was made to his brother, named William James Stephenson. William had a son whom he gave his name. In young adulthood, that son, whom we will refer to as William James Stephenson, Jr., went to reside in Montego Bay where he was a small businessman who worked as a tailor on King Street. He exchanged marital vows with Anna Mary Stephenson, nee Reid, and the union produced four children – Leopold (b. 1876); Arthur Henry (b. 1878), George Robert (b. 1881); and Harry (b. 1882 or 1905). The children were brought up in a Christian home and they benefited from early Christian formation at the Second (now, Calvary) Baptist Church.

Arthur was born in Montego Bay on September 18, 1881. When he attained school age, Arthur’s parents sent him to his uncle’s Calabar Elementary School in Kingston, where he performed well. After leaving Calabar, Arthur studied at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), after which, he started his career as a “dispenser” working in Black River, St Elizabeth and then in Buff Bay, Portland. While working in Buff Bay, he married Susan Rebertha Hutchinson in July 1907, in a ceremony at the St Thomas Anglican Church in Lacovia, St Elizabeth, with Anglican priest, H. A. Cover, presiding. The union produced four children, all of whom were born in Buff Bay – Hannah Isoline Theodosia; Aldwyn St. George; Arthur Burchell; and a daughter, Marian Izitta. Anna and Aldwyn became medical doctors; Burchell worked as a senior Lab Technician and Marian who married JBU minister, Spurgeon Spenser Smith, worked in tele-communications. Unfortunately, Susan Robertha passed away in May 1918.

After several years of service as a pharmacist, Stephenson went to the United States to study medicine at the Meharry Medical College, a Historically Black school in Nashville, Tennessee. After graduation, he practiced medicine for a short period in the state of Tennessee. In 1923, he journeyed to Scotland where he completed the requirements for the Licentiate of the Royal College Physicians & Surgeons (L.R.C.P.S.) in Edinburgh.

Returning to Jamaica, Stephenson spent the rest of his working life as a medical doctor, whose practice covered a wide geographical region, extending from Bath in St Thomas to the city of Kingston. Ever seeking to be the best doctor he could be, in 1944, he undertook post-graduate studies the United States at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and at the Provident Hospital in Chicago.

Arthur remarried in 1925 and he and his new wife, Mabel Louise Washington, enjoyed twenty-three years of marital bliss before Mabel died of typhoid fever while the family resided in Morant Bay. Arthur’s faith was his mainstay during times of trial.

Following the example of his grandfather and his father, Arthur Stephenson applied Christian values to the way he conducted his professional practice as a medical doctor. He offered care to those who were unable to pay for his services and he was highly respected by both his clients and the people residing in the communities in and around Morant Bay, the primary centre of his medical practice.

Stephenson threw himself into the work of the Morant Bay Baptist Church, where he was a committed member. He is credited with leading the process that resulted in the completion of the church’s building construction programme. Stephenson leveraged his public image and friendships in arranging fundraising events for the church’s building programme.

Arthur Stephenson attracted great admiration for his committed leadership in the development of Baptist work in Morant Bay during the Great Depression. It came as no surprise when, in February, 1942, ministers and delegates attending the JBU Assembly  elected him Chairman of JBU – the first and only layperson to date to be elected to that office. As JBU Chairman, Stephenson did much to build fellowship among JBU churches. He also worked hard to motivate the JBU to complete the process of incorporation – on which the Union had embarked over many years.

Several years before that happened, Stephenson exercised leadership, together with a team of other respected Baptist men, in the formation of a Men’s Movement among Baptists in Jamaica. The inspiring story of the men’s collaboration during the 1930s in establishing the Jamaica Baptist Union Laymen's Association (now called, the JBU Brotherhood, is worth being better known.

To complete the personal story of Arthur Stephenson, not only should note be taken of the passing of the two women he married, but also it is noteworthy that he himself encountered health challenges. Finally, he took ill and repaired to Reading in St James, where he died on December 16, 1952 at the home of one of his sons. The cause of his death was given as “glycaemic coma, chronic nephritis, [and] bronchial asthma.” His mortal remains were taken to Kingston and his funeral took place at the East Queen Street Baptist Church, followed by interment in the “Baptist section” of the May Pen Cemetery in Kingston.

In his tribute, JBU General Secretary, Joswyn Leo-Rhynie described Stephenson as “one of the best laymen which the Jamaica Baptist Union has had for many years.” Calling him “a faithful servant of God, of his Church and his country,” Leo-Rhynie said that Stephenson was “a man undaunted by difficulties and of singular unselfishness and charm of character – very patient, very kind, never resentful. To those in trouble he was a friend, understanding, encouraging and sympathetic.” He was a good physician whose charitable spirit benefited many of his clients.

Leo-Rhynie noted that, despite his busy medical practice, Stephenson was regular in church attendance at the Morant Bay Baptist Church and, later, the East Queen Street Baptist Church. He is credited with the restoration of the Morant Bay Church building. He gave impressive service as a deacon and lay preacher and was the celebrated organizer of the laymen of the JBU, whose organization he served for more than 20 years as President. JBU honoured him by electing him the first lay person to serve as JBU Chairman (now President) in February 1942. He served for many years as a member of the JBU Executive Committee. In addition, BMS appointed him as one of their Trustees at Calabar Theological College.

Stephenson’s life and labours, Leo-Rhynie said, enriched the ranks of the JBU, adding that “The secret of his useful and successful life lay in his whole-hearted consecration to his Lord and Saviour.” When he died on December 16, 1952, many praised him for the example he set as a Christian gentleman, a medical doctor and a church worker. His vision, initiative and leadership were reflected in the formation of what is now referred to as the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) Brotherhood, whose ongoing ministry is still of considerable importance.

Mural Tablet Honouring Stephenson