"Let us praise famous men and our fathers that begat us."
With regard to the Old Boys of the School, tribute must first be paid to the
memories of the "Foundation Scholars" and the many other Old Boys who have
changed time for eternity, whose sacrifices, toil and sweat have helped to
establish the School on firm foundation, fructified its efforts and `gild the
School with their fame." They have "laboured and we share their glory" and
naturally it is left to us, the living, to "do exploits and add to their gain",
to enhance the School's great name.
From available records, the Foundation Scholars, that is, the first 29 boys
to be enrolled when the School was opened in 1910 were, among others, Augustus
James Fry, Joseph William de Graft-Johnson, James Victor Mayne, Lewis Augustus
Brydow Brown, Ebenezer Benjamin Quashie Quaynor, George Christian Mends, George
Christian Haywood, John Thomas Green Ackon, Joseph Jonah Mefful, James Hector
Mayne, Albert Sunkersette Mends, Clement Henry Elliott, Joseph Stephen Crankson,
Samuel Cobbah Sagoe, Joseph Tawia Stephen, William Thomas Flight Davidson,
Albert Ekow Wryter and Ismael Thomas Williams.
At the moment, all of them are no more. Clement Henry Elliott, happened to be
the first of the lot to take Holy Order in obedience to the call of the Founder
for trained Priests for the Church. His close companion and fellow class-mate,
Dr. J. W. de Graft Johnson with whom he was privileged to celebrate the Golden
Jubilee in 1960, also joined the silent majority soon after.
It is significant that the labours of the pioneers of the School had not been
in vain. The Founding Fathers in obedient to the call of duty, and armed with
nothing but faith `deciphered in the skies', bravely `ventured, dared, held and
conquered' as it were, thus leaving behind for us the heirs of the fruits of
their labours, shining examples of devotion to duty; singleness of purpose and
determination to serve God and fellowmen without counting the cost. The
luxuriant fruits of their toil and sacrifice are today reflected in the great
galaxy of Old Santaclausians of almost every tribe and creed who have passed out
into the world, and who along with their contemporaries from the sister schools,
have helped and continue to help in nourishing the life-blood of the nation in
practically all spheres of the national life. The magnificent college buildings
at Adisadel are silent but eloquent memorial to those noble souls.
It may well be said that the Founding Fathers of the School laboured, as it
were, to clear and fertilise the soil for fruitful cultivation. Now we, the past
and present students of the School, are happily reaping the harvest and sharing
the fruits of their glory.
In this respect, Santaclausians, both young and old, will ever cherish the
memories of our revered Founder and the successive headmasters as well as those
dedicated teachers who have gone to their eternal rest. Their memories will live
down the centuries and their lives and works which have helped to build up the
School to its present position of eminence, will be retold from age to age as
long as Adisadel exists.
This book is intended, in a humble and modest way, to serve as a permanent
memorial to the Founder, a tribute to the successive Headmasters and the loyal
band of teachers and helpers who have, each in his several ways, lent a hand in
making Adisadel what it is today an imperishable memorial to the Church's
missionary efforts in the country, to the honour and glory of God.
Great deeds cannot die
They with the sun and moon renew their light.
For ever blessing those that look on them
A chapter on the early history of the Anglican Church in Ghana could well be
devoted to the work of the Revd. Philip Quaque, M.A. (Oxon), the first African
to be ordained into the ministry of the Church of England after the Reformation
in 1765.
As a pioneer, Philip Quaque's lot was inevitably not an easy one. Often he
had to plough a lonely furrow under very trying circumstances. For example, it
is on record that, at one time, while serving as Chaplain to the garrison at
Cape Coast, he was compelled on strong moral and religious grounds, and as a
true servant of God, to disobey an order given by the merchant governor at the
Castle, commanding him to “take up arms in defence of the British Fort at
Anomabu.” Although this bold stand which he took as a matter of principle, led
to his suspension, good sense ultimately prevailed and he was re-instated, after
appealing to the authorities in Britain.
Not much could be said about Quaque's early life, quite apart from the fact
that he is recorded as being the survivor of three lads from Cape Coast who were
selected by the Revd. Thomas Thompson, M.A. (Cantab) the first Anglican
missionary to West Africa, to be educated and trained in Britain for ministry in
the Anglican Church.
The fact that he went through his education and training successfully to the
extent of taking a master's (M.A.) degree at Oxford shows that Philip Quaque
proved himself to be a scholar and was found not only to be worthy of the high
and noble calling of a Minister of the Gospel, but also capable of carrying the
Message of Salvation, the Word of God, to his people in his own native land.
Philip Quaque's pioneering work in the ministry at Cape Coast served to
attract into the mission field, other religious bodies i.e. the Basel
Missionaries and those of the Methodists and the Breman Evangelical who arrived
in the country in succession and started evangelical work in 1827, 1835 and 1847
respectively.
This healthy development gave the desired fillip to missionary activities,
resulting in the spread of Christianity and the establishment of schools in the
country. Thus, Philip Quaque "the Castle Chaplain and School master" could be
said to have started the process that has now led to the establishment of what
has come to be known as "The Christian Council of Ghana," a fellowship, of the
local Protestant Churches devoted to the strengthening of the spirit and essence
of the Christian Faith, as a unifying force for good in the country.
Combining his ecclesiastical work with education at Cape Coast; Philip Quaque
opened the first school in the country round about 1788. This school was the
nucleus of the Cape Coast Government Boys' School and the Government Girls'
School respectively. These two schools became famous for the scholars and
cultured ladies they produced: Notable headmasters of the Government Boys'
School include Masters J. A. Britton, a West Indian educationist of repute in
former days; John Ayensu, I.S.O. and J.M.S. Pobee, who at one time was a tutor
of Adisadel. Harriet Simons, M.B.E., and Mercy Quartey-Papafio, M.B.E. (later
Mrs. ffoulkes-Crabbe) Headmistress of the Government Girls' School were among
the few Ghanaian ladies who pioneered girls education in the country.
It is a happy incidence of history that these two famous schools have been
named after Philip Quaque and are now known as Philip Quaque Boys' and Philip
Quaque Girls' Schools respectively. The schools were handed over to the Anglican
Church in 1957 and are under the management of the Church's educational unit.
Adisadel College, one of the finest fruits of Philip Quaque's labours, has
symbolised these historical events by naming one of the original three School
Houses - "Quaque House" - after this great Ghanaian Priest. Every year on
October 17, the anniversary of his death (Quaque died on October 17, 1816 at the
age of 75) a Memorial Service is held at Adisadel in remembrance of him.
The occasion is also marked by a requiem mass at Christ Church, Cape Coast,
where a tablet has been erected to his memory. Wreaths are laid on his grave at
the Cape Coast Castle by the Church on the anniversary of his death each year.
Philip Quaque laboured almost single-handedly in his Master's Vineyard for
over 50 years. The great zeal with which he laboured won many souls for Christ.
Ghana is today an enlightened and progressive country enjoying the blessings of
Christianity and education, at all levels, thanks to the fortitude and
perseverance of this great man of God.
Naturally, Adisadel College is immeasurably proud of the Revd. Philip Quaque
for his fruitful pioneering work in both the ecclesiastical and educational
fields. The people of Cape Coast as a matter of fact, very much cherish his
fragrant memory and are for ever indebted to him far the enlightenment he
brought to them and the town generally referred to as Abodzin Krom, a reference
to the characteristic urbanity of the townsfolk.
The life and works of this great son of the soil, the man of God, will ever
live in the hearts and minds of the people of Cape Coast in particular and Ghana
in general, whose mental and spiritual upliftment he devoted all his working
life.
It is the universal practice particularly in Christendom for an institution,
be it a school, a church or similar organisation to be named after an
individual, living or dead, or for that particular individual to be adopted as
its patron in recognition of his sterling qualities or good works and who by
popular acclaim is considered as having contributed a great deal towards the
upliftment of the people or has been instrumental in the realisation of an ideal
or a noble cause for the benefit of mankind generally.
Such a noble spirit may be a cannonised Saint or a popular hero whose life
and works are held up as commendable and worthy of emulation by all. It is in
this spirit that the School was named after Saint Nicholas, a loving and
reverential servant of God.
The relationship of St. Nicholas to the School is reflected in the
significant fact that from 1924 to 1936, that is, before the School occupied its
present site at Adisadel on the Hill it went by the name of "St. Nicholas
Grammar School," a period of rapid development, classical and distinct in
character, when the School was in its prime. Although the School now carries the
romantic name of the village in which it is situated, the beautiful College
Chapel still bears the name of this great and popular Saint of all times. His
effigy can be seen in a glass niche above the main entrance of the Chapel
overlooking the central School compound.
St. Nicholas, affectionately called "the Conjurer with the Golden Balls"
lived in the fourth century in the year of our Lord. According to records, he
was born at Panthera in the Province of Lycia in Italy. His parents who were
childless for many years were devout Christians. From infancy, this long
prayed-for child, named Nicholas, was dedicated to God. As an only child, he
inherited considerable fortune on the death of his parents. He grew up to become
the Archbishop of Myra a kindhearted Prelate who, like tile true disciples of
Christ, spent his time doing good and was popularly known as the patron of the
common people - the father of the orphan and, generally, as the poor man's
friend. ,
In the minds of Christians of his time and even today, St. Nicholas was and
still is associated with divine love, peace and goodwill; in fact, with every
kind of considerate and thoughtful deed or gesture that elevated the spirit and
ennobled the soul. St. Nicholas' life could be said to have been one grand
symphony of dedicated service to one's fellow men, in other words, he is the
symbol of love and universal brotherhood of man.
St. Nicholas' life demonstrated how great riches could be used far the
benefit of humanity. He used his immense wealth not for self-aggrandizement or
selfish ends but to save others from sin, degradation and shame. An interesting
story is told of how St. Nicholas saved from bondage, three poor girls who were
held captives in prison. He kept a sharp look out on the prison house in which
tire maidens were confined. On three occasions, he succeeded in throwing three
small bags of gold coins through the window into their cell. By so doing, St.
Nicholas paid the ransom to secure their release from prison.
St. Nicholas loved children in spite of their love of mischief, and spared
much thought for them. Stories abound of how he once rescued three boys from a
pickle tub! To the children, St. Nicholas is `Father Christmas, who is believed
to come down through the chimney to every home on Christmas Eve to distribute
his bounties in the form of Christmas Gifts. Children trust him with messages
for the Holy Child by putting notes in the window of their homes or letters in
tree trunks to be conveyed by him to the "Little Christ-Child in Heaven." These
and many other stories, describing precious, unsolicited acts of kindness and of
love have been retold in fire-side chats and in companion stories down the
centuries. St. Nicholas is remembered to this day as one of the great, silent
benefactors of mankind.
Throughout the world, particularly in Europe, boys and girls, travelers and
seamen, all have warm places in their hearts for St. Nicholas. His name inspires
faith in, and gives hope and courage to, the faint-hearted and the down-cast. To
those bereft of happiness and the joy of living, St. Nicholas was and still is,
a source of encouragement and good cheer.
St. Nicholas is usually portrayed as clad in priestly vestments with mitre
and cope, the distinguishing mark of his sacred vocation, with three golden
balls at his feet and three small boys in a basin by his side. The three golden
balls have symbolic meanings. They are known to represent the worldly
possessions and ambitions that he laid at the feet of our Lord. With the three
golden balls, St. Nicholas conjured back freedom and, peace as well as laughter
and joy for those bound in chains or weighed down by grief and misery. The three
golden balls are also interpreted as symbolising three of the seven fruits of
the Spirit which were predominant in his nature, namely, love, sincerity and
kindness.
The greatness and popularity of St. Nicholas are not confined to his See of
Myra, a small seaport on the shores of Italy. Since his death, many centuries
ago, St. Nicholas has become a sort of cosmopolitan Bishop. Almost the whole of
Christendom has become, in a literal sense, his Parish. To St. Nicholas,
Christianity is a life to be lived and acted and that is to say, the lives of
those who profess to be the disciples of Christ and preach the Word of God
should reflect what they preach. St. Nicholas amply demonstrated this in his
life and activities. It is a matter of sad reflection that, like those ardent
and zealous Christians of old who did not `hover round the broadway' but with
unswerving zeal and scornful of all material gain, chose to tread the `Highway
of the Cross', St. Nicholas, the man of peace and good will was, not spared the
martyr's end. Records have it that he died about AD 342 as a result of
imprisonment which he suffered during the Arian prosecutions.
Interestingly an English lady biographer, in a book, “The People's Book of
Saints", wrote of St. Nicholas in this interesting vein: "One of the few Saints,
whose name is in all the calendars, whose picture is in all the churches, the
Patron of children, of friendless maidens, the Saint of the people, of the
oppressed and of strangers. The 'Santa Claus' of the children, of sailors, of
scholars. In England, there is said scarcely to be a town without a church
dedicated to his name."
These are the conspicuous laurels of St. Nicholas, that great servant of God,
the loving shepherd of his flock by whose worthy patronage our famous School has
been reverently dedicated to the glory of God. No worthier Saint could have been
adopted as Patron of our great School than St. Nicholas who, by all
considerations, is worthy of being chosen as Patron of any ideal Christian
institution devoted to the training and up-bringing of young people and whose
life is held up as a model or embodiment of all that is true, ennobling and of
good report in life. The Founding Fathers of our great School deserve praise for
their wisdom and foresight in associating Adisadel with the name of such a
loving and reverential Saint of all time.
The magnificent symbol of humanitarianism thus enshrined at Adisadel remains
as a constant reminder to all who pass through the portals of the School into
the world, of the great merits of the Christian ideals of love, goodwill and
fellowship. All members of that great fraternity of Santaclausians, past and
present, are indeed privileged to be associated with St. Nicholas in this grand
way. Doubtless, as Santaclausians; his dedicated children enter through the
portal below his statue, to worship in that sacred edifice - the Chapel of St.
Nicholas - at Adisadel, they must be conscious of the supernal blessings and
benedictions of St. Nicholas showering upon them from above. And while in the
mood of prayer, they must also visualise our loving Patron Saint offering
incessant intercessions for them, sanctifying their souls and inspiring them to
aspire not only to nobler deeds but also to greater heights in character and m
achievements for the physical, social, moral and spiritual betterment of
mankind.
The College is managed by a standing committee known as Adisadel College
Management Committee. The Committee has the responsibility of seeing to it that
the School is managed and run efficiently in all respects. it meets regularly at
specific times to discuss wide-ranging matters, in particular, issues that crop
up from time to time and need immediate attention. In this way, the welfare of
the staff and students is kept in constant review. The progress and advancement
of the School as a whole are thus maintained.
In former days, the School's management committee was known as the "College
Board of Governors." On the Board served, apart from the Bishop of Accra and the
Headmaster, some prominent public spirited individuals who were closely
associated with the School. The late W. E. G. Sekyi, M.A., Barrister-at-Law,
John Buckman, M.B.E., Magnus J. Sampson, M.B.E., M.A., Nana Sir Tsibu Darku X,
O.B.E. and Mrs. Fanny Dalrymple-Hayfron, G.M., among others, all served on the
Board for many years.
The Management Committee, as at present constituted, comprises, the Bishop of
Accra, the Rt. Dr. Revd. I. S. M. LeMaire, G.M. (Chairman) James Mercer,
Barrister-at-Law, Prof. Ebenezer Laing and the Headmaster, E. A. Jonah
(Secretary). The members are all Old Santaclausians, committed to the
development and progress of the School. The interests of the Church, the School
and the Adisadel Old Boys' Association are thus represented on the Committee.
