MLK, Lincoln Alexander honoured at historic black church

The choir at Stewart Memorial Church on John Street North in downtown Hamilton was missing one of its most passionate members on Sunday, but they sang about heaven and peace as if to reach their voices right to Linc in celebration of the church's first Lincoln M. Alexander day.

Alexander was Canada's first black member of the House of Commons and first black lieutenant governor of Ontario. His political service started asas MP for Hamilton West from 1968 to 1980. He died in 2012 at the age of 90.

I'm proud that he's being recognized in this way, especially during a time when many people are having to fight for their right to live.- Erika Alexander, Lincoln Alexander's granddaughter

Jan. 21 was his birthday, and next Wednesday marks the first time Lincoln Alexander Day is considered a national celebration of his legacy, not just in Ontario. The service Sunday paid honour also to the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., whose birthday is celebrated the third Monday of January in the U.S.

The service at Stewart Memorial, a religious and cultural centre for Hamilton's black community dating back to the 1830s, featured choir specials and a jazz performance of Oscar Peterson's "Hymn to Freedom," one of Alexander's favourites. Local MPs Chris Charlton, Wayne Marston and David Christopherson, MPPsAndrea Horvathand Paul Miller andcity councillor Matthew Green attended, as did police representatives and members of Alexander's family.

Alexander's son, Keith, and granddaughter, Erika, thanked the church for organizing the celebration. Erika Alexander said the honour comes at a time of heightened racial tension in many communities.

"Lincoln still continues to surprise me, inspire me in all that he's accomplished. That's a legacy in itself," Erika Alexander said. "I'm proud that he's being recognized in this way, especially during a time when many people are having to fight for their right to live."

'I can hear him now'

Ona Allen, 89, lives in Burlington and remembers singing in the choir back to the 1960s with Alexander.

"I can hear him now," she said. "He had that bolt-out bass. Boy, we had a good time."

Alexander used to arrive early for church to make sure his choir robe was presentable. One Sunday he and the organist, Ev Busby, were talking with firefighters who'd come to investigate smoke coming from inside the church, according to a story shared Sunday.

The firefighter said he didn't know where the smoke was coming from.

"I do," Linc said. "We've got a hot organist."

'He had the voice to belt it out'

One of the songs the choir sang Sunday was "Trampin'," with the refrain, "Tryin' to make heaven my home."

The choir at Stewart Memorial was part of the draw for Allen to move to Hamilton as she completed her nurse's training.

"My God, these people can really sing," she said after hearing them the first time. "We thought we could sing in the north Buxton area, we had some good voices. But the Hamilton choir stood out."

And the choir got even better, she said.

"When Linc came on board, he became very involved in the choir. He had the voice to belt it out, too," Allen said.

Once he was elected to federal office, it became trickier for Alexander to participate. Allen said the choir missed him.

But to the choir's delight, sometimes they'd be booked for a special event that Alexander was attending as a dignitary.

"He always jumped in," she said.