‘For all the saints’: A hymn that defines character of Mfantsipim
The Mfantsipim School Anthem – ‘For All The Saints’ was written by William Walsham How, a bishop of the Anglican Church and first published in Earl Horatio Nelson’s Hymns for Saints’ Day in 1864 and considered to be How’s finest hymn composition.
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Whatever the meaning, interpretation and inspiration the hymn holds for the school as an anthem -- a song of allegiance, praising and declaring loyalty, faithfulness, fidelity, dependability, devotion, patriotism, trustworthiness, staunchness, steadfastness, firmness, resolution, resolve, reliability, stability, dedication, constancy, unwavering or unswerving commitment to Mfantsipim School, as well as Africa and humanity -- may be derived from the memory of Rev. A. R. P. Bartrop.
Rev. Bartrop was one of the greatest men who made a profound and committed contribution in the service of the school in its fledgling period. It is said that if ever Mfantsipim would claim a martyr, it should be Rev. Bartrop; and the song in a way memorialises Bartrop’s service to the institution and venerates the spirit of total service to humanity.
Inspiration from Bartrop
In his tribute at Bartrop’s funeral in Cape Coast, Rev. W. T. Balmer pointed out that “Bartrop’s constant care and anxiety were how the mission (Methodism) might be made an agency for the upliftment of the black race,” and emphasised Bartrop’s interest in education in general and in Mfantsipim School in particular.
Both Balmer and Sarbah are said to have derived guidance and inspiration from Bartrop.
There is absolutely no doubt, according to Prof. Adu Boahen, that the survival of Mfantsipim after 1900 was due far more to him, Bartrop, than to any other single individual. It was he who rescued the collegiate school between 1903 and 1904. He engineered the amalgamation of Mfantsipim and the collegiate school, and smoothly pulled through the takeover bid in 1908. He did this in the face of competition from the Anglicans both in Sierra Leone and in Ghana. He helped secure a site for the school, virtually facilitated the completion of the plans for the school buildings and launched the fund-raising schemes. Above all, it was due solely to him that Mfantsipim owed the presence and work of Balmer in Ghana.
The making of Ghana
Prof. Adu Boahen’s book – ‘Mfantsipim And The Making Of Ghana’- highlights the fact that the hymn, “For All The Saints”, was sung for the first time during the 2nd Founders’ Day celebration on 9th November 9, 1910. This was in the memory of Rev. A. R. P. Bartrop who died in the service of the school, hence his martyrdom. Thereafter it became the school hymn, calling people to selfless and dedicated service to the institution, humanity and God.
As part of the Mfantsipim tradition, the lyrics and music spur on those who pass through to emulate the good deeds of those who have gone before them and live exemplary lives and, through Bartrop’s memory, become imbued with a commitment to serve. Thus, one finds in there an absolute reliance on God, the ideas of fellowship, communality, equality and being a warrior of truth, among other things.
These are the attributes that the school anthem seeks to instil into every present student and/or old boy as it is sung at every Mfantsipim function – meetings and assembly - to rededicate themselves to the values and spirit of the school.
The school anthem links the past, present and future of Mfantsipim, Africa and humanity – from ‘For all the saints who from their labours rest’: our founding fathers and all our departed colleagues to ‘Oh, may Thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold, Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old’: current students and old boys, and then to ‘But lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day’: the future of Mfantsipim, Africa and humanity.
Mfantsipim generations
It is amazing how many generations of individual families have passed through the school in 130 plus years. In some cases, one would not be surprised to have four generations – a great great grandfather, a great grandfather, a grandfather, a father, a son and a grandson – all counting themselves as old boys. The story is told of Mr A. M. Wright (1890-1904) who could be counted among the founder members of Mfantsipim and whose son, Mr N. O. Wright, was the bursar of the school for so long (1934-1973).
Every student of Mfantsipim School – old, current and future / dead or alive – are all intertwined by this anthem and the sacrifices, dreams, destinies, prophesies of the founder members in “Oh, blest communion…”: that is absolute allegiance for continuity and eternity in total commitment and dedication to Mfantsipim School, Africa and humanity.
Thus, Mfantsipim old Boys were to lead excellent lives, through dedicated and committed service to society. The point is always made about loyalty and truthfulness and, truthfully, Mfantsipim is about loyalty and faithfulness above all else to all the ideals and traits of the Mfantsipim brand; and it will be instructive to quote Rev. W. T. Balmer who, on the eve of his departure as the Principal, sent a letter to the boys in December 1910 and re-emphasised inter alia that – “I wish I could have stayed, but I am content that others should build upon the foundation which I hope I have laid. It is your school. Be loyal to it.”
Singing towards 2026
It would have been most interesting for the school and the Old Boys fraternity to have collectively taken stock of a century of Mfantsipim in 1976. However, Prof. Adu Boahen’s book, to an extent, provides sufficient information for the present to learn from as time heads towards 2026 when the school celebrates its 150th anniversary.
In the first decades of the 21st century, it becomes important for every old boy to re-look the implications of the school anthem and re-immerse themselves into a future for the school and the progress of Ghana and the march of Africa in time.
A number of questions come to mind for the present generation of old boys in the march toward 2026 – are the old boys living the tenets of the school anthem in their daily lives? How are they going to ensure that those coming after them are going to keep to the tenets of the school anthem? Has the school, in fact, lived up to the lofty expectations and confirmed the various prophesies and predictions, including providing a generation bold enough to face the problems of the African continent, practically and usefully?
Now is the time for every old boy, the Methodist Church and everyone connected to the school to stand up and be counted. Now is the time we should collectively work towards leveraging individual strengths and accomplishments for the continued relevance of Mfantsipim as an institution in the broader scheme of continental emancipation. NOW is the time to manifest in every small corner of life the calling of ‘For All The Saints.’
There is no other Time but now!!!!