Remembering St. Patrick Arthurs - Patriarch, Author, and Friend

St. Patrick of Toronto - 21^st Century Rasta Prophet

I had been living in the High Park area since moving to Toronto a year earlier, and Patrick and Lisa had moved into the Indian Road house where I used to live and rehearse with my bandmates in Joe College and The Rulers. One day after I had moved out and they had moved in, on Roncesvillle Ave I ran into Lisa who was wearing a Haile Sellassie I button and i asked her, "Is he a good guy?"

I remember she said something like, “yes, you should read about him.”

I did.

St. Patrick introduced I and I to Rastafari consciousness, the ital purity of thought and reasoning of the ages. We were already herb smokers, yet the new community elevated smoking from a personal / social act to one of inspiration and divinity.

The trouble with Canucks is that they have been so busy showing the the good side of their faces, they became frozen and forgot how to feel. - All italic quotes from Soul Revolution, by St. Patrick

Morgan St Patrick Arthurs was born in Westmoreland, Jamaica on November 11, 1939, and passed away in Toronto, Ontario on September 30, 2012, surrounded by close family and friends. Patrick left behind a massive legacy, including seven children, five grandchildren, plus several books and a wealth of friends in Canada and around the world. Brother Patrick was a Rastafarian prophet and core disciple of Haile Sellassie I and of Berhane Sellassie I (Robert Nesta Marley).

Any feeling can be captured in music.

When they moved into 63 Indian Road, Lisa was pregnant with Shem, so I got know him from when he was a baby and a toddler, and he was always a perceptive, insightful and friendly kid. Soon they were off to Jones Ave and then Lumsden, and the family grew with the additions of Elisha, Nathan and Hannah.

                                                   I-Threes

Patrick was the son of Henry Arthurs and Lynette Fletcher, the brother of Neville, the father of seven children (Melanie, Craig, Daniel, Shem, Elisha, Nathan and Hannah) and grandfather of five (Nigel, Roman, Iylah, Iyabo and Irie). After a standout career as a Jamaican athletics star in the pole vault, Patrick moved fto the USA to attend University in Arkanas in the late 1950s, moving on to Canada in the 1960s.

Yes, we have really cut through a lot of wax to come up with a wick of truth.

 

In 1975 Patrick published his first book, Soul Revolution, the Diary of a Rastaman on the Freedom Road, and it is a musical and spiritual tour de force that resonates with truths and rights and justice and overstanding, even unto this day. In 1982 Patrick published Mental Earthquakes in Divers Places, and continued writing and publishing Rasta theology the rest of his life. He was a loving husband to Lisa Conover for over two and a half decades, and was a longtime friend of Alvin Seeco Patterson, of Judy Mowatt, and of Rita and Bob Marley. I remember Patrick telling me about the last time he saw Bob Marley in this life, he had been backstage at Maple Leaf Gardens with Seeco and other Wailers, and he was able to present Brother Bob with a very old, large Bible, which Bob was pleased to receive. His final glimpse of Bob Marley on this Earth was outside of MLG, seeing Bob walk up the steps onto the Babylon By Bus tour bus, and he had that Bible in his hands as he bade farewell to Toronto.

If truth has to take the sides of offense or defense, then nobody wins.

When I think of all the evenings I spent conversing and playing music with Patrick and Lisa and their kids, I now believe this conscious circle of good people was the foundation that led to meeting my wife and building our own family.

I met my wife Heather at a party at 48 Abell St, just off Queen West. Brother Tsepo lived at 48 Abell for a time, as did Sister Loyce (Afrikan Hempress) and our late Brethren Dave Hamilton.

                                            Afrikan Hempress Sista Loyce spoke and sang      at the memorial service foe St. Patrick

Mind is Music. Music is food for spiritual life.

In 1982 I was honoured to deliver a letter from Rita Marley to Saint Patrick, and I was enthralled to be helping re-unite and re-connect two crucial spiritual families. It may seem a small thing to some, however at the time it was momentous for me.

                                            Rita Marley

When I can begin to accept the confusion of my own life, it's easy to see the turmoil of other people's lives as they relate to me.

A few years later my son David and I were able to spend a memorable Mother's Day at 48 Abell with Cedella Booker, the warm and wonderful mother of Robert Nesta Marley, on her first visit here. It was the 10^th Mother's Day since Bob's Passing, and Cedella shared many beautiful hours with us, and told us that Bob spoke often of Toronto and would say “Mom, you have to go visit there, it is a very special place.”

Cedella went on: "For the past year or so I have had problems with the veins in my legs, making it difficult to stand or walk, and I have been in severe pain for many months. I would like to tell you all that, being here with you today, I feel no pain. My legs are pain-free and I am happy and joyful to be sharing this day together."

                                   

                                  Cedella Booker, mother of Bob Marley

Bob's Mom then spent several minutes speaking personally with each and every one of us, and while I was conversing with her, she was bouncing my son David on her knee and hugging and kissing him. It meant a lot to me then and still does now.

I need a vacation because I find my job interfering too much with my work.

I became good friends with St Patrick and Saint Lisa and watched their family grow up strong and righteous. Over the years I had hundreds of conversations with Patrick and watching how he loved and respected his own children provided me a good example and a strong foundation for when I was to become a Dad myself.

When we were organizing the two-day Toronto memorial for Haile Sellassie I's reburial in the year 2000, Patrick was fully supportive and along with Samuel Ferenje, Jahn Hoy's former speechwriter and travelling companion, Pat was a keynote speaker on both nights and his heartfelt and divinely insightful words were much appreciated by all.

                                                  Judy Mowatt, member of I-Threes and friend of St. Patrick

My belief is that Saint Patrick will be remembered as a fervent disciple of Haile Sellassie I, Jah Ras Tafari, and that his writings will stand the tests of truth and time. Some years ago the title Ras Haile Tafari was received for Bro Patrick, and though I wrote of it I don't believe I mentioned it to him or that he ever utilized it, however he lived every day as a man worthy of such a lofty handle.

Friend and son-in-law Ras Jah Paul provided spiritual drumming (together with Ras Tsepo and Empress Deb) at Patrick's memorial service.

I Give Thanks for the blessings of knowing him and his family. May Patrick Morgan Arthurs Rest In Peace, and Rest In Power, and may his legacy be one of music and creativity that lasts for generations.

                                                      Toronto singer Jay Douglas spoke at Patrick's funeral.

For those who were unable to attend the funeral, it was a wondrous and deeply touching affair shared by family and friends of many generations. Drumming was provided by Ras JahPaul, Ras Tsepo and Empress Deb. Among those who paid tribute and spoke to honour Patrick were his cousin Tsepo Anthony Fletcher, MC Simba, Franklins Ford, Al Peabody, Jay Douglas, Frank from the barbershop, Danielle, Lena, Daniel, Loyce, Lorenzo, nephew Michael Arthurs, son Craig, son Shem, daughter Hannah, daughter Elisha and many more.

                                   Patrick's nephew Michael Arthurs spoke and performed at the funeral.

For forty years Patrick was a mainstay of Toronto's local Rasta and Reggae scene, a genuine patriarch in our midst, and he will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by many. We Give Thanks for having had the opportunity to know Patrick, a soulful and creative human being that everyone in Jamaica and Canada can be proud of. JAH Bless.