The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox community of London and vicinity operate the Hellenic Community Centre consisting of four modern reception halls and one large hall catering to small groups to groups of well over one thousand persons. The Centre is located at 133 Southdale Road London, Ontario. This was the venue for the 2008 Great Lakes Divisional Senior’s Rally held on Friday, October 10^th.

This annual all day rally which included a delicious hot chicken dinner for the 400 attendees is  coordinated by Ms Heather Moyle, Divisional Adult Ministries Secretary, who manages to bring top notch entertainment to a crowd of some  keeners from right across the Division from the Niagara Escarpment to Windsor.    

The featured guest this year was ‘Joe the Turk’ otherwise known in real life as Major Edward Hobgood. We didn’t know much about this radical sanctified Salvationist Joe until he actually arrived in his most colorful costume marching down the aisle playing his miniature multi hued cornet.

Otherwise known as Staff Captain Joseph Garabed, ‘Joe the Turk’ is recognized by the Salvation Army world as a daring, extraordinary Salvationist- a man who has made thrilling Army history, a defender of the faith, a fighter for the ideals of the tri-colored flag, and an evangelist with methods bizarre, startling and effective. The real Joe was an Armenian, born Nishan Der Garabedian, in 1860, in Tallas, Turkey, the son of a priest of the American Episcopal Church, the National church of the Armenian people. Joe immigrated to America around 1883, settling in San Francisco and opening a shoe business. He was converted in the Salvation Army barracks and eventually became the Corps Sergeant/Major of the San Francisco Number one Corps. In 1887 he became a Salvation Army officer. He was eventually appointed evangelist for the Salvation Army traveling the country in his special costume and carrying an oversized red, yellow and blue umbrella with religious slogans on it and a picture of the founder, General William Booth. After 38 years of adventurous service in the ranks of the Army, he retired in 1925. He was promoted to glory in his New York hotel room in 1937.

Major Hobgood was awesome in his portrayal and presentation of this historic saint of God. Eddie and his wife Kathy, his right hand gal and soloist, grew up in Greenville, North Carolina, were married in 1978 and are parents of three children.

The Hobgoods were commissioned as Salvation Army officers in 1983 and served in four corps appointments before being appointed to Divisional and Territorial work.. At the present time Eddie is the General Secretary in Florida and Kathy is Secretary of Women’s ministries.

Besides his marvelous presentation of ‘Joe the Turk’ he thrilled us in a second session playing all the parts single-handedly in a portrayal of the well know David and Goliath story with the kind of creative imagination we’ll not likely see again in a long, long time.

Jubilee Brass was rear and centre again this year providing prelude music as well as assisting the timbrels in their enthusiastic presentation of the Bearcroft March “To Regions Fair”. For the prelude tired old lips and embouchures warmed up on the lively tune “ In the  strength of the Lord”.

The song arrangement “The Hallelujah Strand” by Canadian composer Lorne Barry was followed by a William Gordon arrangement of “How Great Thou art” which requires careful listening at the outset as the Cornets provide a muted passage carefully attempting to accommodate the introduction to the tune. From measures 48 to 62 the band builds to a double forte climax making this piece a welcome addition to the repertoire.

The band next presented “Crown of Conquest” a march from the pen of Ray Allen when he was a Captain. Attention to dynamics adds to the appeal of this attractive march which begins the 1400 series in the General Series of Band journals.

Band Sergeant Jack Bernard changed the pace with a bagpipe rendition of the old favorite, “Amazing Grace” to the delight of attending Scots and wanabees.

Since this event was just three days from the Canadian Thanksgiving the band presented William Himes beautiful arrangement of “Prayer of Thanksgiving”. Skinner’s “Amsterdam Congress march” concluded the band’s prelude reminding the listeners that God IS Love. ‘Love’ is an action word. God is alive and acting in our world and that’s why Jubilee Brass does what it does to propagate that message.