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Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon

Morning
"Whom he justified, them he also glorified." Romans 8:30

Here is a precious truth for thee, believer. Thou mayest be poor, or in suffering, or unknown, but for thine encouragement take a review of thy "calling" and the consequences that flow from it, and especially that blessed result here spoken of. As surely as thou art God's child today, so surely shall all thy trials soon be at an end, and thou shalt be rich to all the intents of bliss. Wait awhile, and that weary head shall wear the crown of glory, and that hand of labour shall grasp the palm-branch of victory. Lament not thy troubles, but rather rejoice that ere long thou wilt be where "there shall be neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain." The chariots of fire are at thy door, and a moment will suffice to bear thee to the glorified. The everlasting song is almost on thy lip. The portals of heaven stand open for thee. Think not that thou canst fail of entering into rest. If he hath called thee, nothing can divide thee from his love. Distress cannot sever the bond; the fire of persecution cannot burn the link; the hammer of hell cannot break the chain. Thou art secure; that voice which called thee at first, shall call thee yet again from earth to heaven, from death's dark gloom to immortality's unuttered splendours. Rest assured, the heart of him who has justified thee beats with infinite love towards thee. Thou shalt soon be with the glorified, where thy portion is; thou art only waiting here to be made meet for the inheritance, and that done, the wings of angels shall waft thee far away, to the mount of peace, and joy, and blessedness, where,

"Far from a world of grief and sin,

With God eternally shut in,"

thou shalt rest forever and ever.

Evening
"This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope." Lamentations 3:21

Memory is frequently the bond slave of despondency. Dispairing minds call to remembrance every dark foreboding in the past, and dilate upon every gloomy feature in the present; thus memory, clothed in sackcloth, presents to the mind a cup of mingled gall and wormwood. There is, however, no necessity for this. Wisdom can readily transform memory into an angel of comfort. That same recollection which in its left hand brings so many gloomy omens, may be trained to bear in its right a wealth of hopeful signs. She need not wear a crown of iron, she may encircle her brow with a fillet of gold, all spangled with stars. Thus it was in Jeremiah's experience: in the previous verse memory had brought him to deep humiliation of soul: "My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me;" and now this same memory restored him to life and comfort. "This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope." Like a two-edged sword, his memory first killed his pride with one edge, and then slew his despair with the other. As a general principle, if we would exercise our memories more wisely, we might, in our very darkest distress, strike a match which would instantaneously kindle the lamp of comfort. There is no need for God to create a new thing upon the earth in order to restore believers to joy; if they would prayerfully rake the ashes of the past, they would find light for the present; and if they would turn to the book of truth and the throne of grace, their candle would soon shine as aforetime. Be it ours to remember the lovingkindness of the Lord, and to rehearse his deeds of grace. Let us open the volume of recollection which is so richly illuminated with memorials of mercy, and we shall soon be happy. Thus memory may be, as Coleridge calls it, "the bosom-spring of joy," and when the Divine Comforter bends it to his service, it may be chief among earthly comforters.

WHAT'S MY NAME?... To My First Son Zachary Ekpe since you asked so nicely.

IMPORTANT NOTES: You belong to Lodges 1 and 5. ... Lodge 5 Currently sits on the Throne. That is your Grandma's Brother. Remember when you met him?

We call him AMASI.

He is better known as
HIS ROYAL EMINENCE (HRE),
EDIDEM EKPO OKON ABASI OTU V.
Obong of Calabar.
Paramount Ruler of the Efik Kingdom.
Treaty King.

NOW LEARN BELOW and Know Who You Are, Hold Your Head High, Know Peace.:

[[ Current Ekpe titles in Efik of Calabar

1. Iyamba
2. Obong Ebonko
3. Obong Nyamkpe
4. Obong Okuakama
5. Obong Okpoho
6. Obong Nkanda
7. Obong Mkpe
8. Obong Mboko
9. Obong Mboko Mboko
10. Obong Mbakara
11. Isung Ebonko
12. Ise Mongo
13. Isung Nyamkpe
14. Isung Okuakama
15. Isung Okpoho
16. Isung Nkanda
17. Isu Nkanda
18. Murua Nyamkpe
19. Murua Okuakama
20. Murua Okpoho
21. Murua Nkanda
22. Ekundu Okpoho
23. Isu Ekpe

Source: The Efik People by E. U. Aye
Hart Report paragraph 157, page 55.

Mboko Nya-Ekpo is a grade associated only with Asibong Ekondo lodge (Obutong). Nyamkpe is sometimes called Dibo (Grand Ekpe).

When there is any grand Ekpe ceremony or salutation or libation is being poured, these historic names are invoked: Esien Ekpe, Eyo Ema, Asibong Ekondo, Nkok Ofuta, Mutaka, and sometimes Okpoho Eyen Eyo Nsa (depending on the family). The head of Ekpe, Iyamba, is technically the keeper of all Ekpe titles. The first recorded Iyamba of Ekpe Efik was Esien Ekpe Oku of Ambo House, Mbarakom, Creek Town.

Please note that not all titles are in all Ekpe lodges (Efe Ekpe), to have all titles the particular Ekpe lodge has to go through the process of getting it.

Ekpe is the Efik government, albeit weakened by today's politics and Christianity. But traditionally this is what governs the Efiks and still holds sway in a lot of matters that affect Efiks.

The Obong of Calabar has to be an Obong Ekpe for his role to work flawlessly, most likely Obong Ebonko in a lot of cases, however in some rare cases some Kings have been both Iyamba and Obong at the same time, this has happened only six times.

Ekpe still plays an important part in the coronation process of an Efik King and is used to link the old with the present.

Ekpe is open for any Efik child to join, both male and female.

However, the female rights are extremely limited. The female initiation process is called "di tuak Nkanda" where the peacock feather is stuck in the female's hair.

There is a school of thought that says there's a difference with "di tuak Nkanda" and "di ban Ekpe" in women.

Its said what is done during the traditional marriage ceremony of a woman to an initiate is "di tuak Nkanda".

Whilst what is done to females outside or inside the "reception" area of an Efe where White and/ or red clay (ndom) is put on their heads with a white round scarf used to hold up the Ntang-nkanda (peacock feather) is actually to "ban Ekpe" for the females. The jury is still out on this.

The male initiation process is called "Uban Ekpe". The male are the ones who truly have rights to go through each grade, whereas the female rights is simply ceremonial and to give her the right to watch or be near the physical representation of Ekpe - Idem Ikwo.

However to have access to all the different grades, the male must go through all the initiation processes of each grade.

No matter your age or societal status, if the oldest male member of your family hasn't been given a grade, one can't be given a grade either. He either has to decline it or get a grade so as to allow the younger (maybe more economically successful ) one get a grade too. In some cases, the younger more prosperous one pays for the older one to get a grade so as to pave the way for him to get his grade.

There are certain titles that are given only to certain families.

For example Okpoho is reserved in Efe Ekpe Esit Edik (Adak Uko Ekpe lodge) for direct descendants of King Eyo II as he's regarded as the progenitor of the grade.

Ebonko is also directly linked to King Eyo whilst Iyamba is linked to Atakpa (Duke Town). This was the case a century ago.

Today, titles can be given to whomever they think is worthy regardless of family ties to the particular grade or not.

Ekpe can be given to strangers.

In the olden days it was given to the Supercargoes. It is said that Captain Burrell of the Ship "Haywood" of Liverpool in the nineteenth century held the title of Nyamkpe (Grand Ekpe) and it was of course to his advantage because he used it to recover his debts from the natives.

People like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Tafewa Balewa, Dr Michael Okpara, Ivor Miller, Patrick Solomon have all been initiated into Ekpe.

But it is said that one must be sponsored, so there must be a guarantor and one who can vouch for your conduct that's already a member for your initiation to be allowed.

However, the higher grades of the Fraternity are still reserved for those with Royal Efik blood in their veins.

At some point the blue blood issue does arise and the rightful owners take their position.

In recent years, Efe Asabo (The Ndem Lodge) has been used as an Ekpe lodge.

There is a school of thought that disagrees with this as both have different but important roles to play in Efik culture (somewhat like an arm of government for example judiciary getting involved in the executive).

There are twelve Ekpe lodges in existence today amongst the Efiks. They are namely:
1. Nsidung (Henshaw Town)
2. Ekorotonko (Cobham Town)
3. Atakpa (Duke Town)
4. Obutong (Old Town / Asibong Ekondo)
5. Adiabo
6. Otung, Creek Town
7. Adak Uko, Creek Town
8. Mbarakom, Creek Town
9. Obomitiat Ikoneto
10. Mbiabo Ikoneto
11. Obomitiat Edere
12. Mbiabo Ikot Offiong

The Ekpe is lion in Efik, however the emblem is a leopard drawing. It is said that the Efiks brought Ekpe to their present location hence there were lions in their past through their sojourns.

The Europeans came to Calabar and saw leopards and assumed that we didn't have a past and so Ekpe must be leopard that he saw in the vicinity. It stuck. There is a movement to change the depiction back to lion from leopard.

The physical representation of Ekpe is Idem Ikwo. It is designed to be beautiful and attractive.

Ebonko Nkwa Nkwa is a ceremonial idem and decorated beautifully with mirrors and beads.

The Ekpe dancing is graceful and captivating.

When the Atanha Ekpe (the Ekpe Poet), does his customary poetic expressions and moves the Idem Ikwo to dance it is a very beautiful sight to behold.

When there is a relationship between the Atanha Ekpe and the Idem Ikwo, the synergy is obvious - it moves like a woman captivated by her lover and dances to every word and praise showered on it.

The sanctity and mystery of Ekpe must be protected, for by protecting our traditions, we protect our culture and heritage and our identity in the process. ]]

Special Thanks to Orok Otu Duke and Richard Duke for this.

Obio!!! Ufok!! Ekpe!!!!

#goodmorning
Ivor Ekpe II

Children's Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honor of children, whose date of observance varies by country. In 1925, International Children's Day was first proclaimed in Geneva during the World Conference on Child Welfare. Since 1950, it is celebrated on June 1 in most Communist and post-Communist countries. World Children's Day is celebrated on 20 November to commemorate the Declaration of the Rights of the Child by the UN General Assembly on 20 November 1959. In some countries, it is Children's Week and not Children's Day.

Origins
Children's Day began on the second Sunday of June in 1857 by Reverend Dr. Charles Leonard, pastor of the Universalist Church of the Redeemer in Chelsea, Massachusetts: Leonard held a special service dedicated to, and for the children. Leonard named the day Rose Day, though it was later named Flower Sunday, and then named Children's Day.

Children's Day was first officially declared a national holiday by the Republic of Turkey in 1920 with the set date of 23 April. Children's Day has been celebrated nationally since 1920 with the government and the newspapers of the time declaring it a day for the children. However, it was decided that an official confirmation was needed to clarify and justify this celebration and the official declaration was made nationally in 1929 by the founder and the President of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Global Adoption
International Children's Day was first proclaimed in Geneva during the World Conference on Child Welfare in 1925. On 4 November 1949, 1 June was established as the International Day for Protection of Children by the Women's International Democratic Federation in Moscow. Since 1950, 1 June is celebrated as Children's Day in many Communist and post-Communist countries.

On 14 December 1954, a joint resolution by India and Uruguay was passed in the UN General Assembly to encourage all countries to institute a Universal Children's Day, firstly to promote mutual exchange and understanding among children and secondly to initiate action to promote the ideals of the UN Charter and the welfare of the world's children.[9] On 20 November 1959, The United Nations adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. World Children's Day is celebrated on 20 November to commemorate the Declaration of the Rights of the Child by the UN General Assembly on 20 November 1959.

Recent Initiatives
In 2000, the Millennium Development Goals outlined by world leaders to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015. Albeit this applies to all people, the primary objective is concerning children. UNICEF is dedicated to meeting the six of eight goals that apply to the needs of children so that they are all entitled to fundamental rights written in the 1989 international human rights treaty. UNICEF delivers vaccines, works with policymakers for good health care and education and works exclusively to help children and protect their rights.

In September 2012, the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations led the initiative for the education of children. He firstly wants every child to be able to attend school, a goal by 2015. Secondly, to improve the skill set acquired in these schools. Finally, implementing policies regarding education to promote peace, respect, and environmental concern. Universal Children's Day is not just a day to celebrate children for who they are, but to bring awareness to children around the globe that have experienced violence in forms of abuse, exploitation, and discrimination. Children are used as laborers in some countries, immersed in armed conflict, living on the streets, suffering by differences be it religion, minority issues, or disabilities. Children feeling the effects of war can be displaced because of the armed conflict and may suffer physical and psychological trauma. The following violations are described in the term "children and armed conflict": recruitment and child soldiers, killing/maiming of children, abduction of children, attacks on schools/hospitals and not allowing humanitarian access to children. Currently, there are about 153 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 who are forced into child labor. The International Labour Organization in 1999 adopted the Prohibition and Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour including slavery, child prostitution, and child pornography.

A summary of the rights under the convention on the Rights of the Child can be found on the UNICEF website.

Canada co-chaired the World Summit for children in 1990, and in 2002 the United Nations reaffirmed the commitment to complete the agenda of the 1990 World Summit. This added to the UN Secretary-General's report We the Children: End-of Decade review of the follow-up to the World Summit for Children.

The United Nations children's agency released a study referencing the population increase of children will make up 90 percent of the next billion people.

The officially recognized date of Children's Day varies from country to country. In Nigeria, it is celebrated on May 27th yearly.
Children's Day is celebrated on 1 June in former Soviet Union states (including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan) as well as other former or current communist states (Albania, Angola, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ethiopia, East Germany, Kosovo, Laos, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Mainland China, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Tanzania, Vietnam and Yemen, and to the lesser extent in Israel due to the migration of its Soviet Jewish population). This includes 25 countries which regained independence from USSR, seceded from Yugoslavia Federation, as well as Czechoslovakia and Ethiopia after their respective splits.

World Children's Day is celebrated on 20 November to commemorate the Declaration of the Rights of the Child by the UN General Assembly on 20 November 1959.