Venerable Archdeacon Thomas
Adesina Jacobson Ogunbiyi
CBE, L. Th
The Venerable Archdeacon Reverend Thomas Adesina Jacobson Ogunbiyi, Archdeacon of Lagos, 1921 - 1929, was an indigene of Isale Eko, in Lagos, South-West, Nigeria Revered Ogunbiyi was the founder of the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity, he was hourned with the most distinguished Commander of the Bristish Empire, CBE, and he was hourable Member of the legislative Council, and Licentiate of Theology, L.T.H.
The History of the ROF cannot be satisfactorily relayed without the profound mention of the Church and the christainity. This noble order was founded by the Reverend Gentleman, well educated and highly sophisticated in the knownledge of the Christainity in the earlt times in Nigeria. On his Sholder and a few of his colleagues rested the initial responsiblity of sustaining and spreading Christainity amidst African Traditional Region, which was ery strong then. Christainity came to Nigeria with British Fratemities hand in hand. The British Fraternities became very fashionable among our people, Such that people at that everyone at that time wanted to belong to Freemasonry or Lodge.
The reality on the ground was how to blend the typical African with Christainity. This was the genesis of the thought to visit the ancient Fraternityc of the Ogboni. Ogboni is as old as the Yoruba race.
Venerable Archdeacon Ogunbiyi was perceived a conversial personality; however, he was a scholar, a linguist, a founder, an innvoator, areformer and a revolutionary. He was praised by some and yet persecuted by others.
As an innovator in 1908, he and his British friend. Canon C.W Wakeman, the erstwhile secretary of the Church Missionary Society, founded the Lagos Company of the Boys Brigade in Nigeria He also introduced the celebration of Harvest Festival into Anglican Church in 1910. at the Holy Trinity Church. Ebute- Ero, Lagos. In 1913, he founded the Lagos Keswick Convention for revival services whereby Methodists, Baptists, the Salvation Army banded together to exchange pulpits, this later metamorphosed into the formation of Christian Association of Nigeria in 1943 He also founded the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity on December 18, 1914 at Obun-Eko, Lagos, Nigeria. Reverend T. A. J. Ogunbiyi, travelled a lot during his life time, he was in Asia, Jerusalem, Egypt, and England. He was in Arabic, English, Hebrew, and Yoruba. His knowledge of Hebrew and Arabic helped him to understand Bible and the socio-cultural setting of Christianity.
During colonial rule, 'Bishops imported into Nigeria, along with their Christianity various orders Freemasonry, Odd fellows, Shelperdry And Forestry among others Reverend Ogunbivi also became a member of Europe anfraternity, the Freemasonry However his inquisitive mind took him further on to Egypt and Jerusalem where he acquired moreknowledge about socio-cultural-religious aspect of human existence Hence on the 18th December 1914, he founded the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity at Obun-Eko, Lagos, Nigeria.
According to Hon, Justice A.P. Anyebe "Rev. Ogunbiyi's philosophy was unity of all religions. His argument was that all religions worship the same God, by whatever name He may be called"."
WHAT IS ROF. The Ogbonis at that time wherever they operated were in charge of governance, they didn't tolerate nonsense, they wanted people to behave straight forwardly, they didn't condone thuggery, theft and other vices. The Fraternity teaches charity and chastity. It endeavours to make a good man a better man, a good Christian a better Christian and a good Muslim a better Muslim.
All its rules are based on the Golden Rule of "Love your neighbor as you love yourself". "Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you"
POST FORMATION EXPERIENCE
Having formed the ROF, the converted Christians had comfort in relating to Christianity, just as the members of the foreign fraternities. It must be made fairly clear that the roles of the Freemasonry in building the Churches in the early times were profound. Similarly, the Ogbonis were in effect in charge of the control of the communities. The pre and post independent Nigeria experienced high influence of the membership of the ROF. The ROF, without mincing words, was famous with men and women of high social influence, to the extent that the founder was one the earliest elites of Yoruba dissent, while Sir Adeyemo Alakija, CBE BL, one of the very earliest lawyers, was the first Olori Oluwo. The first indigenous Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, GCFR was the second Olori Oluwo. Invariably the ROF became a legal entity, duly registered by the laws of the Federation of Nigeria, even during the colonial rule 1943; with offices widely publicized with sign posts all around Nigeria.
ROF AND CHRISTIANITY
The Christendom appreciated ROF to the extent that BISHOP VINING, the Arch Bishop of West Africa was a member, who said publicly "that there was nothing wrong in the practice of the ROF Today, the ROF is 110 years old. It has upheld strongly its tenets and philosophies of practicing faiths without outright abhorherence to the Native Customs and Symbols. It has taught the simple morality of making man better in the understanding of his faith.
For over 109 years, the ROF has kept faith with the people of Nigeria, appreciating the religious faith while embracing the African Culture
We are celebrating our Anniversary 110 years of FAITHFULNESS, LOVE AND ONENESS IN HOLINESS