morning.

There, on his television set stood a childhood friend, mentor and confidant with millions of American television viewers transfixed by his every word.

Yesterday Bermuda's own Rt. Rev. Vinton Anderson the presiding bishop of the second Episcopal district that covers Washington, Baltimore and West Virginia, took his place on the podium alongside the Rev. Jesse Jackson while President Bill Clinton watched from a nearby pew.

The First Family began their day in worship at the 2,000 member Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, a historic black church seven blocks from the White House.

The church, which Mr. Clinton chose for the inaugural prayer service, is an institution rich in history for black Methodists and a favourite among US presidents.

Meanwhile, Rev. Eve, the presiding elder of the African Methodist Episcopal churches of Bermuda, said he saw part of the church ceremony on CNN.

"I saw the initial part when the choir was singing and Rev. Jesse Jackson's presentation. I also saw Bishop Anderson speak right at the opening.

"I felt excited and overwhelmed. I cannot find the words to describe it. It's just awesome when I look back from whence we came in our boyhood to think that the Lord has blessed us to go this far.'' Both Bishop Anderson and Rev. Eve, who are actually first cousins -- their mothers were sisters -- grew up in Somerset.

Bishop Anderson left Bermuda for the United States in 1947. Last year he came back home and delivered the keynote address at the Bermuda Industrial Union's 15th annual banquet at the Southampton Princess.

See story on Page 6