Inaugural Symbols & Customs

 

Dr. Jim Gettys carries the cross.

The Beadle:

During the Middle Ages and through the Reformation, Bibles were rare among the common people. The Bible of the Kirk (i.e. the church) was a treasured possession. The value of the sacred scriptures and the danger of theft led to the establishment of a special lay office within Kirk, known as "The Beadle." The Beadle was usually elected by the Kirk-Session and served for an indefinite period of time. The chief duty of the Beadle was always to guard and protect the Bible. His other duties for the Kirk-Session sometimes included "collecting fines, summoning accused parties to trial (for Session-Court), and issuing decrees" throughout the parish. In some traditional Presbyterian Churches today the Beadle begins the worship service by carrying the Bible ceremoniously into the sanctuary. The people rise in respect for the Holy Book and its scriptures and are seated after the Beadle has opened the Bible and prepared the pulpit for the entry of the minister. The beadle normally removed the Bible from the Kirk for safekeeping following the service.

 

Gonfalons:

Flags are traditional symbols of unity and are especially suitable for ceremonies such as this service-of-invesiture. The familiar "flag," however, is not displayed in full decorative effectiveness unless there is a breeze. The fonfalon is a type of flag that is suspended by a cross-piece instead of the more familiar flaggstaff. Gonfalons are always vertical and display the full surface of the banner. The gonfalons for this service display the seals of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and Erskine College.

 

The "Great Mace" of the College:

Maces are generally clubbed-shaped staffs that are used as symbols of authority by deliberative assemblies (e.g. senates, councils, college faculties, state legislatures, etc.). Originally however, maces were weapons of war that were issued to unmounted warriors. In an unruly meeting, a determined leader could quickly resolve order...if he had access to a mace. It is from this tradition that the present day use of the mace (as a symbol of authority) probably developed.

The Erskine Mace was designed by Mr. W. H. Stuart, Jr., former Chairman of the Erskine College board of trustees, and Dr. Wm. Bruce Ezell, Jr., the College's eleventh President. The staff is composed of dark red mahogany while the orb portion features several decorative features. The four engraved facets of the orb display: the seal of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church; the seal of Erskine College; a likeness of Ebenezer Erskine, the founder of the Associate Presbytery (6 December 1733); and a likeness of Ebenezer Erskine Pressly, the founder of Erskine College (1839). Near the crest of the orb are located four tokens. The "Great Mace" is crowned by a Celtic Cross reminiscent of the many stone Celtic Crosses that can still be located in some parts of Scotland and Ireland today.

 

Tokens:

Three of the "Great Mace's" tokens are communion tokens. In the early days of the Presbyterian Church attendance at the parish communion service was a matter not to be taken lightly. Under the watchful eye of the church's session and its minister mental notes were made as to the "worthiness" of the membership. In many locations it was the usual custom to attend a preparatory service or services prior to the actual Sabbath when the sacred custom would be celebrated. For those who attended the preparatory service and were deemed worthy by the minister and his session a token would be given (one per parishioner...and only to communicant members). These tokens were then exchanged for communion. Those not possessing a token were denied access to the Lord's Supper.

Most tokens were coin-shaped objects with special markings and/or Bible verses. The most common verse appears to have been, "Let a man examine himself." Many tokens were made of pewter, copper, and brass while some churches utilized carved wood. The churches of Europe frequently used silver but this custom was rare in America. The tokens of the Erskine Mace are associated with Scotland and nineteenth-century America. The token marked with a two-headed fowl is from the Scottish city of Perth. It was in this city in 1732 that Ebenezer Erskine preached against the abuses in the church. For his sermon he was rebuked and failing to submit, he was deposed. For this reason, it is not clear why he and his followers were known as "Seceders." The following year in 1733 at Gairney Bridge, Scotland, Erskine and his group formed the Associate Presbytery. The Perth token was given to Erskine College for inclusion in the Mace by the Historical Foundation of Presbyterian and Reformed Churches of Montreat, N.C.

The token marked "R.P." (for Reformed Presbyterians) reminds us of out Covenanter heritage and those people who in 1679 were finally driven into armed resistance, defeated, outlawed and severely persecuted. Some 64 years later their descendants organized the Reformed Presbytery in 1743. Of special interest is one token marked "D.W." (for Due West, S.C.). This token is associated with the Due West Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and symbolizes the long association between the College and Seminary and the Due West congregation. The fourth token is a Lepton (a Greek work meaning small or thin), the smallest Jewish coin from the reign of Herod Agrippa and is the widow's mite of Christ's parables. Since that time it has been the symbol of selfless generosity and sacrifice. It reminds all of us that Erskine exists today because of the sacrificial gifts of many ordinary individuals who gave to an Erskine that they would never live to see, but they had a vision of "what might be" in this community.

 

Academic Attire:

This history of academic attire can be traced to the mediaeval period of history when it was necessary for scholars and professors to wear gowns and hoods for warmth in oftentimes unheated buildings. From this practical necessity developed the tradition of academic regalia. The style, cut, and shape of academic gowns were originally influenced by the members of various religious orders, hence the close affinity for academic regalia and the clothing worn by members of the clergy. Presently, gowns for baccalaureate and master's degrees are made of cotton, poplin, or similar materials. Traditional baccalaureate gowns feature pointed sleeves that may be worn closed; while master's gowns display a knee-length sleeve with a a scalloped indentation (an exit slit for the arm can be located mid-way down the sleeve). The doctoral gowns feature bell-shaped sleeves with three velvet bars across the sleeves. The hoods that accompany the three types of gowns also vary according to the degree. The color of the bars on the gowns represent the various academic disciplines (dark blue for philosophy, light blue for education, drab for business administration, green for medicine, purple for law, russet for forestry, etc.) The "school colors" for each institution are displayed in the lining of the hood.

 

Stole:

The stole, which is given by The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church to the President of Erskine College on this historic occasion, is embroidered with the seals of The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and Erskine College. The seals were sketched by Professor-Emeritus Felix Bauer and the embroidery was done by Mrs. M. Stanyarne Bell, widow of Erskine's Tenth President.