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The ‘New South’ Scorns an Old Mace

MACES OF AMERICA: PART I — THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH

George Hart, President of the Order of Gownsmen, bears the University Mace for the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. McCrady

“The recent convocation at Sewanee’s All Saints’ Chapel was a majestic display,” writes the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “University hierarchs in medieval garb spoke Latin, their words echoing throughout the nave. New honor students donned black robes, marking their entrance into the prestigious Order of Gownsmen. Everyone sang: “Alma Mater, Sewanee, My glorious Mother ever be.

“To the outsider, nothing in the rites intimated any threat to this 148-year-old school’s role as a champion of Southern aristocratic heritage. To traditionalists, however, there were signs of treacherous modifications to Sewanee’s old school way of doing things. … The University Mace — a ceremonial baton covered with Confederate symbols that is supposed to be carried by the Gownsmen president — was gone.”

The University of the South, which sits on a 10,000-acre domain in Sewanee, Tennesee, is in my opinion the St Andrews of America. To my knowledge it is the only university on this side of the Atlantic which comes close to, and in many regards exceeds, the Universitas Sancti Andrea apud Scotos in the maintenance of tradition. In is interesting therefore, that the mace of the University of the South (Universitas Meridiana) has been the center of one of the scandals of the age of political correctness.

The mace was commissioned in what truly was another time, almost another world. In 1964, Louise Claiborne-Armstrong commissioned the jewellers Shreve and Company of San Francisco to make a mace for the University of the South which incorporated a number of her most precious jewels. A perfect, blue/white four-carat diamond is set in the Cross which tops the Mace. The shaft was crafted of enamelled walnut while, excepting a gold band, the rest of the Mace is sold silver.

What makes the Mace controversial in this day and age, as noted in the Journal-Constitution, is not the quality of its composition. Mrs. Claiborne-Armstrong donated the Mace to the University, dedicating it “To the Glory of God and In Loving Memory of General Nathan Bedford Forrest”. The General is more renowned for being the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, an institution infinitely less learned and more notorious. Despite ordering the Klan to disband in 1869 because he was unhappy with the course it was following, the Klan was twice revived and remnants of it continue to this day. Needless to say, it has left something of a blight on the General’s name. Aside from the dedication to General, the display of the Confederate Battle Flag and elements from the Great Seal of the Confederacy have also caused offense.

The University Mace was used in the Convocation ceremony beginning the academic year at Sewanee. The macebearer was, ex officio, the President of the Order of the Gownsmen. At the University of the South, honor students are accorded the right to wear a black gown. They corporately form the Order of the Gownsmen, and advise the student government and the administration on the running of the University. According to the University, the Mace was broken in 1997, and given its “controversial” nature the administration had little desire to have it repaired.

Sadly, the University has recently been trying to downplay, well, itself, by downplaying its southern-ness. Most official school materials now refer to it as ‘Sewanee’, sometimes with ‘the University of the South’ in smaller letters. The name of the University has not officially changed – the founders specifically rejected naming it the University of Sewanee – but the exercise in rebranding has been part of a general anti-traditional trend at the institution.

The tradition of the University Mace will continue. At the moment, a wooden baton acts as a replacement, but a new mace is being designed by Waring McCrady, Professor Emeritus of French and son of the 11th Vice-Chancellor of the University of the South, Edward McCrady, who accepted the gift of the Claiborne-Armstrong mace. The University says the new mace “will honor the University’s four founding Southern bishops: Otey, Polk, Quintard and Elliott” while the repaired old mace will rest in the University’s historic display. (Those interested in Bishop Leonidas Polk, or more properly the Right Reverand Lieutenant-General Leonidas Polk, C.S.A., may take care to visit a website dedicated to his memory, from which I have found the preponderance of information on the University Mace, including the images.)

A photograph of All Saints’ Chapel at the University of the South before the flags of southern states were removed.

THE BLESSING OF THE UNIVERSITY MACE

Thursday, June 3, A.D. 1965

After the Grace, the Mace Bearer shall bring the Mace to the Chancellor, who shall place it upon the High Altar.

Chancellor: Honour them who have rule over you.

Answer: And esteem them highly for their work’s sake.

Chancellor: The Lord be with you.

Answer: And with thy spirit.

Chancellor: Let us pray.

O Eternal God, the fountain of all wisdom, Enlighten with Thy grace all who are responsible for the exercise of authority in the affairs of this University, and so rule their minds, and guide their counsels, that in all things they may seek Thy glory and the welfare of Thy Holy Church; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

In the faith of Jesus Christ and to the Glory of God, we dedicate and bless this Mace, for a sign and symbol of authority and responsibility, praying that he before whom it is borne will act always to the glory of God, to the honor of the State, and to the good name of this University. In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Published at 5:06 pm on Sunday 10 July 2005. Categories: Maces Tags: , .
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