Ceremonial Mace connects College with its English roots

The ceremonial mace, carried by the faculty marshal at the head of an academic procession, was given to Ripon College Nov. 16, 1946, by Sir Francis Evans of England and the Rev. Canon Edward West of New York. The mace, designed by West, was presented at the opening ceremony of Ripon College’s Centennial observances.

The silver cross at the top of the mace is an ancient English Pattern. The stone, a gift of the dean of Ripon Cathedral in Yorkshire, England, is cut from the church which St. Wilfrid built in Ripon, England, in the year 670. On one face of the silver knob is the Agnus Dei seal taken from a 12th-cenutry rendering of the seal of the collegium of St. Wilfrid, Ripon. Above the shield is the date of St. Wildred’s foundation, and circling it is the legend: Eduxit Me Latitudinem (He led me forth into a place of liberty). The Latin letters represent 1850, the year Ripon, Wisconsin, was founded.

On the reverse is the seal of Ripon College and surrounding it the legend: Attendite Ad Petram Unde Excisi Estis (Look unto the rock whence ye are hewn). The rest of the silver and oak mace is modeled after one made for Winchester Cathedral of John the Divine. The detailed design and the fabrication was done by Black, Starr and Gorham under supervision of Louis Glazier. After nearly 50 years of service in ceremonial processions at Ripon College, the mace underwent restoration in 1994. Gene Kain, associate professor of art, designed and oversaw the reconstruction of the mace’s oak staff, and Diedrich Jewelers Inc. of Ripon, Wisconsin, replated its two silver pieces.

Posted May 12, 2015 in Special Event.

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