The Presidential Medallion and Charter

The Presidential Medallion and Charter [Photo of Medallion, photo of Charter]

THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDALLION

The Medallion, worn by the President with academic garb on ceremonial occasions, is a symbol of office dating from medieval times: The center of the medallion is a sunburst surrounding the official seal of Boston College. Depicted at the top of the medallion is the badge of the Society of Jesus. On the left side is Christ the Teacher, with the elders clustering around Him in the Temple. On the right side is the figure of the Jesuit patroness, Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom. On the Iower portion of the medallion is the Lamp of Knowledge inscribed with the word TUTELARIUS, signifying "Guardian of Learning." Each link of the chain for the Medallion is inscribed with the name of a past president of Boston College and his term in office.

The Presidential Medallion was designed by Allison Macomber. Artist-in-Residence at Boston College from 1963 to 1979.

THE CHARTER

The charter of Boston College, formally known as "an act to incorporate the Trustees of the Boston College," was approved by both houses of the state legislature on March 31, 1863, and was signed into law by Governor John A. Andrew the following day. The incorporators were five Jesuits, including the College's founder, John McElroy; its first president, John Bapst; and Edward H. Welch, James Clark, and Charles H. Stonestreet.

The charter is relatively brief, containing seven sections, and empowers the trustees to grant all but medical degrees; elect or remove trustees and officers; set and enforce by-laws; hire faculty and staff; purchase, hold and maintain real estate; and accept gifts and bequests.

The charter has been amended by the legislature twice in 136 years. In 1907 the name of the corporation was changed to the Trustees of Boston College (from Trustees of the Boston College); and in 1971, the limitation of the Board of Trustees to 10 members was removed.

The Seal and Mace [Photo of Seal, Photo of Mace]

THE SEAL On a field gules (red), above a trimount in base or (gold), an open book argent (silver) edged of the second, thereon an inscription (ln Greek) Ever to Excel; on a chief sable (black) between two crowns composed of alternate crosses patte and fleur-de-lis or, the badge of the Society of Jesus, azure (blue) and or. The tinctures gules and or are the heraldic equivalents of the College colors, maroon and old gold. The "trimount," from Tremont, the old name of Boston, is taken from the arms of the Archdiocese. The open book, symbolic of the College, is a frequent charge on academic shields. The chief is derived from the arms of old Boston, Lincolnshire. England, (Saint Botolph’s Town), a field sable, three crowns of crosses patte and fleur-de-lis. per pale or only two crowns are shown. the place of the third being taken by the badge of the Jesuit Order. This badge of the Society of Jesus has a field azure, rayonne or, enclosing the sacred letters IHS under a cross and above the Sacred Nails of the second. Encircling the base of the shield on a background argent is traced a scroll sable bearing the College device: REUGIONI ET BONIS ARTIBUS (Dedicated to religion and the Fine Arts). The band encircling the shield and device is in maroon edged with gold, and the inscription thereon, “COLLEGIUM BOSTONIENSE FUND. 1863” is in gold.

THE MACE

The academic mace or sceptre may have evolved from the mace of royalty or the crozier of the Bishop, so closely intertwined were both in the monastic foundations of early universities. Originally a wooden staff carried by royal messengers, the mace may also have been used as a weapon to protect the royal official or carried to lead faculties in official ceremonies and displayed as a reminder for order during classes. Bv the fourteenth century the mace had assumed a more ceremonial function and survives today as a symbol of academic dignity.

The Boston College mace was designed by Brother Francis L. Sergi, S.J., and crafted by Patrick J. Gill & Sons in 1938, the year that marked the 75th anniversary of the founding of the University. The mace, the gift of the Brighton, Cambridge, Dorchester, Lowell, New York, and Salem chapters of the Alumni Association, features an eagle perched on a globe inscribed with the words Religionis et Bonis Artubus, “Dedicated to Religion and the Fine Arts.” The globe is set in a crown-like vessel with alternate crosses and fleurs-de-lis. On the side of the vessel is the shield of the University’s seal, with the motto," Ever to Excel,” in Greek, inscribed on an open book. At the base of the shield is a silver dove descending, symbolic of the coming of the Holy Spirit. The University Mace is carried by the Chief Marshal.