A Movement to Defend and Honor William & Mary’s History
“William and Mary belongs to all Virginians, to the nation, and to the world.”
From a resolution unanimously adopted by the W&M Board of Visitors on Nov. 17, 2006

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 A Tale of Two Crosses at William & Mary

Wren Cross and Marischal Mace Both Gifts...Is the Mace Next to Go?

 

The Marischal Mace (left), A Gift to W&M (in 1993)

• From University of Aberdeen, Scotland (The College of Marischal at Aberdeen is the school attended by Bruton Rector and W&M’s first President Rev. James Blair)
• Marischal Mace Leads College Community Every Year in Convocation, Charter Day, and Commencement Ceremonies
• A cross adorns the top (will this cross go next?)

Millington Cross (right), Gift to W&M (in 1930s)

• Commonly called the Wren Cross
• From Bruton Parish
• Permanent Fixture on altar table in Wren Chapel until October 2006

The Carrying of the Marischal Mace at Graduation and on Charter DayThe Marischal Mace is carried by a representative of the Graduate Council of the Student Assembly at all official College convocations. A gift from the University of Aberdeen in honor of the College’s 300th anniversary, the mace was presented by the University’s Principal and Vice Chancellor, Professor John Maxwell Irvine. The University of Aberdeen is comprised of King’s College (founded 1495) and Marischal College (founded 1593), where William and Mary’s founder and first president, the Rev. James Blair, was educated. The mace, a silver replica of one of the two maces carried by Sacrists at traditional university ceremonies in Scotland, was first carried in academic procession at the Charter Day ceremony in February 1993. When not in use, the mace is placed in the Earl Gregg Swem Library under the care of the University Archivist.During Graduation ceremonies, on the last verse of the Alma Mater (God our Father, hear our voices, listen to our cry, bless the College of our Fathers, let her never die.), as a public recognition of the ongoing tradition and vitality of the College of William and Mary, the College Mace is presented to the incoming president of the Student Assembly by the outgoing Student Assembly president, and the Marischal Mace is presented to the incoming Graduate Council president by the outgoing president of the Graduate Council. Bearing their respective maces, the new Student Assembly president, followed by the new Graduate Council president, will lead the official party and faculties from the auditorium.