Brandon University - Sickle Yearbook (Brandon, Manitoba Canada)

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ARMS OF BRANDON COLLEGE From the earliest ages man ha-s used distinguishing symbols to represent his tribe or nation, his family or clan. The classical poets tell us of the devices borne on the shields of heroes. The standards of the tribes of Israel bore figures devised from the prophecy of Jacob. The five-clawed dragon of the Chinese empire, the ch-rysanthemum of the Mikado are very ancient symbols. The totems of the primitive people may be regarded as foreru-nners of the mediaeval coat of arms. Heraldry, the art or science -of armorial bearings, arose in Europe in the twelfth and thir- teenth centuries. In battle one galloping knight was like another. Leaders saw the advantage of decorating shield and banner so t-hat they might be recognized amidst the uproar and confusion of fthe fight. Symbols were displayed on the knight's shield, on his surcoat or Coat of Arms , on his 'banner or pennon, on the trapper or coat of his horse, a-nd even on the peaks of the horse's saddle. The custom of sealing deeds and charters had further influence on the devel-opment of her- aldry. In this way citizens and men of peace, women and clerks, cities and towns, corporations and colleges all came to share the use of armorial bearings. Heraldry ithus grew to be an exact and complicated art or science, with ramifications in art, architecture, law, history and genealogy. Men wrote books about heraldry, spent their lives in a study of its history, application, and meaning. Arms 'in marble, woo-d, and brass adorned the houses of the living and the dead, they were embroidered in -tapestries and garments, 'painted on the sails of ships and on carriage doors, and figured upon dis-hes, chalices, flagons, spoons, and every kind of gold and silver work. In the fantastic magnificence of the tournament heraldry rose to its greatest glory Today heraldry is a subject fascinating alike to the student of art, law, his-tory, literature or sociology, and to the painter or craftsman who desires to illustrate the ideas and aims -of man- kind. The ramifications o-f heraldry are endless, but its laws are exact. A coat of arms if it is to be correct, must be as carefully designed and bodied forth as any other true work of art. Within a brief space it is impossible to mention even a tithe of the rules necessary to under- s-tand heraldry as a science. However, a few principles may be indicated.. The different parts of a coat of arms are as follows: l. The s-hield. 2. The helmet-By the position of the helmet the rank of the wearer was indicated. 3. The crest-This originated in the symbol borne upon his hehnet by the knight in battle. 4. The torse-This is the twisted band or wreath by which the crest is joined to the helmet. It was originally of silk, twisted with one, two, or three colours. 5. The mantle-This is the hanging cloth attached to the top of the helmet below the crest. The mantle originated amongthe Crusaders as a protection for the steel helmet from the rays of the Eastern sun. Later the edges of the mantle were slitted and flourished out on either side of the helm, becoming the delight of t-he painter of armories and the seal engraver. 6. The supporters-There were the animals or other figures standing on each side of the shield, such as the lion and the un-icorn of the Royal Arms. Supporters were as a rule only used by kings and persons of rank. . 7. The motto-This consists of the words painted on a scroll beneath the shield. The motto finds its origin in the battle cry of the knight as he rode into combat, or in the cryptic sentence having spe-cial meaning to its original user. From the early day Brandon College had a crest and motto. In 1948 a committee was ap- pointed, representing the Board of Directors, Faculty, Alumni and Students, under the chairman- ship of Dr. Evans, its purpose being to design and approve a coat of arms for Bra-ndon College. The committee carried out 'its work, and the heraldic artist, Mr. A. Scott Carter, was engaged to paint the coat of arms as designed. Thus the arms of Brandon College came into being. The correct bla-zoning of the arms is as follows: Argent, on a chevron azure an antique lamp or between in chief two open books, and in base a garb, all ppr. One hundred and seven 4- -,L

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GLEE CLUB The past year marked the beginning of a re-building program for the Brandon College Glee Club. Not all our objectives were accomplished, but the Glee Club once more took its place as an integral part of the College community. Mr. Humphrey Davies contributed much of his time and talent to the weekly practices and co-nducted the group at Inter-Varsity Night. The clulb expressed their appreci- ation of his services in a presentation at the end of the season. The club -also carried the na-me of Brandon College into the Rotary Carol Festival, entertalined at Lit Night, and presented a program in Chapel. A vote of thanks is due Bev Zimmerman for the efficient manner in which she carried out the duties of club librarian, and also Mervin Letts for his unlflagging interest in the club's activities. Practice- teaching tended to play havoc with attendance at some practices but much credit is due the members of the club who were so faithful. I, for my part, am grateful for the experience of Working with the club members and hope -that the foundations which have been laid this year become the basis for 'a flourishing Glee Club at the college. David Wilson, Convenor 1959-60. One hundred and six

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ARMS OF BRANDON COLLEGE fCon1inueclJ Crest-A Phoenix sable, armed gules, lssuant from flames of fire ppr. In fblazoning, that is descnibed the field, one mentions first the colour of the shield as a whole, which in this case is Argent, that is, silver, or white. Next one describes the charges, that is the devices or symbols placed upon the shield. The Or-dinaries are certain conventional figures commonly charged upon shields. The Chevron is an Ordinary whose form is explained by its name. Chevron means a bar bent like two meeting rafters, the word being derived from the Latin caper, a goat. The Chevron in our coat of arms is Azure, that is blue. Charged upon the Chevron is an Antique Lamp, the colo-ur being Or, that is gold. The The The The Chief is the upper part of the shield, and the Base is the lower part. Chevron is between in Chief two Open Books, and in Base a Garb. Garb is a wheat-sheaf, from the Old Northern French garbe. two Open Books, and the Garb are all proper, that is, in their proper or natural col- ours, and in any of the conventional tinctures. The Crest -is a Phoenix. This is a mythical bird fabled to be the only one of its kind, and to live five or six hundred years in the Arabian desert, after which it burnt itself to ashes on a funeral pile and emerged from its ashes with renewed youth, to live through 'another cycle of yea-rs. The Phoenix is Sable, that is black. The Phoenix is Armed Gules, that is its beak and tongue are Gules, that is red. The Phoenix issues from the Flames of Fire, signifying the old legend. The Flames themselves are Proper, that is in their proper or natural colour. The Motto is-Aletheuontes de en agape- Speaking the truth Cas opposed to errorl in love. The most import-ant aspect of the Coat of Arms of Brandon College is its symbolic meaning. The Antique Lamp represents the Light of Swpiritual Truth. The two Open Books represent the Learning and the Art-s of Mankind. The Garb or Wheatsheaf represents the material blessings which God has g-iven us, in both body and estate. Thus the Coat of Arms represents to us the threefold nature of man, spiritual, mental, and physical, crowned with the 'blessing of renewed youth or everlasting life. As Milton puts it-- The end then of learning is to repair the ruins of our first parents by regaining to know God aright, and out of that knowledge to love him, to imitate him, to be like him .... I ca-ll therefore a complete and generous education, that which fits a man to perform justly, skilfully, and magnanimously all the offices, both private and public, peace and war. One hundred and eight