AN EMBLEM OF AFFECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21600, 22 March 1932, Page 3

AN EMBLEM OF AFFECTION

"AS BROTHERS TO BROTHERS” Mr C. H. Faggc, representing the Royal College of Surgeons of England, who was a visitor to Dunedin last week, was the bearer to Melbourne of an exquisite example of the silversmith’s art in the form of a great mace, which he was commissioned to present to the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Describing the mace and explaining the significance of its design, Mr Faggc said: —

“ A mace was in early days a weapon of offence, but in the twelfth century ceremonial maces, originally intended for the protection of the King’s person, came into use. At first the flanged end of a mace —that is, the head of a war mace—was borne uppermost, and the small button bearing the royal arms in the base; but by the fifteenth century the position was reversed owing to the greater importance of the end which bore 'the royal arms. Gradually this end of the mace has completely eclipsed the ‘ heel ’ as the beauty and elaboration of its decoration has increased. In the year 1822 a mace was granted to our college by the munificence of our most august Sovereign King George IV. This was some 13 years before the first settlers erected on the banks of the Yarra those turf huts which, under the name of Doutta Galla, were destined to provide the earliest traditions of this great and beautiful city. “In our charter of the year, which was supplementary to our first charter of 1800, it is set out that ‘it is our further will and pleasure that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said college at all times hereafter and upon all such occasions as they shall think proper and expedient to exercise and enjoy the right and privilege of having a mace.’ In designing this mace for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Omar Ramsden has followed the general form and proportions of that of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, which was executed by his Majesty’s goldsmiths. Of necessity the ornaments have been altered, and appropriate emblems have been introduced.

“ By express permission of his Majesty King George V the finial is formed by the royal orb and cross; these emblems are supported by four arms or buttresses suggesting the form of a monarchical crown, and on them is woven a border of briar symbolising the thorny path which leads to greatness. The four panels around the head bear the arms of the Commonwealth of Australia and of the Dominion of New Zealand, of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, and of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, between which are oak decorations emblematical of the permanence of the institutions just mentioned. Beneath the head, which, as is fit, is supported by eight British lions, is a wavy strip to symbolise the separating seas. The university decorations are the rose of England, the seven-pointed star and wattle of Australia, and the fern of New Zealand; and the staff bears the names of the donors—the ,24 members of the Council of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, in the year 1930-31. The cap bears the royal arms, and round this is the legend that it is the gift of our college to yours ‘as brothers to brothers.’ ”