On Saturday 16 May, Ralston College summoned a ceremonial convocation for a twin celebration: to install our new Chancellor, Dr Iain McGilchrist, and to confer upon our fourth cohort of twenty-three scholars the degree of Master of Arts in the Humanities. More than a hundred guests, comprising family, friends, and well-wishers, gathered in St John’s Episcopal Church for this joyous and memorable occasion.
The day followed the ceremonial tradition that Ralston has established since its inception. Led by a bagpiper, an academic procession of College officials and faculty marched in full regalia from Forsyth Park to St John’s Episcopal Church on Bull Street. This procession replicates the ancient custom whereby a university engages with its surrounding community for the formal and festive celebration of its students’ achievements.
The service, conducted throughout in the historical ceremonial language of Latin, began with the installation of Dr Iain McGilchrist as Ralston's new Chancellor. The Provost, Dr David Butterfield, delivered an encomium to commend Dr McGilchrist to the gathered Convocation. On receiving unanimous approval, Dr McGilchrist was inducted into his new role by the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Stephen Blackwood: after swearing an oath of allegiance to the College over Ralston’s sword and coat of arms, he duly assumed the Chancellor's throne.
Thus properly installed, the Chancellor was able to conduct the main business of the day: the conferral of MA degrees on Ralston's fourth cohort (25/26). The twenty-three graduands proceeded to their degree alphabetically, each swearing an oath of allegiance, assuming the MA hood from the President, and being admitted by the Chancellor’s hand as an alumnus or alumna of the College in perpetuity. Once seated among the Faculty, as Masters of the College, the graduates listened to an inspiring address from the Chancellor, who made clear that this apparent close to their studies was in fact the beginning of a much longer, and yet more important, intellectual journey.
Following the ceremony, the bagpiper led the Chancellor, the President, the Faculty and staff, followed by the new graduates, Ralston alumni, and a wide array of guests, to the College’s chief building, 26 East Gaston Street. Lively speeches, toasts and musical performances preceded an evening of celebration, recollection, and Greek dancing at nearby Collins Quarter at Forsyth Park.
One of Ralston’s mottoes, taken from Plato, is χαλεπὰ τὰ καλά: the beautiful things are difficult. They are indeeed, but once won, they are the easiest and happiest things to celebrate.
