LETTERS
The recent publicity surrounding the elimination of the logo, and its usage being replaced by that of the Coat of Arms, provokes me to recall and to record the way our various insignia and, in particular, the Coat of Arms, came about.
All of this happened during the tenure of our first president, Herbert Armstrong. I was chairman of the small Convocation Committee, and most things were left to us -- the gowns and hoods, the regalia of the chancellor, president, chairman of the board, vice-presidents and deans. I had the privilege of working with Lillian Savage, of SainthillLevene's, in generating the proposals, which were accepted, and are essentially those that remain in use today. We also generated the design of the degree parchments.
The Coat of Arms, however, was something Herb Armstrong took pride in generating himself, with the Lord Lyon King at Arms. He chose the Scottish herald because of the Scottish origin of our city's name. He acquired considerable knowledge of heraldry, and reprimanded me for using the term "crest", which correctly refers to the helmet or other device which can surmount a heraldic shield. We do not have a crest.
While Herb jealously guarded his negotiations over the Coat of Arms from any interference, his enthusiasm was such that he could not refrain from telling me, from time to time, some proposed features. Some of the elements, which are detailed in the Grant of Arms, are published regularly, but others are not. Herb had to persuade Lord Lyon that the division between the upper part (containing the books and rose) and the lower section, could be curved rather than the straight horizontal line which is the convention. This curve was to suggest the chinook arch.
The other thing was the books. They were to contain no writing. Armstrong contended that it was the challenge to the university to generate the writing, rather than just read it. I note that someone in recent times has seen fit to insert writing on the books, but the Grant of Arms (as I recall) specifies they be blank.
The motto is part of the first verse of Psalm 121, following the precedent of the Canadian Arms, where the motto is from a Psalm. However, the English translation Armstrong knew was that of Coverdale which reads: "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills: from whence cometh my help." The perceived implication of this translation can be that our help comes from the hills, and I think (although I am not sure) that this is the way Armstrong read it, whereas the exact opposite is the real meaning, as we see in the next and subsequent verses: "My help cometh even from the Lord: who hath made heaven and Earth."
Also, Herb went to a Gaelic Bible for the translation we use, and my Gaelic scholar friends tell me that it is not very good Gaelic!
Armstrong contended that use of the Coat of Arms should be restricted, hence the use of the logo, of which we have used two distinct designs. If I can offer a personal comment, I never quite understood his contention, since it has led to wide use of a most unimpressive device to represent the university. I welcome the wider use of the Coat of Arms, but hope that it may continue to be used with a measure of dignity.
E. Challice
Professor Emeritus of Physics