By : Blair Carrier
Traditions are not in the past.
In 1838, members of Siloam Baptist Church founded Judson College and all of her presidents have worshipped there. The tradition called Rose Sunday shows just how important the relationship between college and church is and how it has remained strong throughout the years.
Rose Sunday comes from an old tradition of Judson College. The first president, Milo P. Jewett, one of the founders of the college, would bang his cane on the stairwell that led to the girls’ rooms and call them down every Sunday to come to church with him.
Rose Sunday was first observed on September 19, 1915, and is observed on the first Sunday of the fall semester. Each senior is clothed in her academic regalia and pearls, and is pinned with a single red rose on her left breast to honor Judson’s founders. The entire student body then walks to church with the president of Judson College.
The following morning is just as significant. Each senior will be clothed in her cap and gown and her little sister, or whomever they choose to have pin them, pins a single red rose on their left breast. The seniors then line up in two parallel lines in the main foyer of Jewett Hall. The senior at the beginning of the line is the Senior Class President, and she is accompanied by the Senior Vice President at her side. Their pearls stand out on their black robes along with their black high heels, this being the traditional accessory to be worn with the academic regalia. The seniors will then process out the front doors and down the sidewalk where they will pause to stand in front of the sophomores and juniors lined up on the outside of the ivy chain. The chain is held at elbow height by the underclassmen. While stopped, the seniors turn to the underclassmen and begin to sing a song to their little sister that was written by the song leaders.
With family and friends all scattered about the front lawn of campus, the seniors and the other classes walk with the president of the college down to the church.
This is one of my favorite “old way” traditions because it is the first one that the freshmen get to experience with the other students and alum. I love that Judson still keeps this tradition of walking to church together as a college at least one day a year. It is important to me because I understand the history behind it and I know the meaning of traditions to Judson College.
The unity of Siloam and Judson means a lot to me because the founders of the college wanted a college for women that had an education level of Harvard and Yale. But not only that, but so that we can honor our Lord and learn more about him everyday even while we were receiving an education.
*Full story can be found on the Odyssey Online. Article shortened for sake of space on print copy of The Triangle.