Chapel Consecrated at University of the South
Diocesan Press Service. October 20, 1975 [75368]
SEWANEE, Tenn. -- The God of the Episcopalians smiled benignly on Sewanee on October 10 for the consecration of All Saints' Chapel and commemoration of Founders' Day. A brilliant sun, balmy air and autumn foliage at its peak on the densely forested plateau added up to the most beautiful in recent local memory.
The Rt. Rev. John M. Allin, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church and chancellor of the University of the South, performed the service of consecration for which the university had waited 65 years. He began with the time-honored knocking on the front door of the large building, which is called "chapel " because it is the church of an institution, the University of the South, which is owned by 24 southern dioceses of the Episcopal Church.
Proceeding in two wings into the chapel were robed students of the choir and servers, chaplains and former chaplains of the university, members of the Chancellor's Society (contributors of $10,000 or more to the university within the past year), faculties and officers of administration of the Sewanee Academy, the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Theology, the regents and trustees present.
Bishop William Jones of Missouri, newest bishop member of the board of trustees, preached the sermon and was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity by the chancellor, Bishop Allin. Bishop Jones was cited as "combining evangelistic zeal, personal and spiritual depth, and managerial skills. " He is an alumnus of the University of the South, as are Presiding Bishop Allin and his predecessor in that office, Bishop John E. Hines, who preached October 12 and delivered two lectures at the School of Theology the following week.
In his sermon Bishop Jones stressed the "community of saints, known and unknown, in the history of the Christian church and in the university, for whom this chapel was named. " He cited the designers, people who gave money and the builders, and told the present faculty and student body that they are accountable in their persons, deeds and aspirations to all those who had made the day possible.
Bishop Allin, speaking informally, also touched on the singling out of the Sewanee product. "Sewanee does more with her own than they realize," he said. Drawing a figure from horse racing he said, "This university puts her colors upon us because she expects us to perform well. "
He gave special memorial recognition to two outstanding alumni and benefactors who died recently and member of whose families were present, G. Cecil Woods of Chattanooga and Ben Humphreys McGee of Leland, Mississippi. He also praised Arthur Cockett, who was university personnel director before his recent sudden death.
For the special occasion music by the University Choir and organist was supplemented by a brass choir from Middle Tennessee State University and drums by Robert Brodie, a student at the University School of Theology and director of the university band.
Participating in the service were Dr. Edward McCrady, former vice-chancellor and modifying architect of the All Saints' Chapel completion, who also personally carved or supervised the carving of much of its wood sculpture, and former chaplains the Rev. Joel Pugh, now rector of The Falls Church in Falls Church, Va., and the Very Rev. David Collins, dean of the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta.
Members of Chancellor's Society in the procession were the Rt. Rev. and Mrs. Christoph Keller, Jr. of Little Rock, Arkansas; Mr. and Mrs. Ogden Carlton of Albany, Ga.; Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Hynson of Laurel, Miss.; Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Solomon of New Orleans, La.; Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Ayres of San Antonio, Texas; and the Very Rev. G. Cecil Woods, Jr., dean of the Episcopal Seminary in Virginia, and Mrs. Woods, representing his father, who died June 15.