Judson College’s Rose Sunday marks 90 years

Judson College’s Rose Sunday marks 90 years

 

Judson College faculty, staff and students celebrated the 90th anniversary of the school’s revered Rose Sunday Aug. 28.

Students donned their white gloves, black hats and senior regalia as they walked the few blocks from the college to Siloam Baptist Church, Marion, in recognition of the traditional celebration marketing the commencement of a new academic year.

The ceremony was first observed officially Sept. 19, 1915, but originated much earlier in a practice begun by the founder and first president of the college, Milo P. Jewett. On Rose Sunday, Judson underclassmen lift a carefully woven ivy chain on either side of the front walk for the senior class, adorned in academic regalia and pinned with a single red rose, to silently pass through.

Seniors pause at the end of the ivy chain, turn and serenade their underclassmen.

They then follow Judson’s president, David Potts, who leads the procession to the church for worship.

During the worship service, Siloam pastor Bill Cannon said, “Today is a day of great traditions in this church and this college. I challenge you today to let God lift you up as living stones that have been put here to proclaim His praises.”
Potts focused his remarks – titled What’s in a Name? – Judson’s founders.

The most famous woman in the 19th century world was the young missionary Ann Hasseltine Judson, Potts said. She was the first American woman to serve as an international missionary and became a legend in Great Britain and America.

Potts read several excerpts from letters written by the Judsons during that time and explained how their faith changed a nation.

Judson and her husband, Adoniram, worked 10 years to translate the New Testament from Greek into the Burmese language.