Part 6 (2/2)

This happy reference to the ested by Sir Walter Scott

Another almost historic occasion in the Sheldonian hen, at a Diocesan Conference, the late Lord Beaconsfield made his well-known declaration, 'I for els' But these scenes only indirectly touch Oxford More intimately connected with her history are the faue saved Tract No 90 from acadeo, when the perical Laboratory was only carried after a struggle in which the Odium Scientificum showed itself capable of an unruliness and an unfairness to opponents which has left all displays, previous or subsequent, of Odiuicum far behind

[Sidenote: Coanized medical vote on that occasion holds the record for noise in the Theatre And the competition for the record has been and is still severe; every year at Commemoration, we have a scene of acade of the gravity of the University', to use John Evelyn's words of the perfor of the Sheldonian It is true that the proceedings of the Encaenia have been always able to be co ladies freely ae was introduced in 1876 The disorder of the undergraduates' gallery had culminated in 1874, and in 1875 the ceremony was held in the Divinity School But the noise is as prevalent as ever, and it raduates' wit has suffered severely frouished and undistinguished alike, appreciate the disorder, and it certainly has plenty of precedent for it in all stages of University history

But the Sheldonian has ular feature of the Encaenia, and compositions ritten for it The most famous occasion of this kind was in July, 1733, when Handel came to Oxford, at the invitation of the Vice-Chancellor, to conduct the perfor these was the Oratorio _Athaliah_, especially written for the occasion Handel was offered the degree of Doctor of Music, but (unlike Haydn) declined it, because he disliked 'throwing away his money for dat de blockhead wish'

[Sidenote: Convocation House]

Till quite recently the degree ceremony was usually held in the Convocation House, which lies just in front of the Sheldonian, under the northern end of the Bodleian Library (the so-called Selden Wing) This plain and unpretentious building, which was largely due to the un in 1635 and finished two years later It cost, with the buildings above, about 4,200 Its dreary late-Gothic s and heavy tracery, and the Spartan severity of its unbacked benches, are characteristic of the tiious, to which it belongs It has been from that time to this the Parliament House of the University, where all ation of resident Doctors and Masters; it is only on the rare occasions when soreat principle is at stake, and when the country is roused, that islative or administrative, are discussed anywhere else; a Sheldonian debate is fortunately very rare

[Sidenote: Its History]

The building is well suited for the purpose for which it was erected, and so has not unnaturally been used as the islators, when, as has several tiathered in Oxford Charles I's House of Commons land; and in 1665, when Parliaue, and in 1681, when Charles II fought and defeated the last Exclusion Parliaain occupied this House It was on the latter occasion just preparing to move across to the Sheldonian, and the printers there were already packing up their presses to islators, when Charles suddenly dissolved it, and so completed his victory over Shaftesbury and Monmouth

A less suitable use for the Convocation House was its employment for Charles I's Court of Chancery in 1643-4

For the reasons given above, degree days are now much more important functions than they used to be, and the Convocation House, never very suitable for the ceremony, is now seldom used

[Sidenote: Divinity School]

But the Divinity School, which lies at a right angle to the Convocation House, under the Bodleian Library proper, is a room which by its beauty is worthy to be the scene of any University cererees are still often conferred there as well as in the Sheldonian

The architecture of the School makes it the finest rooh the greater part of the fifteenth century, which Professor Freelish architecture; and certainly the strength and the weakness of the Perpendicular style could hardly be better illustrated elsewhere The story of its erection can be largely traced in the _Epistolae Academicae_, published by the Oxford Historical Society; they cover the whole of the fifteenth century, and though they are weariso on the same subject--the University's need ofand in the returning of thanks, which would -letter writer, whether private or public

The earliest reference to the building of the proposed new School of Divinity is in 1423, when the University picturesquely says it was intended 'ad as could be said in Latin which would be shocking in English) In 1426 the Archbishop of Canterbury, Chichele, is approached and asked 'to open the torrents of his brotherly kindness' Parliament is appealed to, the Monastic Orders, the citizens of London, in fact anybody and everybody as likely to help Cardinal Beaufort gave 500 ines which he had got for building Magdalen--at least he was requested to do so--(1478), the Bishop of London, by a refinement of compliment, is asked to show himself 'in this respect also a second Soloreened in 1429, when the superintendent builder was to have a retaining fee of 40_s_ a year, and 4_s_ for every week that he was at work in Oxford; the as finally co travail; its elaborate stone roof, with the arms of benefactors carved in it, is a model at once of real beauty and of structural skill

[Sidenote: History of the Divinity School]

The Divinity School, as its naical Faculty, and perhaps it was this special purpose which prevented it being used so widely for ordinary business, as the other University buildings were At any rate it was this connexion which led to its being the scene of one of the most picturesque events in Oxford history; it was to it, on April 16, 1554, that Cranmer was suainst the whole force of the Role-handed and without any preparation, he held his oith his opponents, and extorted their reluctant admiration by his courtesy and his readiness 'Master Cran up of the presiding Doctor, and all lifted their caps as the fallen Archbishop left the building It was the last honour paid to Cranhteenth century, when all old uses were upset, the Divinity School was even lent to the City as a law court, and it was here the unfortunate Miss Blandy was condemned to death But as a rule its associations have been academic, and it is still used for its old purpose, ie for the reading of the Divinity theses It is only occasionally that University functions of athe farees in 1895 So splendid a rooht to be employed on every possible occasion, and happy are they hen the nurees in surroundings so characteristic of the best in Oxford

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 30: The buffooneries of the Terrae Filius, as a recognized part of the 'Act', would be eventhan merely secular business]

APPENDIX I

THE PUBLIC assEMBLIES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

I Degrees are given and exaation This corresponds to the 'Congregation of Regents' of the Laudian Statutes Its members are the University officials, the professors, the heads and deans of colleges, all exaents', ie Doctors and Masters of Arts of not ; it thus includes all those who have to do with the conduct, the instruction, or the exaents' are added, because in thewas imposed on Doctors and Masters of not ht 'rule the Schools' if they pleased, but the juniors were bound to discharge this duty unless dispensed

II Congregation consists of all those members of Convocation who reside within twowith certain officials This body has nothing to do with degrees; it is the chief legislative body of Oxford

III Convocation is made up of all Doctors and Masters whose names are on the University's books It confirrees at Commemoration