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  1. #1
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    Clergy badge and Armiger feather

    OK, here is a rather unusual question. As I understand it, a clan member who is armigerous generally receives some kind of written permission from the clan chief to wear a feather with the clan badge. I note that there is a Clergy Clan Badge. Is the badge simply an "occupational accoutrement," treated as a courtesy (like the Clergy tartans)? After all, as a member of the "clergy clan," I obviously know Who my "clan chief" is; however, obtaining written permission to wear a feather with the cap badge from Him is a little beyond the pale. Get my drift? Anyone ever address this subject before?

    If you know of any armigerous clergy who have done this, please share. If not, feel free to have some fun with this thread! (Although this is a serious question, I also take my humor seriously, too! But also keep in mind the rules of the forum...I know this could quickly become a "hot" topic, which is not my intent.)
    The Rev. William B. Henry, Jr.
    "With Your Shield or On It!"

  2. #2
    macwilkin is offline
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    Quote Originally Posted by WBHenry View Post
    OK, here is a rather unusual question. As I understand it, a clan member who is armigerous generally receives some kind of written permission from the clan chief to wear a feather with the clan badge. I note that there is a Clergy Clan Badge. Is the badge simply an "occupational accoutrement," treated as a courtesy (like the Clergy tartans)? After all, as a member of the "clergy clan," I obviously know Who my "clan chief" is; however, obtaining written permission to wear a feather with the cap badge from Him is a little beyond the pale. Get my drift? Anyone ever address this subject before?

    If you know of any armigerous clergy who have done this, please share. If not, feel free to have some fun with this thread! (Although this is a serious question, I also take my humor seriously, too! But also keep in mind the rules of the forum...I know this could quickly become a "hot" topic, which is not my intent.)
    There are two variants of the clergy badge on the market; both feature the emblem of the Church of Scotland, the Burning Bush, with the motto "But It Was Not Consumed". Whilst it's become somewhat generic in terms of clergy using it with their Highland kit, the badge is decidely Presbyterian.

    As far as clergy and armiger's feather go, I would imagine that some do wear a feather to mark their status in the spirit of "render unto Ceasar the things which are Ceasar's...", but I would have to ask the one RC priest that I know who is an armiger what his opinion on the matter is.

    T.

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    I would think that the agency which issued your arms also issued you the right to wear/display them. Barring that, ask your Bishop. Or, as some others in your camp whom I have known have done with other matters, go ahead and do what you're going to do, then TELL your Bishop.
    --dbh

    When given a choice, most people will choose.

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    macwilkin is offline
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    Quote Originally Posted by piperdbh View Post
    I would think that the agency which issued your arms also issued you the right to wear/display them. Barring that, ask your Bishop. Or, as some others in your camp whom I have known have done with other matters, go ahead and do what you're going to do, then TELL your Bishop.
    Most bishops I know wouldn't care one way or the other.

    T.

  5. #5
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    Mike_Oettle is offline Oops, it seems this member needs to update their email address
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    Not being a cleric myself I cannot speak with authority, but I would say that as an armiger you ought to wear a badge showing your own crest (with a metallic feather).
    However, not all of us can afford such luxuries, so one will often need to fall back on alternatives.
    I am inclined to view the burning bush badge as being Presbyterian, but at the same time it is a symbol taken from the Old Testament, and the motto (being in Latin) harks back to when the Church of Scotland was Roman Catholic. So a non-Presbyterian cleric could arguably wear it too.
    One could also look into the possibility of wearing a badge showing an emblem of one’s own church connection.
    My own solution was to purchase a badge bearing the likeness of St Andrew, which I wear either with a square of Mighty Men tartan (which symbolises the Christian Faith) or without. (I have a piece of blue ribbon somewhere that I have used as a backing, too.)
    A Scottish woman I know did ask me once whether I was connected with the Black Watch – that regiment has traditionally worn St Andrew (known among them as Jimmy) as a badge.
    But I see it as a symbol of a) Christianity, b) Scotland (since most of his bones lie at St Andrews) and c) other countries with which St Andrew was associated during his lifetime (born a Galilean, and a missionary in lands now ruled by Turkey, Armenia and Greece).
    Regards,
    Mike
    The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life.
    [Proverbs 14:27]

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    William,

    This is from Lord Lyon's website:

    Armigers
    A person who has registered his or her own coat of Arms and Crest, or inherited these according to the Laws of Arms in Scotland from an ancestor who had recorded them in the Lyon Register, may wear their own Crest as a badge:

    • either on its Wreath, Crest Coronet or Chapeau,
    • or, as is more usual, within a plain circlet inscribed with his Motto.

    An armiger may also choose to wear instead the Crest badge of his Chief if the armiger is a clansman. An armiger is entitled to one silver eagle's feather behind the plain circlet, and if he is also a Peer he may add his appropriate coronet of rank on top of the circlet.
    In essence, if an armiger does not have Scottish arms recorded in the Lyon Register, then he should not wear a feather. My arms are not Scottish, so I don't wear a feather.

    Regards

    Chas

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    macwilkin is offline
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    I am inclined to view the burning bush badge as being Presbyterian, but at the same time it is a symbol taken from the Old Testament, and the motto (being in Latin) harks back to when the Church of Scotland was Roman Catholic. So a non-Presbyterian cleric could arguably wear it too.
    Indeed, Mike. I certainly wouldn't argue that non-Presbyterian clergy should not wear it, only that folks should be aware of its distinctly Presbyterian symbolism.

    I also have a St. Andrew badge like yours that I sometimes wear as part of official functions with our local St. Andrew's Society.

    T.

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    macwilkin is offline
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chas View Post
    William,

    This is from Lord Lyon's website:

    In essence, if an armiger does not have Scottish arms recorded in the Lyon Register, then he should not wear a feather. My arms are not Scottish, so I don't wear a feather.

    Regards

    Chas
    Not to be flippant, but "Render unto Lyon the things that are Lyon's..."

    Sorry, sorry...

    T.

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    I wonder what the history, and the length of that history is for such badges. I would imagine that the "clergy" badge is a relatively recent development. That in itself argues neither for legitimacy, nor illegitimacy, but time and usage do tend to add to that legitimacy. I for one would never wear it with a feather since to me that would be an admixture of symbolisms.
    Rev'd Father Bill White: Retired Parish Priest & Elementary Headmaster. Lover of God, dogs, most people, joy, tradition, humour & clarity. Legion Padre, theologian, teacher, philosopher, linguist, encourager of hearts & souls & a firm believer in dignity, decency, & duty. A proud Canadian Sinclair.

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    Quote Originally Posted by WBHenry View Post
    OK, here is a rather unusual question. As I understand it, a clan member who is armigerous generally receives some kind of written permission from the clan chief to wear a feather with the clan badge. I note that there is a Clergy Clan Badge. Is the badge simply an "occupational accoutrement," treated as a courtesy (like the Clergy tartans)?
    The short answer is "Yes, the clergy bonnet badge is an occupational accourtement", and as such should not be adorned with feathers. Feathers indicate status within one's clan, and have nothing to do with an armigers occupation or profession. Indeed, one need not be an armiger at all to be accorded the right to feathers by one's chief. Chiefs rarely (if ever) object to an armiger wearing a feather, simply because the status of an armiger is roughly equivalent to that of the tacksman of old, not all of whom would have possessed a coat of arms, but who most certainly would have ensigned their bonnet with a feather when the occasion called for it.
    Quote Originally Posted by WBHenry View Post
    If you know of any armigerous clergy who have done this, please share.
    I know at least a half dozen armigerous clergy, and none of them even wear clergy tartan or clergy bonnet badges. To a man they wear their clan tartan and their own crest, with or without feathers, as the occasion demands.

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