Chapter 3.  Installation

 

Dan strolled onto campus and approached Scofield Chapel.  Its architecture reminded him of the landmark Churches built in the 19^th century.  Resting on a hilltop, it overlooked the entire  school.  In the morning light, it was majestic.

 

Dan entered the narthex.  A young coed addressed him.  “Welcome to the Installation Ceremony”, she said.  “Are you a member of the ‘Chancellor’s Welcoming Party’?”

 

Dan replied, “Yes, I am.  Do you need to see my letter of invitation?”

 

“No,” she demurred,  “just go to the registration desk and give your name to Julie.”

 

Dan gave his name.  Julie rippled through her box of nametags and found his.  She rose, pinned the tag to the left, chest pocket of his suit-coat, and said, with a smile and a gesture, “Ask that usher over there to escort you to your reserved seat.”

 

The usher inspected Dan’s tag and said, “Follow me, please.”  He led Dan to a front row seat at the right end of the center section.  “These three seats are for the researchers who are to work with Dr. Angelo.  Since you’re the first to arrive, take your pick.”

 

“Thanks”, Dan replied.  He chose the third seat in from the aisle.

 

Dan reviewed the ornate wood-workings and elegant chandeliers of the inspiring hall.  It had the feel of a Great Room in an 18^th century chateau, with large beams spanning the ceiling.  He had been there, often, to hear orchestral and choral presentations.  The acoustics and the ambiance of the venue were well-suited to such events.

 

With about fifteen minutes left before the ceremony was to commence, a string quartet entered the orchestra pit between the front row of seats and the platform, just about twelve feet to Dan’s left.  They tuned their instruments for a few minutes and, then, began to play.  The program which the usher had handed Dan noted that they were playing themes from “Ode to Joy” [1], from the final movement of Beethoven’s 9^th Symphony.  The melodies poured forth with great clarity and energy, bringing warmth and pleasure to the gathering audience.

 

Dan’s thoughts drifted back to pleasant moments spent in his home Church.  His congregation loved to sing “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” based on these same tunes.  His reverie was interrupted by the arrival of a second member of the research team.  It was a fellow he had seen before in various campus settings, but Dan had never made his acquaintance.  He rose, stretched out his right hand, and said, “Hi, I’m Dan Diederman.”

 

The newcomer flashed a friendly smile and responded, “I’m Victor Bobreaux.  It seems we will be working together on Dr. Angelo’s projects.  Do you know who the third team member is?”

 

“Not yet”, Dan replied, “but, I guess we’ll know in a few minutes.”

 

Victor sat next to Dan, leaving the aisle seat open for team member three.

 

Dan’s attention was drawn back to the musicians.  They were producing exhilarating tones.  In particular, his eyes rested on the lead violinist, a beautiful girl, totally focused on her efforts.  Her movements were precise, but delicate.  She seemed to be embedded in the soaring songs.  He thought, “She might float away to the rafters with the amazing sounds she’s evoking from her instrument.”  Her face was alive with excitement.  Her eyes sparkled.  Dan had never seen anyone so enraptured by the intonations filling the hall.  She wore a black, symphonic gown, and the three men with her wore black suits. 

 

Dan was so entranced by the music and the girl, he was slow to note that the Faculty Procession had begun. 

 

Chancellor Grigsby had been meticulous in his planning for this festive occasion.  Since Dr. Angelo was a prestigious addition to the faculty, Grigsby had made attendance at this Installation Ceremony mandatory.  So, some of the professors were there against their will.  It showed.  The dissenters signaled their dismay by careless dress, sloppy posture, and inappropriate whispering, as they filed to their reserved seats.  The compliant, though, were well-behaved and well-dressed.  By order of the Chancellor, all wore academic robes.  It was an intriguing sight.  No two looked exactly alike.  Some wore colorful, V-shaped stoles, draped down their backs.  Others had hoods of various shapes resting on their shoulders.  Some had colorful bands down the front of their robes, and some had decorative honor ribbons attached to their outfits in artful ways.  Despite the few reluctant participants, the Procession was impressive.

 

Next, dignitaries filled the stage, led by  Chancellor Grigsby.  He was tall and wide.  Draped in his robe, he reminded Dan of paintings he had seen of happy, medieval friars.  The Chancellor had a sanguine face, a becoming smile, and a buoyant personality.  Verve seemed to exude from his frame.  Obviously, he was delighted with the occasion.  Gingerly, he stepped to the lectern and announced with authority, “All rise for the Invocation.  Dr. Thornbury, the Chairman of our Religions Department, will lead us in prayer.”

 

Dan thought the prayer was shallow, but he knew that the prevailing sentiment on campus was hostile to his Christian faith.  He thought it humorous that some of his anti-Christian professors had to endure this moment of solemnity.  Chancellor Grigsby was a stickler for traditions, and there was a long-standing law pertaining to Scofield Chapel; every gathering there was to be opened and closed with a Christian prayer.  The donors of the funds for the Chapel had stipulated that rule.

 

As the audience sat down, Dan scanned the faces of those on stage.  He was shocked.  One of the gentlemen on the platform was the man who had testified at Bo’s meeting in the park.  His heart raced.  “Wow,” he wondered, “could that be Dr. Angelo?” 

 

It was!  But, Dan wasn’t absolutely sure of this for about an hour.  First, the Chancellor explained how it was that Dr. Angelo had been induced to accept the Barrington Chair of Physical Sciences at Transcendental University.  Then, one by one, he introduced those who had helped recruit the Nobel Laureate: the Governor of Missouri, one of the state’s national Senators, and the Chairman of the Physical Sciences Department.  Each offered words of welcome. 

 

Dan was very interested in the proceedings.  He wanted to know who that familiar face on the stage belonged to.  Yet, his eyes kept returning to the lovely girl with the violin on her lap.  She was focused on the presentations, so he could see only the profile of her face.  But, even at that angle, she was striking.  He wondered, “How could a country bumpkin like me ever meet such an elegant lady?  And, even if that happened, why would she be attracted to me?”

 

Finally, Dr. Angelo was introduced.  Chancellor Grigsby called out, “Let’s all rise and offer a round of applause as Dr. Angelo comes to accept his appointment to the Barrington Chair of Physical Sciences.”

 

The audience complied, enthusiastically, and as they returned to their chairs, Dr. Angelo began speaking.  His opening sentence sparked some consternation among the faculty, “I thank God and all of you here at Transcendental University for presenting me with this opportunity to further my work.”  Some whispers emanated from the rows of professors.  Dan was thrilled.  He would be working with a Christian leader.  Of course, some of the faculty were dismayed to hear that this eminent, Nobel Prize winner was religious.

 

Dr. Angelo’s speech was brief.  He did not elaborate on his achievements.  He mentioned that his theoretical work had evoked equations that proved the Universe is not mostly empty space.   Rather, the whole Universe is a cosmic fabric, an array of mysterious corpuscles, woven together.  He expressed his optimism, “I believe that my new research team and I will be able to construct experiments that prove the validity of my equations.”

 

Chancellor Grigsby was full of joy.  When Dr. Angelo closed with another word of thanks, Grigsby bolted to the lectern and, as he shook Dr. Angelo’s hand, he asked the audience to join him in another standing ovation for the new occupant of the Barrington Chair.

 

They did, and Grigsby directed, “Remain standing for the closing Benediction from Dr. Thornbury.”

 

Again, Dan thought the prayer rather flat and obtuse.  But, his attention was quickly diverted to the string quartet.  To underscore the Chancellor’s jubilation, the Recessional was some rousing themes from the “Hoe-down” [2]  of “The Rodeo Suite” by Aaron Copland.  Once again, Dan was infatuated with the music and the pretty girl broadcasting the tunes.

 

     After the faculty departed, the rest of the audience began to leave.  Dan did not want to go, but Vic nudged him and said, “I guess that’s our cue to head to the Reception.  I hope the third team member is there.”

 

Dan and Vic rose.  Dan stole one last glance at the violinist.  He wanted to wait till the Chapel emptied and then, introduce himself to her and get  her name.  But, he was not sure he had the nerve to do it.  So, he followed Vic to Wendham Hall,

reluctantly.