Commencement 2003
 The Story of the SMS Ring
In these last two weeks between the Lantern Ceremony and graduation, I’ve noticed how proud the juniors are of their new class rings, so I thought I would tell you a little about the history and meaning of the ring that St. Margaret’s has chosen for you to wear.

In almost any school, one of the most meaningful traditions involves the receiving and the wearing of the class ring. In his book The Lords of Discipline, novelist Pat Conroy relives the ceremony at The Citadel where he received his class ring in a special, traditional way. He speaks movingly of his conflicting feelings about the school:

“From the beginning of my freshman year, I could always articulate what I hated about the school but never could find the adequate words or the proper voice to praise it. It was not a dilemma of language but of emotion and viewpoint. I would always be a better hater of things and institutions than a lover of them.

But in this gathering of my classmates, this moment of receiving my class ring, I was moved deeply and profoundly before the ceremony had even begun, before I had actually put on the ring. I was seized by the ineffable power of membership, of finally belonging to something. So long had I secretly thought of the day when I would wear the ring that not even my cynicism, not even my loneliness among the other students, not even the profound differences that I insisted separated me from all the rest of them, could diminish my joy at wearing the ring.”















Chapel talk given by St. Margaret’s most senior faculty member, English Department Head Shannon Spears



I’d like to share with you today a few words about why the school has a class ring and what that ring means.

In ancient days of emperors and kings, the ring of an emperor or king was the seal of his word and a symbol of his authority. When a king sent one of his subjects on a mission or journey of importance, he often gave him his ring as a sort of passport to other lands. Wherever the person wearing this ring traveled, he was given special consideration and often protection because he wore this ring. When people saw the ring, they respected what it stood for. Sometimes the ring was given as a promise of the king’s word. Even though the king himself was not present, his ring, representing that he would keep his word, was all that was necessary.

In carrying out this tradition of representation, various schools in this and in other countries over the years have designed what have come to be known as class rings. Each ring is unique to the school it represents, and seniors are unique in that they are the students of that school chosen to wear the ring. As the ring represents the school, so do the seniors, as they graduate and become alumnae. Here you are all recognizable as St. Margaret’s girls; when you graduate and go out into the world, you will probably be recognized as St. Margaret’s alumnae, primarily, or in some cases, only by your rings.

If you’ve ever looked closely at an SMS ring, you have noticed a four-part design on it. In fact, you can look at the St. Margaret’s banner behind me and see these same symbols. At the top is a thistle, which is the native flower of Scotland, and which is on the ring to remind us of the origin of our name from Queen Margaret of Scotland. As an English teacher, I also have a secret hope that some of you, when you look at the thistle, and think of Scotland, will also remember Macbeth. It would be a tragedy if you forgot it!

In the lower left-hand corner of the ring is a Bible, and on the right-hand side is a chalice representing the communion chalice. These two symbols on the ring stand for our purpose as a church school. The Bible represents the teaching of God’s word, and the chalice, our worship together as a community and our communion with one another.

On either side of a St. Margaret’s ring are the numerals of the class who wears it. These numbers, like Keats’ figures on the Grecian urn, will never change. Those of you seniors today who have 2003 on your ring can know that of the many changes that will occur in your life from now on, that one thing will never change–you will always be a member of the Class of 2003, and you will always have the numbers 2003 on your ring to remind you of that.

No matter how old and gray-headed you become, the 2003 on your ring will not change. When you come back in the year 2028 for your 25th reunion, you will still have 2003 on your ring. It might be a little faded, but it will still be there. I think these numbers represent the changelessness of what is good at St. Margaret’s–the memories of your best times here, the friendships you made, and whatever it was you found to love here.

Finally, in the center of the St. Margaret’s ring is the cross of Christ; it’s a cross like the one here in the chapel: a Celtic cross with the circle, like the circle of your ring, representing the completeness of God’s unending love for us.

In Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice, is a memorable passage about the responsibility of wearing a ring given to you in trust. Bassanio, the husband of Portia, finds himself in the position of having to explain to his wife why he gave away the wedding ring she had given him, literally to save his life. He explains:

“If you did know to whom I gave the ring,
If you did know for whom I gave the ring,
And would conceive for what I gave the ring,
And how unwillingly I left the ring,
When nought would be accepted but the ring,
You would abate the strength of your displeasure.”

His wife Portia responds:

“If you had known the virtue of the ring,
Or half her worthiness that gave the ring,
Or your own honor to contain the ring,
You would not then have parted with the ring.”

I’d like to close with some lines from the poet Tennyson. In writing his poems about King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table, Tennyson tells the story of Sir Ulfius, the last knight to be knighted by King Arthur. When Arthur made Ulfius a knight, he gave him his ring and spoke these words:

“Knight and Ambassador I name thee
And at thy knighting, give to thee this ring;
Go wherever Arthur’s Court may need a spokesman, (and)
Always remember that you represent a King.”

To our seniors soon to leave us, I leave you with these words: “Go wherever St. Margaret’s School may need a spokeswoman, and always remember that you represent a Queen.”