Welcome to our Founders Day service, which is held each year
to mark the establishment of the university by Bishop William Elphinstone in 1495.
Five hundred and twenty-six years ago, he draughted a request on behalf of King James,
the fourth to Pope Alexander, the sixth to create a university in the northeast of Scotland.
Permission was granted through a papal bull issued by the Vatican,
a copy of which occupies a prominent position on the wall of my university office.
We would usually hold our Founders' Day service
at King's College Chapel, but that is not possible this year due to the ongoing global pandemic.
However, I'm pleased we can still hold an online service to mark this special occasion.
I'd like to thank the Right Reverend Dr Martin Fair,
moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, for his address,
and university chaplains David Hutchison and Marylee Anderson for conducting the service.
On Founder's Day last year, we marked the university's 525th anniversary with the
launch of the Aberdeen 2040 strategy, which takes its inspiration from our foundational purpose
and sets out how we are going to make the university fully inclusive,
international, sustainable and interdisciplinary over the next two decades.
Work has already begun on our five interdisciplinary
challenges - Energy transition, social inclusion and cultural diversity,
environment and biodiversity, data and artificial intelligence and health, nutrition and well-being.
The entire university community has responded admirably
to the many challenges we faced over the last year.
I am very proud of what we have achieved by working together and the support that
we've provided to our students, each other and the communities and organisations around us.
With Covid-19 vaccines now being rolled out, there is real hope and expectation that the
current crisis will begin to subside, and the life and work of the university can gradually
start returning to something more normal as we continue to fulfil our 1495 foundational purpose
of being open to all and dedicated to the pursuit of truth in the service of others.
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,
to his feet thy tribute bring;
ransomed healed, restored, forgiven,
who like me his praise should sing?
Praise Him, Praise Him
Praise the everlasting King.
We are met in the presence of God with the angels in highest heaven. With the saints of every age,
with the church throughout the world, we are met in the presence of God. Thanks be to God.
Praise him for his grace and favour
to our fathers in distress;
praise him still the same for ever,
slow to chide and swift to bless:
Praise Him, Praise Him.
glorious in his faithfulness.
Let us now give thanks for the love of learning and the spirit of generosity
shown by the long line of founders and benefactors of this ancient university,
among whom are those whose names I know recite.
Pope Alexander the sixth, who issued a bull giving his
permission for the creation of a university in Old Aberdeen.
King James, the fourth, who granted a charter of endowment to the university.
William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen and chancellor of Scotland,
founder of the University and of King's College 10th February 1495.
Gavin Dunbar, Bishop of Aberdeen, second founder of the university,
who issued a new charter in 1529.
King James, the sixth who granted to the Earl Marischal the lands of the black and grey friars
for the endowment of Marischal College.
George Keith, Earl Marischal, founder of Marischal College and University 2nd April 1593.
And King Charles, the first benefactor of King's College
and founder of the projected Caroline University of Aberdeen.
Glory be to God, the creator, redeemer and sustainer, as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Father-like, he tends and spares us,
well our feeble frame he knows;
in his hands he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes:
Praise Him, Praise Him.
widely as his mercy flows.
Let us remember this day, the life and influence of William Elphinstone who with far-sighted vision
and dedicated service caused this university to be founded and guided it through its earliest days.
Let us remember King James the fourth and Pope Alexander the sixth, who through charter and bull
gave permission for the establishment of this university.
Let us remember the generosity of spirit and commitment to learning that have led benefactors
in every generation to endow this university,
enabling it to pursue its quest for knowledge and understanding.
And let us remember, the scholars by who’s dedication and skill, knowledge has been acquired,
understanding has been deepened and wisdom
has been handed on from one generation to another. Amen.
Frail as summer's flower we flourish;
blows the wind and it is gone;
but, while mortals rise and perish,
God endures unchanging on:
Praise Him, Praise Him.
praise the high eternal One.
When the load was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind,
Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
Elijah said to Elisha, 'Stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel'.
But Elisha said, 'as the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you'.
So they went down to Bethel, the company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to
Elisha and said to him, 'do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you'?
And he said, 'yes, I know, keep silent'.
Elijah said to him, 'Elisha stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho',
but he said, 'as the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you'.
So they came to Jericho, the company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha
and said to him, 'do you know today the Lord will take your master away from you'?
And he answered, 'yes, I know, be silent'.
Then Elijah said to him, 'stay here for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan',
but he said, 'as the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you'.
So the two of them went on 50 men of the company of profits also went
and stood at some distance from them as they were both standing by the Jordan.
Then Elijah took his mantel and rolled it up and struck the water.
The water was parted to the one side and to the other until the two of them crossed on dry ground.
When they had crossed Elijah said to Elisha,
'tell me what I may do for you before I am taken from you'.
Elijah said, 'please let me inherit a double share of your spirit'.
He responded, 'you have asked a hard thing
yet if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted. If not, it will not'.
As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire
separated the two of them and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven.
Elisha kept watching and crying out, 'Father, Father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen'.
But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them into pieces.
He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him
and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.
He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water,
saying, 'where is the Lord, the God of Elijah'?
When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side
and to the other. And Elisha went over.
When the company of profits who were at Jericho,
saw him at the distance, they declared, 'the spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha'.
They came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. Thanks be to God. Amen.
It's my privilege to be part of this very special occasion today.
I'm just sorry not to be with you in person, but these are the times we're living in.
We simply need to make the best of it and to get on with it.
Might I begin then by extending to you the very warmest greetings
of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
I want to reflect for just a few moments on this marvellous account of Elijah and Elisha.
Elisha of course, the devoted student, the apprentice, loyal to his master.
And so as Elijah is nearing the end of his particular journey,
Elisha is right there with him.
Somehow it brings to mind the account of Ruth, dedicated to her mother in law, Naomi.
She, of course, could have turned back to be with her own people and yet says to Naomi,
'Your people will be my people.
Your God will be my God.
Wherever you go, I will go'.
And that's what we see in Elisha following the master Elijah.
It makes me think, too, of Peter and his devotion to his Lord and master, Jesus.
Peter declares, 'though all the others, forsake you, not I.
I will follow you to the end'.
And there was Elisha at the end, as Elijah was taken up to heaven,
and his final request to Elijah simply for a double measure of his spirit.
In other words, that he might be enabled to continue the work
that his master had brought him into.
Elijah, of course, had called him to be his student sometime before that,
he had thrown his mantel over Elisha's shoulders and thereafter he had given himself to Elisha.
He had devoted himself to him.
He had mentored him in other words, understanding that there is no success without successors.
Understanding that if the work of the prophets in the land was to continue,
he would have to raise up someone worthy of continuing in that line.
And so, Elijah gave himself to Elisha.
Isn't it like that so often in life?
The parents who invest themselves in their children.
In the faith tradition that we pass on, that which we have found to be true.
And in education, teachers giving freely of themselves to their students.
Well, all of that is encapsulated in the wonderful account of Elijah and Elisha, and I offered it to
you today as an inspiration for the work of the university as it continues to do all that
is asked of it in these days, in following the traditions set down in all these years gone by.
Might I invite you now to join me in prayer.
Almighty and everlasting God we give you thanks for the University of Aberdeen
for those who founded it, and for those who have taught and learnt within it through all the years.
We pray now that you would lead us, granting us resourcefulness and creativity to continue
through these difficult and challenging times.
And so for a blessing upon all those who share in the life of the university, we pray.
Praying in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Angels, help us to adore him;
ye behold him face to face;
sun and moon bow down before him,
dwellers all in time and space:
Praise Him, Praise Him.
praise with us the God of grace.
And now may the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Amen.