Beadle

Not to be confused withBeedleorBedel.

For other uses, seeBeadle (disambiguation).

Humorous drawing of a 19th-century beadle withmace(staff), artist unknown,Punch(the British magazine), v. 18, p. 230 (1850)

Abeadle,sometimes spelledbedel,is an official who may usher, keep order, make reports, and assist in religious functions; or a minor official who carries out various civil, educational or ceremonial duties on the manor.

The term has pre-Conquestorigins inOld English,deriving from the Old Englishbydel( "herald, messenger from an authority, preacher" ), itself deriving frombeodan( "to proclaim", which has a modern descendant in theEnglishverbbid).In Old English it was atitlegiven to anAnglo-Saxonofficer who summoned householders to council. It is also known inMedieval Latinasbedellus.

The Domesday Bookrefers to Beadles asbedellior undersheriffs of manors.

In religion

See also:Gabbai

Mr. Bumble,a beadle inOliver Twist,by'Kyd' (Joseph Clayton Clarke)

InEngland,the word came to refer to aparish constableof theAnglican Church,one often charged with duties of charity. A famous fictional constabulary beadle isMr. BumblefromCharles Dickens's classic novelOliver Twist,who oversees the parishworkhouseandorphanageof a country town more than 75 miles from London.The work of a real constabulary beadle ofWhitechapelin that period may be exemplified byRichard Plunkett.

In theChurch of Scotland,the title is used for one who attends theministerduringdivine serviceas an assistant.

In Judaism, the termbeadleorsexton(inHebrew:שמש,romanized:shammash) is sometimes used for thegabbai,the caretaker or "man of all work", in asynagogue.Moishe the Beadle,the caretaker of a synagogue inSighetin the 1940s, is an important character inNightbyElie Wiesel.

In education

In the medieval universities, beadles were students chosen by instructors to act as assistants: carrying books, taking attendance, and assisting in classroom management.

The Esquire Bedell of the University of Cambridge, carrying one of the university maces

In some universities in England the post ofbedeloresquire bedellstill exists as a ceremonial role. At theUniversity of Oxfordthere are six bedels whose role is defined as being to "attend upon the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, the Proctors and other participating dignitaries on such occasions, and assist them and other University members to carry out ceremonial duties" and to "deputise for the University Verger as necessary".At theUniversity of Cambridgethere are two esquire bedells who "have certain important responsibilities at congregations", including carrying the university'sceremonial maces,the senior esquire bedell also having "general responsibility for the correct formulation and wearing of academical dress".AtDurham Universitythere are two bedels;their roles are to lead the graduand and academic processions carrying the university mace andDurham Cathedral'sverge,and to direct students and honorary graduates at graduation and matriculation ceremonies.TheUniversity of Londonhas an esquire bedell who carries the mace and a number of bedells who carry wands (poles with the university's coat of arms at the top), who also have the responsibility for controlling the line of graduates.Bedels are also used atNewcastle Universityand theUniversity of Bath,where they bear the university mace at graduation ceremonies,and atKeele University,where they bear aceremonial batonand are accompanied by amace bearer.

The Ceremonial Bedellus ofGlasgow Caledonian Universitycarrying the university'sceremonial mace

Some universities in Scotland, including theUniversity of St Andrews,theUniversity of Glasgowand theUniversity of Dundee,have a ceremonialbedellus,who may also be the head janitor and be responsible for the maintenance of the university buildings. The bedellus traditionally carries or leads the mace in procession and may also be responsible for hooding graduates.

Some Commonwealth and US universities also have beadles in ceremonial roles, under a variety of different spellings. These include the bedel atEmory University,who is traditionally the president of the Student Government Association,the esquire or madam bedel at theUniversity of Canterbury,the bedel atMcMaster University,the esquire bedel at theAustralian National University,the esquire bedell at theUniversity of New England,and the beadle at theUniversity of Queensland.

At some Dutch universities, including theVrije Universiteit Amsterdam,University of Amsterdam,andUtrecht Universitythe Office of the Beadle manages doctoral and other ceremonies.

Jesuitsecondary schools formerly maintained the post of beadle—some still do. In each classroom, a student designated as beadle reports attendance to the teacher, acts as messenger, assists in distributing materials, and leads the class in activities.

The position of Beadle also exists atthe King's School, Canterbury,where the beadle's task is making sure that pupils are dressed correctly and arrive at lessons on time.

Civic and other uses

Outside of religious and educational institutions, the designation of "beadle" is most often held by officers of secular bodies of some antiquity.

City of London

In theCity of Londonthe title is held by two distinct groups; both originated as "executors" or police for more senior persons.

Ward beadles

Ward beadles escorting their Aldermen at the Lord Mayor's Show.

The first group are theward beadles,who hold the oldest elected office in the City (as functionaries, not as representatives) in theirwards.Their duties today are largely ceremonial in that they accompany thealdermenin the eight major ceremonies of the civic calendar and open and close thewardmotes(the election meetings for members of the City's courts of Aldermen and Common Council). Previously (as described in the 15th-centuryLiber Albus) they were also responsible for preparing the register of the Freemen of their Wards, summoning them to the wardmotes and folk-motes [i.e. Common Hall], and administering fines for non-attendance.Elections in the City today are organised by specialist professionals and fines are no longer levied in this way.

Livery companies

A Livery Company beadle.

The second group are paid employees of thelivery companiesof the City. These beadles are usually assistants to the company's clerk, being responsible for attendance on the court and master of the company, originally to enforce its trade policy and uphold discipline (especially among the company's apprentices) but now to act as masters-of-ceremony at formal banquets and to accompany the master on civic occasions.The title "hall beadle" is sometimes used by the hall manager of alivery hallresponsible for the company's treasure and the efficient running of the hall, especially if let on a commercial basis.

Elsewhere

TheCompany of Cutlers in Hallamshireemploys a Beadle to perform ceremonial duties.

Sometimes the title is used by uniformed security guards. For example, security duties at theBurlington Arcade,an upmarket shopping mall inPiccadilly,London,are carried out by staff calledbeadleswearing what appear to be nineteenth century uniforms.The beadles enforce the bylaws of the Arcade, which (among other things) forbid singing, running and carrying large parcels or open umbrellas. At one time the beadles were all old soldiers of the10th Hussars(the regiment ofLord Chesham,the sometime owner of the Arcade).