University of South Carolina Libraries
Reverence By Jeff LaGroue Americans O?wcocfc Staff Wrttw The recent Southeastern Water Projects Conference was a big sue according 10 james tL>. Kstes, use business professor, who spoke on the "Real Cost of Government Water Projects " at the conference. A man aspiring to the office of president of the United States must be willing and able to assume the role of the American people's "chief priest" as well, said Charles Howard Lippy in a Thursday flight speech at Williams-Brice College of Nursing. The Clemson University history professor's address was called "The President as Priest: Civil Religion and the Folklore of the American President." Lippy's remarks were made at a special meeting of the USC Department of Religious Studies. A CANDIDATE who cannot convince Americans of his reverence for mallei ican nisiury wm never oe eieciea presiaent, Ljppy said. "Presidential campaigns are designed to demonstrate to the public that a candidate is worthy of the office, that he received the necessary education and is equipped to serve as priest," Lippy said. ,Mniere was some concern at our last presidential election that Jimmy Carter might not be worthy." "WHILE IT'S not a constitutional requirement, the president traditionally recites the oath with one hand on the Bible/' he said. "In addition to joining together constitution and Bible this perpetuates the American belief that it is the God of the Judaeo-Christian heritage who is providentially ordering the events of American history. Joining together civil religion and traditional religion is a cornerstone of the whole idea." Specifically, what a president says in his inaugural address is less important than the character of the address as a ritual form, according to Lippy. "The delivery of an inaugural address is something akin to the celebration of the first mass," he said. 'The first time a president stands behind the seal of the office and addresses the people, he is like the traditional priest who speaks from the pulpit. The priest welds the people together by reminding one and all of their common roots." j FAK/rMlC 8 i nivi O COGBURN'S GRILL 1317 Sumter St. DOWNTOWN 0MD1gS?> OPEN MON.thru FRI. 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. HAI I HWPPM m m mam wmm W W Am ! ^ DECORATIONS MAKE UP AVAILABLE AT BHBBBSli 1235 Assembly St. Columbia,S.C. 29202 ^nnrchin9 nrpci^pnri) RECENT INAUGURAL addresses have contained many references to past presidents, Lippy said. "Jefferson's second inaugural was paraphrased by Carter," he said. "Just as members of the traditional priesthood regard themselves as being in an unbroken succession stretching backward, so each president confirms his own priestly statin by invoking the wisdom of his predecessors. By doing this he secures sanction for his future actions and assures the people that whatever he does is consistent with the American heritage." Since he is priest of all the people, a president must be careful to talk about concepts which all the people can relate to, Lippy said. Hie openended speech which characterizes inaugurals is meant to evoke in the listener's mind a panorama of patriotic images, he said. "President Carter referred to the bold and brilliant dream which excuea uie iounaers 01 our nation," Lippy said. He didn't tell us what the dream was; he referred to it. Some commentators quickly concluded, and Carter claimed, that he had no new dream to set forth, except to urge some fresh faith in the old dream. "AMERICANS LIKE to believe their president is more than just a man, Lippy said. 'There is a popular assumption that the president does indeed know more about the world, and that he is able to use this knowledge to the benefit of all/' he said. "Speaking from behind the seal of the president of the United States is equivalent to when the Pope speaks in the cathedral." luoouuoouooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoC 1 Btfto&lfedk I ^GfWJUrt^l ICciclceK Simp 9eawce B**iwi. Puq>?uehm gj g B*au* Etetbiic Celled 6 Kindt* gj fe Gawimel Coikw Beaut gj S 22 Ua*i?tt?A gj jg Biftu*KUdi *Wodu*e$225.00 S |g include a Uuidtto. dwq It kaefe. and tuttiuq blades, gi g Bum-CiimSuim *35.00 S; |= 5205 Fenwi D*. (next U Steak & AEe) 787-0847 3 lOOOOOOOOOOOOnnfinnnnnnOftnnnftnnnnrtAAftAAAA L_^juuuuouuuuuucjuuouUUUUUUUUOUUOUUf^^ Serologicals Of f AlumkiA I** | w - V BBlVlVlf IllWt I 2719 (Tliddleburg Dr. I Suite 105 I Columbia, S.C. I Phone 254-6537 Earn Extra fTloneu I I while helping in the diagnosis and prevention of blood disorders. If your blood type is B positive or B negative and you would like to earn up to $160.00 per month for only a few hours of your time per week (preferably male applicants between 18-30 years of age) Charles Lippy I m ~ i Rll EzJCCRNEU ARMS PWJUHMACY/L/* PHONE 7PO-IBO? V S4JWUR A PINOUTW STS. COLUMBIA, S.C. ] OPEN 7 AM -9 PM WE CASH CHICKS DISCOUNT TICKETS | TO ABC THEATRES RICHLAND MALL I & II PALMETTO $2?? EACH I TEXAS INSTRUMtNT CALCULATORS TI-30 - ?21M TI-1000 ? $11*5 TI.109C _ ?1I?5 HALLOWEEN CARDS (HALLMARK) CANDY PINS CONTAC 10'S ? *1.69 yvAuu t> - - - nivuiLOOZ.? *Z.I6 BARNES HINDS Wetting Sol. ? *2.19 HEAD & SHOULDERS 7 ox. - ?l .77 (| EY CUAU DAA 41 Afl ".fcn iimmruu? I .TO SURE DEODORANT 8 01. - ?1.76 BUDWEISER BOTTLES $2.09, Wt CASH CHICKS j OPEN 7 AM -9 PM ^pTcciiNiii PHONE 709-1590 '' l^^^uWri^l^PtNOttTONSTS^iCOl^MgM^^^^