As dusk settles over the Hope College campus, and the
last rays of the brilliant sunset pierce through the rose window, there
is a hush. The God, who taught of the life beautiful, glowing, and abundant,
seems near.
The beautiful rose window, a gift from the Hope College Class of 1916
and constructed at a cost of $4,000, is located on the west wall above
the balcony contains three rows of petals.
The center contains
the Hope College seal. An anchor, the symbol of Hope
College, is highlighted in the middle. The name, seal,
and motto
of Hope College were derived from a statement by the
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, "This is my anchor
of hope for this people in the future." The college
motto, Spera in Deo (Hope in God) is taken from Psalm
42:5.
The row around the Hope College seal has six university
seals portraying historic education. The first is the coat
of arms of the University of Leiden in the Netherlands.
This is the university attended by the Rev. Albertus C.
Van Raalte, who was instrumental in the establishment of
Hope College. The others are from American universities – Rutgers,
Harvard, Yale, Princeton and the University of Michigan.
These seals are interspersed with academic symbols – a
palette portraying the fine arts; a metric figure for geometry;
a harp for music; a blazing sun for astronomy; chemical
equipment for chemistry; and a scroll and pen for literature.
Note:
It was discovered years after the window was installed
that the founding date of the University of Michigan is
incorrect.
It is 1817.
The outside row of 12 windows tells the story of Christianity,
from the Creation to the birth of Christ.
