Thursday’s inauguration festivities in honor of Boston University’s 10th president, Robert Brown, began, appropriately, the way they did for the nine presidents before him.
Brown, who considers himself a man of tradition, joined trustees, faculty and staff on Marsh Plaza Thursday, to commence the celebration of Thanksgiving, a customary inauguration proceeding.
The service included Christian and Jewish readings, as well as a Buddhist chant and an Islamic blessing, read by various members of the university community.
“Gentle wisdom” was a recurring theme at the mass, specifically mentioned in Rev. Sakena Young-Scaggs’s reading of James 3:13.
“Gentleness does not mean weakness,” Young-Scaggs said.
Marsh Chapel Dean Rev. Robert Neville recited a meditation, titled “Beginnings and Endings, Wisdom and Choice.”
“He has crossed the river to what some have told him is the promised land,” he said, making light of Brown’s move from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology across the Charles River to BU.
“We give thanks for the leadership of Robert Brown and his family and their wisdom,” he continued. “President Brown gives thanks to BU.”
Neville spoke of the tumultuousness of a university and the challenges that Brown will face.
“The success of the presidency of Robert Brown will be in his management of prosperity and adversity,” he said. “The president of a university is the epitome of human accountability in general.”
A Buddhist chant was given by Rev. Kyoon Dokuro Jaeckel, who said “wisdom and compassion are the hallmarks of a good leader.”
“May you be able to strike a harmonious balance between recognizing distinction and making choices,” he said. “May your service to this community recognize you with greatness.”
School of Education senior Maria Khwaja gave a Muslim blessing in Arabic and English at the end of the gathering, an Islamic tradition.
“Always remember your blessings in moving forward,” she said. “Enjoin one another to truth and enjoin one another to patience.”
Khwaja, a BU Islamic Society member, said she was asked to participate by Marsh Chapel Associate Dean Rev. James Olson.
Young-Scaggs, an alum of the School of Theology, said Neville chose most of the texts, weaving them together with the theme of wisdom. She expressed optimism for the future concerning Brown and the university.
Brown’s sons Ryan, 24, and Keith, 22, were both at the Mass, as was his wife Beverly. His sons expressed pride for their father’s accomplishments, while trying to stay out of the way of congratulators.
“I only really know him as a father,” Ryan, who will head back to his home in Miami Saturday, said, “but it’s interesting to hear all these people talk about him as a leader.”
Inaugural Advisory Committee Co-Chair Roscoe Giles said he found the diversity of religion portion of the service especially poignant.
“I thought it was wonderful, and I thought it was moving,” the Faculty Council Chair said. “I thought that having the multiple voices was really perfect.
“It’s certainly done in the sense that Marsh Chapel and our religious services try to respect all and integrate all together,” he continued.
Staff writer Johanna Kassel contributed reporting to this story.