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Bishop James Madison Society
Bishop James Madison Society
BJMS
Founded	1812; 214 years ago; College of William & Mary
Type	Secret
Affiliation	Independent
Status	Active
Scope	Local
Chapters	1
Headquarters	Williamsburg, Virginia; United States

The Bishop James Madison Society (BJMS) is a secret society of the College of William & Mary in Virginia. The society is best known through its Last Lecture Series, held each spring semester.^[1]

History

Students at the College of William & Mary founded the Bishop James Madison Society in 1812, immediately after the death of its namesake.^[2]^[3]^[4] Bishop James Madison was eighth president of William and Mary and cousin to the U.S. President James Madison.^[5] The society wanted to honor Madison by doing good deeds and improving its school.^[3] It is said that the society considered the Bishop "the greater of the two Madisons."^[4]

Like other secret societies at the college, the Bishop James Madison Society went defunct during the Civil War when William and Mary closed and was occupied by Union troops.^[6]

In the 20th century, William and Mary students along with David L. Holmes, professor emeritus of religious studies, revived the society.^[6] Holmes also served as the group's campus advisor.^[1]

Symbols

The society's symbol is an elongated quatrefoil with one letter–B, J, M, or S–at the tip of each section.^[2]

Activities

The society's activities seek to foster pride in the college community and use various small and private means to recognize and thank the college's unsung heroes. Public activities include placing banners on Old Campus to welcome new students during Convocation and families on parents' weekend, hiding plastic Easter eggs filled with candy and interesting facts about the college throughout the campus, and sponsoring coffee dates designed to increase dialogue among students, administrators, and faculty members.^[6]

It recognizes eight outstanding freshmen in the fall semester and eight outstanding seniors each spring semester.^[7] The society also sponsors special events such as the video challenge, Eight Days of Mirth, in 2014.^[6]^[7]

Its most prominent activity is its Last Lecture Series, which invites one retiring faculty to speak about current social or academic issues each spring semester.^[8]^[9]^[6] The lectures take place during the last week of classes each spring semester in Wren Building.^[2] Holmes introduced each speaker.^[1]

Membership

The society's membership is private, along with its selection criteria.^[6] During the college's annual commencement exercises, some graduating members identify their involvement by wearing medals featuring the society's symbol.^[6]

Notable members

David L. Holmes, professor emeritus of religious studies at the College of William & Mary^[6]^[10]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Peeking into closed societies". The Flat Hat. 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Bishop James Madison Society". Special Collections Knowledgebase. College of William & Mary Liibraries. 2019-09-09. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
^ ^a ^b Frazier, Gregg L. (2019-10-02). "The Other James Madison - President of the College of William and Mary". Founder of the Day. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
^ ^a ^b Hill, Samuel S.; Lippy, Charles H.; Wilson, Charles Reagan (2005). Encyclopedia of Religion in the South. Mercer University Press. p. 485. ISBN 978-0-86554-758-2.
^ "Shhhhh....It's A Secret". College of William and Mary. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Herman, J. R. (April 23, 2021). "Campus Secret Societies". Flat Hat Magazine. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
^ ^a ^b Zagursky, Erin (April 8, 2014). "Secret society plans to spread mirth, build community". William & Mary. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
^ Lidstrom, Nichole. ""College Legend Talks Tradition"". The Flat Hat. College of William and Mary. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
^ Kahlenberg, Jessice (21 April 2009). ""The Last Lecture, Almost"". The Flat Hat. College of William and Mary. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
^ "Holmes, David L. (David Lynn Holmes) | Contemporary Authors". Cengage Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2023-07-25.

[:0-1] "Peeking into closed societies". The Flat Hat. 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2023-07-25.

[:1-2] "Bishop James Madison Society". Special Collections Knowledgebase. College of William & Mary Liibraries. 2019-09-09. Retrieved 2023-07-25.

[:2-3] Frazier, Gregg L. (2019-10-02). "The Other James Madison - President of the College of William and Mary". Founder of the Day. Retrieved 2023-07-25.

[:3-4] Hill, Samuel S.; Lippy, Charles H.; Wilson, Charles Reagan (2005). Encyclopedia of Religion in the South. Mercer University Press. p. 485. ISBN 978-0-86554-758-2.

[5] "Shhhhh....It's A Secret". College of William and Mary. Retrieved 21 May 2011.

[:4-6] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Herman, J. R. (April 23, 2021). "Campus Secret Societies". Flat Hat Magazine. Retrieved 2023-07-25.

[:5-7] Zagursky, Erin (April 8, 2014). "Secret society plans to spread mirth, build community". William & Mary. Retrieved 2023-07-25.

[8] Lidstrom, Nichole. ""College Legend Talks Tradition"". The Flat Hat. College of William and Mary. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2011.

[9] Kahlenberg, Jessice (21 April 2009). ""The Last Lecture, Almost"". The Flat Hat. College of William and Mary. Retrieved 21 May 2011.

[10] "Holmes, David L. (David Lynn Holmes) | Contemporary Authors". Cengage Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2023-07-25.