Beadle 1207072 220361112 2008-06-19T14:09:45Z Revmoola 3227373 /* Popular references */ {{wiktionary}} {{otheruses}} '''Beadle''', sometimes spelled "bedel" is derived from the Latin "bidellus" or "bedellus," rooted in words for "herald." The term moved into Old English as a [[title]] given to a [[Anglo-Saxons|Saxon]] officer who summoned householders to council. ==Religious beadles== In [[England]], the word came to refer to a parish constable of the Anglican Church, one often charged with duties of charity. A famous fictional constabulary beadle is [[Mr Bumble]] from [[Charles Dickens]]' classic [[Oliver Twist]], who oversees the parish workhouse and orphanage. In the [[Church of Scotland]], the title is used for one who attends the [[Minister of religion|minister]] during [[church service|divine service]] as an assistant. In Judaism, the term "beadle" (in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: shammash or "sexton") is sometimes used for the ''gabbai'', the caretaker or "man of all work," in a [[synagogue]]. Moshe the Beadle, the caretaker of a synagogue in [[Sighetu MarmaĊ£iei|Sighet]] in the 1940s, is an important character in ''[[Night (book)|Night]]'' by [[Elie Wiesel]]. {{see|Gabbai|Shamash#Shamash in Judaism}} ==Beadles 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. In the [[collegiate university|collegiate universities]] in the [[United Kingdom]] (for example [[Cambridge University|Cambridge]], [[Oxford University|Oxford]], [[Durham University|Durham]], and the [[University of London]]), the post of beadle still exists. The beadle has varying duties, always relating to management or security (never instruction), and often represents the college to outsiders through wearing a uniform and providing information. The [[ancient universities]] in Scotland have a ceremonial Bedellus, who is also sometimes given the designation of head janitor. Officially, they are responsible for administration of the buildings of the university. They are most notable for being responsible for carrying the University [[ceremonial mace|mace]] in academic processions. Jesuit secondary schools maintained the post of beadle - some still do. In each classroom, a student designated as beadle reports attendance to the teacher, acts as messenger should one be necessary, assists in distributing materials, etc. ==Popular references== [[John McLaughlin (host)|John McLaughlin]], the host of ''[[The McLaughlin Group]]'', used to call former panelist [[Fred Barnes (journalist)|Fred Barnes]] "The Beadle". McLaughlin's use of the term may well derive from his experiences when he was a Jesuit student or priest (see above). In [[Stephen Sondheim]]'s musical [[Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street]], later adapted into a film by [[Tim Burton]], the cruel and corrupt Judge Turpin is served by an unctuous deputy known as Beadle Bamford. "Beadle" also makes an appearance in the list of professions running through one of the show's songs, "A Little Priest." [[Charles Dickens]]' character from [[Oliver Twist]], [[Mr Bumble]] is the parish Beadle and leader of the orphanage. He's officious, corrupt, a chronic mangler of the King's English, and a great source of comic relief. [[Elie Wiesel]]'s character from [[Night_%28book%29|Night]], [[Moshe the Beadle]] is an escaptived captive from one of the camps who returns to warn the Jews. ==References== *{{MW 1935}} [[Category:Protective service occupations]] [[Category:Religious occupations]] [[Category:Ceremonial officers in the United Kingdom]] [[nl:Kerkbaljuw]] [[simple:Beadle]]