In late 2004, an 83-ton block of granite was shipped to Southern Adventist University. This was the largest stone ever shipped out of Vermont, according to the Rock of Ages quarry.
It arrived in Collegedale by train, where a crane placed the stone on a special tractor-trailer made to accommodate heavy loads. The stone was then transported to Southern Adventist University. The block was Barre granite, the hardest rock known to man.
Using a special technique, it was chiseled to portray the Biblical account of Elijah passing the mantle to Elisha, symbolizing passing knowledge from the old generation to the young. The work was completed by one of the greatest sculptors within the Adventist Church, Wayne Hazen, and his students. The statue on the right is 20’ tall, revealing it’s massive size.
Last week, the statues were demolished. Many people wondered why they were being taken down. Fulcrum7 contacted the University, asking why the statues were being demolished. There has been no response at the time of publishing.
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UPDATED RESPONSE:
The university recently made the difficult decision to take down the Passing the Mantle sculpture that was never completed. The railroad ties that the stone was placed on were disintegrating, prompting safety concerns for leaving the sculpture in its current standing. At the same time, it was determined that moving the work would be at a significant cost. Multiple solutions were explored over several years, but no other viable solution was identified.
Although the ultimate vision for the Passing the Mantle sculpture never materialized, the importance of the message of passing spiritual knowledge from the older generation to the younger will stay forever engrained in Southern’s DNA. Ellen White said, “How important is the mission of those who are to form the habits and influence the lives of the rising generation.” By highlighting that message, the sculpture has contributed to Southern’s fundamental legacy.
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