TRADITIONALLY, the ceremonial mace is a highly ornamented staff of metal or wood, carried before a sovereign or other high official in civic ceremonies by a mace-bearer, intended to represent the official's authority.
The mace, as used today, derives from the original mace used as a weapon.
Glasgow's municipal mace dates back to 1912, when it was presented to the council by Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, the 19th Century Liberal Prime Minister.
His parents were Scottish and his earldom title was part of the peerage of Scotland and, ironically given Glasgow's reputation, he was solidly anti-socialist. Perhaps more fittingly, he coined the phrase 'Commonwealth of Nations'.
It is kept in an ante-room leading to the Lord Provost's office.
Part of the ritual of the council's proceedings is that the mace is carried by the council officer when leading the Lord Provost into the council chamber to chair full council meetings. The mace is made from gold-plated silver.
Lord Provosts enjoy a higher status than Lord Mayor in other parts of the United Kingdom as they are representatives for the monarch.
The Lord Provosts of Edinburgh and Glasgow enjoy the style of "The Right Honourable" before their name.
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