Black Rod

Black Rod, also Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, is an official, the chief usher of the Lord Chamberlain's department of the royal household, who is also usher to the House of Lords in the United Kingdom, who summons the Commons to the House, guards the privileges of the House, &c., and whose badge of office is a black rod surmounted by a gold lion, and named so because of the black wand carried as a symbol of office.