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Issue No 4, December 2009

Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller

The Grand Priory of Europe Newsletter

Investiture dates worldwide:

A new edition of The Almoner is presently being prepared forthe Sovereign Council Meeting which will give details of theSOSJ’s philanthropy worldwide. The Grand Priory of Europe,within this edition, has demonstrated its fundraising over thelast six years, and I thank you all sincerely for such a tremen-dous effort which has enabled us to fulfil our mission to assistthose in society less fortunate than ourselves.

I wish you and your families a very Happy Christmas and ahealthy and peaceful 2010.

H.E. Bailiff Donald J. Storrie GCSJGrand Prior of Europe.

As we approach the end of another year and the Christ-mas Holiday period, I have been reflecting on the chang-es which have taken place within the Grand Priory ofEurope and most importantly the charities which wehave been able to assist through our fundraising events.

Our numbers have grown with fourKnights being invested in Hungary inMay, four Knights and a Dame investedin Scotland in October and seven Knightswill be invested in Moncalieri, Turin inMay next year, the first Italian Investituresince the Commandery was established.The Danish Commandery has been re-formed as a Commandery in Formation with a new Commander eager toexpand and develop the SOSJ within Denmark.

San Francisco,CAToronto, ONVictoria,BCTurin,ItalyVancouver,BCReno, NVBudapest, HungaryEngland

Priory of Western USAToronto in formationVictoriaItalian Commandery in formationVancouverSierrasSovereign CouncilCommandery of England

March 20, 2010April 10, 2010April 24, 2010May 22 2010June 19, 2010June 26, 2010September 23rd-25th 2010November 26th-28th 2010

H.E. Bailiff Donald J. Storrie GCSJ

Plans are well underway for the Sovereign Council Meeting whichwill be held this time in Budapest. This is a bi-annual event whichgives us the opportunity to meet our fellow Brothers and Sisters fromaround the world, and I sincerely hope you will all support theCommandery of Hungary who are working tirelessly to ensure amemorable and exciting four days.

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Commandery of Hungary

Greetings from Beautiful Budapest, one of Europe’s most en-chanting cities. When you visit us for the biennial SovereignCouncil Meeting of 2010, you will stay in arguably CentralEurope’s most beautiful hotel, the Grand Corinthia Royal. Thecontract for the hotel has been set as have been the dates. Markyour calendars for 23rd through 25th 2010. We are planning allsorts of ancillary activities for those who are fortunate enoughnot to be tied up in the SC meetings.We will show you Budapest’s richnessas well as immerse you in the cultureand history of Hungary.A small but important part of our Sover-eign Order’s history has touched Hun-gary. There is a beautiful and wellcared for Russian Orthodox chapel inÜröm, a village in the rolling hillsnorth of Buda. This chapel is a memori-al for the oldest daughter of Czar PaulI, Autocrat of all the Russias. If yourecall, Napoleon had threatened, be-fore he conquered Malta and scatteredthe Sovereign Order of Saint John, toend the papacy. Czar Paul I, having heard that, offered sanctuaryto the Pope and to all Knights, expanded the Lang of Poland toaccept all Roman Catholic Knights and the Lang of Russia toaccept all Christian Orthodox Knights. This bit of history waswell known to Father Kim, the Russian Orthodox priest whoholds oversight of this chapel. Czar Paul I’s daughter, PrincessAlexandra Paulovna Romanova married Prince Josef Hapsburgof Austria-Hungary. She tragically died of child birth at age 18in 1801.Father Kim, through our prelate, Dr Laszlo Molnar, invited theCommandery to participate in a memorial ceremony for Princess

Alexandria. We were happy to accept. After the ceremony, weplaced a wreath on the crypt of Princess Alexandria in thebasement of the chapel. This ceremony will become a traditionof the Hungarian Commandery.After the ceremony, Chevalier Dr. István Förián and Dame ÉvaPandur invited the Commandery to their house for a tradionalHungarian dinner. We started with the mandatory toast withpalinka (Hungarian brandy) and goulash served with peasant’sbread. Then we settled in to a magnificent meal that can only beappreciated by coming to Hungary.

We held our traditional May investiturewhere we brought in four new Knightsand were priviliged to invest a Dame onbehalf of the Priory of Scotland. Duringthat Ceremony, Chevalier Pintér andDame Bankő were awarded  their wellearned Certificates of Merit.Following the leadership of one of ourfounding members, Chevalier Dr. PeterLehoczky, we decided to buy a neona-tal incubator. So we conducted our tra-ditional concert and wine auction fundraiser. Those proceeds, combined withdonations from throughout the Orderyielded us enough money to buy the

incubator for the South Pest Hospital and install it there.To support the Priory of England, we were able to bring a largecontingent to Brighton for the English Investiture. We weretreated with the warm hospitality that the English are so wellknown for and hope we can live up their standards in 2010.The highlight of the 2009 season was the introduction of theEuropean standard necktie, joint effort of the British and theHungarians. All are encouraged to buy one from H.E. Command-er Glenn Wales, Prior of UK and Ireland.

Commander Doug Daniel KJSJ

Priory of the United Kingdom& Ireland

The Commandery of Scotland held it’s Investiture in Octoberwhen four Knights and a Dame were invested into our Order andthe Commandery of Scotland. They are Chevalier Fergus M.Coutts KSJ, Chevalier Professor Barry A. Gusterson KSJ, Chev-alier Ronnie S. Smith KSJ, Chevalier Gordon M. Wyllie KSJ andDame Samantha D. Lindley DSJ. It was a wonderful occasionwell supported by members throughout the United Kingdom, theCommander of the Commandery of Hungary Commander DougDaniel KJSJ and presided over by Lieutenant Grand MasterConventual Bailiff David R. L. Rolfe. The Out of Towner’sReception and Buffet Dinner on the Friday evening set the tonefor the weekend. We were privileged to once again have thePhoenix Choir sing at the Investiture and in the evening weenjoyed a wonderful dinner with entertainment provided by verytalented final year students from the RSAMD directed and ar-ranged by Professor Christopher Underwood – Head of RSAMDVocal Department. Thanks to the generosity of our Sponsors andeveryone present at the Investiture the Charity Fund was boostedby another £5,000. Congratulations everyone. Photographs ofthe Investiture can be viewed and ordered on-line atwww.imagepartner.co.uk Event Name: Order of St. John Pass-word: Giffnock.It was no ordinary Investiture as we witnessed the ratification ofa decision by Le Pettit Conseil to form the Commanderies of

both England and Scotland and the two new Commanders Com-mander Vassilios Papalois KGSJ, MD, PhD, FICS, FRCS, FEBSheads the Commandery of England and Commander ProfessorRussel Griggs OBE, KGSJ heads the Commandery of Scotland,two Members who I have the utmost respect for and both havecontributed so much to the Order over the years.Both Vassilios and Russel have already organised their respec-tive Chapter Meetings and are looking forward to working withMembers from within their Commanderies in developing theirMembership and Charity Events. It is an honour for me to workwith such distinguished Knights in helping them achieve theirobjectives and the objectives of the Order as a whole in theUnited Kingdom.Both Commanderies have sub-mitted proposals to the Trus-tees of the Grand Priory ofEurope Trust for distribution offunds to deserving charitiesand this will be reported in thenext edition of The European.It just remains for me to wishyou all a wonderful Christmasand Health and Happiness inthe New Year.

Prior Commander Glenn H.Wales KCJSJ

From left: Commander Doug Daniel KJSJ, Father Kim, Chev-alier László Molnár KSJ

Prior Commander Glenn H. Wales KCJSJPrior of the United Kingdom & Ireland

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Commandery of England

Greetings from the Commandery of England!

On the 10th October 2009 at the Ceremony of Investiture thatwas organised by the Priory of the UK and Ireland and theCommandery of Scotland, I humbly took the Oath of Office asCommander of the Commandery of England. It is a great honourand an even greater responsibility. I will work very hard to servethe Commandery and the Order.I wish to offer my warmest congratulations to our Brothers andSisters who did a fantastic job in organising a very successfulCeremony of Investiture in Glasgow. We felt overwhelmed bytheir genuine and warm hospitality. I also offer a very warmwelcome to the new Knights and Dame and weall feel very proud and fortunate to have them inthe Order. The whole organisation of the eventsin Glasgow set the bar for our activities exactlywhere it has to be: very high.I also want to express on behalf of all of themembers of the Commandery of England, oursincere gratitude to my predecessor ChevalierPeter Murrell and his wonderful wife DameChristine Murrell for their absolutely outstand-ing service. We will always be grateful becausedue to their hard work, personal commitmentand exemplary leadership, we dealt with greatdifficulties but came through stronger and withgreat potential for the future. The absolutelyexemplary organisation of the Ceremony of Investiture and thecharity events that took place in Brighton last November was justone example of their fantastic work. I am truly grateful that theycontinue to work for our Order with the same enthusiasm andtheir wise advice and precious support will always be respectful-ly requested and gratefully received.2010 marks the retirement (following his gracious request) ofChevalier Anthony Mercer as Herald of our Commandery. Ourdear friend Tony has served faithfully and with great distinctionour Order for more than 30 years. His knowledge of the historicsymbolism of our protocol of ceremonies is a true treasure for

our Order. We are most grateful that Tony will continue to offerhis services and wisdom to our Commandery and the Order.I am truly honoured that Chevalier Stephen Lodge has acceptedto serve as Deputy Commander and Treasurer, Chevalier JohnPettit as Hospitaller and Chevalier Neville Ransley as Herald ofthe Commandery of England. They are three truly distinguishedgentlemen, I have the utmost respect for them and I count ontheir support. I aim to encourage participation of all our mem-bers in our activities and to give, if possible, to each member aspecific role. I look forward to the hard work ahead of us and Iwill walk this path (as I do with every other path in my life) handin hand with my wonderful wife Dame Vana Papalois whose truelove, clear judgement and hard work are always for me a guaran-tee for success!

I have invited all our members to a businessmeeting on the 5th December 2009 that willfocus on the following agenda items:1. Strategy to expand our membership2. Future charity events3. Specific role for each Knight and Dame inour future activitiesWe have proposed the 26th-28th November2010 for the Ceremony of Investiture that willtake place in England. We await confirmationof the dates following review from the Interna-tional Office. All members of our Commanderyare very keen and happy to undertake the respon-sibility to organise (always in fellowship withour Brothers and Sisters in the Commandery ofScotland, the Priory of the UK and Ireland and

the Grand Priory of Europe) the Investiture events for 2010. Wewill work hard to make this another memorable weekend.We face great challenges but our determination to work hard andsuccessfully to preserve our historic traditions and serve thenoble causes of our Order is clear and sound.I count on the love and support of all our Brothers and Sisters aswe all humbly seek the blessing of St John.With kind regards,

Commander Vassilios Papalois KGSJ, MD, PhD, FICS, FRCS,FEBS

Commander Vassilios PapaloisKGSJ

Commandery of Scotland

I was deeply honoured when both Grand Prior Donald Storrieand Prior Commander Glen Wales asked me to become theCommander of our Brothers and Dames in Scotland. With suchdistinguished predecessors it will be difficult to replicate whatthey have achieved but I am excited by the challenge and lookforward to it. What made my decision much easier was the greatteam I have now to work with in Scotland who are: DameElizabeth Griggs DGSJ – Deputy Commander, Chevalier JamesWylie KSJ – Treasurer, Chevalier John Thomson KCSJ – Hospi-taller and Dame Elaine Wales DCSJ – Herald. With the experi-ence and creativity I have in them, (I know the DeputyCommander will keep me right as she has always done!) I knowwe will be able to both grow our numbers and the work we do forthe charities we wish to support. While I have already sent out anote to all members of the Commandery inviting them to abusiness meeting in January I feel that critical to us working

together well is us getting to know each other better as people aswe have a number of new Knights and Dames who have reallyonly met each other so far at events. With that in mind I and myDeputy Commander have invited all members of the Command-ery to meet with us at our house over Xmas for some informal

‘getting to know you’ which Ihope will help us know eachother better which will allowus to work better and moreeffectively together. I will plansome more of these informalgatherings next year as well asour formal ones to make surewe grow together.Here’s wishing you and yoursall the best.

Commander Russel GriggsOBE, KGSJ Commander Russel Griggs OBE, KGSJ

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The Danish Commandery ‘in Formation‘

The Danish SOSJ Commandery hasbeen through an emotionallycharged “ rebirth ” which has result-ed in the formation of the DanishSOSJ Commandery “ in Formation ”on Sunday 06th September 2009 atSkanderborg Hus Hotel in Denmark.Honorary Consul Dame Mavis Fa-verey-Schmidt has been confirmedas the Commander of the Command-ery, and we are now ready to com-mence with our work entirely asgiven in accordance with our Or-der's motto.We have a number of possible newcandidates, whose behavior must becharacterized by high morale and

good constructive interpersonal skills. We will make member-ship to an experience where there is room for both practical workand to find a breathing space in a busy modern world. We havechosen to concentrate on creating an atmosphere in the Order,

which relies on the active humanitari-an work but also on the spiritual partof the membership. Although we havenever been fewer members than weare now, our mood and optimism forthe future has never been greater.With fundraising, we will create aneconomic background to develop oursustainable projects. We want to par-ticipate in the international SOSJ co-operation.We would like to thank H.E. BailiffDonald J.Storrie GCSJ for great sup-port during the difficult months overthe summer, and look forward to con-tinued good cooperation.

From left to right Chevalier Henrik Rudolph KSJ, Herald, Honorary ConsulCommander Mavis Faverey-Schmidt DGSJ, Commander, Chevalier Leif Ror-

dam Andersen KGSJ, Hospitaller and Treasurer.

Commandery of Italy in formation

HUMANITARIAN/Charitable ACTION

I have received two requests for help:one from the Sisters of St. Anna belonging to Barolo Opera -(founded in the eighteenth century by Marchesi di Barolo Fallet-ti) who have a mission in the Philippines that deals with disadvan-taged girls.Another came from the second sister of one of our former knightFossano (Cn) that would establish a shelter for unwed mothersand their children.

Soon I will be able to produce a detailedprogram of these two projects and willcommunicate the information to HEGrand Prior Donald Storrie and the Sec-retary of the Grand Priory.Meanwhile I look forward to welcomingKnights and Dames to our ceremony ofInvestiture in Turin in May next year.Below is an article about the TurinShroud which will be on display in 2010.

Commander Guido Recrosio KCSJCommander Guido Recrosio KCSJ

The 2010 Shroud ExhibitionOn June 2, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI announced that the Arch-bishop of Turin had asked his permission to hold the next publicexhibition from 10 April 2010 through 23 May 2010. The Turinauthorities confirmed in a press release thatthe exhibition would take place in 2010 andfurther stated that its primary purpose wouldbe to focus on pastoral issues and give pil-grims their first opportunity to view theShroud since the controversial "restoration"of 2002 which altered the cloth's appearanceconsiderably. They further announced that noscientific examination would be permittedand no experiments would be authorized dur-ing the 2010 exhibition.The Vatican an-nounced on October 27, 2009 that PopeBenedict XVI will come to Turin to visit theShroud on May 2, 2010.Visitors to Turin,where the Shroud has permanently residedsince 1578, will view the cloth in the Cathe-dral of St. John the Baptist. To conserve andprotect the Shroud, it is permanently stored ina custom built, temperature and humiditycontrolled, lightight case, which can be moved, raised andopened to display the cloth for public exhibitions. This case wasbuilt by the Italian aerospace company Alenia Spazio, which

placed its high level technical know how (acquired in the field ofspace technologies) at the disposal of the Shroud. The case isbuilt of a light, aeronautical alloy, apart from the upper surface

which is made of bullet-proof, laminated glass,and it weighs about 1,000 kg. The Shroud isplaced on a light aluminum support sliding onrunners and stored flat within the case. Inside theairtight case there is a mixture of argon (99.5%)and oxygen (0.5%) in order to guarantee theperfect conservation of the Shroud and its protec-tion from any form of aerobic and anaerobicbacteria. When the Shroud is not on public dis-play, the case is closed and stored within analcove of the Cathedral where visitors are permit-ted to pray and meditate. There is also an excel-lent Shroud museum in Turin, the Museo dellaSindone, that displays many artifacts related tothe Shroud's history along with many excellentShroud photographs, some of them life size. Youcan get much more information about the muse-um and its’ exhibitions on their website, foundat: http://www.sindone.org/en/museo.htm.

Reference: The Shroud of Turin website -www.shroud.com

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Commander Guido U RecrosioKCSJ

I was born in Turin October 14, 1957, and afteronly three days I was moved to Moncalieri where Istill live. My family origins seem, even from re-search conducted in person, to belong to a noblestrain of the Canavese area (a geographic region ofPiedmont). However, of course, my ancestors arefrom a branch that has established themselves asentrepreneurs in the field of mechanical technolo-gies.I obtained an elementary school education at the LaSalle Brothers, a congregation from the nineteenthcentury, at which the secular education of childrenis practised. Already at that time I had the idea ofbeing a doctor, but in a mission land. After schoolat the Salesians of St. John the Baptist School in Turin, I enrolledin high school science at the Real Collegio Carlo Alberto ofMoncalieri, from the Faculty of Medicine of Turin, where Igraduated qualifying for the medical profession.I completed the military service, as an auxiliary of the Carab-inieri. I spent three months of ‘school’ at the Second Battalionin "Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa" in Fossano and then the remain-ing nine months were spent in Turin at the Station San Salvario.Soon after, I specialized, again in Turin, in Child Neuropsychia-try, but unfortunately I had to switch to dentistry by attending acourse already operational. About ten years later and practisingin Moncalieri, my first technical assistant, made me aware of theOrder of St John. Then, after splitting with the group of Pollesel

of Arona, we were in the Grand Priory of Malta.Under the leadership of the Italian official (PietroOggero) with whom remains a reasonable friend-ship, I participated in several humanitarian mis-sions.Unfortunately this progress was halted by dis-putes.At this point there were two options:to continue asbefore or commit to the revival of the legitimateOrder in Italy. Of course, given my combativenature, I chose the latter and made contact withthe group of SE Prince Karl Wladimir, recogniz-ing its responsibility in Italy in A. Conte D'Este.Due to the lack of forthcoming information, I

abandoned this attempt. With the active help of a dear friendBaron A. Sarchi, I undertook an intensive correspondence withthe dear Conventual Bailiff Renè Tonna-Bathet which, as youwell know, two years ago led to the formation of Commandery

"in formation" of Italy.I have to thank very warmly to our Senior Officers, for theirgenerosity of spirit and their truly fraternal welcome to me,Sarchi and those who wanted to follow us, believing in the truthof the great family of St. John. This for me is a great honor thatI will be forever grateful.I conclude by thanking all the Brothers who have honored mewith their friendship and look forward to seeing you all at ourInvestiture in 2010.

Spotlight on MembersIn this issue: Commander Guido Recrosio KCSJ, Commandery of Italy; Chevalier Dr Péter Lehocz-

ky KSJ, Commandery of Hungary; Chevalier John Thomson KCSJ, Commandery of Scotland;Chevalier Neville Ransley KSJ, Commandery of England;

During the winter of 2005, four of us set around our dinningroom table and made a decision that changedthe history of Hungary. Dr Peter Lehoczky,along with Vilmos ‘Willy’ Hanti, JuditHegedűs and I made that fateful decision. Wedecided to start the Commandery of Hungary.Time has shown me that the Commanderywould certainly not be what it is today withoutPeter. No one has offered more good ideas or –perhaps more importantly – showed more en-thusiasm than Peter.We soon realized that we needed to form afoundation to legally operate in Hungary. Pe-ter volunteered to serve as a board member onour newly formed Knights for Hospitals Foun-dation. He also volunteered to be theCommandery’s Hospitaller.Peter arranged for us to use the ancient andcharismatic chapel of Saint John’s Hospital inBudapest for out inaugural investiture. He co-ordinated the painting of paediatric ward atSaint John’s. He suggested the HungarianAcademy of Sciences as venue for our formal

dinners. He recruited no fewer than six members of the Com-mandery. He recruited his lovely and graciouswife, Erika, to give language lessons to H.E.Grand Commander L. Owen Brown and H.E.Grand Prior Donald Storrie so they could con-duct part of our Investiture Ceremony in Hun-garian. His most recent contribution was tocoordinate the neonatal incubator for thosehighly vulnerable premature infants strugglingfor life in the South Pest Hospital.If proof was ever needed for the adage: “Ifyou need something done, give the task to abusy man” Peter is the proof. Trained as a plas-tic and burn surgeon, a sports injury robbedhim of the ability to stand for long hours in anoperating theater. Forced to find a new career,he chose a new career in hospital administra-tion where his career has been quite successful.His current position is the Chief of Medicinefor Dél Pesti Kórház.Peter lives in Budapest with his wife, Erika,and their two sons Gabor and Peter.Chevalier Péter Lehczky KSJ

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John is a Bachelor of Architecture, a Silver Medallist, a Fellowof The Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, a member of TheR.I.B.A, an Associate of the Institute of Arbitrators and a mem-ber of the Architects Registration Council.He comes from a long line of Architects and between 1964 and1991 he was senior partner in the distinguished practice of Wed-dell & Thomson Architects and InteriorDesigners, which dates back to the day ofhis great grandfather. His father, brother,uncle and cousin are all Architects.He sold the practice in the millennium yeartheoretically to retire but due to his life-longinterest in antiques and works of art he washead-hunted by the Fine Art auction houseof Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh and nowsits on their executive business develop-ment committee.When not involved with auction world busi-ness he continues to offer an architecturaland interior design consultancy service toclients old and new. Using his interiordesign background and knowledge of theart world he is often commissioned to givea “face lift” to large country houses. In thecommercial field he produces new designconcepts for the Hotel and Licensed tradeparticularly restaurants. In his formativeyears as an Architect he had experience in avaried field, which included schools, hospi-tals, churches and offices before specialising in Hotel and Li-censed trade work and interior designBefore offical retirement John, in partnership with his wife Tessa,set up and ran for five years the very chic restaurant OCTOBERin Bearsden prior to a management buy outIn the field of charitable work John in his early twenties wasappointed a Director of West of Scotland Convalescent Homes,acharity providing holiday accommodation for the poor and under-privileged from the world of industry. Simultaneously he gaveup spare time in the evenings to work with the Simeon Commu-

nity to help homeless alcoholics in Glasgow with soup kitchensand provision of moral support.In 1999 he was invested in the SOSJ in the early stages of therevitalisation of the Scottish Priory and expresses the hope thathis role is a useful one as it is not as direct as some of the smallercharities with which he has been involved such as The Basket

Brigade, a small group of people who distributefood parcels and toys at Christmas to impover-ished families often abandoned by State andSociety alike.For fun John has over the years enjoyed shoot-ing, fishing, stalking, riding and fencing, buthis present passion is for the sensual art form ofthe Argentine Tango, which he experiencedfirst hand in Buenos Aires. His other life-longinterest has been collecting 20th century paint-ings and sculpture but has now exhausted hiswall space!In respect of clubs and associations he is aformer member of the Council of Glasgow ArtClub, a member of The Western Club, TheWestern Baths and a non-playing member ofBuchanan Castle Golf Club. He is also amember of the National Art Collection Fund,The Countryside Alliance and The MerchantsHouse.John lives with his second wife Tessa, a Horti-culturist, in Drymen by the shores of LochLomond having spent the previous 37 years in

a hexagonal Georgian house on the edge of Bardowie Loch.Tessa is now facing the challenging task of bringing a oneacregarden into line with her demanding standards and completingthe landscaping of a newly formed pond and central island.Their daughter Victoria, an Arts Graduate, shares John’s interestin the world of art, working full-time for Lyon & Turnbull andspecialising in Ceramics.Presently recovering from Prostate cancer and having received

“a wake up call” John is now considering how best to “run the lastmile” and enhance the quality of his life.

Chevalier John W D Thomson KCSJ, RIBA,FRIAS, B.ARCH, AI (ARB.)

Spotlight on Members - continued

I was born in Malta in 1945, just as the war was coming to an end.I was fortunate enough to be educated at the Jesuit School inMalta and later graduated in Philosophy andTheology with the Jesuits. I obtained my MAin Pastoral Theology at the Gregorian Universi-ty in Rome.I did some years of teaching in Malta and sinceI have a passionate interest in the Geography ofthe Maltese Islands, I published the first com-prehensive textbook for use in secondaryschools on the Island.I came to the UK in 1976 and obtained myMasters in Education at the London Institute ofEducation. I was appointed as Head of RE in aCatholic independent school in TunbridgeWells. I then moved to the state sector and in1987 married Penny whilst working at StAngela’s High School in Palmers Green, London where I was

Head of Religious Education and then Deputy Head. I moved toHarrow in 1992 as Vice-Principal of St Dominic’s Sixth Form

College. I was appointed Principal of thatCollege in 1997, a post I held up to my retire-ment in 2005.I served on a number of Local and Nationaleducational groups. I am an active member ofthe Catenian Association and am involved withthe Governing Bodies of Catholic Schools inthe Independent and state Sectors. I chair theGoverning Body of my local Catholic primaryschool. I assist in various fundraising activities.I joined the Knights of St John in 2007, so I amone of the newer members. As I get to knowmore about the Order, I hope to become moreinvolved and of service to its various activities.I am looking forward to serving in the office of

Herald of the Commandery of England.

Chevalier Neville Ransley KSJ

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Pictures from the Ceremony ofInvestiture held in Budapest.

May 2009

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Pictures from the Aspirant’sDinner held on Friday 9th Octo-ber before the Commandery ofScotland Investiture due to takeplace the following day. Thevenue was The Holiday InnTheatreland, Glasgow.

Dame Samantha Lindley DSJSamantha qualified as a Batchelor of Veterinary Science from BristolUniversity and then spent several years practicing veterinary medicinein practices in both England and Scotland. Samantha developed aninterest in the treatment of pain in animals through the use of acupunc-ture. And further developed and specialised in the clinical causes andtreatment of behavioural problems in animals. She lectures extensivelyon the subjects of behavioural medicine, pain management, acupunctureand welfare of captive animals to veterinary undergraduates, veterinari-ans, veterinary nurses and Animal Behaviour and Welfare students notonly in the UK but worldwide.

Chevalier Fergus Coutts KSJFergus graduated from the University of Edinburgh as a Batchelor ofVeterinary Medicine and Surgery. After leaving University he spent thenext five years gaining experience in a South African Veterinary Hospi-tal. Thereafter he joined his father’s veterinary practice in Bedford,taking over from his father when he retired in 1993. Fergus continuedto run and develop the very successful community based practice for thenext fifteen years with the ethos “Every animal entrusted to our care istreated as if it were our own”.

Chevalier Professor Barry Gusterson KSJBarry has held senior appointments as Professor of Histopathology andChairman of Section of Cell Biology and Experimental Pathology,Institute of Cancer Research and Honorary Consultant in Histopatholo-gy, Royal Marsden Hospital in Surrey. Was the Founding Director ofBreakthrough Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research and was Head ofDivision of Cancer Sciences & Molecular Pathology, University ofGlasgow. Barry currently holds appointments as Professor of Pathology,University of Glasgow. Is Head of Section of Gene Regulation and

Mechanisms of Disease. Is Head of Section of Forensic Medicine andForensic Science and is Director of the Glasgow Biorepository.

Chevalier Ronald Smith KSJRonnie attained his Diploma in Town Planning from the highly respect-ed Glasgow School of Art, is a Member of the Royal Town PlanningInstitute and holds a Masters Degree in Entrepreneurial Studies from theUniversity of Stirling. Ronnie was Head of Economic Developmentwith East Kilbride District Council at the crucial stage in the run up tothe winding down of East Kilbride as a New Town at the time under thecontrol of East Kilbride Development Corporation. Ronnie is currentlyChief Executive of Lanarkshire Enterprise Services Ltd his initial taskas Chief Executive was to lead the team to set up a new company andensure the merger/acquisition of seven local enterprise agencies, to formthe new county wide delivery organisation, Lanarkshire EnterpriseServices Ltd

Chevalier Gordon Wyllie KSJGordon was educated at Dunoon Grammar School. His education wascompleted at Glasgow University where he graduated with a Doctorateof Law. Gordon is currently a Partner and Head of Private ClientServices and Charities with the highly respected firm of Biggart BaillieSolicitors.Gordon is a Member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, theSociety of Writers to H M Signet, the International Bar Association, forwhose International Dictionary of Succession Terms he wrote the Scot-tish contribution. He is a Member of the Succession Sub-Committee ofthe Law Society of Scotland and since 2005 the EuropeanCommission’s Group of Experts on Succession and Wills in the Europe-an Union.

Aspirants - profiles

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The Commandery of Scotland held its 2009Investiture in Orchardhill Parish Church,Giffnock on Saturday 10th October. Sever-al promotions were made and five aspir-ants were admitted to the Commandery ofScotland. The proceedings were presidedover by The Lieutenant Grand Master H.E.Conventual Bailiff David Rolfe GCSJ,MMSJ. The proceedings were enhanced bythe wonderful singing of the Phoenix Choir

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Scenes from the ceremonyas the Aspirants take their

vows and receive their robesand regalia.

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Scenes from thepresentation cere-mony, awardingpromotions and wel-coming the newKnights and Dame.

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The International Office

The International Office is the adminis-trative hub of the Sovereign Order ofSt. John, Knights Hospitaller in Northand Central America and Europe.The Order currently has 587 membersin 16 Commanderies in Canada (3 in-cluding 1 in Formation), The UnitedStates (7), Nicaragua (1), England,Scotland, Hungary, Denmark and Italy(in Formation).

The International office is located in Vancouver, British Colum-bia, Canada, and is supported by:

- Dame Margaret Rolfe, DJSJ, MMSJ as the ReceiverGeneral and responsible for all financial matters relat-ing to the Grand Priory of the Americas and the Interna-tional Order

- Chevalier David Petitpierre, KGSJ as the RegistrarGeneral, who is responsible for the record keeping forthe Order and proper operation of the office and,

- Ms. Carole Cameron, who is the Office Administrator.The International Office reports to both HEConventional Bailiff Grand CommanderOwen Brown, GCSJ, MMSJ relating to theoverall governance of the Order, and to HEBailiff Grand Prior Glen McLaughlin, GCSJ,MMSJ as the Grand Prior of the Grand Prioryof the Americas.The International Office also works closelywith HE Bailiff Donald Storrie, GCSJ, Grand Prior of Europe.The International Office is responsible for:

- Maintaining and updating the membership recordsof all members worlwide.

- Producing the annual Membership Directory ofmembers in the Grand Prior of the Americas

- Producing annual statements and invoices for obla-tions

- Supporting the Grand Commander, Owen Brown,in ensuring that decisions made by both the Sover-eign Council and Le Petit Conseil are implemented

- Ensuring that all Commandery Investiture War-rants, Certificates, books and other material areprepared and delivered to Commanderies

- Producing updated Administrative Manuals andRules of the Order as necessary.

- Assisting the Receiver General with bill paymentsand banking. Also with registrations and tourplanning relating to the bi-annual Sovereign Coun-cil meetings.

- Maintaining historical records of the Order.Whilst this activity may seem to be routine and relatively drywork, the most interesting aspect of the International Office isthe daily interaction with Priors, Commanders and members inEurope and America. In addition to the values and beliefs andgood works of the Order, the strength of our Order is in thepersonalities of our members.It is a privilege for us to work with members, who are successfulin their respective lives and who believe in, and generouslysupport, needy causes in their communities through the Order.In my four year membership in the Order I have attended theSovereign Council meetings in Dunblane, Scotland, and Wash-ington DC, (and the subsequent post-meeting week-long tours)and nine Investitures. On all occasions my wife and I haveenjoyed great hospitality and memorable social gatherings.Members in Europe and America do indeed know how to cele-brate their membership for a common cause to humanity. It ishoped that there can be even more exchanges between membersin all countries.Chevalier David Petitpierre, KGSJ.

Carole Cameron andher granddaughter

Chevalier David Petitpierre,KGSJ.

Excerpts from Prior CommanderGlenn Wales’s speech at dinner:

“It is my pleasure on behalf of H EBailiff Donald Storrie – Grand Prior ofEurope to welcome you to our GalaDinner and Evening of Opera & Songin celebration of our Investiture earlierthis afternoon. We witnessed four newKnights and a Dame being Investedinto our Or-der and the

Commandery of Scotland, But it is anhonour for me to be the first thisevening to welcome our new Knightsand Dame. You have today joined anOrder, an organisation steeped in histo-ry extending back almost a thousandyears. You will meet likeminded peo-ple and make wonderful friendshipswith individuals from many parts ofthe world as my wife and I have beenfortunate to do.We also witnessed the ratification byLe Pettit Conseil of the formation ofthe Priory of the United Kingdom & Ireland and the Induction ofour two new Commanders of the Commandery of ScotlandCommander Professor Russel Griggs and the Commandery ofEngland Commander Vassilios Papalois, two men for whom Ihave the utmost respect and I look forward to working with in

developing their respective Commanderies and our Order as awhole.I also wish to warmly welcome H. E. Lieutenant Grand MasterDavid Rolfe who has travelled from Vancouver once again topreside over today’s Investiture along with his wife Dame Marga-ret Rolfe.I would like to introduce to you Professor Christopher Under-wood who has for fifteen years led the Vocal Department of theRoyal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, through a period

when more and more of the new generation of Operasingers featuring in the Op-era houses of the world,have been trained right herein Scotland.Stars of Tomorrow fromthe RSAMD who enter-tained us so brilliantly thisevening were:-Marie Claire Breen – So-prano from AyrshireRebecca Afonwy-Jones -Mezzo Soprano from WalesStephen Chambers – Tenorfrom New Zealand

Michel de Souza – Baritone from Bra-zilInju Oh – Pianist from South Korea”

Marie Claire Breen

Stephen Chambers& Inju Oh

Prior Commander Glenn H. WalesKCJSJ

14

MARIE CURIE BIG BUILD APPEAL -A NEW HOSPICE FOR GLASGOW

For 30 years, throughout Scotland, Marie Curie has been caringfor people with cancer within the Hospice and also through theirday therapy and outpatient services. The old hospice is now 30years old and no longer fit for purpose and The Big Build Appealhas raised the £16 million required to build a new Hospice whichwill enable Marie Curie to expand and develop the social, psycho-logical and spiritual support which is at the heart of good care.The new building will also afford the opportunity for dedicatedclassroom and education space for the training which is offeredto doctors and nurses in palliative care (care for terminally illpatients).Grand Prior, H.E. Bailiff Donald J. Storrie GCSJ has acted asChairman of the Appeal, assisted by his deputy CommanderGlenn H. Wales KCJSJ and members of the Commandery ofScotland have raised considerable sums of money for the Appeal.The new hospice opens in Spring 2010.

From left: Prior Commander Glenn Wales KCJSJ, Dame Elaine Wales DCSJ, Mrs SarahBrown, Dame May Storrie DCSJ, H.E. Bailiff Grand Prior Donald Storrie GCSJ

Below: Reception at No 10 Downing Street, hosted by Mrs Sarah Brown,for Marie Curie Cancer Care

Below: The ‘Blooming Great Tea Party 2009’, held at the Scottish Parliament. Seenbelow, H.E.Bailiff Grand Prior Donald Storrie GCSJ with Marie Curie nurses.

Artist’s impression of the entrance

List of Charitable Giving since 2006:

Make a Wish Foundation £2000Mildmay International £2000The Preshal Charity Trust £1000Helping to build CommunitiesThe Royal Star & Garter Home £500For Disabled Ex-Service Men & WomenThe Spafford Children’s Center in Old Jerusalem £5000Supporting the outreach clinic in the Christian village of Taybehincludingrepairing the car used by the doctorsand nurses in theirdaily workErskine £100090 years of Caring for Veterans in ScotlandSt. Vincent’s Hospice £1000HCPT – The Pilgrimage Trust £1000Taking children and adults with disabilities and special needsOn pilgrimages to LourdesRoyal Free Hampstead Hospital £1000Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary UnitSt. Luke’s Hospice £1000Scottish International Aid Fund £1000Hammersmith Hospital Renal and £2000Transplant CentreManchester Children’s Hospitals Charity £2000Martin House Hospice £2000for children and young people2003 Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice £30,0002003 Royal Hospital for Sick Kids £5,0002004 Maggie’s Cancer Care £30,0002005 Maggies Cancer Caring Centres £20,0002005 CLIC £6,000

2006 Dunblane School £2,0002006 Marie Curie £2,0002008 Marie Curie £10,0002009 Starter Packs Inverclyde £1,5002006 SOSJ GP Trust £6202007 Mildmay Hospital Charity Concert £12702009: Boyce Day Centre £2500 Teenage Cancer Trust Campaign £1500 St Peter and St. James Hospice £500 Make a wish Foundation. £500

Charitable donations by Hungarian Commandery:For Saint John's Hospital they repainted the paediatric ward.To Nagytad Hospital, they in conjunction with thehospital,bought an MRI scanner.To Cseppko Street Children's Home, they gave medical andplayground equipment.To South Pest Hospital, they gave a neonatal incubator.

15

THE ORIGINS OF THE HOSPITALLER AND TEMPLARORDERS:

I have been asked many times about the origins of the OSJ andthe Order of the Temple.Both have their origins in the beginning of the 2nd Millennium,and both were born out of the necessity to protect the manypilgrims, who since the late 1st Millennium, i.e. about 1090,started going to the Holy Land in order to pray and pay homageto the place where Our Lord was crucified and died.These two Orders, which with the Order of St. Lazarus, are thethree oldest Orders of Chivalry. The Hospitallers built and main-tained hospitals along the trail from Europe to the Holy Land, tolook after the many pilgrims who were either attacked by crimi-nals, or had fallen ill through some disease or other, whereas theTemplars were sent out to the Holy Land to look after, defend andprotect the Temple in Jerusalem, known as the Temple of Solo-mon.Indeed all three orders were already in existence during both thePeople’s Crusade of 1096 and the First Crusade between 1097-99, and it is probable that these monks actually took part in thefighting of the these crusades. The Order of St. John was recog-nised in 1113 by Pope Paschal ii, whereas that of the Temple wasrecognised in 1129 by the church at the Council of Troyes. Afterthat date, they became very famous in the whole of Europe, andas a result also became very wealthy, and could command a hugefollowing resulting from their patronage by Bernard de Clair-vaux. Initially, they were heavily criticised for carrying arms, asthe concept of religious men bearing arms was not accepted atthis time but it was as a result of this that Bernard wrote a thesisentitled De Laude Novae Militiae (In praise of the New Knight-hood), which made acceptable the concept of religious menbearing arms, and which must also have effected the monks ofthe Hospitallers. The motto of the Templars was NON NOBIS,DOMINE, NON NOBIS, SED NOMINI TUO IN GLORIAM(not us Lord, not us, but your name in Glory), whereas the mottoof the Hospitallers was “PRO FIDE, PRO UTILITATE HOMI-NUM” (for faith, for service to humanity). The Templars werefirst recognised by Pope Honorius ii (1124-30) who gave themthe white cloak, and later Pope Eugenius iii (1145-53) added the

Red Cross to their white Flag.. Resulting from this thesis, manydonations began to pass to the Templars, and their name grew infame and wealth and by 1300 the Order had 15000 members andits property included some 9000 castles and manors. It followedtherefore that their next development was that of becomingbankers, and of the more famous and influential people whoowed money to the Templars was Phillipe Le Bel, King of France.This caused the growth of jealousy and resentment , and eventu-ally Phillippe convinced the Pope, Clement V (1305-14) to takeaction against them and have them banned.In this short space it is impossible to give many details of thesetwo Orders, but it is necessary to mention here that the Templarswere active until 1307, when on Friday 13th October, (the firstFriday 13th) all the Knights were arrested in France. Thepersecution continued until 1312, when on May 1312, PopeClement V, expropriated all the wealth of the Templar Order andby Bull Ad Providum, had it trans-ferred to the Hospitaller Order.The Grand Master of the Tem-plars, Jacques de Molay wasburnt at the stake.The Knights of the Temple werevaliant fighters, and their codewas that they should never retreat.The two Orders were virtual com-petitors and rivals, and were ofteninvolved in fights against eachother. Their colours were theexact opposite, with the Hospi-taller Cloaks being red with awhite Cross, and the Templars’Cloaks were white with a red Cross, (as mentioned earlier) andwhich coincidentally is still to be seen as the Flag of England(flag of St. George), flying mainly on the masts of the AnglicanChurches.

René Tonna-Barthet, GCSJ, CMSJ.Conventual Bailiff and Grand Conservator,Ref: several encyclopaedias, History of the World by W.H.Smith,Internet

At a ceremony held in Trades House on the14th October, Chevalier J. Michael LowKGSJ was formally elected as the newDeacon Convener of the Trades of Glas-gow and Glasgow’s Third Citizen, follow-ing The Lord Provost and Lord Dean ofGuild.Since it was established in 1605, theTrades House and its 14 IncorporatedTrades have helped shape Glasgow into thecity it is today by playing a pivotal andprogressive role in training and benevo-lence, as well as fostering trade and indus-try within the City of Glasgow.While continuing to promote traditionalcraft skills through a wide variety of initia-tives, the House is now widely viewed as

a centre of excellence in the administrationof trusts and legacies, managing funds inexcess of £19 million.Considerable resources are also devoted togeneral benevolent work with grants ofaround £400,000 awarded each year todeserving causes and individuals.Michael joined the Priory of Scotland in2003 and has been an active member since,carrying out the role as Treasurer for thepast two years.Michael is greatly supported by his wifePatricia and has said it is a great honour toachieve the highest office in The Housefollowing in the footsteps of so many emi-nent Scottish professionals.

TOP HONOUR FOR MEMBER OF THE COMMANDERY OF SCOTLAND

16

Editorial Team: from left to right: Dame May Storrie(may.storrie@btinternet.com), Dame Elaine Wales (elaine@datasafe.net)

Dame Elizabeth Griggs (lizgriggs@gmail.com),

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CLERGY CORNER

Such are the demands of editorial dead-lines that I find myself writing this

‘Christmas’ message on 4 October, theFeast of St Francis of Assisi (whosefamous prayer is now included in ourOrder’s book of ‘Rules’).It’s an interesting coincidence that StFrancis is also credited with being thefirst to introduce the Christmas crib –the familiar manger scene with Maryand Joseph and the baby Jesus huddledtogether in the stable, together with the

shepherds and wise men, and also the sheep and the donkey andthe cattle, and not forgetting the camels!It is so easy and tempting to sentimentalize the scene, as themajority of our Christmas cards do, imbuing it with a rosy, cosyglow. But that traditional if often distorted image reminds us ofthe fundamental motivation behind all that we do as an Ordercommitted historically and in the present day to the service ofChrist’s sick and poor. Christ was born, not in a palace but in astable, not identifying himself with the rich and the powerful, butwith the poor and the powerless.And his death even more than his birth underlined that identifica-tion. “Christ was crucified, not on a cathedral altar between twosilver candlesticks, but on a rubbish dump between two thieves.”That penetrating observation came from George MacLeod(Baron MacLeod of Fuinary) who was one of the greatest minis-ters the Church of Scotland ever produced. Born in 1895. he wasawarded the MC for action at Ypres and Passchendaele, and theFrench Croix de Guerre for bravery – yet he became a pacifistand an ardent campaigner for nuclear disarmament. Followingappointments at St Giles’ Cathedral and St Cuthbert’s in Edin-

burgh (both very prestigious positions), in 1930 he decidedsurprisingly to become minister at Govan Old Parish Church, ina part of Glasgow beset then as now by severe poverty and

deprivation. In 1938 hefounded the Iona Community,rebuilding the ruined Abbeyand giving birth to an interna-tional ecumenical communitywhich continues to this day,championing issues of socialjustice. In 1957 he was elect-ed Moderator of the General

Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and ten years later he wasawarded a peerage, becoming Lord MacLeod of Fuinary, theonly Church of Scotland minister to have been thus honoured.He died on 27 June 1991, aged 96.I hope that you will forgive my digression on George MacLeod,one of my great heroes of the Faith. But he presents those of uswithin the Order with a very important and uncompromisingchallenge as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Saviour.More distinguished than most of us can ever aspire to be, GeorgeMacLeod recognized that the sole justification for any honoursthat we may receive is the obligation firmly placed upon ushumbly to use what wealth, abilities and influence we may haveto serve the sick and the poor. And all in the Name of the Onewho was born in the filth and stench of a stable, who lived his lifeprincipally among the marginalized and the outcast, and whodied an ignominious death on a cross.May the real meaning of Christmas inspire you, and may the trueblessing of Christmas be upon you and all that you do, within theOrder and beyond.

Chevalier David Mill KJSJ, MA, BD

Chevalier David Mill KJSJ,MA, BD

The MacLeod Centre,Iona