Inauguration of the Commandery St Clair, No S1, Edinburgh, Scotland

On Saturday the 19th of August 2006, at Rosslyn Chapel, Edinburgh. The Grand Priory of France (GPFT) under their Grand Prior, Chev Marcel de Picciotto GCTJ, did inaugurate the Commandery of St. Clair, No S1, Edinburgh, Scotland. (GPFT).

This was witnessed by:

SE Grand Prior of France – Chev Lt Col Dr Marcel de Picciotto GCTJ
SE Grand Prior of Mexico - Chev Col Alfred Michaud GCTJ
SE Chev Robert Brydon GCTJ – Honorary Member
The Grand Secretary General - Chev Paul McGowan GOTJ
Rev John Thomson – Scotland

As well as over 30 members from France, Greece, Mexico, Portugal, USA, Denmark, Finland and Switzerland.

The Founding Members of the Commandery St. Clair, No S1, Edinburgh, Scotland, GPFT were:

Worthy Patron: Chev Baron St Clair Bonde GOTJ
Commander:   Chev Hugh Brawley KCTJ
Secretary:         Chev Paul McGowan GOTJ
Treasurer:        Chev David Wallace KCTJ
Chaplain:          Rev John Thomson KTJ
Hon Member:   SE Chev Robert Brydon GCTJ
Member:           Chev Mike Cusack KTJ
Member:           Chev David Lownie KTJ

Click HERE to see a copy of our Charter signed by Chev Picciotto, Chev St Clair Bonde and Chev Brawley

The ‘Order'

The ‘Order’ comprises of two parts:

1:    Administrative and Legal - Business Meetings (Commandery, Priory and Grand Priory), Reporting (GPFT, OSMTH etc), Financial, Charitable and Tax Regulations etc
2:    Ceremonial and Spiritual - Applicant’s Entrance to the ‘Order’, Investitures, Installation of Officers, Raising of Rank, Church Services etc

Section 1: Administration

This breaks down into two further parts for the time being:

A:    Currently, (as per the proper OSMTH International protocol) the ‘Order’ serves its time as a Commandery (the smallest unit of organisation within an Order). This will continue until the number of Active Members exceeds the requirement for a Priory or a Grand Priory. As each Membership and Statutory requirement is met, a request is made by our Mentor Order, IE the Grand Priory of France (GPFT) to OSMTH to elevate our ‘Order’ to the next level. This will continue until our ‘Order’ is promoted by OSMTH to be a Grand Priory with Full Membership Privileges within OSMTH.
B:    The ‘Order’ has been legally created within Scotland as a “Grand Priory”. This allows the legal documentation to be created and acted on whilst the transition period of Commandery to Grand Priory progresses.

During this transitional period and until full OSMTH Grand Priory Status is acquired, Members of the ‘Order’ will hold dual membership status of:
1:    Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani - The Grand Priory of the Knights Templar in Scotland
2:    The Grand Priory of France (GPFT), OSMTH

Membership fees are agreed as part of the current ‘Byelaws of the Order’.
Members who are in good standing are therefore Full Individual Members of OSMTH International.
Organisational Units, in size, are Preceptory, Commandery, Priory and Grand Priory.
An AGM will be held every year as per the Constitution and Byelaws and will elect the Principal Administrative Officers for the Scottish Grand Council.

Section 2: Ceremonial

Ceremonial Activities include:

1.   The Introduction of an Applicant to Companion
2.   Investiture of a Companion to Knight/Dame
3.   Installation of Ceremonial Officebearers
4.   The Raising of Rank of any Knight or Dame
5.   Commemorations, ie. Commemoration of the Festival of the Martyers
6.   Church Services, ie. Easter, Christmas, Devine etc

These Ceremonial Activities will take place at a place of Religious or Historical Significance.

Full Members would be expected to attend these events in full ceremonial dress, that is:
-       White Mantle with Red Cross Pattee on the Left Breast
-       Neck Cross
-       Other Insignia according to their rank and position

Ceremonial events will include Ecumenical Christian Blessings, Scripture etc