Prince
Henry St Clair Preceptory and Commandary
2006
Events
Diary for December 2004
On Thursday 9th December 2004
the Worthy Grand Prior and members of the Prince Henry St
Clair Preceptory and Commandary, met up at 2 pm at the Rosslyn
Glen Hotel to welcome our overseas visitors and also to attend
a series of lectures which were delivered over the afternoon
by visiting speakers, 16 overseas visitors were in attendance,
following the lectures everyone boarded the coach to Edinburgh
for the evening dinner.
Friday morning following breakfast the party reboarded the
coach and set off for a visit to the graveyard and Templar
Preceptory at Ballantrodoch in the village of Temple,
we were met there by our great friend Jim Munro and despite
a very cold day the group spent over 2 hours studying
the site and taking pictures, some of the psychically gifted
in the group enjoyed the contacts they made in the area and
plan to return in the summer to pursue those contact.
Our next stop was a well deserved
lunch and much discussion about the mornings discoveries at
Ballantrodoch.
Following lunch we set off
for our visit to Rosslyn Chapel where we were met once
again by Jim Munro who guided the group around the chapel
and gave them an excellent insight into the design and construction
of William Sinclair's story carved in stone. At 4-30 pm the
officers of the Conclave met for ceremony rehearsal.
At 5 pm prompt all the visitors
assembled in the chapel and the entrance processional
began, the Marshall, following the Preceptory Piper, led the
procession into the chapel from the West entrance, when the
Officers had assembled around the Knights Altar the Officer
Commanding called for the Preceptory Sword to be presented,
this being done the Conclave Opening Ceremony was then conducted
by the Officer Commanding assisted by his Officers, followed
by Salutations at the Knights Altar by all Mantled Knights.
Because of the number of Squires
going through the ceremony the Grand Conclave had
decided to hold two ceremonies to make it more personal, the
first Ceremony received seven new Squires into the Order
as did the second, with five female and nine males joining
our ranks.
The Squiring Ceremony was
followed by a very special event, the Grand Prior conferring
Honorary
Knighthood with the Rank of Knight Grand Cross
on ANDREW SINCLAIR, author of The
Sword and the Grail and many more excellent books. Chevalier
Andrew was very moved by the Accolade and congratulated
the Grand Prior and his officers on the sincerity of the ceremony.
The Grand Prior thanked all
his officers for their support and dedication he also thanked
all visitors and hoped that they had enjoyed the proceedings
he also wished them well for Christmas and the coming new
year.
The Grand Prior and his Officers
then closed the Conclave in true Templar tradition with all
reverence and humility, the Preceptory Sword was then retired
from the chapel.
The new Squires accompanied
by officers and visitors were then piped from the chapel to
the Rosslyn Glen Hotel where a three course meal awaited them,
following the meal Chevalier Andrew gave a lecture on Templar
history and gave the audience an insight into his forthcoming
new book.
The Squires certificates were
presented and several speeches were then made by both members
of the Preceptory and the visitors, all being over the party
made their way back to the hotel ready for an early departure
next day.
Eight of the overseas visitors
extended their visit by driving up to the Clan Sinclair Study
Centre and Prince Henry St Clair Preceptory and Commandary
where several interesting lectures and discussions took
place over the next five days as well as visits to Castle
Sinclair Girnigoe, Dirlot Castle and the Wick Heritage Centre.
On the 16th of December The
Grand Prior bid farewell to the visitors and wished them a
safe and comfortable journey back home to the USA.
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