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 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.