More Recognition

Here at the VOSJ Source, we do our best to shine light on the work that the Order does all over the world. To date, the Priory of Scotland has largely been out of our view. We wanted to recognize a confrère who was awarded a couple of weeks ago with the Service Medal of the Order.

After 15 years of service, one John Brown was awarded the medal by Sir James Stirling of Garden, the Prior for Scotland, at Inverness Cathedral. As always, it is wonderful to recognize the great work the confrères do all over the world.

Pro Utilitate Hominum

Memorial Garden

It is with great pleasure that we report the breaking of ground for a St John Ambulance Garden at the National Memorial Arboretum. It may not be terribly interesting to those confrères outside of the United Kingdom, but it should be a beautiful memorial to the work of the VOSJ and the hospitaller movement in general. The ceremony at which work officially started on the garden took place last week. Currently, it is difficult to make out much of the layout, but we certainly look forward to seeing the promised Maltese cross which is proposed to play a key role in the design. As soon as we have photographs of the garden, we will share them with our readers.

Pro Utilitate Hominum

Well Deserved

Here at the VOSJ Source, we enjoy recognizing those that have been given awards by the Order. We are members, after all, of a confraternity whose main objective is service. A few weeks ago, the Priory of Australia rewarded Margaret Hunt for more than a half century of service to the Order. She was invested as a Dame of Grace of the Order by the Governor of Queensland, Penelope Wensley, on 10 July 2009.

Such news would probably not even reach our ears but for the fact that it was noted in the local media. This is another great point about this event. It has given publicity to the wonderful work that our Order does around the world.

Pro Utilitate Hominum

Master of the Hospitallers

As our first substantive post since returning to the world of blogging, we thought that we'd share some information about a new chance to further your education. The University of Malta has announced that it will begin offering a course of study in October leading to a master of arts degree in Hospitaller Studies. It would seem that we are a little bit slow on the uptake here as the application deadline was a couple of days ago. If anyone is interested, they should e-mail the University to see about starting the course next year.

Pro Utilitate Hominum

Back...

Firstly, we would like to apologize for our extended absence from the wonderful world of blogging. Our original plan had been to return to the pursuit after a short holiday over Christmas. Unfortunately, two of us fell ill shortly after the New Year and were unable to contribute to the musings on the blog. Familial and other constraints limited the time that the third of us could devote and the VOSJ Source fell by the wayside in all of our lives. We have now agreed that we would like to continue and hope to keep updating the blog much more regularly in future. If anyone has interesting or important news of the Venerable Order of St John that passes our notice, please do contact us.

Pro Utilitate Hominum

Holiday

Christmas is closing in on us all. As is our tradition, we will each be taking a holiday starting next week. We will be off on holiday for varying amounts of time, and may not get much updating done on our blog. We will, however, save up all the good bits and report when we return. See you all soon...

Secretary-General

In talking with our fellow confrères, we've determined that there is a lack of knowledge regarding a very important principal officer of the VOSJ. The Secretary-General, an office currently held by Admiral Andrew Gough, is the chief executive officer of the Order and in charge of the Order's headquarters at St John's Gate, Clerkenwell. He also serves as the secretary to the Grand Council and provides twice-yearly reports on the Order Secretariat's activities to all of the priories. According to the Order's regulations, the Secretary-General is accountable directly to the Lord Prior. Admiral Gough does a great deal of traveling on behalf of the Order and has done a great job as Secretary-General since his appointment.