A fundraising walk for the Pancreatic Cancer Network in memory of Tom Cleland who died August 22.

Pancreatic cancer is a horrible diesease and we all felt so helpless during the last couple of months. In honor of his memory, and in hopes that other families will have a better chance than we did, we've set a goal of raising $5,000 for pancreatic cancer research.  Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, yet it receives less funding per patient than other leading cancer killers.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is a non-profit organization working to advance research, support patients and create hope for those affected by pancreatic cancer. The organization funds research grants, provides information and resources to patients and their families at no cost, pushes for increased federal research funding and educates the public about this disease.

If you are in the Philadelphia area, we would love for you to join our team and walk with us on November 1.  If you're far away but would like to support our efforts, we would greatly appreciate any donation that you can make to the cause.

Please visit my personal page. Thank you for your support!

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

Alexandria, VA: We had a good turnout on the St. King Charles the Martyr Summer Social. Close to 60 Knights, Dames, Guests and Postulants came to enjoy the food and the company at Joe Theismann's Restaurant. Among notables was Prior VI Stuart McCarthy, Prior X Richard Flahavan, Prior XIV Michael Ching, Prior XV Craig Carlson and Chancellor David Schorn. Members showed their generosity buying SMOTJ Mite Coins and printed issues of Knightly News. Chancellor Schorn called for volunteers, when he now starts the process of setting up the next slate of officers.

JERUSALEM: Recently, Knights of the Commandery of the Holy Land put their personal offerings together to purchase condiments of food to distribute to the needy Christian families in the Old City of Jerusalem. Due to the varying schedules,not every Knight was able to participate in this event. The Jerusalem Commandery is planning for the future and would like to start up a 'food pantry' for the poor in Jerusalem. Funding is needed but with God's help and through our fellow brother and sister Knights from around the globe, this 'food pantry' will become a permanent reality. Depending on what funding we receive we would like to give food out every other month, if not every month, to the poor.

The Commandery also discussed other ways of assisting others in need such as providing baby baskets to the mothers of newly born infants, of providing blankets and heaters for next winter and of assisting those in need by renovating or cleaning residences of the poor and needy. Needless to say, the Jerusalem Commandery is beginning 'to put our hands to the plough'. Needless to say we are very grateful to our brother protectorate, the Priory of St. King Charles the Martyr whose generosity is helping us to make these challenges a reality.

Yet every day, more and more Christian families are coming to us for help. We know in faith that God will provide and we ask your prayers for our continued success in helping others in the Holy Land. Any help is welcomed. Please contact Webmaster@smotj-skctm.org for more information.

Alexandria, VA: Our Swedish Brothers, http://www.osmth.se/, informed us on Oxfam International, http://www.oxfam.org/. Oxfam is a confederation of 13 like-minded organizations working together, with partners and allies around the world to end poverty and injustice, as part of a global movement for change. They also have an American website, http://www.oxfamamerica.org/. Thanks to Uffe E.

Alexandria, VA: Our quarterly magazine Knightly News is sought after by our on-line users. The download statistics so far:

Issue #1, King Charles I, 73 downloads (ds)
Issue #2, Mo Carlson, 113 ds
Issue #3, MG Roberts, 150 ds
Issue #4, COL Rob Pollock, 116 ds
Issue #5, Adrian Cronauer, 223 ds
Issue #6, Arlene Carey, 232 ds
Issue #7, Doug Warner, 83 ds

Alexandria, VA: St. King Charles the Martyr Officer Meeting, 01 PM Saturday, August 09, 2008 at Joe Theismann’s. Purpose of the meeting was to review last minute details for the upcoming events, Fall Social in September and Convent & Investiture in October. The other major topic was suitable charities for our Priory, and which charities to focus our resources on. More information about this will be released on the website. We finished the meeting with "any other questions" and a nice luncheon. If you have any questions or need to discuss anything, then contact our Chancellor David M Schorn.

Prayer for the People of this Country

“Dear Heavenly Father,

I come to You in the name of Jesus, asking Your blessing, love, and compassion on the people of this country.  Touch the lives of the men, women, and children by Your Holy Spirit.  Please provide for their every need.  Help us to do all we can to be a blessing and help to this country in every possible way.  Heal any hurt or pain they may have suffered.  Touch their minds, hearts, and souls according to Your divine will and purpose and restore peace and comfort to each of them.  Cause all of us to have love and understanding for one another and grant us peace in God.  Help me and my brothers and sisters to have a deep and compassionate understanding for them, their culture, and country, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.”

From “Battlefield Prayers,” Word Productions, 2006.

Alexandria: We wish a happy journey to all that are going on the GPUSA Grand Council Meeting, Grand Convent and Investiture CRUISE, June 5 - 9. Please remember to bring your camera. Send photographs and text snippets to webmaster@smotj-skctm.org, for eventual publication on this website, the Knightly News and Templar Times.

Alexandria: Chev. Rob Hartwell KTJ is our 2008 golfing champion. Here he is making the approach on the 12th hole on Pohick Bay Golf Course.

Prayer for Our Armed Forces

“Dear Heavenly Father,

I commend to thy gracious care and keeping all the men and women in our armed forces at home and abroad.  Defend them day by day with thy heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils that beset them and help them to know that no one can pluck out of thy hand those who put their trust in thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.”

From “Prayers for Iron Soldiers,”

First Armored Division “Old Ironsides” Chaplain’s Office.

Alexandria, VA: We can now summarize the first year of operation for our website. The growth is fantastic. We ended the year with 2,361 visits (average of 78 per day) for the month of April. Our hits have been over the top, with a high of 71,227 hits for the month of March. Thank you all for showing such an interest in our website, and thanks to the patrons that support the website with various types of resources. If you have any thoughts, comments or suggestions for us, then please don't hesitate to send an email to webmaster@smotj-skctm.org.

Virginia: All, I am very proud of all of you for the most outstanding work and execution of our April 26 investiture and banquet.  We seem to be on a roll and on target with our charity work, treasury, bringing in worthy knights and dames, and becoming more and more efficient. Dave Schorn has pulled a tremendous amount of weight. Major THANK YOU to Dave. Adrian’s presence and participation really gives the service a special quality. I appreciate his willingness to serve in this capacity. Several people complimented me on the service, the tone, the delivery, the readings from the congregation, the church, the visual effect, music, and the smoothness with which we executed it.  Kent, as usual, got the line up accomplished. Bill truly added a visual and spiritual quality to the service that we needed. Most of all, I appreciate the willingness of our officers to put their shoulder to the wheel… and their winning attitude.  We are blessed with a great team.

Well done!!!
Blessings, nnDnn, Craig

Boston, MA: New England Templar members now have their own Priory. They were elevated to this status by Grand Prior Disney at the C&I in Boston on April 5, 2008. Seven postulants were invested at this first-ever event in New England at the historic King’s Chapel, which was erected in 1686. Our Grand Editeur, Marston Watson, was installed as the first Prior and was elevated to the rank of Grand Officier. Details of this event will be reported in the summer issue of the Beauséant.

Alexandria, VA: St. King Charles the Martyr Officer Meeting, 11 AM Saturday, April 12, 2008 at Joe Theismann’s. Purpose of the meeting is to review last minute details for the April 26^th Investiture and Banquet.  This will remain a working business meeting and you are encouraged to order lunch. We will be finished by 1 PM. Regret the short notice; however, this is a great opportunity to sort through several items and Prior Craig’s schedule makes this date work!  Casual working attire.  This is especially critical for key Investiture and Banquet participants and major SKCTM officers to attend if at all possible. If you have any specific items to discuss, let me know so I can make sure they are covered either before the meeting or on Saturday.  If you have any questions or need to discuss anything, then contact me. //David M Schorn, Chancellor

ANNOUNCEMENT: It is with regret that we inform the Priory of the passing of LCDR Chevalier Donald Alford Weadon, Jr., Esquire, Former Grand Councillor, Grand Croix, Grand Commandeur Order of Merit.  Donald was the husband of Dame Suzanne Hayden Cameron Weadon and a member within our Priory since 1991.  He is now at peace with our Lord Jesus Christ and all of the Saints and Martyrs.

Vadstena, Sweden: SKCTM member Jarl S Magnusson attended Saturday March 15, 2008, the first C&I on Swedish soil for the new Commandery of Sweden. We extend our warmest congratulations to Grand Prior Stein Tennebo, Commander Johan Adolfsson, two postulants and awardees. More information at http://www.osmth.se/

Alexandria, VA: Chev. Hamish H.A. Stewart-Treviranus, died on Friday, February 29, 2008.  Hamish was 89 years old, had been a long time member of SKCTM prior to changing his affiliation to the Priory of St. Patrick.  A memorial service honoring Hamish's life will be held 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, 2008, Georgetown Presbyterian Church http://www.gtownpres.org/, 3115 P St. N.W., Washington, D.C.

Alexandria, VA: The GPUSA Templar Times have been revived, and will be sent out to all GPUSA members (email only). The newsletter can be downloaded from the www.smotj.org website (login section).

Info from the Grand Editor: The 24-page winter publication of the Beauséant is now sent to the printer. It is the largest and most comprehensive issue ever produced by our Order, and is very special for its coverage of the Holy Land Pilgrimage of 2007, Priory News and many more special articles of interest to all our Templar members. The photographs of the pilgrimage are spectacular. Our Grand Prior and I are hopeful that you will be moved to make a donation to our Order to cover the extra cost of publishing and mailing this Journal. Contact Marston Watson for mo