The Order(s) of St Lazarus

[StephenP]

I was doing one of my random enquiries on the Internet and decided upon the Order of St Lazarus. I was fairly quickly a bit bemused by the various different groups. Fortunately one site had a very simple representation of the various groups;

www.stlazarusmalta.org/pdf_files/lazarite%20family%20tree.pdf

(If the link does not work just Google “Lazarite Family Tree” and select the stlazarusmalta.)

I do now recall being told about the Baron John von Hoff's attempt at setting up a Lazarite Order that kept the ethos and aims but ditched any claims to an ancient pedigree. Looking at the “tree” it now seems that his organisation has not been spared a schism. A Richard Comyns of Ludston now heads a separate group.

It always seems to be the case that where some are trying to come together, there are others who just want to fly apart. Egos &/or internal politics? Perhaps they feel it is better to be Knight Grand Cross of a small group rather than a humble member of a large one? Without know the inner workings I suppose we will never really know.

[Peter Kurrild-Klitgaard]

Post by StephenP
I was doing one of my random enquiries on the Internet and decided upon the Order of St Lazarus. I was fairly quickly a bit bemused by the various different groups. Fortunately one site had a very simple representation of the various groups;
www.stlazarusmalta.org/pdf_files/lazarite%20family%20tree.pdf

Thanks. But even this diagram somehow continues the entirely spurious claim that the French Royal Order of Our Lady of Mont Carmel & Saint Lazarus United somehow became "The Order of Saint Lazarus" in ca. 1848. There is *no* documentation to support such an origin or an existence before ca. 1911.

[Martin Goldstraw]

Post by StephenP
I was doing one of my random enquiries on the Internet and decided upon the Order of St Lazarus. I was fairly quickly a bit bemused by the various different groups. Fortunately one site had a very simple representation of the various groups;

Stephen,
Have you read the article “The heraldry & Development of the Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem” published in the 2013 Double Tressure (No. 36)? It is a fine example of the wizardry of Garye & Nigg and shows an image of the Letters Patent of matriculation of 1967 when Lyon Clerk Innes of Edingight was persuaded to confirm the present Order as the armigerous continuation of the Old Order of St. Lazarus originally established in Jerusalem in the 12th century and by Papal Bull in the 13th century! Whatever your opinion of Gayre, it has to be admitted that his powers of persuasion were formidable.

Martin

[Peter Kurrild-Klitgaard]

Post by Martin Goldstraw

Post by StephenP
I was doing one of my random enquiries on the Internet and decided upon the Order of St Lazarus. I was fairly quickly a bit bemused by the various different groups. Fortunately one site had a very simple representation of the various groups;

Stephen,
Have you read the article “The heraldry & Development of the Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem” published in the 2013 Double Tressure (No. 36)? It is a fine example of the wizardry of Garye & Nigg and shows an image of the Letters Patent of matriculation of 1967 when Lyon Clerk Innes of Edingight was persuaded to confirm the present Order as the armigerous continuation of the Old Order of St. Lazarus originally established in Jerusalem in the 12th century and by Papal Bull in the 13th century! Whatever your opinion of Gayre, it has to be admitted that his powers of persuasion were formidable.
Martin

Yes, Gayre's powers were formidable in that respect.

Unfortunately, the article is of very poor quality and as full of inaccuracies as it is empty of documentation that there should be a link between the French Order and the modern "Order of Saint Lazarus".

[Martin Goldstraw]

On Sunday, January 26, 2014 7:24:55 PM UTC, Peter Kurrild-Klitgaard wrote:
Martin Yes, Gayre's powers were formidable in that respect. Unfortunately, the article is of very poor quality and as full of inaccuracies as it is empty of documentation that there should be a link between the French Order and the modern "Order of Saint Lazarus".

I agree. When I read it, I was left feeling frustrated (to say the least) as it appeared almost to have the sole purpose of papering over the cracks (or, to use another colloquialism, to pull the wool over ones eyes) rather than being a scholarly paper setting out to inform and educate. I was surprised to find such an article in The Double Tressure and it certainly left me with more questions than answers.

Martin