Eyes on the Future - The Order of St. John
Transcription
Eyes on the Future - The Order of St. John
® FOR THE FAITH AND IN THE SERVICE OF HUMANITY Eyes on the Future THE ORDER OF ST JOHN ® PRIORY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRIOR I write to honor a Confrère who has had an enormous influence on the stability and well being of our Priory. Anthony Roger Mellows, OBE, TD, who died January 10, 2016, was the Lord Prior of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, the Order’s highest non-Royal office, from 2008 to 2014. A remarkable individual, he had an extraordinary rapport with our Priory. An officer in British military intelligence, Tony later became a professor of law at the University of London, then Head of the Department of Law at King’s College London and Dean of the Faculty of Laws of the University of London. When we rewrote our Priory’s bylaws, Tony was there for us, spending endless hours advising and assisting us. Like many of you, my first experience with our Priory was the Welcome Breakfast at my Investiture. Tony, then-incoming Lord Prior, was the featured speaker. It was a remarkable presentation, full of insight, wit, and erudition that I still vividly recall. Tony became a regular feature of our Investitures, instilling in new Members our heritage and mission as an order of chivalry serving the sick and the poor. He performed this service at our recent Investiture in Dallas, and moderated the Chivalry Breakfast on Sunday morning with his usual flair, eloquence and punctuality. Charles de Gaulle once sardonically observed, “Cemeteries are full of indispensable people.” Au contraire, General. In many ways, Tony is irreplaceable within our Order. Over the years, Priory members came to feel a special relationship with Tony. Some were blessed to have Volume 7, Number 1 Winter 2016 his personal guidance. He was always available to share his wisdom, which I sought regularly. His sense of the appropriate finely tuned, he provided insight and objectivity, qualities so needed in a complex, troubled world. Our last meeting was in London in November. Our Grand Prior had asked him to provide a report on a variety of issues facing the Order, and (as he was doing with other Priors) Tony sought my thoughts on the issues involved. His questions were the essence of evenhandedness, and when he held a different perspective, he shared it honestly and engaged in discussion, not debate. His final report, not surprisingly, reflected great balance. A month later, after completing the report and submitting it, Tony tragically died. On a personal level, my wife Amy, daughter Lang and I all grew to love Tony and his wife Elizabeth. Whenever we were in London, we tried to connect, sometimes at his beloved house in Temple Bar. In paying deserved tribute to Tony, I would be remiss if I failed to note our love — and indeed that of the Priory — for Elizabeth, who tirelessly accompanied him on his many international trips as Lord Prior and to our Investitures. We fervently hope she will continue to join us. She has been, and will continue to be, a part of our lives and that of the Priory. Our thoughts and prayers are with her now. As we pray at the Investiture Service for Confrères Departed, “Grant them mercy and the light of thy countenance so that the good work which thou has begun in them may be perfected.” Palmer C. Hamilton, KStJ Elizabeth Mellows, Prior Hamilton, Tony Mellows, and Lang Hamilton at the Mellows’ home in London. A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Anthony Mellows will be held at the Temple Church in London EC4Y 7BB (off Fleet Street) on April 15, 2016, at 3 pm. All those who knew and worked with him will be most welcome. Admission is by ticket only. For information, contact the Priory office. NEW TIME, NEW PLACE: THE 2016 INVESTITURE Since 9/11, downtown Manhattan has undergone a renaissance. With more than $30 billion in public and private investments, what was once thought a colorless area of New York City has changed dramatically. Now, downtown is alive at all hours with restaurants, hotels, taxis and shopping ops. The 2016 Investiture will be held the weekend of October 21–23, giving Confrères the chance to experience for themselves what many call the “hippest” part of New York City! And for the first time, the Investiture takes place at an earlier date than the traditional first weekend in November, which in the past has conflicted with All Saints’ Day, Halloween and the New York Marathon. Trinity Wall Street. An Episcopal parish chartered by William III in 1697, Trinity was the first place of worship for the Church of England in New York City. Even during the Revolutionary War, Trinity’s clergy continued to pray for George III. After the Revolutionary War, Trinity helped form the Episcopal Church of America. The current building is the third on the site. It was designed in the Neo-Gothic tradition by Richard Upjohn and was consecrated in 1846. Also part of its parish is St. Paul’s Chapel, built in 1766, and the oldest public building in New York City. George Washington prayed there after his inauguration as President in 1789 because Trinity Church burned during the Great Fire of 1776. Investiture Central will be the Battery Park Ritz-Carlton Hotel, which commands a spectacular view of the Statue of Liberty and the New York harbor. A 2015 AAA Five Diamond hotel, the Ritz-Carlton has superb facilities, including a fitness center, spa and a modern American bistro. The Saturday and Sunday morning events will be held at the hotel, as will the Friday night reception. The Saturday gala will be held at the spacious Cipriani Wall Street. A Greek Revival building built in 1836 and renovated over the years, this New York landmark served as the home of the New York Merchants’ Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the US Customs House, and was the headquarters of the National City Bank (Citibank). The ballroom has a 70-foot ceiling with a coffered Wedgwood dome and gray marble floors — quite simply one of the most elegant settings in the city. Night view from the Ritz-Carlton. Today’s Trinity Wall Street is a diverse parish of 1,000 parishioners with many outreach programs and a Grammy-nominated choir led by Julian Wachner, DMA, MStJ, who will write a special anthem for the Investiture service. The Regional Chair for New York, The Rev’d Deacon Robert J.A. Zito, CStJ, serves on the clergy staff and his wife Dana Cole, MStJ, and many other New York Confrères are members. Investiture co-chairs are Jean Savage, CStJ, and Douglas Evans, CStJ. Manhattan downtown is a bustling place with many attractions that are at most a 10-minute walk. To cite a few: The 9/11 Memorial Museum; ferries to Liberty, Governor’s and Ellis Islands, and the South Street Seaport. Confrères nostalgic for mid-town shopping and dining will find a plethora of choices — the legendary Century 21, as well as the new Brookfield Place shopping mall, its shops ranging from Hermés to Davidoff, Ferragamo to Burberry, and Saks to Gucci. Great restaurants abound, from Le District (a French marketplace) to Blue Ribbon Sushi, P.J. Clarke’s to Eataly (Italian restaurants and products) in the new World Trade Center. Confrères will fondly remember mid-town Manhattan as the site of many wonderful Investitures over the years. Now they will experience another facet of the Big Apple, the city that never sleeps or stops changing. In the immortal words sung by Petula Clark, “Go downtown…Everything’s waiting for you!” The heart of the weekend, the Investiture service, will be at one of Manhattan’s oldest and most historic institutions, Karen Miller Lamb, CStJ PUT FELLOWSHIP, FUN AND RENEWAL ON YOUR CALENDAR! Mountain States Confrères invite you, your children and grandchildren to join them for a summer roundup at the oldest dude ranch. An Eatons’ Ranch Rendezvous will be held July 20th through July 23rd — and you may even decide to extend your visit! Eatons’ Ranch is at the foot of the Big Horn Mountains in Wolf, Wyoming. Come join in the ranch’s activities for all ages, including riding, hiking, fishing, sightseeing, and activities for children, and help introduce special guest Brigadier Tom Ogilvie-Graham, MBE, OStJ, and CEO of the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group to Order candidates and the local community. To plan ahead, contact Isabel Wallop, DStJ ([email protected]) or Mary Dailey, DStJ ([email protected]) t Eyes on the Future • Vol. 7, No. 1 2 THE ORDER OF ST JOHN MARCIA V. MAYO, CStJ: THE HORIZON STRETCHES ON When Marcia Virginia Mayo, CStJ, was growing up in Oklahoma, she delighted in summers at her family’s ranch. She helped ranch hands with branding, driving, and vaccinating cattle; trained her horse to jump; and in her own words, “rode as far as I dared before turning back.” She exemplified the pioneer spirit that led her Midwestern-born grandparents to embrace the opportunities of “Oklahoma, Indian Territory,” as it was referred to in her grandmother’s wedding announcement. Marcia’s adult life took her further away from her beloved Oklahoma as she trained and worked at Sotheby’s in New York, then became an appraiser and the director of its midAtlantic office in WashingMarcia V. Mayo and Dr. Bothwell Lee at ton, DC. Eventually, she the Dallas Investiture. accepted a position in the Department of State’s Art in Embassies program, where she curated art exhibitions for the residences of US ambassadors, and wrote and edited the accompanying catalogues. Marcia now focuses her efforts on raising private funding for the stewardship of the Department’s historic buildings abroad and their collections of fine and decorative arts. That grown-up little girl who flew over the prairies still delights not only in horseback riding but also in pushing herself to the limit. Marcia credits her heritage for her achievements: “It has influenced me personally and professionally in that I have a strong work ethic and value independence.” Her parents, Ruth Hall Mayo and Cass Allen Mayo Jr., and her aunt Virginia helped to form her goals and worldview. They were, resolute, self-reliant, resilient, and involved as civic leaders, volunteers, and philanthropists to organizations and individuals needing a helping hand. Ever widening her horizons, Marcia has served on many boards, including those of the Washington National Opera, the DC Jazz Festival, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Tudor Place Historic House and Garden, and Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa. All are linked, she believes, because the organizations teach people about the history and the cultural milieu of another place and time, and may generate new ways of thinking about the present. She chooses her involvements carefully: “The mission of the organization inspires me, as do the people with whom I’m collaborating to advance it.” Now a philanthropist herself, Marcia and her sister Cathryn Mayo Moore have established in their parents’ honor the Ruth and Allen Mayo Fund for Historic Preservation. Marcia says, “I find my parents’ values and interests expressed in many of the causes and organizations I support.” The Fund underwrites preservation projects being undertaken by Oklahoma organizations, and supports individuals seeking to preserve and enhance buildings and places of historic significance within the state. For example, the Fund recently made a grant to the Cherokee Nation to restore the roof of its nineteenth century courthouse, and sponsored a book about the period neon signs on the Oklahoma portion of Route 66. Marcia has also become a very involved and generous Member of the Order of St John, underwriting events at the Opera at Tudor Place in Washington, DC. Having continuing vision problems herself (resulting from a detached retina) has made the Priory’s mission resonate in a way it never had before. True to form, she believes that the Order has the potential to broaden the learning and compassion of others, particularly people such as her two beloved nieces, one of whom she is proposing for the Order. “We need to appeal to younger prospective members searching for meaning in their lives and worthwhile causes in which to invest their time and treasure.” Early in life, Marcia became passionate about preservation, art, and religion, three interests that would dominate her life. As a child, she and her family visited historic houses and museums all over the country, traveling by train so that they could see the countryside. At Holland Hall, a prep school in Tulsa, a British-born Anglican priest named Father Ralph Urmson-Taylor mentored her. She attributes her love of Anglican tradition to him and to her mother, a dedicated Episcopal churchwoman. Father Ralph fostered an appreciation and respect for the church’s cherished madrigals, sacramental rites, and customs. At a young age, Marcia says, “I proudly identified myself as a member of the worldwide Anglican communion!” Marcia’s personal life includes neurosurgeon Bothwell Lee, opera, scuba diving, restoration of an 1840s house, and collecting late 19th-century American and European silver, glassware, and furniture. When she retires, she plans to circumnavigate the globe by ship as she did while a student with Semester at Sea, spending more time in the countries visited. Jerusalem and the Order’s medical facilities are high on her destination list. Having won awards for her artwork, Marcia became attracted to the religious art of the Italian Renaissance, the start of a lifelong pursuit as she sought to learn about the past through art and the lives of the artists. Around the same time, her mother presented her with a membership in the National Trust for Historic Preservation. While it was difficult to choose between preservation and art history, she decided to major in the latter at Southern Methodist University. Over the years she has succeeded in combining her three passions: “Art history and the study of art,” she comments, “inform my interest in historic preservation and have made me attuned to the spiritual dimension of the creative process.” In Ponca City, Oklahoma, stand the Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue, dedicated to the enduring spirit of the women of Oklahoma — past, present, and future — who see no boundaries. Marcia Mayo, who continues to ride as far as she dares, is one of them. Karen Miller Lamb, CStJ t THE ORDER OF ST JOHN 3 Eyes on the Future • Vol. 7, No. 1 Joining the St John Family As part of his “education” new Executive Director Brian Sayers visited St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group in early December. Here is his first-hand account. My first day in Jerusalem started with a briefing from the Hospital Group’s senior staff, including CEO Brigadier Tom OgilvieGraham, MBE, OStJ; Paul Williams, Head of Administration and Support; Medical Director Dr. Jeanne Garth, and Ahmad Ma’ali, Director of Nursing. Julian V. Brandt III, CStJ, also visiting, participated. staff — a very special gathering. It brought new meaning to the importance of our collective work for the “St John family.” Next, Paul and I made a full day trip to Gaza. Security clearance in hand, we approached the process of clearing into Gaza, first with the Israeli authorities, then the Palestinian Authority and finally Hamas. Although long by western standards, the process was smooth because of the Hospital’s meticulous planning. We toured the current St John clinic, and it became clear why the new clinic was needed: Papers overfilled the filing cabinets, space was tight and the infrastructure was decaying. Despite conditions, the medical team kept the pace of treatment very high. We then visited the new clinic, scheduled to open in early 2016. The contrast between the old and new was literally jaw dropping. After a thorough tour by Dr. Garth, I marveled anew at the great progress made over the years, from the recent opening of a lobby café to the complex improvement of the theatre operating room. Tom has clearly placed an emphasis on quality for both patients and staff ; the result is a living testament to the work St John is doing in the region. Paul then gave us a tour of the historic Muristan site as well as a spontaneous minipilgrimage to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Western Wall and the Via Delarosa. That evening, Tom organized an “American Dinner” at the legendary American Colony Hotel. I met representatives from the UN, EU and US Consulate. The relationships between the Hospital staff and the diplomatic corps are a critical component for assistance on many projects. Knowing the difficulty of moving supplies in and out of the region, I marveled at how such a masterpiece of first-rate care could be built among the ruins and rubble. This experience was for me the epitome of all the good the Hospital Group does. After visiting the seashore for a full view of the Gaza strip, the staff treated me to a seafood lunch, one of the finest I’ve had and something I clearly was not anticipating as we maneuvered through the potholes and destruction. Early the next morning, I was off to Hebron, joining the team for mobile outreach. Picking up staff along the way, we drove to a remote village and set up equipment inside a simple medical clinic run by the Palestinian Authority. It soon became apparent why the mobile outreach clinic is so critical for Palestinians in these isolated areas with limited access to care. Young and old waited patiently as staff registered, consulted and examined patients, distributing or prescribing medicine on the spot, and referring them to the St John clinic in Hebron for more serious issues. We visited with more than 70 patients, then drove to the new clinic in Hebron. It is most impressive and another example of the first-class treatment St John gives. Returning home, I had a long layover in London, where I met with the Director of Fundraising for the Hospital Group, Isla Richards. I briefed her on my visit, Brian Sayers visits the new Gaza Clinic. and we discussed ways our development strategies could be best aligned going forward. En route to Jerusalem, we encountered time-consuming checkpoints. I pondered their socioeconomic cost, not only to the economy, but to residents and laborers who face them each day, including St John staff and patients. That evening, we dined with The St John family shares a dinner. senior Hospital I have immeasurable pride in the humanitarian work the Order of St John is conducting in Jerusalem and beyond. I cannot encourage you enough to consider your own personal visit to the region to see the Order’s stunning success. I can assure that you will find it a great source of personal and spiritual inspiration. Brian Sayers, Executive Director t Eyes on the Future • Vol. 7, No. 1 4 THE ORDER OF ST JOHN BRIAN SAYERS: FAITH IN THE FUTURE THE MURISTAN SITE COMES ALIVE AGAIN Faith, rather than “religion,” centers Brian Sayers, who cites St. Ignatius of Loyola, the Blessed John Henry Newman, and his mother as the figures who have most influenced his life. As Executive Director, he will be well guided by faith as he navigates the shoals — and joys — of managing the Priory in the USA. The Order, he says, “is a testament to ‘unofficial’ diplomacy; It stands as a non-political beacon of light to the most disadvantaged, commanding universal respect among all nations.” Legend holds that in the 2nd century BC, King Antiochus V ordered a hospital to be built on Golgotha, to serve the sick and poor. In 600 AD, the Muristan, meaning “hospital” in Persian, was mentioned when Abbot Probus was sent by Pope Gregory the Great to build a hospital in Jerusalem to care for Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land. Over time, the Muristan was destroyed and rebuilt by conquering armies. In 1005 caliph alHakim destroyed the hospital in large part, and in 1070, merchants from the Amalfi coast obtained permission from the Fatimids to rebuild it. Initially, this hospital was run by Benedictine monks, but in the 1090s the Blessed Gerard took over this responsibility. Thus arose a new order, the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem, recognized in 1113 by the Pope. Faith and diplomacy have been the hallmarks of Brian’s career. Growing up in San Diego, he graduated from Georgetown University and received a Master of Letters in International Relations, Management and Economics from the University of St Andrews. After working for NATO in Brussels, he headed the Washington Charitable Trust, founded to open dialogue and diplomacy to nations through the medium of charitable giving. Along the way, he married Adeline, Deputy Director of Trade for the European Union’s delegation in the US. They have a four-year-old son, Anthony, and a one-year-old daughter, Eva, and live not far from Georgetown University, where they met as students. Today, the Order owns a significant portion of the remains of the old Muristan and is poised to once again make it a vital part of daily life in the Old City of Jerusalem. The Muristan will serve as a clinic with modern amenities, including a café, dining area and museum to showcase the Order’s contributions. Hospital CEO Brigadier Tom Ogilvie-Graham, MBE, OStJ, who spearheads the project, says, “My ambition is to make this site a ‘Go-to’ destination for visitors and pilgrims to Jerusalem.” Brian’s background uniquely qualifies him for the position. His goals are to get to know the Priory’s devoted, generous Members and to understand more fully why they have come to love the Order. He plans to start a conversation with them with the goal of putting in place a long-term strategic framework for the Priory. Brian foresees an endowment campaign to reduce overhead percentage to zero, thereby ensuring that 100% of future donations go to charitable giving. One challenge, he says, will be to balance the Order’s tradition and character with modernity, especially in the way the Priory communicates its message to the world. Art celebrating the Order’s rich, ancient history will be part of the “new” Muristan. Celebrated English Sculptor Mark Coreth, a cousin of the late Joseph Coreth, CStJ, will create a central piece of sculpture. Ogilvie- Vic Brandt, Jill Hooper and Brian Sayers reviewing plans at the Muristan site. Graham says that “one of the subjects under consideration is the Swift, a migratory bird that flies through Israel on its journey… the Swift is a bird of endeavor, courage, fragility, bravery and optimism.” Aligning funding and membership, Brian believes, is his most important task as Executive Director. The Priory is first and foremost a membership organization with Members committed to the Order’s service and traditions. At the same time, our Priory has just achieved the highest level of funding in its history for the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group, and it is vital to maintain this momentum. “Having recently been on the ground in Jerusalem,” he says, “I am amazed by how many lives are healed at such little cost. It is really a testament to God’s work on earth.” American Artist Jill Hooper, MStJ, is creating frescoes using local pigments and colors. She says, “Frescoes will have significant social and cultural benefits embracing the Muristan’s art, architecture, culture and history. This ancient artistic medium will help transform the space and be a significant part of our unique history.” Work has already begun on the project, which will link the Order’s ancient history with its 21st-century one! Outside of work and his family, Brian’s passions are swimming and ice climbing, two pursuits requiring stamina and goal-oriented action. These qualities will serve him well as Executive Director, as he remembers the words of the Blessed John Henry Newman in “Lead, Kindly Light:“ “So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on.” Julian V. Brandt III, CStJ, is a Chapter member and Regional Chair for the Charleston region. Julian V. Brandt Real Estate specializes in the sale of historic residential, commercial and waterfront property, and provides property and regime management services. Vic and his wife, Anne, reside in Charleston, where he has restored over 30 historic buildings. His son, Myles Brandt, OStJ; and daughter, Evelyn Brandt Doron, MStJ, also live in South Carolina. Karen Miller Lamb, CStJ t THE ORDER OF ST JOHN 5 Eyes on the Future • Vol. 7, No. 1 LISTENING AS SERVICE As a member of the St John Volunteer Corps, I work weekly at the VA Medical Center in Washington, DC, as assistant to the Podiatry Clinic’s scheduler. I call 120-150 patients daily to remind them of appointments, arranging transportation where needed. I understand a lot about those with whom I talk. They want someone to listen to them, want their calls returned, and want to be assured they will get quality care. Some of my conversations are unforgettable. One was with a patient who had to cancel his appointment because of prostate surgery that day. I could tell by his voice that he was really frightened. Since I had the same procedure several years ago, I shared my experience from biopsy, to the follow-up visit to the urologist, to my dealing with the changes in my life. He told me I had made his day and paid me a great compliment. “Mister, you’re OK.” I treasure that. Maxwell Hudgins (2nd row, far right) with his VA colleagues. Another patient asked if she was to have a particular procedure. I told her I didn’t know, as I was “just a volunteer” with no access to her medical records. She told me never to say “just” again, telling me how much she appreciated us volunteers and what a difference we make in the patients’ hospital experience. Another was with a patient’s wife: “Well good morning, Sugar. I love your voice. You sound like Bing Crosby.” (I kid you not.) From North Carolina, she shared with me the TRUE AND ONLY technique to prepare cabbage, mac and cheese, a red velvet cake, and you name it! Once we had completed our disquisition on Southern cooking, she told me she would have her husband there “bright eyed and bushy tailed.” Whereas I had made the prostate patient’s day, she had made mine. The VA hospital system has recently endured a lot of bad press; yet I am working with a dedicated staff that really puts the patients first. They are kind, compassionate, very knowledgeable, and anticipate the needs of the patients. By establishing a relationship with Veterans Affairs the Order is really living its motto “Pro Fide, Pro Utilitate Hominum.” I also remember a patient as mad as a hornet, or as a minister friend says, “as mad as a member of the Altar Guild who discovered someone had fiddled with the chalice that had just been polished.” Wheelchair bound, he had made numerous calls to find out if special transportation had been scheduled to pick him up. When I promised to follow up and did so, he was grateful and totally surprised, as evidently this was not always the case! Maxwell White Hudgins Jr., PhD, OStJ With degrees from the University of Virginia, Max Hudgins spent 33 years as an economist in the International Affairs division at the Treasury Department. He was also an adjunct professor of international trade theory at The George Washington University. He recently received an award for 150 hours of SJVC service. ORDER OF ST JOHN BENEFIT PIANO CONCERT AND WEEKEND guests to spend a relaxing weekend enjoy a cultural event in an excellent acoustical small venue setting, and help the Order of St John grow. The world-renowned Inn at Little Washington, rated five stars by the Forbes Travel Guide, will host the postconcert reception. It promises to be a convivial weekend that will strengthen our ties and support and grow the Order. For information, contact the Priory office. Internationally acclaimed pianist Antonio Piricone will give a benefit concert for the Priory in Washington, Virginia, on May 14, 2016. Mr. Piricone is one of the world’s young experts in early keyboard piano performing. The concert is part of a Country Weekend in the beautiful Shenandoah Mountains. This membership cultivation gathering will begin with a tour of a local brewery and will be the perfect chance for Confrères and The Rev’d Canon John Kilgore, MD, KStJ Vice-Chancellor, Community WE MOURN CONFRÈRES RECENTLY DECEASED: Eric Barry, GCStJ (former Lord Prior) Joan Blanche Woglom Cupo, OStJ The Rev’d Derek Ford, SSF, ChStJ The Most Rev. Samir Kafity, ChStJ Charles Albert Kibort Jr., OStJ William Charles Stubing, KStJ Elizabeth Hopewell Swenson, CStJ The Hon. Kenneth D. Taylor, OC, CGM, KStJ Kathleen M. Wiese, DStJ Please pass along any news of Confrère deaths to the Priory Office. t Eyes on the Future • Vol. 7, No. 1 6 THE ORDER OF ST JOHN THE BEN MAY CHARITABLE TRUST: A GESTURE OF HOPE I have been asked to write about my efforts to solicit support from a foundation community that might not, at first blush, seem a propitious cohort for support of the Order’s efforts to bring modern, comprehensive ophthalmological care to a Palestinian patient base -- to wit, foundations identified with Jewish benefactors. vide first world medical services to a population desperately in need of them and training to Palestinian medical professionals in a modern, western setting. My Jewish colleagues were John and Allison Peebles on a recent visit to Montana. impressed that we were delivering these services in a highly charged space, recognizing that support for the Hospital Group is a form of bridge building difficult for them to engage in directly. The generosity of the BMCT continues with their 2016 gift of $35,000 to support the first genetic research unit at the Hospital, adding to the Committee members’ belief that these collaborations also preserve needed and enduring human-to-human contact. I sit on the Board of the Ben May Charitable Trust (BMCT), based in Mobile, Alabama. A native of Alsace, Mr. May came to America in 1900 as a child and worked for his uncle’s building supply business in Atlanta. In the wilds of the Tombigbee River swamp in south Alabama, he learned about the harvesting, milling and export of timber. He made his initial fortune during World War I by figuring out how to work around the protective tariffs Britain and France had erected, supplying highquality southern yellow pine to line the thousands of trenches governments were digging as a critical part of the war effort. He conceived and implemented many successful projects in timberland and other areas, applying his venture capital instincts to the medical field. He left a very substantial estate and a charitable trust devoted principally to medical research, the relief of human suffering, and support for Israeli scientific research institutions. My impression is that members of the American Jewish community, particularly those who might sit on the boards of foundations supporting Jewish interests, and/or the state of Israel, might welcome an opportunity to fund, at one remove, assistance to the Palestinian population, with whom they are sympathetic. Alternatively, others may simply value the high level of interaction and the opportunity to train professionals within the Israeli template. I am confident these entities will find our efforts worth supporting and encourage Confrères to think creatively about other possibilities. As a member of its Distribution Committee, I introduced the BMCT to the Order of St John through smaller gifts Committee members can direct to specific charities in which they may have a personal interest. The larger Board’s interest was piqued. I shared the story of the Eye Hospital Group, presenting our efforts as those of honest brokers between two fractious principals: We are neither Jew nor Palestinian, and we make no observations on their continuing issues. We are merely there, as we have been for the past 130 years, to pro- John D. Peebles, OStJ, is a native of Mobile and graduated from The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. He studied at University College, Oxford, and is a Principal and Senior Consultant of NAI Mobile, the leading commercial real estate practice in south Alabama. Married to the beautiful,” long-suffering” (in his own words) Allison, he has two sons, both recent college graduates. “ The European Union has just awarded a Partnership for Peace grant (in the region of $700,000) jointly to the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group and the world-famous Hadassah University Hospital. This grant recognizes not only SJEHG but also its work with a Jewish organization in Israel towards achieving highly significant humanitarian and peace-building goals. It also shows that we are leading in these areas, where interaction between Palestinian and Israeli institutions as well as individuals is now extremely rare. The funding will be used to carry out vital research into genetically related eye disease in both communities.” Brigadier Tom Ogilvie-Graham, MBE, OStJ, and CEO of St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group CONFRÈRE RECOGNITION Victoria Sheffield, DStJ, was elected in November to be Vice President of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, a global consortium of over 125 of the world’s leading eye care organizations. With 45 years’ international experience in ophthalmology and blindness prevention, she is President and CEO of the International Eye Foundation, and a former Board Member of the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group. Currently serving on the Priory Chapter, Victoria has received numerous awards and citations, has lived in five countries on four continents, and has professional experience in 42 countries of the 102 she has visited. She is married to Howard Pyle, CStJ, and lives in Alexandria, Virginia. Bruce E. Spivey, MD, KStJ, has been honored by The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) with the 2015 Laureate Recognition Award. The AAO says, “Dr. Spivey’s contributions span the profession from educator, clinician, hospital CEO, ophthalmology department CEO, and medical society CEO to transformational professional leader.” Among his many professional accomplishments and awards he was EVP and CEO of the AAO, and from 2006 through 2014 served as President of the International Council of Ophthalmology. Bruce Spivey now devotes much of his energy to developing an Eye Institute with the Pacific Vision Foundation, an organization he founded in 1977. He and his wife Amanda, DStJ, reside in San Francisco. t THE ORDER OF ST JOHN 7 Eyes on the Future • Vol. 7, No. 1 Priory Officers ® Palmer Clarkson Hamilton, KStJ Prior Douglas Lithgow Paul, KStJ Chancellor William Morrison Matthews, KStJ Vice Chancellor, East Philip Ernest Bowles III, KStJ Vice Chancellor, West 1850 M Street, NW, Suite 1070 Washington, DC 20036-5856 The Rev’d Canon John W. Kilgore, MD, KStJ Vice Chancellor, Community COL (Ret) D. Gray Heppner Jr., MD, CStJ Vice Chancellor, St John Volunteer Corps The Right Rev’d Charles Farmer Duvall, MStJ Sub-Prelate Nigel Graham Heath, OStJ Treasurer Lorna Jury Gladstone, PhD, OStJ Secretary Anne Louise Coleman, MD, PhD, OStJ Hospitaller COL (Ret) Howell Crawford Sasser Sr., CStJ Historiographer and Protocol Advisor John McConville Shannon, CStJ Genealogical Advisor Chapter of the Priory in the USA Palmer Clarkson Hamilton, Mobile A. Marshall Acuff Jr., Richmond Julian Victor Brandt III, Charleston Anne Louise Coleman, MD, PhD, Santa Monica Joseph MacDonald Dealey Jr., Dallas Patricia Staples Horne Dresser, Washington, DC Jack Martin Enoch Jr., Richmond Kenneth A. Forde, MD, FACS, New York City Carolyn S. Goltra, Denver Lorna Jury Gladstone, PhD, Washington, DC Kazie Metzger Harvey, New York City Nigel Graham Heath, San Francisco Dennis Clair Hensley, Washington, DC Thomas Morgan Hyers, MD, St. Louis The Rev’d Canon John W. Kilgore, MD, St. Louis Brantley C.B. Knowles II, Palm Beach Karen Miller Lamb, Washington, DC William Morrison Matthews, Palm Beach Douglas Lithgow Paul, New York City Maxey Jerome Roberts, Mobile Victoria Mary Sheffield, Washington, DC Priory Staff Brian Sayers Executive Director M. Jean Russell, PhD, Development Officer Agnieszka Simmons Membership Administrator 1850 M Street, NW, Suite 1070 Washington, DC 20036-5856 Tel.: 202-510-9691 Fax: 202-822-0040 ID#: 13-6161455 E-mail: [email protected] Newsletter Editor Karen Lamb, CStJ ABOUT THE ORDER OF ST JOHN The most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem is a serving Order of Chivalry under the British Crown. The honor of membership is bestowed by warrant of its sovereign head, HM Queen Elizabeth II. The Grand Prior of the Order is HRH The Duke of Gloucester, KG, GCVO. The Priory in the United States of America, constituted in 1996 by authority of Her Majesty, is one of the Order’s 11 international priories. Its primary mission is to support St John Eye Hospital Group. For over 130 years, the Hospital has provided first-quality ophthalmic care to hundreds of thousands of people in the Holy Land, without regard to gender, race, creed, or ability to pay. Over the years, the Priory in the USA has raised millions of dollars to support the Group’s work. A DOCTOR’S STORY: HUMAM RISHMAWI An up close and personal account of daily life at St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group was heard recently at the Priory’s headquarters. Dr. Humam Rishmawi, Deputy Medical Director of the Group visited in early November on his way to the annual meeting of The American Academy of Opthalmology in Las Vegas. He and his wife, Samar, were hosted by Victoria Sheffield, DStJ, and her husband Howard Pyle, CStJ. In addition to sightseeing on what was his first visit to Washington, Dr. Rishmawi also met with area ophthalmic professionals. A lunch was held in the Rishmawis’ honor at Priory Headquarters. As he describes it, Dr. Rishmawi’s day starts very early, at 6:15 am. He, Samar and their four daughters live in Beit Sahour, a village near Bethlehem. He takes a special transport bus that facilitates his long morning journey through several Israeli checkpoints. He then sees at least 30-40 patients a day. Dr. Rishmawi does two specialty clinics, two operating sessions and one general clinic a week, and visits Hebron weekly. He is head of the Hospital’s examining committee, and teaches and works with Hadassah. Very focused on his work, he says that even occasional visits from Samar cannot distract him, as he is there to maximize time with patients, and fully explain to them their treatment. After deciding to become an ophthalmologist, Dr. Rishmawi obtained his medical degree from Dusseldorf University in 1990, with the ambition of returning to the Hospital in Jerusalem, which he had known since he was a child. He began working there and became its first resident in 1994, eventually obtaining a Royal College of Surgeons Fellowship in Humam and Samar Rishmawi in Washington, DC. Ophthalmology in Edinburgh. His subspeciality is in strabismus and neuropthalmology. Dr. Rishmawi’s greatest joy is working with children. “When you get older, you like to be with children, and when you treat them and the child can see better, this is your success.” He is very impressed with changes taking place in the Hospital in the past few years under the leadership of Brigadier Tom OgilvieGraham, MBE, OStJ. He cites improved scheduling that cuts down patient waiting time, and the presence of more subspecialties and clinics to treat difficult eye diseases. Yet there are still more patients than he can treat, and major areas where the Hospital needs financial help in equipment, staffing and subspecialties such as refractive surgery. Dr. Rishmawi says he loves his job more now than when he began. Amid the demands on his time, the long commute, and the political situation, he feels a part of something greater because St John, the only charitable hospital in the Middle East, will impact its future. “St John’s is a great hospital — not a good one, a great one!” Karen Miller Lamb, CStJ