| The Highland Clan is a set of people all bearing the same surname or sub-family names, who believe themselves to be related to each other and descended from the same stock. There may be several sub-tribes within the clan with their own chiefs to which the people owe their immediate allegiance. However, they all agree in owning their allegiance to the supreme chief of the clan, and look upon it to be their duty to support him in all of his endeavors. There may also be people considered to be "friends of the clan", that while not belonging historically to the clan, are sympathetic to its causes, and support their activities. "The Clan, like every other institution, requires symbolism and ceremony. Otherwise, the people of the clan would gradually lose their identity and sense of self as a unique race of people. It is a legal and practical community - a biological corporation - under its representative - ‘whom we call Chief’ - distinguished by his shield and banner, which pass as property in the ruling line of succession. It spreads into branches and sub-branch families, each with its ceantighe. Each child should be taught to ‘name your chief, ‘ the chief's genealogy, and his own. It is the mother’s duty to learn this and teach them, the father’s to encourage the child to ‘decor the house, support the chief, and work for the glory of the clan.’ - from The Scottish Clans and their Tartans” by Johnston and Bacon Publishers. While we no longer have the unfailing loyalty to the clan as described in historical times, the above paragraph brings home a point. In order to define ourselves as a people, we have to remember our past, learn its symbols and traditions, and apply those lessons continuously to our present and future lives, lest our heritage lose its significance and meaning to the people of the clan, and the clan gradually fades away due to disinterest. It is up to every one of us to learn as much as we can about our clan to pass that information to our kin. The Clan Grant Society
in the United States The Chief
The Chief is the head of the Clan and representor of the family. He embodies the spirit of the Clan and inspires the Clan to "Stand Fast" against all adversity. Our current clan chief is Lord Strathspey, Grant of Grant, 33rd Chief of Clan Grant. Under Scottish tradition, the Chief is entitled to wear three silver eagle feathers with the crest badge on his bonnet. In the United States, the Chief serves as advisor to the Clan Grant Society. Society Officers
The Society officers are responsible for establishing the direction and day-to-day operations of Clan Grant in the United States. They appoint people to carry out the tasks of the Society. Commissioners
Appointed by the officers of the Clan Grant Society in the United States, the Commissioners serve at the pleasure of the officers of the Society. Clan Commissioners are responsible for generating enthusiasm for Clan Grant, carrying on the customs and traditions of Clan Grant, and organizing participation in the various Highland Games. The Bards
In times past, the bards were a favored class of people within the clan. The bards were responsible for keeping alive the knowledge of the past. As Scotland's history was an oral, rather than a written, history, the bards committed this history to memory in the form of poems, stories, genealogy, and ballads. This information was repeated at all gatherings of the clan. Thanks to the breakdown of the clan system beginning in the mid 1700s, the old bards are largely gone now, and much of the ancient knowledge is lost. There does exist a new counterpart to the old bards that has developed in modern society. As the bard of old was an information disseminator that kept alive the history and traditions of the clan, the modern bards are now the Commissioners, newsletter editors, and webmasters of the clans. These people continue to carry out the history and culture of the clans. The Genealogist
The modern clan genealogist is responsible for maintaining the clan lineage of the various members of Clan Grant. They also encourage the members to further research their complete genealogical history and provide assistance to help the members begin to research their roots. The Difference Between the Clan and the Clan Society
THE CLAN
All Grants by birth or marriage and people whose surnames are recognized septs of the Clan and can generally trace their ancestry back to Clan Grant are members of CLAN GRANT. The Clan has a long history stretching back to the 900s AD and it is a heritage that we can be proud of. THE CLAN SOCIETY
Clan Grant has organized several "Societies" throughout the world, which bring like-minded people together for the purpose of assisting each other in the assembly of their genealogies, and learning about their clan history and the heritage of their ancestors. These people may belong to Clan Grant, may have blood lines reaching back to a Grant ancestor, or may consider themselves to be "Friends of the Clan", interested in supporting the causes and interests of Clan Grant. The Society provides an organizational structure for these people to attend highland games, socialize together, and produce newsletters and web sites as a way to keep in touch with each other. |
