Unity

As President of Clan Logan Society International for three years now I have had the privilege of hearing from individuals all around the world. It’s always a mix of excitement, curiosity, and reaching for a sense of belonging. Some might say, me included, that it’s these conversations that are the best responsibility of being president of such a global, dynamic group of people.

The sense of belonging that is at the root of many of these conversations is what I’d like to address today.

As you may recall, in an earlier blog post I spoke of someone who had reached out to me around Christmas. He was trying to understand his relationship to Clan Logan via the choice of a tartan to wear, even though he did not have a traditional spelling of Logan for a surname. I re-read that post over the weekend as I prepared to write this one because it’s a topic that I just don’t feel can be spoken of enough.

When we gather to affirm by acclamation to the Lord Lyon King of Arms who we have chosen to be our Commander of the Name Logan, it’s really important that we make sure our choice is grounded in the concept of a unified family. It has been literal centuries since there was an acknowledged leader of the family. So many world-changing events have happened since that time. Each of those has had its own impact on the lives and fortunes of the family of Logan. Even prior to the death of Hugh the Witty in 1802, history records the scattering of the family of Logan across the British Isles, across mainland Europe, across the colonies of America and Australia, and to Africa and India.

While, try as we might, Clan Logan Society International has not had much success in finding what happened to those Logans who moved to Africa and India. We have been able to find many wonderful stories of the successes of Logans in the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and of course of the Logans who remained steadfast in Scotland and the UK.

In becoming Commander of the Name Logan, the role will not be about representing a particular nation-state. The role will not be about representing geo-political boundaries nor any particular government. The commander will represent the family and Highland clan of Logan in a very public way, expressing always a deep fondness for the Scottish roots and history of the family. And he will represent the Logans of the global diaspora.

Then Why the Lord Lyon?

Likely, many of you are nodding your head in agreement with me at this point. Some of you might be asking though, “Well why are we doing this in Scotland? And why under the supervision of the Lord Lyon King of Arms?”

Because, Dear Reader, the Logans are Scottish in name and in heritage. I have yet to speak to Logans, of any spelling, that do not brim with pride at the knowledge that whether or not they currently reside in Scotland, their ancestral family played a significant role in the inventing of the modern world – by the grace of God having been a part of Scots history from its very founding and before.

By working closely with the office of the Lord Lyon King of Arms and our excellent supervisor, Bute Pursuivant Colin Russell, we will not only pay homage to our Logan ancestors who fought hard for our modern lives and liberties. We will also find ourselves officially recognized by the singular person capable of matriculating the historic arms of George Logan of that Ilk to our future Chief of the Name and Arms of Logan. It is hard to overstate the importance of this to the family and Highland clan of Logan. I am deeply appreciative of the support we are receiving from the current Lord Lyon, Dr. Joseph J. Morrow, and all of his staff in our quest to restore our chief.

From the UK to Oceania, the Logans are not all Scots now. But we all deeply love and appreciate our Scottish heritage. The Commander of the Name Logan must fully embrace this globe-spanning family. This is my firm belief.

Hoc Majorum Virtus