To the server is given the privilege of ministering, like Samuel of old, in the Sanctuary, He should value this honour and ever strive to become more worthy of it by performing every duty with recollection of the Unseen Presence to Whom his service is rendered.

In order to attain this ideal he should endeavour to be to the congregation an example of carefulness in observing, so far as he is able, the precepts and rules of the Church; using the Sacraments frequently and with devotion, due preparation and thanksgiving; applying himself to prayer and meditation, and to a greater realisation of the boundless Love of God.

The Scottish Guild of Servers is an association of those whose office it is to serve in the Sanctuary. It sets forth for its members high ideals, realising that One alone, who took upon Him the form of a servant, manifested perfection in humanity. We, His servants, fall short of the ideals set before us. Bearing those ideals in view the Guild forms a corporate means by which the individual server may endeavour to follow them. Its aims, drawn up to further this endeavour, are these:

(a) To foster devotion, individual and corporate, and so to deepen the spirit and power of worship in those who serve in the Sanctuary-.

(b) To promote an orderly and conscientious discharge of their duties among the members of the Guild.

(c) To encourage more frequent attendance at the Holy Eucharist, in addition to times of duty.

(d) To encourage servers to meet for the purpose of devotion, instruction, and fellowship.

(e) To provide for those who desire it, simple instruction and guidance in the Spiritual Life.

In addition to the Rules laid down in each Parish according to local custom and needs, the Guild requires that all members should keep two in common:

(a) To say the Guild Prayer on Sundays and greater Festivals.

(b) To say an Office of Preparation and Thanksgiving before and after serving.

In order that none may be admitted to membership without having carefully considered these matters and without having had experience in the duties of his office, an applicant should have been serving for a probationary period of at least six months, unless his Rector sees fit to recommend a shorter period before admission. A formal application for membership should be sent to the Honorary Secretary with a recommendation from the Chaplain or Rector of the Church at which the applicant is a server. After his application has been approved he may then be admitted according to the Form provided, and invested with the Guild Medal by a Chaplain of the Guild or a Priest authorised by the Council.

Servers may be enrolled as Probationer-Members of the Guild, in which capacity they must serve for at least six months, after which, if they so desire and their priest approves, they may be admitted to the full membership of the Guild. They should be admitted by their Priest at meetings of the Priory and formally robed with a cotta or surplice. Two rules are laid down for them: to attend Priory meetings and to make it their aim to worship at the Eucharist each Sunday. There will be an admission fee to cover the cost of the Manual, and as a token of their Probationership a certificate shall be given them. Applications for these token cards, together with the names and addresses of the Candidates. should be sent to the Honorary Secretary.

While the Guild is essentially a Society for those who are engaged in the service of the Sanctuary, it could not function without the guidance. sympathy and encouragement of the clergy. In order to further this, Bishops. Priests, or Deacons may be enrolled as Associates on assenting to the aims and ideals of the Guild.

In order that the Almoner of the Guild may have funds with which to defray the necessary expenses of the administration of the Guild, each applicant for membership is required to pay an entrance fee and so far as he is able, ought to help to provide the money required. Each Priory shall he provided with a box into which small regular sums may be given by the members. In order that none may feel that a burden is being placed upon him in this matter, there shall be no obligation to contribute.

So that it may be realised that the Guild is concerned more with spiritual things than with worldly, the Group of members at each Church shall be known as a Priory where at least three servers are included. Smaller branches may be attached either to the nearest Priory or Fraternity, or direct to the Council as circumstances may decide.

The Rector or Priest in Charge shall be the Chaplain of the Priory, if he agrees to act as such, and one of the members shall be appointed Prior.

The Prior should not be simply a local Secretary but should consider that he has a responsibility, spiritual as well as official, for the well-being of his Priory. He should report to the Honorary Secretary any changes or removals in the Priory; forward to him new applications for membership; be responsible for the money collected towards the Guild funds and send it at the due time to the Almoner.

Where a large Priory of over twelve members is formed, other offices may be found of advantage, such as Sub-Prior, Novice-Master or Sacristan, in order to invest members with a sense of responsibility.

The larger fellowship among servers which the Guild seeks to encourage in its Objects is met by the association of groups of Priories. Two or more such Priories may form a Fraternity, meeting together from time to time for the purposes of devotion, instruction, and fellowship. A priest shall be appointed as Director of the Fraternity and shall preside at meetings.

The Guardian of the Fraternity shall be a server of experience and zeal, since upon him rests the responsibility of seeing that the objects for which the Fraternity exists are being carried out. He shall call the meetings of the Fraternity and send to the Honorary Secretary a yearly report of its activities.

A committee should be formed, consisting of the Director, Guardian and Priors of the Fraternity. The officials should be elected annually.

The affairs of the Guild as a whole shall be entrusted to the Warden, Chaplain-General, Honorary Secretary and Almoner, who together with the Past Warden and Guardians of the Fraternities, form the Council, three of whom shall form quorum.

(a) Warden A Priest shall be appointed as Warden, who shall guide the Council in spiritual matters and preside at its Meetings and General Meetings of the Guild.

(b) Past-Warden On retiral, the Warden may be appointed Past-Warden, in order that the Council may continue to benefit by his advice and experience.

(c) Chaplain-General This office shall be held by a Priest, who shall preside at Meetings in the absence of the Warden. and shall be consulted in matters concerning the administration of the Guild.

(d) Almoner The Almoner, who shall be a Lay member, shall be entrusted with all funds belonging to the Guild, of which he shall render an account annually to the General Meeting.

(e) Honorary Secretary The Honorary Secretary shall be a lay member of the Guild, whose duty it shall be to keep the Minutes and Records, deal with applications for membership, and such other matters as the Council may depute to him from time to time. With the exception of the Past-Wardens, all the above officials shall be elected for three years. but each year not more than two shall be appointed. All are eligible for re-election. Nominations shall be made by the Council, but Fraternities may submit names not later than one month before the date of the General Meeting at which the elections shall be made.

(f) Honorary Councillors Honorary Councillors may be appointed in recognition of their work for the objects of the Guild, on the recommendation of the Council, endorsed at an Annual General Meeting.

(g) The Rule In order to safeguard the stability of The Rule, any proposal to amend it shall be dealt with as follows:

(1) Any individual member of the Guild may make such a proposal, or it may be initiated by the Council.

(2) The proposal must be sent in writing to the Honorary Secretary at least one month before the Annual General Meeting, and its terms notified and circulated with the agenda of that meeting.

(3) In order to be effective any amendment must be passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and entitled to vote. It will then he referred to the Council, and by the Council remitted with their report to the next Annual General Meeting for confirmation or rejection. Provided always that the earlier Annual General Meeting may accept the amendment in principle and leave the exact wording to the Council.

(h) Voting at Guild Meetings At any meeting of the Guild at which a vote is taken, the right to vote is strictly limited to full Members (not to Honorary Members or Probationers) and to Priests Associate whose names are recorded on the Guild Roll.

 

 

The Fund is established as a Memorial to the sacrifice made by Members of the Scottish Guild of Servers who gave their lives for their country in the Second World War 1939-45.

The objects for which the Fund is to be applied are for giving assistance to Members of the Guild who are studying with a view to Ordination in the Scottish Episcopal Church or other Church in Communion therewith, or who are training on a recognised Church course, ordained or lay, either Provincial or Diocesan. Assistance from the Fund may be made by way of grants towards fees of Colleges or Universities or towards the cost of books required in connection therewith or otherwise as may be appropriate.

The Fund shall be administered by the Council of The Scottish Guild of Servers (hereinafter referred to as "the Council").

Grants shall be awarded in the sole discretion of the Council who shall be required to give assistance in the first instance to members of the Scottish Church.

The Secretary-General of the Guild shall act as Secretary, and the Almoner of the Guild shall act as Treasurer. The Treasurer shall keep a separate Banking Account at a Bank to be selected by the Council in the name of the Fund, and all withdrawals on that Account shall be signed in such a manner as the Council may direct.

(a) The Fund, except so much as may be required for current expenditure, shall be invested under the direction of the Council in any manner for the time being authorised by the law of Scotland for the investment of Trust money, or may be placed on Deposit with the General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church or with the Council’s Bankers.

(b) All investments shall be taken or made in the names of the Warden, Secretary-General and the Almoner of the Guild ex officiis, or in the name of’the Council’s Bank Nominee Company, and shall be dealt with from time to time as the Council shall direct.

7. Minutes

Minutes shall be kept by the Secretary of Proceedings at Meetings of the Council relating to the Fund.

8. Alteration

No alteration may be made to this Constitution without the approval of the Council, which approval shall be signified by a vote of the majority of Members present voting. Notice of any proposed alteration must be given with the Notice calling the Meeting at which approval of the alteration is to be sought.

9. Accounts

Proper Accounts shall be kept of the Fund and these shall be brought to a balance and audited annually by either a Chartered Accountant or a Certified Accountant appointed by the Council.