A thank you
to the participants of the II International Conference of the Order of St. Stanislaus in Częstochowa

Dear Dames and Chevaliers of the Order of St. Stanislaus!
 

Between the 24th and 26th of September 2010 a conference of the Order took place in Częstochowa. According to earlier agreements with Tomasz Lorant – Chairman of the Regency Council, I have called along with him the II International Conference of the Order of St. Stanislaus. The main goal of the Conference was to introduce changes to the Order’s Constitution.
Our intent was to introduce changes which would democratize the Order. We wanted to thereby express the will to change through a democratic election of the Grand Master and the Order’s Authorities for a five year tenure with a possibility of later continuing their work. The democratization of the order would exact more adherence to the provisions contained in the Order’s Constitution on part of its Authorities.
We also wanted the Order to be a common national good, and not a private one, as seen by Potocki, Roch and Lisoń. As it seems, they have the supposed patent for the Order, not the other members, who for over a dozen years have been building the prestige of the Order in Poland and around the world.
Unfortunately, Tomasz Lorant and his two accompanying participants from abroad did not take up the discussion of what is next for the Order, even though they had a firm majority at the Conference. They had authorization from 24 other people entitled to vote, plus their own three votes, which is a total of 27 votes. The Polish participants of the conference had only 14 votes. Our foreign guests could, therefore, make all the decisions regarding the future of the Order.
Why they did this – I do not know. It is sure – and it was confirmed by Tomasz Lorant in his vote – that the Regency Council under his leadership will not cooperate with Jan Potocki and his collaborators in matters concerning the Order of Saint Stanislaus. He did, however, express support for our actions within the Order in Poland. We shall see what the future of our cooperation with the Regency Council holds. This is why we need to maintain a degree of restraint in the evaluation of their participation in the II International Conference of the Order in Częstochowa.
The situation at the conference did not allow the continuation of its program. However, we have all made a decision to continue the conference in regard to the Order’s organizational matters in Poland, and its future. Even more so, that the priories taking part in the Conference have 80% of their members in Poland. We were very critical of the changes which took place following the death of the VIII Grand Master of the Order Juliusz Nowina Sokolnicki.
Four Polish Priors: from Silesia, Mazowsze, Greater Poland and Staropolska, along with You – with your full acceptance – passed a Declaration distancing us from the actions of the current Grand Master and his entourage. Together we have decided to continue organizing and developing the Order in Poland and abroad. In this respect we will appoint an appropriate Chapter. The details of the agreements will be disclosed in due time and published at our websites.

Dear Dames and Chevaliers!

A day before our Conference Mr. Jan Potocki made a decision to suspend many Chevaliers of the Order, myself included. With this letter I wish to confirm, that Mr. Potocki has no legal foundation to make any kind of personal decisions. We are only accountable to Chevaliers and Dames of the individual Priories. I, as the Prior of Greater Poland, could submit a motion against Mister Potocki with the Order’s Fellow Members Arbitration Court, as he is a member of the Commandery of Wrocław, which is subordinate to our Priory. Unfortunately, I shall not take advantage of this possibility, as it would be a dishonor to me.
The idea of our organization is to aid the needy and to care for the image of the Order and our Patron, the Bishop Martyr, and we will not outbid each other in stupidity.
On behalf of the Conference’s organizers, I wish to thank all the participants for their personal participation and substantial contribution to the discussion regarding the future of the Order in Poland and around the world. We await new initiatives and suggestions.

With respect
 Dr Marian Król GCCStS
 Grand Prior of Poland
Order of St. Stanislaus BM
Poznań, the 30th of September 2010