The Chief's Thoughts on Clan Urquhart

During the 1994 Gathering of Clan Urquhart in Scotland, the Chief made a memorable address to the members of the Clan represented by a large delegation of Urquharts who had assembled in Cromaty's historic East Church for a special service in honour of the Clan. In his address, the Chief stated his thoughts on Clan Urquhart. In the following message, he summarizes his thoughts on the Clan as presented in that address; and makes a special appeal to every Urquhart in the world to show his loyalty by actively supporting the Clan in its important work.

A Message from the Chief

By bearing the name of "Urquhart," we are marked as members of an old family with a clearly identifiable history and character. Because of the wide migration of Scots, we, Urquharts, have become a worldwide family, Scottish by origin and Scottish by conscious choice; a family of members who, despite their diversity, view themselves as one; and proudly call themselves "Urquharts." As Chief of this ancient clan, it falls to me to articulate the hopes and aspirations of the Family of Urquhart.
We, Urquharts, hope that in our lives, both personally and corporately as a clan, we will uphold the best traditions of Clan Urquhart in its long commitment to civilization at its finest; and that we will live up to the ancient motto of our Clan: "Meane Weil, Speak Weil, and Doe Weil." One could hardly have a better code of conduct than this exhortation to virtue so succinctly expressed. Let us live by this motto. If we do, surely we will be blessed; and the world will be a better place for our having been here. Let us teach our motto, by word and deed, to our children. If we do, we may be certain that they will bless and revere us as we bless and revere those who have gone before us.
We hope that our Clan, as a whole, and each member thereof, will be blessed with prosperity and good fortune. We hope that our clan association will grow and that they will be successful; and that they will do great good for the Clan and others. We hope for the continued successful preservation of Craigston Castle. We look forward to the day when the preservation of Castle Craig will become a reality. We hope for the development of a clan center for Clan Urquhart; the creation of a fitting memorial to the departed members of our Clan; and the publication of an up-to-date, scholarly, and reasonably comprehensive history of the Urquharts.
Clansmen, it is imperative that we take seriously our responsibility for these important projects. Urquharts, this is our heritage which these undertakings seek to preserve. Their success depends upon you. Without them, our name, and all that it represents, will largely be forgotten. Please give them your full moral and financial support. As Chief, I challenge all members of Clan Urquhart to show their loyalty by actively supporting the Clan in its important work of preserving the Urquhart heritage; and thus providing meaningful and effective continuity between past, present, and future generations of Urquharts. I will call upon every Urquhart in the world to actively and generously support the Family which gave them their name and identity. Urquharts, you owe it to yourselves and to those who came before you; but, most of all, you owe it to your children and those who will come after you. It is a privilege to be an Urquhart; and to be part of an ancient noble family, rooted in Scotland, which gave you life and which adds special meaning to your life; and which, in turn, depends upon your efforts to make it the best it can become.