At 11.15am the High Mass of Requiem was sung in the presence of His Eminence Keith Patrick Cardinal O'Brien, Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion, who presided from the throne, and similarly of the Grand Master's legate. Also present were members of Sovereign Council, Their Excellencies Fra' Carlo d'Ippolito and Fra' Duncan Gallie, who is also Chancellor of the Grand Priory of England; His Excellency Fra' Carl Paar, Prince Grand Prior of Bohemia; His Grace Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow, Grand Cross Conventual Chaplain 'ad honorem', Principal Chaplain of the British Association; and Father Hugh Gilbert, Bishop-elect of Aberdeen, former Abbot of Pluscarden. A large number of members of the Order were present including the Lieutenant of the Grand Priory, Ian Scott of Ardross, and His Excellency the President of the British Association, Charles Weld, and the Lady Talbot of Malahide, Vice-President. The Papal Knights, the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Venerable Order of Saint John (of which the late Grand Prior was a member) were also represented. Fra' Freddy's widow Jane, and children Rhidian, Edward, Amanda, and Ione-Jane, brother Niall and sister Margot were all present.
Among the mourners were Lord Gill, Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland, and Lady Gill; Ninian Crichton-Stuart, Hereditary Keeper of Falkland Palace; Miss Elizabeth Roads, Lyon Clerk, Court of the Lord Lyon; Richard Waller, of the Venerable Order of St John in Scoltand, and other representatives; Captain Jim Reid 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland; and Frederick Stone, Chairman, with other representatives of Una Voce Scotland. Members of the family were assisted by the knights and some of the Companions (who of course were founded in Scotland) as ushers.
The Mass was celebrated by Father John Emerson FSSP, Fra' Freddy's spiritual director, whose daily Mass he had attended for several years until his death; and assisted by Father Gerard Deighan, chaplain of the Irish Association of the Order, and Father Brendan Gerard, both of whom had regularly said Holy Mass in Edinburgh attended by Fra' Freddy in recent years. The Mass was sung to gregorian chant by the schola of St Andrew's Ravelston, and served by Scottish friends of Fra' Freddy, with whom he had frequently served at the altar until very recently.
The Homily was preached most movingly by Cardinal O'Brien, a very close friend of the Grand Prior, who stressed the total unity in Christ between Fra' Freddy's life with his family, his religious and charitable work within the Order, the strength he derived from the liturgy of the Church, and his interior life of prayer. He ended with words of the psalm, which though so familiar, sounded as for the first time with this holy man, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Requiescat in pace."
Lauds and Solemn Requiem Mass took place at St. Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, offered by Fr. J. Emerson FSSP.
A full photoset has been made available here, courtesy of Mr. Martin Gardner. Here are just a few of his photos.
News.Scotsman.com also provide an obituary.
