St Bartholomew's Day
	Amendment X of the CLSI (Clan Leslie Society International) Constitution established August 24, St. Bartholomew's Day, as the day of celebration for Clan Leslie.    This action was taken to honor the founder of the Clan, Bartholomew (Bardolf in Saxon) the brother-in-law of King Malcolm III Canmore of Scotland.  Bartholomew came to Scotland as steward to Princess Margaret who married King Malcolm, became Queen of Scotland and a Saint of the Christian Church.   Bartholomew married Beatrix, a sister of King Malcolm, who gave Bartholomew extensive lands in the Garioch where he built the first Leslie "Castle" of timber.   St. Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles, his name in Aramaic meaning "son of Tolomai."  Not much is known about him.  He was introduced to Jesus by Philip as a man "without guile," and authorities believe he is identical with the Nathaniel mentioned in the Gospel of St. John.  He came from Cana to Galilee, and tradition has him as the widest-traveled of the Apostles, in India, Mesopotamia, Persia and Egypt.  He was beheaded and flayed in Greater Armenia.   Michaelangelo, in the Sistine Chapel in Rome, portrays Bartholomew holding his own skin in his hands.  While many churches have been dedicated to St. Bartholomew, only one has a direct Leslie connection.  It was built late in the last century by the Leslie Russian Branch in honor of the Clans founder on the main family estate near Smolensk.  Senior Leslies from all over were invited to the dedication.  It is not known whether this church survived the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.  The Bartholomews are a Sept of Clan Leslie.  August 24 should be a day of celebration for all Leslies and Sept members, with meetings or Ceilidhs.  It can and should be celebrated within the family.  Such occasions would link all Leslies together in spirit. --Alec Klieforth (reprinted with permission)