We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
In the name of God, I Raymond Servant of Christ's poor and Warden of the Hospital of Jerusalem, with the counsel of all the Chapter, both clerical and lay brethren, have established these commandments in the House of the Hospital of Jerusalem.
HOW THE BRETHREN SHOULD MAKE THEIR PROFESSION: Firstly, I ordain that all the brethren, engaging in the service of the poor, should keep the three thing with the aid of God which they have promised to God, that is to say, chastity and obedience, which means whatever thing is commanded them by their masters, and to live without property of their own: because God will require these three things of them at the Last Judgement.
WHAT THE BRETHREN SHOULD CLAIM AS THEIR DUE: And let them not claim more as their due than bread and water and raiment, which things are promised to them. And their clothing should be humble, because Our Lord's poor, whose servants we confess ourselves to be, go naked. And it is a thing wrong and improper for the servant that he should be proud, and his Lord should be humble.
http://blessed-gerard.org/bgt_rule.htm
“A feature of Hospitaller nursing was this: because every poor man and woman was Christ ['Whatever you did to the least of my brethern, you did unto me', Matthew 10:40], he or she should have not just good treatment but the best and most luxurious treatment possible. This was a religious imperative; it was also the application of the basic nursing principle that patients should be comfortable and contented.
“The great hospital in Jerusalem, which had an enormous influence on the development of others, took in the poor, whatever their religion, nationality or sex. It could accommodate 2,000 patients, male and female. When it was overflowing, the brothers' dormitory with its beds was occupied by the sick and the brothers had to sleep on the floor.” [Hospitallers The History of the Order of St John, by Professor Jonathan Riley-Smith]
Mes chers amis américains, it was la fête de la Saint-Jean Baptiste, the feast day of the patron saint of all French Canadians and a public holiday in the province of Québec.
I had a great time myself and I freely confess that I might well have partaken of one too many "p'tites bières"...