International Order of Saint Hubert

The International Order of Saint Hubert is named after Hubert, the Holy Patron of sport hunters and fishermen, and the prototype of the best traditions in fair chase. He is also the Patron of bow men, trappers, fur hunters, mathematics, blacksmiths and hound trainers.
The Venerable Order of Saint Hubert was founded by the Count Anton von Spork in 1695 and in May 10, 1950 was restored under the name of the International Order of Saint Hubert.
The International Order of Saint Hubert works to improve hunting legislation, actively participating in the publishing of the New Wild Life Act. At the present time, they work diligently in the improvement of this law and the Law of Sports Guns and promoting of the teaching and education related on “Safe and Responsible Hunting”.
The Protector of the Order is King Juan Carlos I of Spain. The Mission of the Order is reflected by its motto: “Deum diligite, animalia diligentes” “Work for God working for his creatures”.
The current Great Master is the Archduke Andreas Salvatore Habsburg-Lothringen.
History
The Venerable Order of Saint Hubertus was corporate in 1695 by Count Anton von Spork, gathering the greatest noble hunters up to the XX Century, mainly in Austria and countries of the Austro Hungarian Empire, ruled by the Habsbugs.
In 1938, when Austria was absorbed by the III Reich, Herman Göring demanded membership on the Order and executed the Grand Prior when he denied. At the cease fire of the II WW, hunters survivors, members all of the Order, were authorized by young Halvor O. Ekern, chief political advisor of the US Armed Forces to use their sporting guns to provide winter food to the rural population, avoiding not only the famine but saving the whole country to fall under the Iron Curtain.
To the end of the war, when Austria came free again, the Order was restituted by Albert Franz Messany on may 1st 1950, at the request of the chancellor Figi of Austria. The name of the restituted Order is since: International Order of St. Hubertus. It is the restitution of the Venerable Order of St. Hubertus.
Mr. Ekern, who just past away in 2006, was one of the first to be invited to be a member of the restituted Order along with Llewellyn E. Thompson, USA Ambassador, General Mark W. Clark, Comanding General of the Allied Forces in Austria, George U. Wood, Baron Harold Anthony Craccia and others.
There are Chapters of the Order in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States of North America.
In 1966 George Wood was appointed Grand Prior and founded the American Chapter in 1968. The first Investiture of American Knights took place at the Bohemian Club in San Francisco. Presided the Restitutor, then Grand Master Messany.
In 1975, GM Messany retired and George Wood was elected Grand Master, being replaced by Karl Christian Weber in 1979. In 1985, the Grand Master Weber ask Archduke Andreas Salvatore von Habsburg-Lothringen as Lord Protector (Schirmherr). January 8, 1991 GM Weber ask Archduke Andreas to take Charge of the Grand Master’s office. Archduke Andreas did so and His Royal Highness Juan Carlos I, King of Spain took the position of Lord Protector of the Order. They both still in charge today. Grand Master Weber died in April 1991 after 20 years of effort to the Order, eleven of then as Grand Master.

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