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OPINION
WHY A KNIGHT?
by H. E. Brent, Viscount Spencer of Gerasa Grand Master of the Order of Christian Knights of the Rose 15 October 2006, Canada
What is it in the image and ideal of a knight that makes us, in the 21st century, wish to emulate? Why a knight? Is it perhaps the sense of romance, adventure, honour, and service in God's name? Perhaps it is all and any of these – living to a higher standard of personal commitment than is commonly seen in this modern world, where people live for themselves – hedonism is the norm – where right is made to be wrong and wrong to be right.
The concept of being a knight, derived from the Anglo Saxon word cniht – the free fighting men who followed a nobleman, or chevalier – the French word meaning horseman – is not a snapshot of one point in time. Our concept of a knight comes from an image that developed over many centuries crossing many social, cultural, and historical influences.
Knights in the eleventh century were trained from childhood in the use of arms – taught to shoot the short bow, to ride and wrestle, to handle the lance, the sword, the long-hafted axe, and the mace. Training in horsemanship was vital and the horse, too, had to be taught to turn, canter, and halt without the touch of the reins, and to stand still if its master was unseated so that he could remount. Wearing armour was no small feat either. A shirt of mail could weigh thirty pounds, plus the weight of his padded gambeson, the steal and leather helmet, kite shield, belt, scabbard, sword, and dagger, plus carrying a lance which may have a pennant or standard attached, and maybe an axe. It was sheer hard work having to fight in such armour. And this is four hundred years before the development of the plate-armoured knight!
At this time the knight was essentially a soldier who owned a farm that was also his fort... and he became a knight because his lord made him one. He was obligated to serve and the only ritual he may have undergone was that he might be struck on the side of the neck or shoulder and told "Be worthy. I make you a knight!"
All that being said, there were higher ideals and virtues that went with being a knight that grew out of the feudal system he belonged to: courage, honour, loyalty, and a deeply religious faith. Different conventions of different days, and instructions of popes and kings, and romantic queens such as Eleanor of Aquitaine built onto the ideal. Knights and nobles were expected to vow before their bishop to defend the helpless, widows, orphans, and be the protector of womankind. The Hospitallers or the 12th century had duties that included caring for the sick, guiding pilgrims, hunting, and exorcising evil spirits. Courtesy and dining manners became part of a squire's upbringing - preparing meals, attending to the ladies of the castle, attending to the needs of the knight or lord he served, and taking care of horses, dogs, and falcons.
The ideals of honour and virtue grew out of the military and feudal side of knighthood. Indeed it flowered as much from the myths of the court of King Arthur as it did from the sense and expectations of duty and courage that came with medieval service.
Knighthood was more than a career, it was a spiritual and emotional way of life, as it is even now.
The twelfth century philosopher, John of Salisbury, wrote: "What is the function of orderly knighthood? To protect the Church, to fight against treachery, to reverence the priesthood, to fend off injustice from the poor, to make peace in your own province, to shed blood for your brethren, and if needs must, to lay down your life." In the context of his day, these were not easy things to live up to; this chosen path was no less challenging than that of the early Christians facing the ways of the Roman world.
These words on orderly knighthood have been transposed into our own Vow of Honour as part of the initiatory rite and the tenets represented by the arms of our Cross of Honour are drawn from that knightly heritage we deem to emulate: Honour, Valour, Courage, and Compassion. Let us be found worthy.
Why a knight? – because we choose to set ourselves to a higher standard and serve in the court of the King of kings.
Viscount Brent and Lady Mae Spencer The Strauss Foundation Ball in Edmonton February 2008
The Coat of Arms of Viscount Brent can be seen HERE
REGALIA Symbols of Rank, Recognition & Responsibility
by H. E. Brent, Viscount Spencer of Gerasa Grand Master of the Order of Christian Knights of the Rose 3rd March 2008, Canada
General George Custer of the 7th Cavalry was insanely jealous of his brother-in-law's Medal of Honour and deliberately denounced it as a bauble. A bauble is a fancy but worthless thing, a trinket. A Medal of Honour is certainly not a worthless item, but a piece of regalia used to denote recognition for outstanding service and heroism. What is worthy of note, however, is that they are both items of regalia and it is the meaning behind the issue and the pride of bearing that regalia that makes the difference.
Regalia is used to attribute some form of recognition to its beholder. For example, the term brass is used to refer to those of rank, stemming primarily from the presence of brass pips and crowns worn on the shoulders of officers. The more brass, the higher the rank, and by extension, our expression "here comes the brass" decries the presence of officers entering the area. Nowadays, more likely than not, it will be shown by bars of gold braid, silver stars, or combinations of the same in subdued thread on combat uniforms. It is also used to denote honour and recognize service. Medals and qualification badges show to others that one's service or government has recognized their courage and heroism, their longsuffering service over many years, their exemplary record of service, or their assignment to certain duties.
Three certain things come into effect with respect to the issuance and wear of pieces of regalia and heraldry. First of all is the absolute legitimate issue and right to bear. In an armed service, policing agency, or other governmental service, insignia is used to denote rank, department, and accomplishment. In orders of chivalry, it is used to denote the symbolism that order holds dear to its identity as well as rank, role, and recognition. Secondly, there is the very illegitimate and illegal use of all of the above that signifies the fraudster's attempt to portray themselves as something they're not, or the spy's attempt to deceive. The only reprieve given here is for its use by actors portraying a role of a character that would have legitimate right to bear the regalia or arms. Finally, and a matter that is often not brought to bear in thoughtful commentary, is the responsibility that comes with bearing regalia. While it is a government's right, a church's right, or a corporation's right to issue, it is the bearer's responsibility to honour the intent with which it is bestowed.
Wearing rank insignia involves both privilege and responsibility. Yes generals have perks, but generals also have immense responsibilities compared to the corporal that is mandated to carry out a smaller task. The Captain or Major, the Commander, the Lord of the Admiralty, all get to wear impressive displays of insignia, but they also have to prove themselves daily to be worthy of the trust that others place in them.
Grand Masters of chivalric orders are responsible for the governance of their order in all respects, and specifically to its declared mandates. By right of position they personally, or by delegated authority, grant promotions, appointments, and honour their members with recognition in some form or another. In most orders, the highest recognition is the award of a Grand Cross or Grand Cordon, which involves the wearing of a coloured sash and associated insignia.
Whatever government, agency, or order may be involved, granting the right to wear is what makes the wear legitimate. The certificate of accomplishment, the commission scroll, the brevet of membership, the presentation by right of command, is what gives the recipient the right to wear the regalia with pride. It is the recipient's honour bound duty to uphold, enhance, and preserve the reputation of that trust. The regalia may be made of precious metal or base metal, encrusted with jewels or pits and bumps, but it is the honour with which it is presented and worn that signifies the value.
A Healthy Church – A Healthy Order
by H. E. Brent, Viscount Spencer of Gerasa Grand Master of the Order of Christian Knights of the Rose 16th July 2008, Canada
There is a correlation of indicators that show evidence of a healthy church and that of an order of chivalry or confraternity. What makes a healthy church certainly extends to the well being of an order.
A church is not a physical building, though a place of worship is most often referred to by this same term. A church is a body of believers working together, praying, praising, and doing their best to follow the tenets of their faith. What makes one such group vibrant and another stale, even contributing to the forces of evil? What are the signs of a healthy church?
First of all, there is focused worship. Worship and praise is for the glory of God and expressing our gratitude and adoration for His grace. Our prayers are directed communication with a loving creator, which makes our worship a very special matter, for we have a unique connection with Him. Our faith is based on a spiritual relationship, not just a fearful hope that religious adherence to rituals and sacrifices will appease an indifferent entity. A healthy church is a worshipping church.
Secondly, a healthy church is evangelizing, which means it actively shares the good news, the gospel of Christ and the message of salvation. It actively shares and demonstrates what the Greeks referred to as "xapis", which means joy, grace, and loving-kindness.
Thirdly, a healthy church is one whose membership is learning. It grows healthy with the milk, meat, and living water of the Word. Its members live on the scriptures and learn from the real life experiences of the day. The technologies of the millennia have changed, but the experiences of life and the passions shared cross the dimensions of time. A healthy church learns from the stories of the people and the acts of God, past and present. The Word of God is living and active and calls upon us to remember His actions and to share with others what He is doing for others today.
Fourthly, a healthy church is a loving church. The believers work together, uplift, correct, and love each other as they have everything in common. The early church was very well connected in looking after the needs of others and this is the sign of a healthy church even now.
In short, a church that is WELL, involves Worship, Evangelizing, Learning, and Loving.
Extending thoughts of what makes for a healthy order or a confraternity, which is similar but is directly focused on church related mandates, I have identified seven indicators. There may be others, but these will probably carry the day when supplemented by the above indicators of a healthy church.
1. It proclaims its mandates and strives to uphold them in its ceremonies and activities.
2. It establishes benchmark standards and does not compromise them for convenient or selfish motives.
3. It makes allowance for growth, times of austerity, and human failings, recognizing that there are seasons, an ebb and flow of commitment.
4. It recognized the work of its members and the contributions of its supporters.
5. It recognizes the inevitable aspect that may will join for validation, or as trophy hunters, but these members may still enhance the work and reputation of the order or confraternity by their membership alone.
6. It makes allowance for transference of powers and responsibilities as needed. It makes accommodation for both pruning and promotion.
7. It networks with other orders and with the members of other organizations to learn and grow for the benefit of others. Membership should be mutually beneficial, a mutual blessing.
The health and wealth of a church and an order are so similar to one's personal health and wealth. All depend upon loving care, nutrition, upon strengthening and exercising its body, upon striving to learn and achieve, and upon protecting one's well-being from poison, hostile or malevolent forces, dangerous ground, and reckless abandon.
As the administrative and structural protector of an order, as the member of a church body, and as a member of a confraternity, I am very keenly aware of the challenges involved in maintaining the healthiness of all three, and I write this to guide and encourage others. It is my sincere hope that it will be of value to the newest member or those much senior to me in service and experience.
Re-reverence the Lord
by H. E. Brent, Viscount Spencer of Gerasa Grand Master of the Order of Christian Knights of the Rose July 2009, Canada
We live in a day and age where, over at least the last century, we have seen the emergence of popular super-heroes, whose personal skills and abilities have been enhanced such that they are able to perform incredible feats which ordinary mortals can only hope to see coming to their aid, which ordinary mortals can idolize as saviours in times of duress or disaster; Superman, Spiderman, Wonder Woman, Wolverine, the Incredible Hulk - taking their superior strength, skills, supernatural abilities and agility to battle the forces of evil. The sad fact is that people have forgotten the supernatural man that lived and breathed and trod the ground we live on, who had and called upon the supreme powers of the creator of the universe to help and heal, to lift the worthy and condemn the minions of darkness, to support and suppress, to move and to calm. People today have forgotten the awesome, supernatural, loving, caring Christ.
If we were to watch a movie that featured a man who could walk on water, command a howling gale to calm simply with a command to be still, reach out and touch someone who was clearly dead and see them revived to life, calmly and boldly face a raging, crazy, demon-possessed man and cast that dark force into the pit of hell and see the changed person renewed, and take a whipping, beating, and lance point into the rib cage, die and come back to life before hundreds of witnesses, we'd think that was a pretty incredible character. That would be a comic book character that would be way beyond the scope of any other superhero on the market, wouldn't it? What would you call him?
The ancient scriptures and contemporary writings state that the most vile creatures of the day fell down in fear of his presence and called him Lord. The ancient scriptures and contemporary writings state that the most respected persons of the day called him the Messiah, the Prince of Peace, the son of the living God! The Egyptian, Greek, and Roman pantheon of Gods could not combine to collect an ounce of power to match him, nor the love and compassion that drove him, nor his holiness of being that put their narcissistic, self-indulgent sinful natures to shame.
Is it any wonder that the political and religious forces of the day were afraid of this man called Christ? Jesus was a common name in those days, 2000 years ago, but "the Christ" was a prophetic title that carried a lot of weight. Jesus Christ was a superstar hundreds of years before he was even born, and on that day his presence fulfilled over three hundred prophesies. And while he lived and walked and taught, he fulfilled even more. And when he was betrayed by his own, who gave him up to the Roman occupiers to be crucified, he fulfilled even more. And when he rose again...!!! The living Christ returned to the Godhead as a conquering hero. He defeated death in a holy, supernatural, and supremely wonderful way.
All the stories, reports or accounts, written by our friends and armigers, are being published upon this website on the "as is" basis, and do not necessarily represent the views of the Russian College of Heraldry (CHR). As is clearly stated in our
DISCLAIMER, being a purely heraldic body, we at the CHR do neither support and promote, nor deny and criticise officially whatever historic, chivalric, or other heraldic organisations that exist in the world.
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