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March
31, 2007
On
March 31st, 2007, I was bequeathed the honor of knighthood
by Sir Steven M. Forgette at his home in upstate New
York. At that time, the Council of Knights of Chivalry-Now
was officially formed to legitimize and propagate the
resurgence of modern chivalry that we call Chivalry-Now.
An historic moment? That remains
to be seen. Its importance will not be decided by Sir Steven
or myself, but by each of you, the members of our Companionship.
It encourages me to know that friends
and Companions lit candles around the world at the moment
of the accolade, thus participating in the celebration in
absentia.
Now that the category of Knighthood
has been firmly established in our circle, I feel it necessary
to explain what that means, for my own benefit as well as
yours.
Together we are building something
grand and important to our way of life. We are attempting
to fill a cultural gap that has long denigrated what it means
to be a man. This is no fantasy endeavor, or club for people
of mutual but arcane interests. We are a group of men and
supportive ladies who see very clearly what is missing in
our Western culture, and are fighting the good fight to repair
it. We believe that a change of awareness and a commitment
to authenticity will provide a huge and positive impact on
the social problems that hold us back today.
Up until now, we have been a loose
band of concerned people sharing thoughts over the Internet.
As of today, we are something more.
We are a troop of warriors, men and women alike, who seriously
advocate for the ideals we believe in. We are called to reflect
those ideals in our everyday lives as we see fit, and in so
doing, change the world we live.
As individuals, we may not see the
results we long for in our lifetimes. Nevertheless, our Quest
for Chivalry-Now has begun in earnest. I read that
in all your correspondences. You see the vision as well as
I do. What you see is not my creation but the welling of your
own insight, which Chivalry-Now recognizes and encourages.
It is my hope that each of you rises
within the Companionship to the level of Knight, and I see
great potential in all of you.
What does it mean to be a knight?
It means a deeply personal commitment
to the advocacy of Chivalry-Now, one that reflects
itself in everything you do. It is a personal transition that
replaces the youthful yet indecisive appeal of high ideals
with the maturity of dedication. It should not be taken lightly,
for the future of Chivalry-Now will very much be decided
upon the actions of its Knights, and those aspiring for its
vocation.
Council Knights are hereby given
the authority to mentor and recommend for knighthood worthy
Companions. Two Knights must agree to the worthiness of the
candidate before the accolade is administered by at least
one Knight.
To those who aspire for Knighthood,
I suggest becoming thoroughly familiar with the tenets of
Chivalry-Now, and showing some original thought as
to their meaning.
In other words, live as if you are
Knights already, so that members of the Council will recognize
the chivalry inside you as valid and worthy of recognition.
The Council of Knights will consist
of all the Knights of Chivalry-Now. An Inner Council,
consisting now of the two founders (to be expanded in the
future), shall have final authority over organizational matters.
Each Knight, however, is guaranteed a voice on all decisions.
I cannot stress enough how important
it is that we guard and respect the vocation of Knighthood
within our Companionship. It will forever reflect the seriousness
of our Quest and the integrity of our fellowship.
Now
is the time, my brave Companions, for us to dream powerful
dreams, and make them come alive in everything we do. Few
as we are, we are forming the foundation of something with
great promise. Not the rise of some fantasy, but the elevation
of the highest ideals that ever contributed to cultural development.
Has anyone in the past been called to a finer purpose?
Or
am I fooling myself?
The
answer, my good friends, is up to you.
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