Orders of Chivalry, Merit, and Honour

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Over on "Off Topic" CDN Sushi asked about the Order of the Black Ermine. Membership in an order of chivalry, merit, or honour is usually accompanied by some sort of distinctive insignia intended to be worn with formal Highland attire. Perhaps those members of X Marks who are members of the various orders would care to tell us to which order(s) they have been admitted, and provide a photo or two showing how their insignia is worn when kilted?

Up front I am going to state that this isn't about what is, or is not, a valid order. In fact, if anyone questions the validity of any of the orders which may hereafter be mentioned I would call upon the Mods to remove that post as being both offensive and lacking in substance.

[Bigkahuna]

I assume you mean Orders like St. Lazarus and St. Joachim as well as the Orders of Nobility?

[Rollo]

I am Knight of justice of saint Lazarus

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I assume you mean Orders like St. Lazarus and St. Joachim as well as the Orders of Nobility?

I am not 100% sure that I know what you mean by an "Order of Nobility", but "yes" would be my answer to your question.

[Colonel MacNeal]

Knight Commander, Order of Saint John of Jerusalem.
Haven't worn it with my prince charlie yet, but will later this year.

[saharris]

As an American, not having an Order of Chivalry is one of the very, very few areas in which I envy our "friends across the pond". My only hope for a neck order like that is the Presidential Medal of Freedom... someday...

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

As an American, not having an Order of Chivalry is one of the very, very few areas in which I envy our "friends across the pond". My only hope for a neck order like that is the Presidential Medal of Freedom... someday...

Actually many chivalric orders are now supranational. Some, like the Order of Malta or the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, require their members to be Roman Catholics. Others, such as the Order of Saint Lazarus or the Order of the Holy Trinity, are ecumenical. Some, such as the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus or the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem (which Colonel MacNeal belongs to) are ancient orders which are still awarded by the representatives of the Royal Houses who established the order.

I'm sure that if you PM'd Colonel MacNeal (The Order of Saint John) or Rollo (The Order of St. Lazarus) they would be happy to discuss their respective orders with you.

[Sketraw]

John A. Duncan of Sketraw - Conferral: by S. A. R. Don Carlos de Borbón-Dos Sicilias y de Borbón-Parma, Duque de Calabria, Conde de Caserta, Infante de España as a Knight Jure Sanguinis, Motu Proprio, Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George.

[saharris]

That is something to consider. I am a Catholic and am a member of the Knights of Columbus, but haven't yet been noticed by the Order of the Holy Sepulchre or the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (yet!). The danger comes in joining an "actual" order, rather than a fly-by-night "self styled" order that has its Grand Priory in somebody's mother's basement!

[Galician]

The difference between the KofC and the military orders is that the latter were religious orders in their origins in the Middle Ages. The original members were monks who led a military life in the defense of other Christians, either in the Holy Land or on the border lands to non-Christian nations (yes, usually Muslim).

That is why their highest ranks still are comprised of those who take religious vows common to any other religious order, which includes celibacy. The Grand Master of the Knight of Malta, e.g., is considered to be equal to a Cardinal by the Catholic Church.