The Rule of Life

and the Constitution

of the Ancient and Venerable
Sovereign and Independent


Order of St. Andrew of Jerusalem

Founded ~ 1232 A.D.
in the City of Acre
of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem

(Being the latest Amendment thereof, as Decreed by His Excellency, the Sovereign Prince;Grand Master, this 30th day of November of 1998 A.D. ~ to be cited as the 1998 Rule)

 "One of these two who became followers of Jesus
after hearing what John [the Baptist] had said
was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. The
first thing Andrew did was to find his brother
and say to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’
- which means the Christ -
and he took Simon to Jesus."

Gospel of St. John - Ch. 1: vv. 40-42
[The New Jerusalem Bible]

O Blessed St. Andrew, Lead Us Also to JESUS !



Decree of Implementation

A Decree Motu Proprio of the Prince Grand Master

We, DOUGLAS, Sovereign Prince Grand Master and Principal Knight Grand Cross of the Ancient and Venerable, Sovereign and Independent Order of St. Andrew of Jerusalem, do, by these Presents, Establish, Ordain and Decree the following Articles of the Rule of Life and the Constitution of the said Sovereign Order

Given at Victoria, under Our Sign Manual and Seal,
on the Feast of St. Andrew, this 30th day of November, of 1998 A.D.

  

Article the First ~ Of the Rule of Life and the Constitution of the Confraternity of the Order

Herewith is Established the Rule of Life and the Constitution of the Ancient and Venerable, Sovereign and Independent Order of St. Andrew of Jerusalem, the which is a continuation and an Heir of that brave Confraternity of Barons, Knights and Burgesses, Crusaders, that were gathered by the Grace of God in the City of Acre, in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, in the Year of Our Lord, One Thousand Two Hundred and Thirty Two (1232 A.D.)

Article the Second ~ Of the Mottoes of the Order

In recognition of the fact that the Founders of the Order were principally Frankish Knights, a normative Motto of the Confraternity of the Order shall continue to be the Old French - ‘Prouesse, loyaute, largesse et courtoisie’

These said Four Cardinal Principles of Skill, Loyalty, Generosity and Gallantry shall form the whole basis of the Aims and Purposes of the Order, of the Work of the Members and of the Life of the Confraternity

There shall also be a Motto in Latin on the official badge and Condecoration, thus uniting this Order with all other Orders of the same Crusader tradition and purpose through the words, ‘Fide et Virtute’

These said Two Pillars of Faith and Virtue shall be the watchwords of the Officers and of the Members in all their endeavours


Article the Third ~ Of the Aims and Purposes of the Order

The Aims and Purposes of the Order are and shall be -


Article the Fourth ~ Of Entry into and of Departure and Dismissal from the Order

Entry into the Order is based upon the demonstration of appropriate Merit to the satisfaction of the Prince Grand Master, the payment of an Investiture Fee and the swearing of an Oath of Fealty to the Order

Merit shall be determined by the judgement of the Prince Grand Master or his Designate Officer in the Grand Magistry, but shall in principle consist of some demonstration of Good Character, Service to Humanity, Gallant or Chivalrous Acts, or other such like things

The Investiture Fee is intended to defray the costs of the preparation of the Instruments of entry - and is in no way a purchase of Honours per se

The Investiture Fee for each Rank shall be in an amount prescribed from time to time by the Prince Grand Master or his Designate Officer in the Grand Magistry

The Oath of Fealty to the Order shall be signed and dated by the aspirant Member before the conferral of Honours and shall be according to the Form and Substance prescribed in these, the Articles of the Rule of Life and the Constitution of the Order

The Spouse of a successful Applicant is automatically Ennobled at the same Rank of Membership - and is entitled to all of the same Rights and Privileges thereof

Inheritance of Title shall be by legitimate heirs of the Titleholder only, who shall share equally in the Title, a Registry of which shall be maintained by the King of Arms of the Order

Persons wishing to depart from the Order shall inform the Prince Grand Master or his Designate Officer in the Grand Magistry in writing of their Resignation therefrom

Dismissal from the Order shall be invoked only for the gravest Cause and for the most recalcitrant dishonouring of the Oath of Fealty and of the Aims and Purposes of the Order

Dismissal shall always be preceded by intervention with the Member concerned by the Prince Grand Master or his Designate Officer in Grand Magistry, to attempt to resolve the Matters at Issue

If, after informal efforts have been unsuccessful, it is determined that Dismissal is appropriate, the Member concerned shall be informed of the Dismissal by written Notice

Should the Member concerned request a Hearing before the Grand Magistry, such a Hearing will be convened at a place and time of reasonable convenience - and a Motion of Dismissal shall then be made by the Grand Lord Advocate and Chief Justicier after which the Member concerned shall be provided with an opportunity to Answer

Once the Motion and the Answer have been heard, the Grand Magistry shall vote upon the Motion of Dismissal - and a majority vote shall decide the Issue


Article the Fifth ~ Of the Governance of the Order

The Supreme Governing Authority of the Order shall be the personal autocracy of the Prince Grand Master, acting upon the advice of the Grand Magistry

Quorum for any Councils, meetings or deliberations shall constitute Knights and Dames of the Order in Good Standing, present and voting

In a case where Dereliction of duty is alleged against any Officer, informal efforts to reach a

resolution will always precede a Dismissal by the Grand Magistry, which, itself cannot occur until the Officer concerned has been presented with the Case alleged - and has then been given a reasonable opportunity to make an Answer

As Officers of Grand Magistry serve at the pleasure of the Prince Grand Master, the immediately foregoing procedure assumes that the Prince Grand Master has determined not to Dismiss an Officer about whom there is concern

Normally, the Order shall be led and Administered by the Prince Grand Master, who is a Prince of Rank equal with all other Princes

Should circumstances warrant, an appointee may serve in the place of the Prince Grand Master and will be so designated by him in writing

A Grand Magistry shall be Appointed by the Prince Grand Master to assist in administering the Affairs and Activities of the Confraternity of the Order, in accordance with the Description of the Offices in these, the Articles of the Rule of Life and the Constitution

Each Officer of the Grand Magistry, including the Prince Grand Master, shall have one vote

Meetings of the Grand Magistry shall ordinarily be chaired by The Prince Grand Master, or in his absence by his personal designate, and tie votes shall be decided by the Chair

The Grand Priors of the National Priories of the Order around the World shall constitute an Advisory Council to the Prince Grand Master and the Grand Magistry


Article the Sixth ~ Of the Office of the Prince Grand Master

The Prince Grand Master is the Juridical Head of the Confraternity of the Order

The Prince Grand Master becomes a Prince of Rank immediately upon Succession to Office

It is the Office of the Prince Grand Master which Names and Appoints all Dignitaries and Officers of the Order - Diplomas of Appointment are released either motu proprio (those appointed directly by the Person of the Prince Grand Master) or de jure - upon the recommendation of the requisite jurisdictional Officer

This Office also encompasses that of the President of the Order’s Court of Honour

As the Order is Sovereign and Independent, its Head may establish Diplomatic and Ambassadorial relations with other Orders, Sovereign Powers and Nations

The Prince Grand Master is primarily responsible for the continuation and successful Conduct of the Order while alive

It is also the responsibility of the Prince Grand Master to ensure that a Successor - or a Regent awaiting the majority of the Successor - stands ready in the Confraternity of the Order to assume Office at the time of the present occupant’s death


Article the Seventh ~ Of the Titles of the Officers of the Order

To administer its Affairs and to carry out its worthy Purposes, the Governance of the Order - in the Person of the Prince Grand Master - shall, from time to time - appoint to Office some or all of the following Officers, who, acting together with the Prince Grand Master, shall constitute and shall form a Grand Magistry

Some or all Offices shall be for a term determined appropriate

If the need arises, more than one Office may be combined and held by one Member - but care shall always be taken not to concentrate too much responsibility in one single Officer on an ongoing basis

The Offices comprising the Grand Magistry shall be some or all of the following -

Only an armigorous Knight or Dame, holding the Rank of Grand Cross may normally be appointed to serve as an Officer of Grand Magistry

Whilst a period of Office may be pre-determined, Officers of Grand Magistry serve at the pleasure of the Prince Grand Master


Article the Eighth ~ Of the Lord Lieutenant Grand Master

The Lord Lieutenant Grand Master is second in Command to the Prince Grand Master and is normally considered the Heir Presumptive to Sovereign Office

This Office carries out Special Duties assigned from time to time by the Prince Grand Master, including representing the Prince Grand Master at functions which the Prince Grand Master cannot attend

This Office also acts in the Stead of the Prince Grand Master in the administration of the Affairs of the Order when the Prince Grand Master is prevented from doing so by illness or some other serious Cause


Article the Ninth ~ Of the Grand Chancellor and Lord Privy Seal

The Grand Chancellor and Lord Privy Seal is the Head of the Chancellery of the Order and the chief Administrator under the Prince Grand Master

Ordinarily, the Grand Chancellor and Lord Privy Seal shall have obtained professional training in business management, or other such like skills

The duties of the Grand Chancellor and Lord Privy Seal may include some or all of the following -

Article the Tenth ~ Of the Grand Lord Advocate and Chief Justicier

The Grand Lord Advocate and Chief Justicier is the chief Legal Officer of the Order

When circumstances require, additional Justiciers may be appointed to assist the Grand Lord Advocate

Ordinarily, the Grand Lord Advocate and Chief Justicier shall have received scholastic training in Law - and shall generally be familiar with Medieval Law and Codes of Chivalry

This Office is the Custodian of the Rule of Life and the Constitution of the Order and is the Authority, under the Prince Grand Master and the Grand Magistry, by which they are carried out

The Grand Lord Advocate is also the Protector of the Sovereignty of the Order


Article the Eleventh ~ Of the Grand Marshall

The Grand Marshall is the chief Ceremonial Functionary of the Order

This Office is in charge of the arranging and the carrying out of Formal Ceremonies

Article the Twelfth ~ Of the Grand Lord Commissioner of the Exchequer

This Office encompasses the duties of Treasurer and chief Financial Officer of the Order

Ordinarily, it shall be held by an individual who has received professional training and certification in Accountancy and such like subjects

The Grand Lord Commissioner of the Exchequer shall also receive and disperse such monies as are destined for specific Charitable Purposes, as directed by the Prince Grand Master and the Grand Magistry

Article the Thirteenth ~ Of the Grand Prelate

The Grand Prelate is responsible for the Religious Observances and the performance of appropriate Ceremonial Rites on the Days of the Feasts

This specifically includes the Feast of St. Andrew - on 30th November - which shall be the High Feast of the Order

Ordinarily, the Grand Prelate shall be an ordained Christian Ecclesiastic

There may be an Associate Grand Prelate, if circumstances require, who, similarly, should be an ordained Christian Ecclesiastic

In the event of other than Christian Members being admitted into the Order, in an auxiliary capacity, the Grand Prelate may create Chaplaincies for these Members from their own Religions and grant to these Chaplains the Office of performing appropriate Religious Services for the adherents within the Order of their particular Creeds

Article the Fourteenth ~ Of the King of Arms

This Office heads the College of Arms of the Order and reports directly to the Prince Grand Master

The King of Arms shall normally be schooled in Heraldry

The College of Heralds - if there is a need for one - is appointed by and assists the King of Arms

The Authority for the Design of all Flags, Banners, Dress and Insignia of the Order also resides in this Office

The King of Arms stands to the left of the Prince Grand Master during Ceremonies

It is the King of Arms who judges the appropriateness of all Arms borne by Knights and Dames of the Order and formally registers their Design

The Register of Heirs to Titles for those of Noble Rank is maintained by this Office

Archives pertaining to Arms and Insignia are also the responsibility of the King of Arms


Article the Fifteenth ~ Of the Grand Secretary and Associate Chancellor

This Office forms a part of the Chancellery of the Order and reports to the Grand Chancellor and Lord Privy Seal

Responsibilities of the Grand Secretary and Associate Chancellor include the maintenance of a Register of the addresses and other contact information for each of the Knights and Dames of the Order

The Grand Secretary also manages the Archives of the Order at the direction of the Grand Chancellor - other than the Heraldic Archives, which are the province of the King of Arms


Article the Sixteenth ~ Of the Ranks of Membership

All of the Ranks of Members and the Commanderies and Priories of the Order together form and constitute a Confraternity

For both Gentlemen and Ladies, there are three Ranks of Membership

For Gentlemen, these are -

For Ladies, these are -

Members reaching the age of Seventy Five years who wish to obtain the Title of "Knight Venerable" or "Dame Venerable" shall provide a certified copy of their birth document to the Prince Grand Master or to his Designate Officer in Grand Magistry, along with the required Fee of Investiture, as prescribed from time to time by the Prince Grand Master in the Grand Magistry

Lesser Ranks - such as that of Squire - with attendant Conditions of Entry, etc., may be Decreed by the Prince Grand Master and Grand Magistry to meet the needs of the Order


Article the Seventeenth ~ Of the Form of Address of the Members

Gentlemen Members, of all Ranks, being Knights, shall be addressed by the Title of, "Sir" and their First or Christian name, in both written and oral situations

Lady Members, of all Ranks, being Dames, shall be addressed by the Title, "Lady" and their first or Christian name, in both written and oral situations

Officers of the Order having the Rank of an Officer of Grand Magistry or of Grand Prior shall, in the case of Gentlemen, be called "Lord" - and in the case of Ladies, be called "Dame" - followed by their first or Christian name, in both written and oral situations

Officers retain these Titles for Life - even after retiring from Office - unless they are removed for Dereliction

Members who Resign or are Dismissed from the Order also lose all claims to Title, and to the Rights and Privileges that attach thereto

Knights and Dames may use these respective Titles both inside and outside of the Order - when Titles are employed outside the Order, some measure of discretion is encouraged

Article the Eighteenth ~ Of the Lives and Devotion of the Knights and Dames

The Knights and Dames of the Order shall be guided in their day to day lives by the Mottoes of the Order - and should remember always that the meaning of the word ‘Andrew’ in the original Greek is ‘courageous’

They shall strive to keep the Pledge of their Oath of Fealty

They shall also render due Service and Homage to the Prince Grand Master

Members of the Order are encouraged to make a special effort to study Chivalric Tradition, to acquaint themselves with Literature on the subject - and to always act in a Courtly manner both to fellow Members and to those outside of the Confraternity

They should also make an important place for some form of Morning and Evening Prayer in their lives, remembering the Prince Grand Master and the needs of the Order before Almighty God - and should read a portion of the Holy Scripture daily if at all possible as well as other works of Devotion and the Lives of the Saints

The Knights and Dames should also observe the requirements of the Article on the Works of Charity in these, the Articles of the Rule of Life and the Constitution of the Order

Article the Nineteenth ~ Of the Works of Charity and of Voluntary Donations

The Members of the Order, of all Ranks, are expected to devote themselves to some form of Charitable or Humanitarian Service in the World or in the Community in which they reside - and to serve in a local Commandery of the Order, if one exists

The Knights and Dames shall also have an especial Care for the needs of Gentle folk of limited means in the maintenance of their Dignity and Station

They shall further, when the means to do so permit, provide donations of Books dealing with chivalrous subjects to appropriate Libraries and Institutions - or donate such like reading matter to Gentle folk of limited means who would benefit thereby

From time to time, the Members and the Commanderies and Priories shall report their Charitable and other Activities to the Prince Grand Master or his Designate Officer in Grand Magistry - and selected such reports may appear in the annual "Circular"

Also, from time to time, the Prince Grand Master, the Grand Lord Commissioner of the Exchequer or other Designate Officer in Grand Magistry may bring a specific Charitable need to the attention of the Members for their serious and prayerful consideration

While no annual Fee is required of Members, those Members of considerable financial means may, from time to time, wish to make a Donation to the Order for its Maintenance and Good Works

In the case of a substantial Donation, Letters of Receipt and of Appreciation may be requested from the Prince Grand Master or his Designate Officer in Grand Magistry


Article the Twentieth ~ Of the Arms and Insignia of the Order

The official colour of the Order shall be Sky Blue - and shall feature prominently in all insignia thereof


Insignia shall consist of, but not be limited to, the following -

The King of Arms may also authorise additional Insignia, Arms, Dress, etc., from time to time - with the approval of the Prince Grand Master and Grand Magistry

Article the Twenty First ~ Of the Oath of Fealty

No person may be admitted into the Confraternity of the Order unless he or she has first sworn

the Oath, as follows -

"I Swear by my Honour to uphold all Chivalrous Ideals and by all my Actions to add Lustre to the Sovereign and Independent Order of St. Andrew of Jerusalem, so help me God"



Article the Twenty Second ~ Of the Official Language of Communication

The official language of the Order is English - with a preference for traditional British spellings and style (viz: ‘honour’ rather than ‘honor’)

Under normal circumstances, Proceedings, correspondence, Proclamations, Awards of Arms and other official documents of the Order will be issued in the English language, using traditional British spellings and style

This practice is established for convenience and efficiency only - and shall not be interpreted by anyone as suggesting that all human languages are not equally Worthy

Article the Twenty Third ~ Of the Formation and the Governance of the Commanderies and the Priories

In any locality where at least ten Knights and Dames of the Order reside, a Commandery may be formed

Each Commandery shall have a Council to administer its Affairs

This Council may consist of a Prior, a Sub-Prior, a Secretary and a Treasurer - as appointed by the Members and approved by the Priory of the Country, if there is one, or by Grand Magistry, if there is not

In Countries where at least five Commanderies exist, a Priory may be formed, under the Governance of a Grand Council - with representatives of the Commanderies

The Grand Council may consist of a Grand Prior, a Grand Sub-Prior, a Grand Secretary and a Grand Treasurer - as appointed by the Members and approved by the Grand Magistry

The Commanderies and Priories shall carry out Charitable and Social activities for the Good of the Order and of Society within their local Jurisdiction


Article the Twenty Fourth ~ Of Amendments to These Articles of the Rule of Life and the Constitution

Amendments of Substance to these, the Articles of the Rule of Life and the Constitution of the Order, may be made only upon a majority vote of the Grand Magistry - and only when Grand Magistry is presided over in Person by the Prince Grand Master

The Prince Grand Master or his Designate Officer in Grand Magistry may authorise minor or ‘housekeeping’ amendments, by means of a motu proprio Decree, issued by the Prince Grand Master


Revised, under the Authority of the Prince Grand Master, by ~

Lord Seán J. Madsen

The Right Honourable, The Count Borelia de Clermont
Knight of Grace of St. Victor &
Knight Commander of St. Andrew
of Jerusalem
Private Secretary to H.E. The Prince DOUGLAS, St. Michel de Clermont
Angels’ Keep ~ Apple Valley
Borelia 

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