Order of Pious Lot

Benevolent Hospitaller Order and Society of Pious Lot Bonfara Hospitalisto-Ordo kaj Societo de Pia Lot
Emblem of the Order
Type	Order of chivalry
Established	TBD
Motto	Kompato kaj fido inspiras nin
Eligibility	Service to the order
Status	Extant
Grand Master	TBD
Chancellor and Grand Prior	TBD
Secretary	TBD
Grades	Grand Companion (GKPL) Companion of Mercy (KKPL) Companion (KPL) Officer (OPL) Member (MPL)
Precedence
Next (higher)	Dependent on State
Next (lower)	Dependent on State
Ribbon of the order

The Order of Pious Lot, formally the Benevolent Hospitaller Order and Society of Pious Lot (Esperanto: Bonfara Hospitalisto-Ordo kaj Societo de Pia Lot) and also known as Lot International, is an order of chivalry and charitable organisation constituted in XXXX by charter from TBD and dedicated to Lot, a holy figure in the Abrahamic religions.

Structure

The order is organised as a chivalric order and is thus hierarchically structured. The Grand Master is at the apex of the order, and it is by the Grand Master that appointments to the order are made and international representation principally conducted. They are followed by the Chancellor and Grand Prior (offices combined since XXXX). The Chancellor, along with four of five other Great Officers - the Priors of Pious Lot - act as deputies to the Grand Master and collctively conduct the affairs of the order in their absence. The Priors are:

• Chancellor and Grand Prior
• Secretary and Sub-Prior
• Registrar
• Prelate
• Usher
• Lay Prior

The Priors collectively constitute the Priory (formally the House and Council of the Priors in Assembly), which is the principal decision-making body of the order, chaired by the Grand Master or the Chancellor in their absence. The Secretary is the main administrative head of the order, assisted by the Registrar as keeper of the order's archives and documents. The Prelate, a continuation of the order's religious beginnings, is a mostly ceremonial position granted in recognition of important service to the order and to wider society. The usher attends official ceremonies and functions and is, likewise, a generally ceremonial position. The Lay Prior is a member of the wider order appointed to represent the interests of the whole membership.

A subset of the Priory is the Sub-Council on Appointments, which consists of the Grand Master, Secretary, Registrar, and Lay Prior, along with a number of other appointees from within the order, which considers and approves (or rejects) nominations to the order, as well as promotion within the order. In 1972 it assumed the functions of the Sub-Council on Administration, and is also responsible for appointment to positions of authority and responsibility within the order.

Grades

After the officers of the order follow members, who are divided into five hierarchical grades, all having accordant post-nominal letters Grade I is limited to only the members of the Council of Priors plus no more than 21 others, though royalty and heads of state of any country may be appointed as a Grand Companion without counting towards the complement. All priors, should they not already be in the grade or higher, are made a Companion of Mercy upon their assignment.

Grades of the Order of Pious Lot
Grade	Grade I	Grade II	Grade III	Grade IV	Grade V
Title (Anglish)	Grand Companion	Companion of Mercy	Companion	Officer	Member
Title (Esperanto)	Granda Kunulo	Kunulo de Kompato	Kunulo	Oficiro	Membro
Post-nominal letters	GKPL	KKPL	KPL	OPL	MPL

Grand Companions receive the accolade through a ceremonial washing of the hands (formerly the feet) to symbolise their purity as they enter the senior grade of the order. They are then given their robes and insignia. Although not granted any title, they may use post-nominal letters dependant on the regulations of their home country (although they are entitled to use them within the order), and may also (dependent on regulations) petition for the order's inclusion in a coat of arms. There is the addition of "Friend of the Order", which entitles membership but is not a grade in itself, and is granted to employees of the order.

Appointment (in any grade) grants precedence within the order, which is structured as follows:

1. The Grand Master
2. The Chancellor and Grand Prior
3. The Registrar and Sub-Prior
4. Grand Companions
5. Companions of Mercy
6. Former Chancellors
7. Former Registrars
8. Prelate
9. Former Prelates
10. Companions
11. Lay Prior
12. Officers
13. Former Ushers
14. Former Lay Priors
15. Members
16. Friends of the Order

Precedence within each grade is dictated by date of appointment.

Vestments and insignia

Upon admission into the Order of Pious Lot, confrères are presented with appropriate insignia, each level and office being depicted by different emblems and robes for wear at important occasions for the order. Common for all members of the Order is the badge, consisting of an XXXX.

Insignia of the Order of Pious Lot
Grade	Grand Companion	Companion of Mercy	Companion	Officer	Member
Insignia

All Grand Companions may wear their badges at the left hip on a 101.6 millimetres (4.00 in) (for men) or 82.5 millimetres (3.25 in) (for women) wide, watered silk ribbon over the right shoulder and from a 16.5 millimetres (0.65 in) wide band at the collar. Grand Companions, Companions of Mercy, and Companions of both sexes wear their badges on a 16.5mm wide ribbon at the neck, while Officers and Members wear theirs on a 38 millimetres (1.5 in) straight ribbon suspended from a medal bar on the left breast. Grand Companions and Companions of Mercy may also wear a breast star, which appears the same as their badges (for Companions and Companions of Mercy) and with a slightly altered star backing (for Grand Companions). Grand Companions' breast stars are 88.9 millimetres (3.50 in) in diameter, whilst Companions of Mercy and Companions are 76 millimetres (3.0 in). Further, all members of all grades are also given a button for wear on the lapel of non-formal civilian clothing, for events such as business meetings of the order. In general, the insignia of the Order of St John may be worn at all occasions where other decorations are worn, not only those connected with the ceremonies of the order.

All members of the order are also required to wear specific robes for formal occasions of the society, including a mantle, sopra vest, and hat. The mantles of the Grand Master and Grand Prior are all of red silk velvet, with sleeves, and lined with orange silk, the Grand Master's mantle is differentiated by an additional train. Other members, regardless of grade, wear the same red mantle without lining and without sleeves. Each cloak also bears on its left side a rendition of the order's emblem.

The sopra (or supra) vest is a long drape of thin, red cloth that buttons close down the neck and to one side, falling to the ankles and cut so as to entirely cover the body. It is similar to a cassock, though it is actually derived from the supra vesta—a red surcoat worn in the mid XXth century by the XXXX.

Eligibility and appointment

The Grand Master confirms all appointments to the order as they, in their absolute discretion, shall think fit, though the constitution does impose certain limitations: the maximum number of members is set at 35,000, appointees may not be under the age of 18, and all appointments must have the support of the Priory. Recommendations are made by the Sub-Council on Appointments and those selected have generally acted in such a manner as to strengthen the spirit of mankind.

To be inducted, new members must recite the organisation's declaration of intent:

"I do solemnly declare that I will be faithful and obedient to The Order of Pious Lot and its Grand Master as far as it is consistent with my duty to my [sovereign/president] and to my country; that I will do everything in my power to uphold its dignity and support its charitable works; and that I will endeavour always to uphold the aims of this order and to conduct myself as a person of honour."