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	Ilin Samuliam
Chancellor and Grand Prior	Frederik Lund Lauritsen
Secretary	Carolina Nogueira
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.

The order is found throughout the world, with a general mission "to promote and enhance wellbeing, to prevent and relieve sickness and ill-health, to enhance opportunities, and to enable education and learning.' The order has approximately 27,000 members, called attendants, who work to promote the interests of the order and further its mission. As a secular order with only nominal religious affiliation, attendants come from various religious groups and denominations. Membership is by invitation only.

The Order of Pious Lot is best known today for its education and wellbeing organisations and initiatives. These include Pious Lot Learning Group and the Brigades of Pious Lot. Since 1972, the order has been a non-governmental organisation with charitable status in a number of countries.

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. A number of other senior officers collectively constitute, along with the Grand Master, the Central Chancellery (officially the Central Chancellery of Priors of the Order of Pious Lot):

• Chancellor and Grand Prior: Frederik Lund Lauritsen
• Secretary and Sub-Prior: Carolina Nogueira
• Treasurer: Erramun Gaztañaga
• Usher: Joe Symons
• Herald: Daram val Zusz
• Chaplain: Frank Allaway

The Central Chancellery is the principal decision-making body of the order, described in the order's constitution as the "central body for administration and regulation." Each officer is charged with distinct functions, although only the Grand Master, Chancellor, Secretary, Treasurer, and Herald maintain responsibilities beyond pure ceremony. The Usher and Chaplain, although remaining occupied and considered senior positions, are largely ceremonial posts with limited duties.

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 18 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.

Vestments and insignia

Upon admission into the Order of Pious Lot, attendants 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 a central image of Lot within a red circlet bearing the order's motto. This is placed atop a star, the design of which depending on grade.

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 grey silk, the Grand Master's mantle is differentiated by an additional train and white lining. 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."

Removal

A person may be removed as a member of the order by resolution of the Sub-Council of Appointments. The Central Chancellery, on occasion of such recommendation, meets in an extraordinary session to deliberate. The decision to remove a person from the order is recognised in the order's constitution as "the most significant step that may be taken [by the order] in response to misconduct and behaviour that actively injures the reputation of the Order and its members." Removal requires the unanimous approval of the Central Chancellery and becomes official when the Secretary registers a resolution to that effect.

Removal is rare, and is limited to the following circumstances:

• Conviction for an offence wherein the punishment exceeds 12 months imprisonment.
• Acts committed contrary to the principles of the Order.
• Acts of harm (verbal or physical) towards another member, either over a sustained period of time or on one occasion meriting serious penalties.

Any person removed from the order may be readmitted, but the heighest grade they may receive is Companion.

Heraldry

Grand Companions, Companions of Mercy, and Companions may display a circlet denoting their membership of the Order. Grand Companions display a representation of the collar of the order, whereas Companions of Mercy and Companions show the ribbon of the order as worn around the neck.

In the chapel of the order, the coats of arms of living Grand Companions are displayed on wooden panels.

Armorial

Coats of arms of current Grand Companions of Pious Lot

Grand Master Arms of Ilin Samuliam Officers of the Central Chancellery Arms of Frederik Lund Lauritsen Chancellor and Grand Prior Arms of Carolina Nogueira Secretary and Sub-Prior Arms of Erramun Gaztañaga Treasurer Arms of Joe Symons Usher Arms of Daram val Zusz Herald Arms of Frank Allaway Chaplain Knights and Ladies Companion Arms of Chhet Chakra Arms of Maria Del Mar Duque Arms of Ira Gartner Arms of Miquel Escrivá Arms of Sam Gallagher Arms of Victoria Mason Arms of Erramu Sarasu Arms of Xiao Jiang Arms of Penelope Rodinili Arms of Luo Ping Vacant Vacant Vacant Vacant Vacant Vacant Vacant Vacant