Order of Pious Lot

Benevolent Hospitaller Order and Society of Pious Lot Bonfara Hospitalisto-Ordo kaj Societo de Pia Lot
Breast star of a Knight of Grace of the Order of St John
Type	Order of chivalry
Established	TBD
Motto	Kompato kaj fido inspiras ninKompato 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 usually granted to relatives of members.

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.