|   THE ORDERS OF
    CHIVALRY IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY 
     
    Since the First World War, a number of orders of chivalry have been revived from ancient
    times and are administered by various organisations.  
     
    The use of "State Honours" by Governments and the institutionalising effects
    thereof, together with the recurrent "touting" of honours has tended to
    commercialise some of the more commonly known honours. 
     
    Over the centuries, Orders had become somewhat fragmented. There were a number of separate
    orders with similar traditions. A meeting of the administrative bodies of these orders on
    September 25, 1986 agreed to amalgamation. In order to streamline administration and avoid
    confusion, the orders adopted similar statutes, under the auspices of one Grand Master and
    the protection of one church. Grades and divisions of Knighthood were standardised between
    orders. However, each order remained separate and distinct as regards its regalia,
    ceremonies and membership. 
     
    Further information on these historic and unique world wide Orders can be obtained by
    emailing The Grand Duchy or clicking on the
    buttons above or below. 
     
    Notes on Aristocracy, Nobility and
    Chivalry 
     
    by HIS EMINENCE, PRINCE JOHN, THE GRAND DUKE OF AVRAM 
     
    The allure of obtaining noble rank has not diminished throughout the ages - it is as
    strong now or stronger than ever. In spite of its sworn enemy, communism. 
     
    The word aristocracy comes from aristokratia. In classical Greek "aristos" meant
    "the best" and. "kratia" "to rule". Hence the word means
    "rule by the best". This means that a true aristocrat is he who is the best
    qualified to rule. Democracy means rule by everyone or no one. 
     
    Communism sought to obtain a certain type of lofty and idealistic human behaviour through
    a system of sanctions and punishments, monarchy and aristocracy sought to obtain the same
    sort of public-minded dutifulness by way of a system of encouragement's and rewards.
    Titles appeal to the nobler instincts in us. 
     
    Aristocracy means the passing on of our civilised heritage: our culture, our art, our
    literature, our traditions, our manners and the breeding we hopefully acquire in the
    process of that transmission of our civilisation from one generation to the next. A true
    aristocracy has a stake, a vested interest in ensuring a better tomorrow hence the
    traditional concept of "noblesse oblige". 
     
    Titles are the stuff of which dreams are made. They have romantic connotations rooted in
    Arthurian Legend, fairy tales and fantasy. Actually, titles are terms used to designate
    degrees of sovereignty, nobility and honour. Today they have very little to do with land
    tenure or property. 
     
    Chivalry embodied the vision of the ideal and pure man of valour and Christian virtue
    endowed with a higher sense of purpose than the mere material. The virtues extolled in the
    age of chivalry were piety, honour, valour, and loyalty due to the spiritual master - God
    - and to the temporal master, the sovereign. 
     
    Thus these ancient relics of a more beautiful and glorious past very much retain their
    relevance in today's world. Thus they teach us the deity we owe to God or neighbour and
    ourselves. 
    Orders under the protection
    of The Royal See 
     
    THE ORDER of AVRAM 
     
    The hereditary head of the Order is the Grand Duke of Avram.  
     
    The order is sometimes known as the Order of the Ankh. This is a Qabalistic Order open to
    worthy Knights, baronets and peers.  
     
    We find it with Avram. In still more remote ages, it disappears from the sight of
    Enquirer's, but not from those who have inherited the most ancient of ancient knowledge.
    Avram means "He who possessed, the basis of the world". It is sometimes a symbol
    of all- that radiates from the sun. To the ancient, Ram was the basis of the world. To the
    Druids it was he symbol of universal essence. It is said that he who had pierced the
    secret of the Ram need only retain the essentials. Avram is he, who, having gone through
    many layers of differentiation, receives the pulsation of life, which transfigures that
    proliferation on a level with cosmic action. In simple words, the action of an Avram in
    his own house has cosmic significance. Avram is the beginning of yet another era. With him
    religion frees itself and directs itself towards the perception of the Inner Light of God.
    Only genuine and sincere seekers of "The Truth", who support the Grand Duke and
    his Royal House may be admitted. 
     
    Further information on this historic and unique world wide Order can be obtained by
    emailing The Grand Duchy or clicking on the
    buttons above or below. 
    THE
    ROYAL ORDER of HUMANISM and HEALTH 
     
    Notes on The Royal Order of Humanism and Health 
     
    In early March 1997 in Taiwan of the Republic of China a meeting was held for V.I.P's for
    natural medicine some of those present were H.E. Prince John, The Grand Duke of Avram,
    Lord Prof. Dr. Sir Anton Jayasuriya, Prof. Dr. Sir Leo Rebello, Dr. Sir Seta Kaiichi,
    H.R.S.H. Prince Leonard of Lithuania and many more notables in natural medicine. 
     
    Prof. Dr. Sir Leo Robello and H.E. Prince John, The Grand Duke of Avram with the
    assistance and total support of Lord Prof. Dr. Sir Anton Jayasuriya, agreed to become
    founding sponsors of a new medical Order to be called The Royal Order of Humanism and
    Health. The order comprises three main divisions.  
     
    1. (a) To institute annual awards for outstanding work in all fields of natural medicine.
    Our aim is to make these awards the most sought 
    after awards in medicine with world wide acceptance. 
     
    (b) To promote all forms of natural medicine especially Ayurveda, Acupuncture,
    Homoeopathy, Homoeopuncture, Siddha, Unami, Moxibustion, Chiropractic, Osteopathy,
    Reflexology, Reiki, Iridology, Lasertherapy, Magnetotherapy, Bioenergetictherapy and other
    popular forms of alternate traditional healing methods. 
     
    2. To promote teaching facilities for the above mentioned therapies with world wide
    acceptance. 
     
    3. To promote chivalric recognition of all degrees of the peerage and knighthoods for
    services to natural medicine.  
     
    (a) General Division For sponsorship. 
     
    Sponsorship is the most important issue to any Order. Without sponsorship very little can
    be achieved. Sponsorship will allow the Order to provide awards and promote our
    humanitarian activities, which are practised by a majority of peoples in a majority of
    countries in the world.  
    It is our belief the sponsors should be substantially rewarded for such world wide
    humanitarian activities. 
     
    (b) Medical Healing Division 
     
    For outstanding works, research and humanitarian healing by the worlds leading
    practitioners in the above mentioned fields. 
     
    Further information on this historic and unique world wide Order can be obtained by
    emailing The Grand Duchy or clicking on the
    buttons above or below. 
     
    The Ancient and Most Noble ORDER of THE
    SACRED SWORD and LANCE 
     
    The Order has a non-continuous career. It's origin is said to date from the time and
    celebrate when a priest Peter Barthelemy was said to have been visited by the Holy apostle
    St. Andrew who in a vision is said to have taken him to the Church of St. Peter in
    Antioch. This was then a Saracen Mosque. It is said that St. Peter told the priest to dig
    before the Alter and there he would find a Sword and the very Lance that had pierced the
    side of Christ whence had flowed the salvation of the world. He was told to deliver the
    Sword and Lance to Count Raymond and he would recover Antioch. Peter told his superiors of
    the vision. A hole was dug in front of the altar and a Sword and Lance were found there.
    Peter in his vision was told to deliver them to Count Raymond and he would recover
    Antioch. History informs us that this did happen and the Order was consecrated to
    perpetuate the memory of that great event. Count Toulouse as a reward carried it at the
    head of the Crusaders army in 1098. 
     
    Only Christians who accept the Statutes of The Order can be admitted. 
     
    Further information on this historic and unique world wide Order can be obtained by
    emailing The Grand Duchy or clicking on the
    buttons above or below. 
     
    The Most Sacred ORDER of THE HOLY WISDOM 
     
    The exact date of the start of the Order is unclear. However, the Order celebrates the
    Arthurian Legend for seekers of "The Truth". Whether Arthur was a historical or
    mythical personage is not important to the Order. We are Knight philosophers. It is clear
    that Arthur was the personification of eternal evolutionary principals. Behind the
    historical figure of Arthur works a superhuman being. His principals seem to have embraced
    most European nations and have been of an all-embracing human culture. Arthur is a
    spiritual. Power and to doubt his existence is senseless to us. The name Arthur is used as
    a title or designation of this special kind of leadership or hero. In history this type of
    leadership has been called "The Company of Heaven".  
     
    History shows that societies of Knights have worked
    with Royal Circles and Houses. The name Arthur was used by these societies because they
    worked for the continuity of the best traditions. The title Prince Arthur is often
    substituted for King Arthur. There is no doubt that this Knightly Order was International.
    We can see from the cosmological symbols its worldwide significance. The fixed stars, the
    planets and the four elements play an important part in the symbols, which are similar to
    the Solomonic Temple. There have been many Knights who have known the secret knowledge of
    the Philosopher's Stone. The alchemists expressed the process of cleansing the soul in
    chemical symbols. We must not be afraid to handle prima matter. The Philosopher's Stone
    had to go through many colours before at last the red substance of the Holy Blood
    indicates the completion of the Inner Way. Appearing in such beauty, so that over it the
    white dove of the Holy Spirit can hover. Christ's blood in the crystalline vessel shows
    the final aim for which the living Philosopher's Stone was created. The power is the Holy
    Spirit. The Round Table is the whole world. It's knights still live in the search for the
    Holy Grail, which is the secret spirit to unite al1 mankind in love and brotherhood. 
     
    Only genuine and proven seekers of "The Word", "The Truth" and the
    Philosopher's Stone, who accept this Orders Statutes, can be admitted. 
     
    Further information on this historic and unique world wide Order can be obtained by
    emailing The Grand Duchy or clicking on the
    buttons above or below. 
     
    The Ecclesiastical ORDER of The MOST SACRED
    LAMB 
     
    The exact date of the initiation of the Order is unclear, however the present Grand Master
    took over in 1985. 
     
    The Order is connected with the most ancient of traditions the Qabala. Our aim is to bring
    the Knight closer to the Source through study of the Qabala. The Qabala is a training of
    the mind that makes it so subtle and pliable as to allow it to pass through the mysterious
    doorway of human genesis and enter into the sphere where life-death and existence carry on
    their interplay. 
    Jointly, on both sides, the most precious gift of
    life is at stake: the principle of Indetermination, which allows all that can be to
    become. The major difficulty in explaining our works to the uninitiated is the inability
    of the untrained human mind to grasp, that which is not contained in a frame of normal
    recognition. It is hoped that the Knight through diligent study will uncover that which is
    purported to be rediscovered. The secret and sacred font 1ying in the hidden depths of the
    bible. This is a secretly transmitted tradition the thread of which was never lost and
    which for many reasons has remains hidden. Today things have come to such a stage where it
    is necessary that they should be revealed to those worthy to receive the knowledge. For
    many centuries the Qabala has been the nutritive roots of our civilisation. Hidden in the
    Gnostic teachings and in many schools of thought. Hence, today the Grand Master has the
    duty to spread "The Word" to the sincere student. 
     
    Further information on this historic and unique world wide Order can be obtained by
    emailing The Grand Duchy or clicking on the
    buttons above or below. 
     
    The Most Noble and Ecclesiastical ORDER of ST.
    MARK  
     
    The Order was established by the Church of The Royal See of the Continent of Australia
    under section 18 of the Constitution on the 20th. August 1985. The purpose of The Order is
    to: - 
     
    1) Reward those who prove worthy and of benefit to The Church. 
     
    2) To enhance one's standing as a person and as a respectable member of the community.
    Knowing who you are will have a positive effect on you. You will twice think before
    committing any wrong as it reflects not only on you but also on your family and the
    Church. 
     
    The badges, coats of arms and standards of all. Knights who are registered with the Church
    Trust may upon request be hung in the Chapel of the Order above a stall. 
     
    Only supporters of the Church who accept the Statutes can be admitted. 
     
    Further information on this historic and unique world wide Order can be obtained by
    emailing The Grand Duchy or clicking on the
    buttons above or below. 
     
    The Order of THE CONTINENTAL CHURCH CROSS 
     
    Instituted on the 2Oth. August 1985. 
     
    It is only available to lay Clergy and Ministers of the Church, for exceptional services
    to the Church. The Head of the Church or his Depute awards it. This is similar to the
    Anglican Lambeth cross awarded by tile Archbishop of Canterbury. 
     
    The Bishops who are awarded it shall wear a gold pectoral cross on a green thong. 
     
    The Ministers who are awarded it shall wear a silver pectoral cross on a green thong. 
     
    Lay clergy may be awarded it for exceptional service to the Church and may wear a gold
    pectoral cross on a white riband. 
    Further information on this historic and unique
    world wide Order can be obtained by emailing The
    Grand Duchy or clicking on the buttons above or below. 
     
     
    OTHER ASSOCIATED ORDERS 
     
    THE ROYAL ORDER 
    THE
    SERENE ORDER of LEONARD 
     
    THE ILLUSTRIOUS ORDER of MERIT 
     
    THE ORDER of BLACK SWAN 
     
    KNIGHT TEMPLAR  
     
    and Many More 
     
    Further information on these historic and unique world wide Orders can be obtained by
    emailing The Grand Duchy or clicking on the
    buttons above or below. 
     
    QABALISTIC NOTES ON THE NAME AVRAM 
     
    It is Qabalistic. Frequently, over the centuries, the Qabala has been lost and
    rediscovered. We find this with Avram; in still more remote ages, it disappears from sight
    of Enquirer's, but not from those who have inherited the most ancient of knowledge. 
     
    Avram means "he who possesses, the basis of the world" and is sometimes a symbol
    of all that radiates from the sun. 
     
    Avram is he who, having gone through many layers of differentiation, receives the
    pulsation of life, which transfigures that proliferation on a level with cosmic action. In
    simple words, the action of an Avram in his own, house has a cosmic significance. 
     
    Avram is the beginning of yet another era where
    religion frees itself and directs itself towards the perception of the Inner Light of God. 
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