Ceremonies of Investiture

PROLOGUE:

We consider it important and explicitly worth mentioning that the investiture ceremony for the CSLI Knighthood of Honour is a continuation of the tradition of the knightly accolade. The mindset BEHIND this knightly accolade is MORE IMPORTANT than the ceremony itself. So there is neither any claim to authenticity whatsoever nor shall this be a “copy” of similar ceremonies from other organisations or associations. There will always be some similarities, this is in the nature of things, but there will always be different characteristics regarding our understanding for such ceremonies.

So for example we do not think it appropriate for candidates to kneel down in front of any “Grand Masters” or similar “dignitaries” as long as these do not belong to the clergy of any denomination. One kneels down only (according to our opinion) in front of God or his clergy and NOT in front of another human (like you and me).

Out of this view results the following CSLI Knighthood of Honour investiture proceeding. This ceremony shall be simple and brief but according to the dignity of this award and before all it shall neither hurt nor interfere with the personal sphere of the future CSLI Knight of Honour neither in religious nor in personal ways.

CEREMONY (procedure):

The Knights of the Grand Cross, Grand Commanders, Commanders, and Knights of Honour present form a semi-circle. The bearer of the sword stands in the middle, to his right the Grand Master and to his left the Vice Grand Master or the highest ranking member of the Knighthood of Honour present. To the right of the Grand Master stands the standard-bearer with the CSLI Knighthood of Honour standard.

The Grand Master commences the investiture ceremony:

“In the name of the LAZARUS UNION and its Knighthood of Honour I cordially welcome all present to the following investiture for our Knighthood of Honour. All candidates receiving dignity and rank today have been thouroghly examined and found worthy to be honoured with this ceremony officially in a secret ballot by the chapter of the CSLI Knighthood of Honour.”

The candidate is called, and after his name has been spoken he takes position in front of the semi-circle. He remains standing for the duration of the WHOLE ceremony.

“Dear ……. (the candidate’s first name is used!), you have been considered worthy by the chapter of the CSLI Knighthood of Honour UNANIMOUSLY and in SECRET ballot to belong to our society as …. (Here the rank and the position is stated which the candidate is receives or gets promoted to). Step forward!”

The Grand Master asks the candidate if he wants to belong to the society of the CSLI Knighthood of Honour with the following words:

“So I ask you in front of the assembled society: Is it your free will that you want to be a member of our society as …….. (Here the rank and the position is stated which the candidate is receives or gets promoted to) and to accept our mission statement?”

The candidate answers:

“I will, with all my heart!”

The Grand Master asks the candidate:

“Are you aware what it means to be a member of this society?”

The candidate answers:

“Yes, I am!”

The Grand Master then says:

“Into our Knighthood of Honour we wholeheartedly welcome you. Receive the insignia of your new dignity: the sword, mantle, and the insignia of the LAZARUS UNION Knighthood of Honour.”

While the Grand Master speaks, the Sword bearer hands the sword to the Grand Master which is then presented to the candidates. At the same time the candidate receives the folded mantle. The Grand Master then hands the insignia to the candidate with the words:

“Receive now the outward sign of your new dignity. Always remember the character of the eight virtues of a knight, and may you be given the power to act on them.”

Then the Grand Master takes the sword again, and with the following words (symbolically) knights the candidate, first on the right, then on the left shoulder, finally touching the crown of the candidate’s head:

“Through the power of the office entrusted to me you are, with this symbolic accolade, from this moment a member of our Knighthood of Honour, and I hereby bid you fraternally welcome to our circle.”

The Grand Master passes the sword back to the Sword bearer and gives the new Knight of Honour a triple kiss of brotherhood (right, left, right).

Should a clergyman be present, and the candidate so wishes, he steps in front of the clergyman, kneels down and prays for God’s blessing with these words:

“I ask God for His blessing, that He gives me the strength to prove myself equal to this high honour and dignity.”

After being blessed and being handed his Knighthood of Honour certificate, the new Knight takes his place in the semi-circle of Knights.

(This ceremony takes place for each candidate) When all the investitures are completed, the Grand Master says following prayer:

Lord, make us an instrument of your peace,
that we practice love, where there is hatred,
that we forgive, where there is injury,
that we connect, where there is strife,
hat we tell the truth, where there is misconception
hat we bring faith where doubts are expressed,
that we awaken hope where despair torments
that we kindle a light where there is darkness,
that we bring joy, where there is sadness.

Lord, seek to make it:
not that we are comforted, but that we comfort;
not that we are understood, but that we understand;
not that we are loved, but that we love.

Because there is in giving, receiving.
Anyone who forgets himself, finds himself;
Anyone who forgives is forgiven;
And who dies, awakens to eternal life!

Amen!

The order for the investiture ceremony is completed.

 

Knighthood of Honour Certificate

HGM Investitur Ritteranwärter-428

 

Admission ceremony into the Knighthood of Honour of the Lazarus Union

(Investiture)

To allow for our tolerance against ALL religious groups, as of now (February 2013) NO religious group will be “favoured“ over others by “embedding“ our investiture ceremony into their religious services respectively having it conducted by their representatives.

Religious group‘s representatives are of course honoured, welcomed, and respected persons also in the future but will not have any significant role within the investiture ceremony and as such only take part as special Lazarus Union guests of honour at a “Grand Investiture.“

At any rate it must be ensured that the location selected for an investiture is suited to the importance and dignity of the ceremony. Religious groups‘s houses of worship will be absolutely preferred. Other worthy places like museums, castles, palaces, concert halls, congress rooms, etc. can also be chosen as locations for investitures.

A “Grand Investiture“ consists of the following major parts and takes between 70 to 90 minutes (depending on the number of candidates) and is recorded in a special “investiture guide.“ The Grand Marshal is responsible for the correct execution and will be accountable to the chapter.

  1. Open-air concert by the Music Corps of the Lazarus Union
  2. Procession and ceremonial entrance
  3. Handing over of the pennants
  4. Renewal of the officer‘s pledge
  5. Ceremonial investiture of the knights of honour
  6. Promotions and new ranks
  7. Awards and distinctions
  8. Commemoration of the dead
  9. Ceremonial move-out

The sole complexity and duration of a “Grand Investiture“ makes any additional inclusion of other elements an unreasonable demand to all present. So for this reason the inclusion of special rites of religious groups is deliberately waived.

The Lazarus Union Knighthood of Honour by its nature is NO “knightly order,“ no matter how this term will be interpreted and the Lazarus Union has no intention to imitate or copy any religious or secular order if such orders do still exist rightly at all!

This would be beneath the Lazarus Union considering its size and importance, also the Lazarus Union does not regard this fitting. The ceremonial “Grand Investiture“ shall simply ensure that the “knightly virtues“ will not be forgotten in our days as such “knightly virtues“ and “modern knights“ today are more important that ever!

 

Admission into the Knighthood of Honour of the Lazarus UnionAdmission Ceremony (general)

(PDF file for print)

Ceremony of Investiture

 

The term “investiture“ in our days

(translated from the German Wikipedia)

  • The term “investiture“ does not show up at all in the Code of Canon Law and so is as such not in use within a Roman Catholic context. One important exception are the clerical as well as the secular knight orders where acceptance of new knights of the order is celebrated in the form of an investiture.
  • In theProtestantChurchthe investiture is used to accept a priest/priestess into the parish after ordination. This happens within a Holy Mass and is often related to handing out various symbols.
  • In a secular environment especially the act of a vice chancellor taking office at a university is called investiture. This usually happens within a ceremonial act accompanied by ministerial representatives.
  • The term investiture is used by various organisations instead of the term affiliation ceremony.
  • In German constitutional law it is explicitly forbidden that state or county contribute to the administration or management of religious groups (as was common during the Middle Ages).
  • Justices of the Supreme Court of theUnited Statesare invested with their office.