Concerning Nobility and Heraldic Titles
Over the years serving in the Office of Grand Master of the Ancient Gnostic Order of Knights of the Temple of Solomon, I have fielded many questions concerning Nobility, Chivalry, and the Heraldic Arms of many Historical as well as Gnostic families that are from Nobility; many of them being actual Royalty with questions in some of these areas.
Nobility is shown when a person (yes, even in America) can trace their family lineage to one or more of the recognized Royal, Noble Houses of Europe, or persons belonging directly to these Hereditary Houses. If you can truly do so, then you are truly of Nobility or Royal Blood. A Sion is one who is a direct bloodline member of one or more Houses of Nobility. Often we call a Sion a Prince or Princess of the blood. What makes me qualified in this subject of hereditary bloodlines? I am myself of direct bloodline to many Royal and Noble Houses and historical personages.
My bloodline has had the following titles of Nobility and Royalty
attached to it down through history with a valid and true line of family succession: Enfants, Kings, Queens, Princes, Princesses, Counts, Countesses, Grand Dukes, Dukes, Marquis, Barons, Grand Masters of Chivalric and Hereditary Orders, Knights, and Knight Commanders. These last two are a part of the Noble Tree but not considered as blood Royalty although they were historically from Noble families. The Office of Grand Master denotes the title of Prince and Regent. To be one who holds true Knighthood, you must be knighted by the King, Queen, a Grand Master, a Conservator of the Orders of the Quest, a Noble of high standing, or a Knight Grand Commander. Being knighted by a Knight Commander of an Order that is recognized as being of a true Hereditary Order (meaning a Knightly Order that has true hereditary membership), including the one who is performing the Knight Investiture, is accepted by our bloodlines. This is called a true "Font of Honors." Included in the true "Font of Honors" are the Clerical Knighthoods, which cannot come from a Cleric under the rank of Bishop and at times can include actual Knighthood from the Pontiff himself.
Coat of Arms of the College of Arms
Today in English Heraldry, you are required to be registered with the English College of Arms. French Nobility has no such requirement in a French College of Arms because none exists although it has been granted to have the proper dispensation to offer a French College of Arms with a knowledgeable French Noble as its Herald. We are
currently considering the creation of a French College of Arms. To be registered with the new French College of Arms you would need to establish that your lineage comes from either the Ancient Mode family line, the Restoration Mode family line, or the Modern Mode family line. It has been granted to me to be the Herald of Arms for this new French College of Heraldic Arms. The French College of Arms will accept the registered Arms of other European Noble families also as long as Hereditary Nobility has been proven and established.
Today, in America, anyone can establish their own new family Arms or they can adopt an older set of Arms that has once belonged to your personal surname in European history. True titles can only be passed through a true "Font of Honors" but Heraldic Arms are designed or adopted here in the United States much more often with most Americans leaning back toward their European family history to either create or adopt Arms. Today, many families do still have Royal or Noble
French College of Heraldic Arms. This is knowledge about Heraldry and Hereditary Honors that I have gained over a lifetime of extensive study as a Heraldic Symbologist, Hereditary Historian, and Grand Master, as well as a Conservator of the Orders and their Rites, including Knighthood Investitures.
Today, we are in grave danger as we strive to pass on the Old Ways and the Art of Chivalry. Too many people invest too much time on trying to discredit others or being the judge of the actions of another soul. This is a waste of time and energy and serves no good purpose. If people are falsely representing themselves as something that they are not, it will certainly come out in time. Let us today, open our arms in equality and learn to be in service to not only the Orders but also the high ideals they uphold. Remember this wise adage: "True people are like diamonds; false people are like autumn leaves".Thank you all for your time.
E. Chev. Sir David de Paul KGMTpl. AGOKT
Chevalier de la Croix du Lorraine
lineages and all it really takes is that a Sion (one of the blood) grants you the recognition and bestows upon you the true "Font of Honors" through Knighthood Investiture. After that, you will want to get your Arms and any other granted Hereditary Titles registered in either the English or the new
