Honour explained.

          We refer to the country being based upon a system of honour there are a number of elements to this;-

          Individuals, have 

Rights as a citizen, 

Duties as a citizen 

Duty of trust as trusties of trusts.

The rights as a citizen, is in part covered within the rules but will be further defined as a bill of rights to be developed by the house of deputies and approved by the trustees and the president. If it is not approved it will be returned for further consideration until it is acceptable.

Duties as a citizen, includes acting honourably, keeping to both their written and spoken word, honouring all oaths and pledges entered into, and acting in a responsible manor.

          Members should at all times behave in a responsible manor, this does not mean that you cannot have fun, or have to live by someone else's moral code, but can best be defined as being able to do what you like as like as long as it is not harmful to others.

          The duty of a citizen also extends to being pleasant and helpful to other citizens. Treating them in the way that they themselves would like to be treated, and not taking advantage of there friendship and trust for material gain. Citizens should also never divulge a confidence trusted to them by another citizen or take part in any action or activity against another citizen brought by any other person or authority.

          Duties to a trust is just an extension to what we have already said, individuals in becoming trustees undertake to work as a group for a particular purpose and to be bound by there agreement. 

The Structure of society

New Atlantis society consists of individual members and Trusts. It is an honour based society,

Individual members of New Atlantis.

Individuals, have rights as a citizen, duties as a citizen and a duty of trust as trusties of trusts.

There are 14 Grades of citizenship, and although there is no uniform of any type, a coloured sash identifies the rank at ceremonial or social occasions. The sash can be worn across the chest or around the waist.

Pioneers

          These are members for the first three months and  until the basic introduction is completed and they swear the Oath of Membership. If needed they wear a white sash but no badge.

          Children up to the age of 14, who are members of family trusts are also Pioneers until they reach 14 and can take the oath. They wear a White sash with a badge. If they chose not to take the oath then they remain as pioneers.

          Pioneers could be considered associate members, and have no voting rights. It is part of the Presidents role to take into account and represent all associate members.

Citizen

          The normal grade of citizenship and wears a blue sash, and New Atlantis badge. Elected representatives of citizens are identifiable as they have blue on there sash.

          Citizens may vote in elections for the house of deputies but not in elections for trustees of the charitable company. The President represents there interests in all maters connected with the charitable company.

Knight /Freeman

          Titled sir or lady, this honour is achieved by having completed a set challenge. The challenge depends on the order of knighthood. Wears an orange sash, with symbol of the order of knighthood and the a New Atlantis Badge.

          Order's can organise events which is open to just there members or all Knights in the area.

          Every citizen should strive to at least reach this stage. 

          Knights and above take part in all elections and they have a duty to take part in elections, although this can be done by a postal vote.

Lord / Chief

          Knight who has also undertaken a special role for the local members, and includes a time commitment, or a local club organiser with time commitment.

          They wears a yellow sash, with the new Atlantis Badge and if a Knight the badge of the order.

Baron / Baroness

          The Senior member of an area. (i.e. town), or county head of knighthood order.

          Regional club or project organiser with time commitment.

          Wears a black Sash, the new Atlantis Badge and if a knight the badge of the order.

Sheriff / Viscount

          A Local ambassador, and head of a district (i.e. county), settlement or project.

          Head of New Atlantis club with time commitment

          Wears a green sash, with new Atlantis Badge and if a knight the badge of the order.

Deputy

          Elected representative, called a deputy as they are deputising for the members represented. Any person of any level can stand for election as a deputy, and hold this office in addition to one other.

          Wears a blue and white sash, and New Atlantis Badge.

          They can also wear a second sash of there rank if one exists.

Count / Countess / Earl /Dame

          The head of a country or state, or head of a minor project, with considerable time commitment.

          Wears a Red sash, with New Atlantis Badge.

Ambassador / Marquis

          A National ambassador authorised to talk to other governments, titled Ambassador.

          The head of a country with large population of members or head of a  project, with considerable time commitment, titled Marquis, or the female equivalent.

          Wears a orange and white sash with New Atlantis Badge.

Duke / Duchess

          The head of a major project (i.e. University) with considerable commitments to it.

          Wears a green and white sash with New Atlantis Badge.

Grand Duke

          Head of a major project (i.e. University, or island project) with total commitments to it.

          Wears a Red and White Sash with New Atlantis Badge.

Prince and Princess.

          A member of the New Atlantis Royal Family (Trust)  permanent members are titled Prince or Princess only, while those who are a member of the royal family for a defined time are titled Citizen Prince or Citizen Princess.

          This is made up of people who have dedicated their lives totally to New Atlantis, and undertake to immediately carry our any instruction or wish of the President. It is not expected that there will be many members of the royal family but full membership is open to all citizens.

          This is very much a working group, who will prove a major asset to new Atlantis.

          Prince and Princesses, have no property or funds of there own, turning anything they own over to the Presidents fund, when they take on this role.

          Citizen Princes or Princesses are in effect temporary members of the New Atlantis royal family, and join for a specified period, the minimum of which is a year. They do not need to give up all there personal wealth when joining, but it must be turned over to the control of New Atlantis under a power of attorney, being returned to them when they leave the royal family. Membership is by application and approval by the President to attend the special weekend or week session. Three months before the end of there contracted period of service, they have the choice of adding another period, or leaving the royal family at the end of the period, at which time they re-enter at the honour grade granted by the President. At any time up to the point they have decided to leave they can convert, with the Presidents permission, to become a full member of the Royal Family.

          If  any member of the New Atlantis royal family works outside of New Atlantis, all the income they derive, goes into the Presidents fund, as does any cash or property that they own when they take on this role. They are supported by New Atlantis, the money coming from the Presidents Fund, not general funds.

          The appointment process includes taking a special oath and attending a weekend or week retreat with the President, who has to confirm them as acceptable to become members of the royal family, and enrolls them. The nearest position outside of New Atlantis would be a nun or monk, who gives up everything and then gives total service to there faith.

          Members of the Royal family report only to the President or to another member of the royal family instructed by the president to manage there work.

          Princes and Princesses wear a Purple sash with New Atlantis Badge.

          Citizen Princesses and Princes wear a purple and white sash, with a New Atlantis badge.

          Members of the royal family may also wear a second sash when they are undertaking a role equivalent to another position of honour, or on instruction from the President.

Trustee

          An elected representative, who is a trustee of the charitable company that administers New Atlantis. There role is initially defined under the memorandum and articles.

          Wears a green and blue sash with New Atlantis Badge.

Regent

          Appointed and dismissed by the president, as a form of deputy to the President.

          They may also be a member of the New Atlantis royal family.

          Wears a green and yellow sash with New Atlantis Badge.

President

          The head of the civilisation, and of every trust within it.

          Wears a red and green sash, with the New Atlantis badge and the badge of every order of knighthood. May also wear any other sash as well to honour that order or group.

          Appointed by retiring president or in a will, similar to emperors of Rome were, based on who is best suited to lead. Principle role and authority defined within the memorandum and articles. The exact rules of appointment are in the articles of the charitable company.

          The Presidents correct title is Prince (First name) President of New Atlantis, or of course princess when there is a female president. Alternatively none members may choose President (surname) of New Atlantis, which lines up with the common use in other countries, and the media.

          Members should treat the president in the same way as it is customary to treat the president or head of royalty in the country in which they reside. Unnecessary or extreme formalities however should be avoided.

Correct form of Address.

The use of honouree titles has been in use in most, if not all, European countries from before recorded history, and usually outside their own country, a titled person is addressed:-

  tittle (name) of  (country).

Therefore when presenting or using tittles outside of New Atlantis events the correct way to use the tittles are:-

 tittle (first name) of New Atlantis.

This as you will see avoids any confusion with others.

Within New Atlantis, or when dealing with other New Atlantis citizens  it is more helpful if you use a slightly different form,

NA tittle (name) from (place)

Where the place for a Knight or lord is there town and county and above for the area that they represent. Name can be either first and last name or first name only, but never last name only as this could be confused with other peerage systems.

Knights can use Sir/Lady (name ) from (place) or the abbreviated form NAK (name) from (place). When appropriate they can also use Sir/lady (first name), NA order, from (place), where the order is Publisher, Professor, Shield or Wizard.

Citizens can use NAC (name) from (place), or NA Citizen (Name) from (Place) and young members of family trusts that contain a Knights or above can use NA Pioneer (name) from (place).

The correct form of address for the President is covered in the section on the role of the President above.

Oaths

There are 4 distinct oaths, 3 of which appears in the members handbook. They are;-

Membership - taken when becoming a citizen.

Office - taken when raised to any non elected position above Citizen.

Deputy :- taken by anyone who is standing for election as a deputy

The fourth that is a secret oath that is not published.

Royalty: taken when joining the royal family.

Coats of Arms

A Registry is to be developed and rules defined. There will be two styles to select from, a modern one and a traditional one.

The minimum qualifying level to have a coat of arms is a Knight.

It will be operated as a franchise and be based outside of the UK, so as to avoid confusion with those developed by the college or arms in England and the equivalent in Scotland.

Orders of Knighthood.

A knight like all other honour grades is a servant of New Atlantis, and as such is expected to take part in some service on a regular bases with other to the benefit of all citizens of New Atlantis.

Citizens are all encouraged to become a knight, and select the order that most applies to them. If later they want to join a different order they can do by qualifying for the new order and then resigning from the current one and completing any commitment that they have undertaken. Alternatively the Sheriff or Viscount of there area can give them permission to be a member of two or more orders, after consulting local lords, chiefs, and barons, covering the area.

There are four orders each providing a range of services, which may be increased as membership and needs are identifies. The members of a family trust can be members of the same or different orders.

Each order is an honour trust covering an area of around a county or state and is headed by a Baron or Baroness, who liases with other Barons and Baronesses in the surrounding area offering help where they can, and agreeing targets from there own knights, and with the local Sheriff or Viscount. They also agree suitable challenges to join the order and encourage citizens to become knights of there order. They can organise social or working events for their order, and represent the interests of a member if asked.

The lord or chief co-ordinates all knights of all orders in there area, usually around the size of a town, so that they help each other, and work as a local unit.

The Sheriff or Viscount is a honouree member of every order in there area, and represents the President, his roll is to encourage Lord and Barons (and there female equivalents) to all co-operate and agrees area targets both with those in is area and with a count or Earl co-ordinating the country.

The orders are;

Order of Publishers.

There service is in publishing the message of New Atlantis to non members, so areas covered are Public relations, article writing, publicity, marketing and recruitment.

There badge includes the pen.

Order of Wizards.

They add the magic, and are organisers and co-ordinators, running clubs and projects. They include the Bargain and barter organisers, and newsletter editors.

There badge includes the Magic Wand.

Order of Professors.

These are specialist who offer a range of special skills either to New Atlantis members as a whole as in the case of people who develop computer systems, or those who provide a local advice service to members.

There badge includes the computer disk.

Order of the shield

The members of this order are special agents who undertake to help out with any task requested of them. They are not a military force but a source of people and labour when needed. They may be asked to help out at events organised or to help physically in some way.