From: tip@lead.aichem.arizona.edu (Tom Perigrin)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Multiple titles (was Edward Zifran of Gendy)
Date: 31 Aug 92 22:00:08 GMT
Organization: University of Arizona UNIX Users Group


Unto My Lord Arval, doth Thomas Ignatius Perigrinus send his 
humble, but overly vebose, greetings,

My Lord,  in thy missive thou didst state;

A title is not a recognition of what you've _done_, but rather of
what you _are_.  I realize that when people use title strings they intend
it as a gesture of respect, but I would remind you that respect, too, is
given for what you are, not what you have listed in the Order of
Precedence.  No collection of titles can increase it, and omission of
titles won't decrease it.

My Lord,  I am somewhat confused, and would fain ask that thou woulds't
enlighten me upon a few points.

Imprimus.   There are many who do embody the aires and graces of chivalry,
yet who will ne'er swing rattan nor raise a sheild.  My Lord, dost thou
claim that these good gentles may yet someday be knighted?   I have never
seen such happenstance myself,  but it is true, my lord, that I have only 
been Societensis for 18 years.   An I were so bold as to venture to 
raise arguement with thee, I might suggest that being knighted is an
admixture of what one is, and what one has done.

Secundus.  My Lord,  may I say that thou art golden,  and like gold
(which is noble) thou art neither diminished or enhanced by title.
Further, may I compare thee to a touchstone, in that thou art able to
discern the true and hidden quality of that which thou dost encounter.
But, My Good and Noble Lord Touchstone, may I be so bold as to venture to
say that not all gentles are as thou art,  that is to say, noble of heart
and true of discernment.   

Let me advance for thy inspection myself - I am but a poor scholiard,
and ne'er so noble as thee.   And thus, it thrills my heart when gentles
do me the honor of naming me "Doctor".   Mayhaps, were I so noble
that honers did drip from me as water from a duck, then I would feel as thou
dost.  But My Lord,  I do not.

And My Lord,  let me say that occasionally I am gripped with the sins
of anger and pride when gentles do dismiss me lightly for that I have
not a single honor from our good and gentle Society (save two confections,
which were given unto me by a gracious Baroness, and which are enshrined
in a glass case in my humble wood crafters shop).  My Lord Touchstone, thou
hast the discernment to see beyond mere baubles and earthly honors.  But,
an it please your Lordship, may I put forth the proposition that not
all mortals have such qualities, and many are fooled by titled pyrites, and
many doth cast aside unadorned gold.

And thus we come to my second question, Good My Lord.  To wit - While I 
may agree with a proposition that ones quality is neither enhanced nor
diminished by titles,   cans't thou defend the poposition that one's
respect is neither enhanced nore diminished?   For quality is innate,
and accrues onto man and beast without appreciation from without.  But
respect is a mutual action,  and is conferred upon one from another.

My Lord,  consider the difference in respect that thou woulds't acheive,
an thou wert to travel hither, and say "I am Arval, Triple Peer",
or thou wert to travel yon, and say "I am a traveler, of no 
particular name or title".   My Lord,  although thy quality would not 
be changed, I would fain suggest that the actions of those about thee
would be vastly different, and the respect that they would accord thee
would be as night and day.


My Lord, may I venture to close this o'r lengthy missive with a 
gentle admonition?   While I have heard many gentles of our
Good and Gracious Society claim that a "worthy soul is neither
enhanced nor diminished by titles",  I remember me that most who
do claim such have a goodly string of Alphabet Soup with which to
adorn thier missives...    Howe'er, there are many (such as myself)
who art untitled, unhonored, and without acheivements.  An I
would fain offer up my word that I have oft been dismissed out of
hand, for that I am not OL.  My Lord,  thou dost stand forth as
a beacon of Chivalry, an that thou art willing to examine the 
credentials of such as myself, and God Willing, find me not too
vastly lacking in acheivement.  But my Lord, may I suggest that
thou art too generous an thou dost think that all in the Society do
follow thy lead...


And thus, My Good and Gentle Lord,  I shall close, and I assure
thee that I shall always remain,

Thy humble and obedient Servant
Thomas Ignatius Perigrinus (order of the two confections)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca