[MR] RE: Secrecy (fwd)

[Craig Levin]

Charles Fleming:

> We were talking about a change in the custom of surprising our award
> winners.  The discussion so far had focused narrowly on those getting the
> awards, those giving  them, and the significant others who would want to be
> present.  I was wondering about the side-effects on everybody outside that
> circle.  How would such a change affect the pros and cons of attending court
> for the populace at large?

If the notion of a public court docket & the notion of an
informed honoree are done right, I think we could see an increase
in what some of us, anyway, like about court: ceremony. Through
the Middle Ages, knightings were done as part of Mass, with the
usual accompaniments of a choir & organ. One just-OOP coronation
of Lord Lyon King of Arms has the victim^H^H^H^H^H^Hnew holder of
the office preceded by sounding trumpets & a parade of his
subordinates (that is, the heralds & pursuivants). I think it
might make court longer, but I also think it'd make court quite a
show.

Pedro