[MR] Title

[Michael Houghton]

Howdy!

On Tue, Apr 25, 2006 at 03:43:09PM -0400, Siegfried wrote:
> That is a very good point and well made.
> 
> However, IMO, as long as the SCA makes a rather serious distinction 
> between Awards and Grants within it's own award system ... then I see a 
> reasonable reason to have different levels of titles to go with them.

Please note that just because we have different levels of rank does
not then imply that we *must* have different styles and forms of
address.

For example, one addresses someone of County, Viscounty, or Baronial
rank as "Your Excellency". 

Further, I believe that the notion of Counts, Viscounts, and Barons
are period notions, although not in the form used in the SCA, and I
also believe that the styles of address we use for them have some
basis in period practice. The distinction of Grants of Arms versus
Awards of Arms is long enshrined in SCA practice *and* in the governing
documents, but Corpora says very clearly that the basic title for
those who hold arms by award or grant is "Lord" or "Lady". That is in
a section where the right to devise new titles and styles of address
is reserved to the corporation, while the Laurel Sovereign is given
authority to recognize alternate forms of styles and titles. The
subject is presented in a "this is what is allowed" form, not a "this
is what is forbidden" form.

Were there evidence that "The Honorable..." had a basis in period
practice, one could at least argue that the practice were period-ish.
I am utterly unaware of anyone discovering any such evidence, and I've
tried to pay attention for such cropping up.

In this case, we have a practice for which there is no evidence of
occurrence in period, combined with Corpora being very clear that the
style and form of address is without sanction. Adding it to the game
does not improve the medieval atmosphere and can fairly be argued to
detract from it in a manner broadly similar to sneaker, visible
plastic armor, modern umbrella chairs, and the like.

> 
> Remove the precedence distinction, and I don't have a problem with 
> seeing THL disappear.
> 
I hope my explanation sheds better light on the question, such that 
you reevaluate your position. 

Yes, this is a topic which I have contemplated at considerable
length and done research over the last decade. I know that the
topic arose when I was Triton (a few years ago), and I looked into
the whole question. If my memory has not completely failed me, I
think there was a conversation with the Crown that particularly
prompted my research.

yours,
Herveus
-- 
Michael and MJ Houghton | Herveus d'Ormonde and Megan O'Donnelly
herveus at radix.net       | White Wolf and the Phoenix narrowwares
Bowie, MD, USA          | http://whitewolfandphoenix.com 
Proud member of the SCA Internet Whitewash Squad