FAQ


	*Can I join The Order of Saint Joachim?* Membership in The Order of Saint Joachim is by sponsorship and recommendation of an existing member. Our Charter makes a sponsor of a new member responsible for that person throughout their life in The Order, and so it is not undertaken lightly. Because we are a small Order spread over the world, it is not always possible for a prospective member to know a Knight or Dame of The Order. For suitable candidates, every effort is made by Grand Chapter to find a sponsor within The Order. *What does The Order of Saint Joachim look for in a prospective member?* When reviewing a Petitioner's application the officers of Grand Chapter look at a person's record of service to charity and society, as well as accomplishment in their personal and professional lives. Every petition is carefully reviewed on its own merits and stated qualifications and accomplishments investigated. It goes without saying that to be admitted as a member, a person has to be of good character and be a credit to the Order. *What if my Petition for Admission is declined?* Please know that not every applicant is accepted, no matter how strong their apparent qualifications, and Grand Chapter has a firm policy of never giving reasons should an application be declined. Some common reasons for a rejected application include reliance on dubious honours and titles, questionable academic qualifications, or a sparce record of charitable or public service. Almost a third of all applications are declined, because of the above or due to not having first made inquiries or provided information prior to being invited to submit a Petition. *Can I enter The Order of Saint Joachim at a rank higher than Knight Expectant?* In keeping with the knightly traditions of humility and service, members are expected to enter the Order at the rank of Knight Expectant, also referred to as Postulant. It is very rare for a new member to be granted dispensation to enter directly as a Knight. Hereditary Princes and others with high civil or military rank have not found it derogatory to their position or dignity to enter the Order at the lowest level. Knights Expectant may expect to advance in the Order with service. *Can women join?* Yes. The Order of Saint Joachim has admitted and welcomed women as members since the late 1700s. Women can achieve any rank in The Order and receive the title "Dame" after progressing from Postulant. In fact, some of the earliest documents of the Order provide for the possbiity of women leading Commanderies. *Is the Order of Saint Joachim restricted to Christians?* No. In keeping with its original aim of promoting religious tolerance, The Order of Saint Joachim was originally one of the only Orders of Knighthood that admitted both Protestants and Catholics without distinction. Today the Order's membership includes people of all faiths who subscribe to the Order's ideals of tolerance and charity. In addition to Christians, The Order currently has members from many faiths, including Knights who are Jewish and Buddhist. Unlike some Orders, The Order of Saint Joachim does not distinguish between Christian and non-Christian members in its system of honours and titles. *Is The Order of Saint Joachim Masonic?* No. Many Freemasons feel at home in The Order of Saint Joachim because of its traditions of religious tolerance and charity, but The Order is not Masonic. Its founding members in 1755 included Freemasons, Rosicrucians and members of other Enlightenment groups of the 18th Century, and so it naturally shares some of the common and enduring values of that time. *Was Admiral Horatio Nelson really a member?* Yes. The fact of his being a proud Knight Grand Commander of The Order of Saint Joachim is recorded in Nelson's own words here. His membership is a matter of historical record, which one prominent writer on chivalric orders somehow was somehow ignorant of, leading to people asking this easily answered question. *Is the Order of Saint Joachim a "real" order of Knighthood?* The English College of Arms thought so. It is a matter of historical record that in the early 1800s it repeatedly and publicly acknowledged The Order of Saint Joachim as a genuine order of knighthood, and our Knights were legally recognized as being entitled to use the title "Sir" in England until new laws were passed regarding foreign knighthoods in the 1820s. The Order was also recognized by other sovereign nations, including the Holy Roman Empire, the kingdoms of Hungary, Prussia, Poland and Russia. There is one contemporary article that also suggests it received Papal recognition as a valid order of knighthood in the late 1700s. In modern times, the formal recognition of orders of knighthood is a sensitive and complex topic. Countries without a monarchy are generally adverse to the concept of titles and distinctions, and countries with a monarchy generally only recognize their own Orders, of which the king or queen is usually the head. The Order has made historically verifiable information available though this website so individuals can make their own judgments about The Order of Saint Joachim. *Does The Order of Saint Joachim Have Royal Sponsorship?* No. From its founding in 1755, The Order of Saint Joachim has not felt the need for royal sponsorship. It has had sovereign rulers elected as its Grand Masters in the past, but unlike many dynastic or national orders of knighthood, The Order of Saint Joachim does not "belong" to any royal or sovereign house. For a long time it was associated with the House of Saxe-Coburg and the Counts of Leinigen, but Grand Chapter elects the Grand Master without preference or distinction. It was remarked as a novel system of rule as early as 1802, when it was noted by the English College of Arms that The Order did not owe its existence to any sovereign house, but was nevertheless acknowledged to be a genuine order of knighthood. *Does The Order of Saint Joachim charge fees?* Yes. Virtually all orders of knighthood or chivalry levy membership fees ("oblations") and advancement or passage fees. Even the Order of the Garter, the pre-eminent order of knighthood in the world, reportedly charges its members a hefty passage fee. The Order of Saint Joachim levies a modest annual oblation of £15 on all members, and entrance and passage fees are similarly reasonable. *How quickly is a Petition processed?* The persons responsible for reviewing and processing applications made to The Order of Saint Joachim are located in several different countries, and so, even with modern electronic communications, there can be some delay in processing a Petition. The investigation and confirmation of information process can also take some time. We ask that applicants be patient and allow Grand Chapter the time required to process Petitions, usually one to two months. *Where are there Commanderies of the Order?* The Order currently has Commanderies in the United Kingdom, the United States and in Canada. Members of the Order who do not belong to a Commandery automatically belong to the Knights Errant Commandery under the Grand Prior. Individuals with other questions are encouraged to contact the Order through the office of the Grand Chapter or the Grand Prior. © 2008 The Order of Saint Joachim

Can I join The Order of Saint Joachim?

Membership in The Order of Saint Joachim is by sponsorship and recommendation of an existing member. Our Charter makes a sponsor of a new member responsible for that person throughout their life in The Order, and so it is not undertaken lightly. Because we are a small Order spread over the world, it is not always possible for a prospective member to know a Knight or Dame of The Order. For suitable candidates, every effort is made by Grand Chapter to find a sponsor within The Order.

What does The Order of Saint Joachim look for in a prospective member?

When reviewing a Petitioner's application the officers of Grand Chapter look at a person's record of service to charity and society, as well as accomplishment in their personal and professional lives. Every petition is carefully reviewed on its own merits and stated qualifications and accomplishments investigated. It goes without saying that to be admitted as a member, a person has to be of good character and be a credit to the Order.

What if my Petition for Admission is declined?

Please know that not every applicant is accepted, no matter how strong their apparent qualifications, and Grand Chapter has a firm policy of never giving reasons should an application be declined. Some common reasons for a rejected application include reliance on dubious honours and titles, questionable academic qualifications, or a sparce record of charitable or public service. Almost a third of all applications are declined, because of the above or due to not having first made inquiries or provided information prior to being invited to submit a Petition.

Can I enter The Order of Saint Joachim at a rank higher than Knight Expectant?

In keeping with the knightly traditions of humility and service, members are expected to enter the Order at the rank of Knight Expectant, also referred to as Postulant. It is very rare for a new member to be granted dispensation to enter directly as a Knight. Hereditary Princes and others with high civil or military rank have not found it derogatory to their position or dignity to enter the Order at the lowest level. Knights Expectant may expect to advance in the Order with service.

Can women join?

Yes. The Order of Saint Joachim has admitted and welcomed women as members since the late 1700s. Women can achieve any rank in The Order and receive the title "Dame" after progressing from Postulant. In fact, some of the earliest documents of the Order provide for the possbiity of women leading Commanderies.

Is the Order of Saint Joachim restricted to Christians?

No. In keeping with its original aim of promoting religious tolerance, The Order of Saint Joachim was originally one of the only Orders of Knighthood that admitted both Protestants and Catholics without distinction. Today the Order's membership includes people of all faiths who subscribe to the Order's ideals of tolerance and charity. In addition to Christians, The Order currently has members from many faiths, including Knights who are Jewish and Buddhist. Unlike some Orders, The Order of Saint Joachim does not distinguish between Christian and non-Christian members in its system of honours and titles.

Is The Order of Saint Joachim Masonic?

No. Many Freemasons feel at home in The Order of Saint Joachim because of its traditions of religious tolerance and charity, but The Order is not Masonic. Its founding members in 1755 included Freemasons, Rosicrucians and members of other Enlightenment groups of the 18th Century, and so it naturally shares some of the common and enduring values of that time.

Was Admiral Horatio Nelson really a member?

Yes. The fact of his being a proud Knight Grand Commander of The Order of Saint Joachim is recorded in Nelson's own words here. His membership is a matter of historical record, which one prominent writer on chivalric orders somehow was somehow ignorant of, leading to people asking this easily answered question.

Is the Order of Saint Joachim a "real" order of Knighthood?

The English College of Arms thought so. It is a matter of historical record that in the early 1800s it repeatedly and publicly acknowledged The Order of Saint Joachim as a genuine order of knighthood, and our Knights were legally recognized as being entitled to use the title "Sir" in England until new laws were passed regarding foreign knighthoods in the 1820s. The Order was also recognized by other sovereign nations, including the Holy Roman Empire, the kingdoms of Hungary, Prussia, Poland and Russia. There is one contemporary article that also suggests it received Papal recognition as a valid order of knighthood in the late 1700s. In modern times, the formal recognition of orders of knighthood is a sensitive and complex topic. Countries without a monarchy are generally adverse to the concept of titles and distinctions, and countries with a monarchy generally only recognize their own Orders, of which the king or queen is usually the head. The Order has made historically verifiable information available though this website so individuals can make their own judgments about The Order of Saint Joachim.

Does The Order of Saint Joachim Have Royal Sponsorship?

No. From its founding in 1755, The Order of Saint Joachim has not felt the need for royal sponsorship. It has had sovereign rulers elected as its Grand Masters in the past, but unlike many dynastic or national orders of knighthood, The Order of Saint Joachim does not "belong" to any royal or sovereign house. For a long time it was associated with the House of Saxe-Coburg and the Counts of Leinigen, but Grand Chapter elects the Grand Master without preference or distinction. It was remarked as a novel system of rule as early as 1802, when it was noted by the English College of Arms that The Order did not owe its existence to any sovereign house, but was nevertheless acknowledged to be a genuine order of knighthood.

Does The Order of Saint Joachim charge fees?

Yes. Virtually all orders of knighthood or chivalry levy membership fees ("oblations") and advancement or passage fees. Even the Order of the Garter, the pre-eminent order of knighthood in the world, reportedly charges its members a hefty passage fee. The Order of Saint Joachim levies a modest annual oblation of £15 on all members, and entrance and passage fees are similarly reasonable.

How quickly is a Petition processed?

The persons responsible for reviewing and processing applications made to The Order of Saint Joachim are located in several different countries, and so, even with modern electronic communications, there can be some delay in processing a Petition. The investigation and confirmation of information process can also take some time. We ask that applicants be patient and allow Grand Chapter the time required to process Petitions, usually one to two months.

Where are there Commanderies of the Order?

The Order currently has Commanderies in the United Kingdom, the United States and in Canada. Members of the Order who do not belong to a Commandery automatically belong to the Knights Errant Commandery under the Grand Prior.

Individuals with other questions are encouraged to contact the Order through the office of the Grand Chapter or the Grand Prior.