ARMORIAL BEARINGS PROGRAM

13 Rules Governing the Armorial Program

1. The design must not be identical to internal or external designs known to exist. Devices similar to external designs shall have a minimum of one difference.  Devices similar to internal designs shall have a minimum of two differences.

If and only if you can show evidence that you personally have legal rights to bear the previously published arms from a recognized International Granting Authority listed below, you may do so. Documents in languages other than modern English shall be provided with certified translations.

Note regarding SCA: Although discouraged by both Oregon One and the SCA, a Sir Knight is not prohibited from using the same arms registered to a persona in the SCA to represent the Masonic Sir Knight. We do not conflict check against SCA. However, it should be noted that SCA prohibits designs that you employ outside SCA. Therefore, if they are registered here first, you are not supposed to use them there. It is probably best to leave your persona's identity in the SCA and design something new for this program.

2. The shape of the shield shall (for the purposes of the registration) be of one design for all Sir Knights.

The display gonfalon for Oregon One members shall be obtained through the Commandery Recorder.

3. The colors and materials (Tinctures) shall be according to heraldic tradition specified below and shall not contain trademarks or corporate logos.

Although preferred, it is not necessary for the hue conform to historically accurate colors. Please note that the colors employed in the manufacture of the gonfalon may not be an identical match in color as production is limited to colors that are commercially available.
 

A shield shall not contain brown, orange or pink.

  • Gold - Or
  • Silver - Argent
  • Blue - azure
  • Red - gules
  • Black - sable
  • Green - vert
  • Purple - purpure
  • Ermine - black spots on white, or white spots on black
  • Vair - parti-colored fur of blue and silver (unless otherwise specified)
  • Counter-vair
  • Potent
  • Counter-potent

4. The design may have up to four (4) distinct charges - fewer are preferred and more may be tolerated. Additional charges over four will be decided on a case-by-case basis and will be granted solely at the discretion of the Herald in the best interests of Masonry in general and the program in particular.

Please keep your designs simple.

5. The shield may be divided by lines in various ways, and painted of two tinctures.

  •  Per pale - perpendicular line

  •  Per fess - horizontal line

  • Per bend - diagonal line

  • Per bend sinister - diagonal line

  • Quarterly - first two lines intersecting

  • Per saltire - last two lines intersecting

  • Per chevron - a chevron

  • And etc.

6. Fees. There will be a registration fee and an emblazon fee.  

  • The first 250 registrations will require a fee of  $50.00. A portion will go towards our philanthropies.

  • The emblazon fee will pay for the gonfalon (banner). $150.00*

  • * Additional fees may be required for the gonfalon if the cost to produce exceeds the standard fee.

  • we reserve the right to revise our fee structure without notice.

Preliminary cost to participate is $200.00

7. A Sir Knight may elect to only register arms and not display them in the Commandery. To ensure quality standards are displayed in our Asylum, all gonfalons shall be purchased through the Commandery.

8. This program is limited to the shield design only, void of crests, supporters, and mottos. The shield shall not contain these items in an attempt to circumvent this rule.

9. Only armorial bearings registered through the program may be displayed at Commandery functions.

10. The Sir Knight must agree to indemnify and hold harmless Oregon Commandery One for any disputes arising out of participation in the program. The program does not purport to have granting authority for armorial bearings. The Armorial program is for the exclusive use of Masonic Knights Templar for internal purposes only.

11. Oregon One shall have the authority to use all names and registered armorials for advertising, electronic display, and/or public display purposes.

12. Oregon One reserves the right to change the registration fees, the right to refuse registrations, and the right to discontinue the service at any time and for any reason.

Elements of the Program

  1. Heraldic consultations on the development of appropriate armorial bearings.
  2. A certificate of registration under the seal of Oregon Commandery One.
  3. The opportunity to display arms at Commandery meetings, functions, and events.
  4. The opportunity to support our philanthropies.

13. In the event that a significant conflict is discovered after registration is completed, the device will be remanded to the Herald who will suggest alternatives. Famous devices and devices in current use are seen as more significant than those used by someone 300 years ago. In general a device belonging to a non-historical figure that has not been used by the owner's descendants for 70 years after the owner's death will be considered as having an insignificant conflict. This assumes, of course, that the registrant is not attempting to show descent from a particular person without the appropriate supporting evidence. For example the arms of Count von Schawbing who died 600 years ago might be just right for you too. But if your name happens to be Schawbing and you decide this cannot be mere coincidence... so you further decide to employ his arms as yours, then we would see this as a significant conflict. Our best words of advice are to a) start fresh and b) keep the design simple!
 

Oregon Commandery No. 1
709 SW 15th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97205

503-223-6739

pdxyorkrite@yahoo.com