There have been many fraternities and orders of distinction through the years. In our country’s beginning, The Order of Good Cheer helped Champlain and his companions through a long winter in the new world. In the British Empire, the much heralded and sometimes maligned Order of the Garter endures, spawning pageantry that only the English could generate. And who but the English could create such an institution from a wardrobe malfunction, if you subscribe to one story of the order’s origin. ( See Wikipedia )
There is another order among us, which I propose to call the Order of the Silver Crown. ( Courone en Argent ) Although not as exclusive as the fraternities mentioned above, still, it is one which bestows a degree of distinction on its fellows. One becomes a member not by the whim of royalty or fealty to an ossified cause. This order is much more democratic than that. One becomes a member in good standing by wearing on one’s head, proudly I hasten to add, a crown of silver hair.
Membership in the order cannot be rushed. Like a vintage Sherry or aged Cheddar, one must wait for time to contrive its magic. Soon enough, the first hint of the Crown appears. There are some who will reject the honour and cleverly hide all traces of this development, using the miracle of modern chemistry. It may be that a surfeit of modesty prevents them from claiming their rightful place in the Order. Once this artifice is given up however, they soon find that they are accepted into the fellowship with joy.
There are societies in the world, some of which we like to call “primitive” which respect, even honour the members who have reached an age of maturity and greater wisdom. The Silver Crowned are valued as a repository of memories and tribal lore necessary for the continuance and progress of the tribe. Just as we today take pains to “back up” our computer data, these more enlightened peoples recognize the value of the experiences and testimony that walks among them and regularly download it using the medium of story and song.
If you possess the qualifications, welcome, honoured sister/brother of the fraternity. Your Silver Crown marks you as a member in good standing, with dues paid in full. It is your duty to relate and regale with the rhapsody of your story. Advise the young, caution the imprudent and warn the wayward. As you broadcast your wisdom to the world, there will be some who will let it roll off them, like a soft rain. Do not despair. Know that the world longs for Sophia. Know that some seed will fall on good ground and the abundant harvest will make it all worthwhile.
All honour to you of the Silver Crown.
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Kevin MacAskill works at home in British Columbia, Canada, surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery. This prompts him to reflect on life and the human condition. You may use this essay in an ethical manner, by including this resource box. My Web Site
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