Station and Membership

 

8.1 The categories of station are:

 

(a) Royal Liverymen - Liverymen whose age plus years of servitude total >90

 

(b) Liverymen – they are full members with all rights and privileges.

 

(c) Liverymen Honoris Causa – appointed by the Court to cement links or to recognise some other special link or service to the Livery.

 

(d) Freemen – this category has restrictions on rights and privileges.

 

(e) Honorary Freemen – appointed by the Court to include spouses of deceased Past Masters.

 

(f) Companions of the Livery – spouses, at the time of death of deceased Liverymen approved by the Court.

 

(e) Craft Freemen – persons involved in the ancient craft of the Livery who have achieved preeminence including young persons who win awards and bursaries.

 

(F) Yeomen - Apprentices, temporary ceremonial assistants. (Yeoman can not be held permanently.

 

8.2 The Guild should be made up of Freemen, Liverymen and Yeomen.

 

8.3 There is no limit on the number of Freemen within The Guild. Freemen enter The Guild by one of three routes:

 

8.3.a) By Servitude – on completion of an indentured apprenticeship to a Master who is a Freeman.

The Apprentice will have had to bring his or her 'masterpiece' to the Hall for inspection by the Masters and Wardens.

 

8.3.b) By Servitude – on completion of an indentured apprenticeship to a master who is not a Freeman.

The Apprentice will have had to bring his or her 'masterpiece' or a mason will bring in a portfolio,

qualifications and references to the Hall for inspection by the Masters and Wardens.

 

8.3.c) By Redemption – by an entrance fee or service to the Guild, having been elected by a Selection Committee.

 

8.4 As The Guild is a meritocracy there is no entry through patrimony and no progression to court through Buggin's Rule.

 

8.5 Liverymen of the Guild must have reached 21 years of age, and must be a Freeman of The Guild. (The Guild will have a maximum of 250 Liverymen.)

 

8.6 There are a few exceptions, but for most people, to become a Liveryman of The Guild, the first requirement is to be proposed by a Member of the Court, and be seconded by another member of the Court, or a Liveryman of at least 5 years standing.

 

8.7 We should make it clear that there is a financial commitment or obligation of servitude for redemptive membership. Obviously there are costs involved in running The Guild which need to be covered. On joining, a 'fine' will be paid, which varies depending on the classification of membership applied for, and thereafter an annual charge required to cover running costs. No fines will be due from full craft members (those having served their apprenticeship with the Guild) or the Founding Court. In addition, redemptive members are expected to support at least one of the Guild's charities.

 

8.8 Entry for Yeomen is less formal. They will generally be or have been stonemasonry apprentices or work for The Guild in another capacity, having given reliable service over a number of years. They will be recommended by Liverymen who are active in the industry and/or The Guild.

 

8.9 A Call to the Livery is made by the Court of Assistants every two to three years, as necessary to

maintain a sufficient total within the Livery.

 

8.10 Following the Call to the Livery, the admission process will be by application and subsequent selection from The Freedom (Guild Freemen).

 

8.11 The Assistants are in turn elected from within the Freedom and the Livery.

 

8.12 The Court of Assistants, numbering up to 10, is the governing body of the Guild. Each year, two members are elected to become Wardens, who meet regularly and act as the Guild's Executive Committee. The senior warden is known as the Prime Warden and serves for a year, changing over, or becoming re-elected in May.

 

8.13 Day-to-day management of The Guild is delegated to certain Guild members and/or full time staff of The Guild, The Clerk (Chief Executive) who is supported by a full-time staff, and The Guild Master.