Lodi’s Sermons of Virtue
From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki
Contents |
Cities, Sages and the Virtues
Just as the Virtues have been passed to our society, so have some anchors been placed for these Virtues. Each of the Eight Virtues is rooted to one of the Eight Cities of Virtue. By this method, each of these cities bears the responsibility to exemplify and be as a shining example to all of the essence of their own particular Virtue. Unfortunately, we have seen this responsibility fall lapsed and near forgotten. This is so very sad as it allows for the weakening of the Virtues, which weakens our people and thus our society. This leads to the disarray and chaos that has taken a firm grip in our lands. This leads to many of the problems where the Virtues are no longer seen as the root of our society and the blessings for our lives, our land, and our peoples. This rotting must be more than simply stopped, it must be reversed and the Virtues restored as the pillars upon which our society is built.
Well, the time has come to take the first steps to remedy this situation and take direct and meaningful steps to restore the Eight Cities of Virtue and thus the Eight Virtues in our lands. It is to this end that the Holy Church of the Virtues will start the reinstitution of the Sages of Virtue. Some might say that perhaps we should seek to reassign the Virtues to new cities to make the task more attainable and thus facing less opposition. It is for those exact reasons why we must not take the path of least resistance. Instead we must take the more difficult road that the Virtues demand. In order to have Compassion for our society and its future, our children, we must Honor the original assignments of the Cities of Virtue. With Honesty and Humility we must Sacrifice to return the Eight Cities of Virtue to represent their Virtue, each to its own, as Justice would demand. If we are of sufficient Valor, then the Spirituality will return to our lands in the visage of a new age of Virtue. For it is with this renewal of Virtue that our lands will once again be harmonious, thus bringing forth a new order, a Virtuous Order of Light.
To take these bold steps the Holy Church of the Virtues will need people of great strength of character and great resolve of Virtue. These elite few will take forth a Virtue as each takes the assignment as the Sage of one Virtue. These Sages will be tasked with bringing the light of each Virtue back to the corresponding City of Virtue. Some of these tasks shall be more difficult than others, but difficulty shall not dissuade us from instigating the Renaissance of the Virtues. We will need eight extraordinary people to face the challenges before them and never shy away nor stray from their chosen path. Only through a resolute character and an ever strong will reinforced with a determination of a true Lightbringer will these few chosen succeed in restoring the Eight Cities of Virtue to their full potential as the shining jewels upon the lands. These Eight Sages of Virtue shall require the assistance of all of us to follow them as they take the lead along the Path of Light that leads us to the Virtues.
We are fortunate that we have four such Lightbringers who have volunteered to face the challenges, the hardships, the struggles, and to fight through all opposition to restore the Virtues to their rightful place amongst the Cities of Virtue. It is with pride I announce now the first half of the Sages of Virtue that will lead the rebirth of our lands.
The Lady Savhanna as the Sage of Spirituality shall restore Skara Brae. The Lady Lilyth Noir as the Sage of Justice shall restore Yew. The Lady LaBelle DeCantor as the Sage of Humility shall restore Magincia. The Lord Martin Willow as the Sage of Honor shall restore Trinsic.
We are honored and grateful to these brave and faithful Lightbringers for taking up the challenges to restore Virtue, one each at a time. This still leaves us in need of four more brave and faithful Lightbringers to take up restoring Virtue, one Virtue at a time.
The remaining positions as a Sage of Virtue are:
Sage of Compassion who shall restore Britain. Sage of Honesty who shall restore Moonglow. Sage of Sacrifice who shall restore Minoc. Sage of Valor who shall restore Jhelom.
We realize that these are not tasks that are easy. We are fully aware of the great challenges presented before each Sage. We also know that with each success made by any one Sage shall in turn help all the Sages in restoring the Virtues to the Cities of Virtue. So it is with hope and my blessings that those who have already taken up the gauntlet cast before them go forth to the task of restoration of our entire society. It is my hope that we will soon have the remaining four Sages to join them in the restoration of what we have lost. Let us see that what was lost shall not remain beyond our grasp. Let us find four more Lightbringers to complete the roles of the Sages of Virtue. Let us find four more Lightbringers to complete the task that will save our lands, peoples, and future.
Possibilities, the Regency
With the start of this new year, many of us have made resolutions and are looking forward to what we hope are great promises of a new beginning. Already we have seen much turmoil with realignments of alliances, the end of old guilds and the birth of new guilds. These gains, losses, shifts and realignments have spanned from both ends of the spectrum of our society. There have been changes in both the guilds of Light and those of Darkness. But what may be the most important change was that of the resignation of our Regent, Rufus Oryan.
While Regent Rufus Oryan and I had our differences, I respected his steadfast holding to his convictions. I wish him well with his future endeavors and that he will come to realize that Balance can be best served by first serving the Virtues and seeking balance within the Paths of Light. I offer him my assistance and guidance if ever he should request and hope that we can continue to work for the betterment of our peoples.
In the spirit of the betterment of our peoples, what more important place could we start than the choice of a new Regent? The Regency had been presented with an opportunity to return to the Path of Light, anchoring itself once and for all in the Virtues. The Regency, the governing body of and for our people, has already limited their opportunities by restricting nominations to current Regency Loyalists. Though they speak of wishing inclusion of more within their Brotherhood, the Regency has started poorly by not opening the nominations to all within our society. But alas, the closed door policy of the few has restrained the voices of the many, including many who may wish to join, or even rejoin the Regency and have looked but for one small token. But this is but one choice, there will be many more soon to be made by the new Regent. I am hopeful that there will be plentiful choices that can return the Regency to Virtue. I pray that this selection of a Regent does not become another missed opportunity. This time our society is in flux and with the proper dedication to the Virtues by a strong Regent could restore the Regency as the central pillar on which we can begin again to build a society of Virtue and for the people.
Now, some may ask whom I would prefer or recommend for the position of Regent. Well, other than myself, I will reserve my opinion as it is of minimal importance. The opportunity for new choices has been squelched by those choosing a closed selection. So we have on one hand Isk, and on the other hand Nazralte, and between the two is the sole choice. Between these two candidates I cannot say, I am nowhere near well enough acquainted with their pasts to judge. And does their past really matter? I have heard tales and rumors of the past of some belonging to this Church, and they have realized and changed to the Light of Virtue. Then there is myself, one who preferred a tome, an old book, tablets of ancient times, or anything from the long past over the troubles, times, and peoples of today. But here I stand after my awakening to my calling. In this same vein I am praying the same inspirational evolution will guide the new Regent beyond any personal past or present shortcomings of person and Virtue.
No matter who is chosen to be Regent to lead the Regency and our peoples, I will refrain from judgment on past behavior or tendencies and wait to see what their truth is shown through their actions as Regent. I have learned through my studies that sometimes the most honored and respected among us can be given position and by such turn to darkness and self-delusion. Other times those considered of poor quality have turned around once the mantle of responsible leadership has been laid upon their shoulders. So, in this spirit I will only hope that our new Regent will become the shining Light that he is capable of becoming. Further, I offer any assistance that our new Regent may request of myself or of the Holy Church of the Virtues. I hope that in this time where the cacophony of voices claiming to know the way to the future clamor and clatter with great volume that we can manage to hear the voices of Virtue through the din. I hope for the best for our people and our institutions. Let us all pull together in this time of intense change and together turn it into a time where we leap forward in Virtue in harmony and Principle.
Upon planning for his departure, our Lord British, may Virtue light his path, formed a political body called the Regency. The Regency was supposed to rule in his stead and represent those values he held most dear, the Eight Virtues derived of the Three Principles. The Regency was supposed to be the center of all alliances where Guilds swore an oath of fealty and town councils could bring their disputes for Virtuous judgments. Looking at the hodge-podge of Alliances and Organizations and the weakness of the Regency, one wonders what went wrong and where?
Well, the first and most glaring deficiency is found within the Regency itself. No longer does the Regency represent the Virtuous Values Lord British declared be the central pillar for his government in absentia. They now serve balance, or at least the Regency did and he was the guiding force for the Regency. There are those who claim that this balance is rooted in the Virtues, but this is a falsehood. The Balance places Chaos and Order on an even footing thus relegating the Virtues to a secondary value at best. This does not serve the community, nor does it serve the Regency, and thus the Regency no longer serves the community as intended. This cannot be tolerated as it weakens our society and strengthens those who serve not the Virtues. It gives validation to those who serve Chaos. Further, it not only places Order and Chaos as equal parcels of society, but also places Virtues and Anti-Virtues as equals. By doing this, the Regency has displaced those guilds of Virtue it was intended to strengthen and unite. By doing this, the Regency has violated itself and become a menace to the Virtues. Due to this desertion from its principles and the Virtues, I call for the dissolution of the current Regency and replacing it with a new Regency that is steeped in the Virtues. I call for the Guilds and peoples of the Virtues to reclaim their rightful governance through the Regency.
I call for this not just because it is righteous and Virtuous, but because it is the only true path to save our lands and serve the memory and desires of Lord British. This will not be an easy path, nor will the task we face weigh lightly upon our shoulders. Quite to the contrary, we will face opposition every step of the way. Those who have perverted our Regency and seized, nay, usurped ill gotten power, all the while relegating the Virtues to a minor role in the ruling decisions, will do every conceivable evil and anti-virtuous act to forestall the return of Virtue as the center column of our Regency, our government.
This was evident at the last public meeting of the Regency Grand Council. When it was brought forth to the attention of those gathered that a member Guild of the Regulators has banned the preaching of the Virtues within their borders. They even were willing to arrest this humble Celebrant for publicly preaching Virtue within their borders. Only due to the Virtues causing their jail doors to refuse to open was I simply escorted from their lands and allowed to walk free and continue to spread the light of the Virtues. When it was further noted that two of those sitting in positions of power and title also had sworn allegiance to another entity, the Regulators, an alliance that allows membership of those who openly oppose acceptance of all the Virtues as a whole and woven truth, and that this was against the Constitution and by laws upon which the Regency was formed and founded, the defense offered by those holding the positions with questionable allegiance was to point to other Guilds who also held a title of power that also does not hold the Virtues as pure truth. They pointed to others trying to deflect the light being shone on their duplicity. They simply pointed out that the Regency as a whole has repudiated the Virtues and the truths bestowed upon the Regency at its founding by our beloved Lord British.
I say we honor their defense that the Regency is now based outside of its founding documents, its founding intents, its founding in Virtue. I say we grant that the Regency is as their assertion states, fully tainted and compromised through and through. I do realize that there are those within the Regency who are of Virtue and hold to the hope that our Regency can still be returned to Virtue, to the path of the Lightbringer. I call for these Guilds, these individuals to join with others of Virtue from our society and renew the Regency to Virtue. This will, most unfortunately, require a baptism by fire to purge those who do not stand in Virtue from the Regency and reunite with those who the Regency has left in the destructive wake of its turning from the true roots of the Virtues.
I further feel that rather than have the statement of fealty being left to each guild to express how and what they will pledge to the Regency, we need to have an actual Oath of Fealty that stands as the basis for those wishing to swear their allegiance to the Regency. This oath will be how all are judged for their purity of purpose and support of both the Regency and the Virtues. An oath, that if broken, would lead to dissolution of their ties to the Regency and the fleshing out to the community as a whole of their breach of loyalty to the Virtues. And from this beginning we could establish a Regency of Virtue, one that unites us in Virtue and not divide us due to lacking Virtues. So let us begin to renew and refresh our Regency and reestablish our alliances through the Virtues to each other, our community, and the new Regency of Virtue. Let us bring light where there is darkness, truth where there is deception, compassion where there is cold indifference, and most of all, Virtue to our governing body, our reborn Regency of Virtue.
We all seek meaning and worth in our lives. To attain these goals we must rely on our motivations as our rudder to guide our actions. These motivations that we choose to be our rudder are what determine both our success in achieving our goals and the type of person we become. If our motivations are ordered, we will lead lives of sanity and structure while those choosing chaotic roots lead lives of discord and lacking harmony. If we choose to root ourselves from honest motivations we lead lives filled with truth and meaning, but choose falsehood and live a life of lies, treachery, and fraud. Anchor yourself in courage and lead a life of honor and valor, anchor yourself in cowardice and your life is filled with weakness and fear. Derive your motivations from love and lead a life filled with devotion and loyalty, choose hatred and live a life that is spiteful and steeped in loathing. The real question is finding a root essence on which to anchor our lives. Where preferably all of us, hopefully at least most of us, would choose paths of order over chaos, truth over falsehood, courage over cowardice, and love over hatred; is there a single rooting that leads to simplify these choices? Fortunately there is a rooting that once chosen simplifies our lives and leads to the desired worthy life. Choose to follow the Virtues and your life will be filled with the Principles, the Principles of Love, Truth, and Courage. It was believed by Lord British that leading such a life would further lead to a life of order. Thusly, Virtue gives us the strength of the Principles, and the Principles lead to a life of order and inner calm. Further, a society of people rooted in Virtue is a stronger society, one of harmony, peace, strength, caring, affection, and goodness. This is the society Lord British wished for his people, and it is the society of which I wish for us to be a part. A society of mutual support, reciprocated love, communal respect, shared responsibility, cooperative efforts, and inclusive acceptance. A community of oneness with the Virtues.
A Challenge
We follow the Virtues to have our goals rooted in the same firm base. We follow the Virtues to lead lives that are in harmony with each other. With our lives rooted in the same firm base and us living in harmony all through the Virtues, then why is there so much strife between the peoples of Virtue? I can see why we have different Guilds of the Virtues. First, there are Eight Virtues, which would give rise to many differing ways to base a guild in the Virtues. This is beneficial in some ways as having guilds which stress different Virtues leads to a sum whole that will better be in balance within the Virtues.
We also have town councils from both the eight towns of Virtues and from the other towns that are not represented originally in the Virtues. All of these groups also help to strengthen our resolve in the Virtues. Now we also see alliances that are binding some of the guilds of Virtue together same as has been done through town councils. So what we have is a quilt woven by the intermingling of the peoples of Virtue through their different associations. So this should make our groups stronger in the Virtues, and to some extent this is the truth, but there is a problem, a trouble with our quilt.
This quilt is strong, but only in the center. This is not true of the periphery where the quilt is tattered and coming undone. And due to this disruption at the edges, the seems are weakened and therefore more easily torn asunder. Our tenuous grasp of the Virtues is only as strong as the weakest among us. This is part of the reason for Guilds, town councils, alliances and other groups where like-minded interests of the people can be united to tread the path of Virtue. But what is there to hold these different groups together to an even higher degree? Where is the one true body of Virtue that unites all the groups of Virtue together, to preserve each other, to preserve the Virtues and to seek balance for the Virtues?
Once there was such a body, one that held the respect of almost all the peoples of Virtue. This body was known as the Regency and it held respect as it followed the Virtues and upheld the Principles of Lord British. Many say it has lost view of the truth, of the origin of the founding of the Regency. Many have turned away from the Regency, as they have perceived it has turned from them. Upon leaving they formed their own Alliances and Councils as substitutes for the leadership that became lacking. This was meant to strengthen the Virtues in our society but instead has weakened our stand with the Virtues. We need to regain our unity and find a pure body of the Virtues. We need to take back our Regency or replace it with a new Body of Virtuous Unity.
I would recommend putting our questions aside and renewing our fealty to the Regency and mold it into what we all know it can and should become again. This is not my choice to make, nor is it the choice of the Holy Church of the Virtue. All I can do, or that the Holy Church of the Virtues can do, is to point out the obvious. Sometimes the obvious is so large we all miss seeing the truth. But the simple truth is we are stronger united as one and for Virtue to triumph we need all the strength and unity we can muster. So to that end I leave the rest to you, the righteous people of Virtue. We here at the Holy Church of the Virtues offer any assistance we are able, but in reality it is your quest to make this become a reality. So meet with your guilds, councils, alliances, and other organizations. Get your leaders together and decide; for the time is now, not later. As I have said before, we are at the crossroads and do not have the luxury of time. Please accept this challenge in the spirit it is intended, the thrown gauntlet to unite in Virtue and stop the tearing at the edges thus weakening the seams of our quilt. This is your society to save, and through the Virtues, we can unite and save much more than we can imagine. Thank you.
The Virtuous Quest
Here at the Holy Church of the Virtues our main aim is to stand for the Virtues. Our reason for existing is to spread the Virtues to all whom we can reach and guide them to become Lightbringers in our society. Even if we were able to convert every sole within our lands to following the Virtues, we would still be required to provide guidance, supply counsel to those who strayed, and make the definitions of the Virtues pure, absolute and uniform throughout the land. We would also have to pursue achieving Balance between our people’s actions in fulfillment of the Virtues. Following the Virtues is a never-ending quest, as there exists many facets and depths to the Virtues. The Balancing of the Virtues is an esoteric goal, one of delicate intricacies and all encompassing efforts. But the luxury of much of this must wait, as first and foremost the Virtues must be restored as the guiding touchstone of all who are members of our society.
Currently we have about our lands covenants, guilds, leagues, federations, alliances, partnerships, coalitions and numerous other names used to unify peoples for like purpose who are not dedicated to the Virtues. One of the more repugnant of these are those who follow Chaos. Following that there are those who follow Order or Balance. Then there are those who dedicate themselves to violence, some with purpose, some for pay, some just for the pure pleasure, and still others needing to satisfy their bloodlust. Even these must for now be held in check and prevented from spreading their disdain for the Virtues. Converting them to the path of the Virtues must wait until we have returned ourselves to the path of the Virtues. Yes, I said that we too need to return to the Virtuous path. Who in this room can in reflection and with Honesty state that they have never strayed from the Virtues. I know I cannot make such a statement. To do so would be to stray once again by forsaking Honesty by speaking an untruth. So, yes, we must first return to and find the path of Virtue before we can begin to ask others to follow us in Virtue.
Even once we have returned to the path of the Virtues, we shall still need to guard carefully not to stray from the true path of Virtue. This would be for most a lifelong struggle. We do not have a lifetime to spend on this; we must make haste to return to the Virtuous path so we will be permitted to lead others along the Virtuous path. As the faithful and the leaders within our society it falls to us to be the first, to be in the forefront of this reawakening of Virtue for our lands. Then we must lead those close to us, within our homes, guilds, alliances, towns, cities, and wherever else we congregate, back to the path of the Virtues. This too would usually be an undertaking that could span generations. Once again, we do not have generations, we have but the here and now. There has been enormous turning from the Virtues in recent times. Even some that once were sworn to the Virtuous path have strayed and taken up other standards. We are at a crossroads where our actions may determine whether our lands will ever return to the Virtues. We must first devote ourselves to the Virtues, immediately and totally. Then we can work to purify our closest friends and allies in the path of the Virtues. With their aid we will tend the Virtuous ones allowing Virtue to once again spread among those who have lost their way due to indifference or lack of guidance. But this is just the beginning. Once we have returned all within our spheres of influence, then and only then can we begin to plan to spread the Virtues and convert those who have intentionally revoked their standing in Virtue. That will be our final test, our final battle. May we tread in the path of Virtue all the while as we step forward on our quest, our final and most important quest.
For Whom The Virtue Tolls
There are those who claim the Virtues are the exclusive right of the human race. They say that only those of pure Human bloodline may attain ultimate Virtue. By this, they condemn all other races to be inferior and incapable of Virtue. Even further, they condemn those of mixed racial backgrounds to have lesser capabilities and to be further removed from Virtue. But are such beliefs in accordance with the Virtues themselves? To answer this I spent much time in research of both the Virtues and the history of the Virtues becoming the guidance of our society. Here is what I discovered and the conclusions I reached.
One claim is that only the human race is capable of realizing the Virtues and the other than human races are simply incapable of acting with Virtue. They claim that only the human race is capable of Compassion yet we see compassion shown by many in the animal world, let alone amongst sentient beings that make up the non-human races. The same argument is made for Sacrifice notwithstanding that even a mother bird will tempt a predator to safeguard her nest. Would anyone beg to say that the non-human races are lesser being than birds? I would hope not. Many of these claims of the Virtues being the sole propriety of humankind is out of fear and suspicion of those who are different than themselves. The root of this is fear and superstition which stems from many things; general and often mutual mistrust, cloaking of each race in their own shroud of secrecy, difference of appearance, distinctive histories, varied religious practices, unique preferences, unfamiliar views, different rituals, misunderstood tribal lore, just generally troubling differences in all areas of life.
All of these misgivings show lack of the Virtues and lack of effort to implement the Virtues. Honesty between the races will foster understanding. From this understanding we can proceed to Honor our differences while building bridges to join us together. On the way to joining together, all sides will be called upon to make Sacrifice to assuage perceived inequities. Finding the path that leads through these inequities will require Justice to be served to preserve the just Spirituality that is the basis for much Valor on each side. To respect our differences will require the Humility to admit that ours is not necessarily the sole option for progress. And lastly, the driving force to achieve a harmonious unity in our society is Compassion, an unbridled, uncompromising, all encompassing Compassion.
Now, there are those who will claim that Lord British intended the Virtues solely for humans. Their evidence supporting this claim is the lack of non-humans accorded positions in his Court and amongst his ministers and other positions of influence. The problem in this logic is two-fold. First, during the reign of Lord British the lands were solely inhabited by humankind. The non-human influx came subsequent to Lord British’s rule and introduction of the Virtues as the basis of our society. When the Virtues were first implemented, they were applied and intended for all in our society, from Lord British himself to the lowliest of those inhabiting our lands. This implies that the Virtues were and are intended for all inhabiting our lands, which now also includes non-humans. Second, the Virtues are obviously the centerpiece for an entire society. The entire society is inclusive of all inhabiting the lands, not solely the Humankind inhabiting the lands. To do otherwise would be to tear at the fabric of our society by relegating a large portion of our peoples as less worthy than those of a chosen exalted subgroup; in this case it places humans over non-humans. Lord British never intended for our society to be bipolar, he intended, stood for, and fought for a united society of total acceptance and inclusion.
Others simply claim that humans are the pinnacle of evolution. They claim that humans stand above the other races. They add that due to this superiority, only humans are capable of achieving the Virtues. They believe that the other races would inherently be unable to use the light of Virtues to find the true path of Virtue. This view originates in a despising of those different than oneself. It additionally wrongly ignores the abilities of those different than oneself. So this argument roots itself with the central point being Despise and Wrong, the antitheses of Compassion and Justice.
Still others claim that the Virtues belong to humans because a human conceived them. It is figured that obviously humans, and only humans, were meant to understand and live by the Virtues. They hold with greed to the Virtues refusing to share them with the other races. This is Covetous behavior, the opposite extreme from Sacrifice.
Another byproduct of those choosing to reserve the Virtues solely for Humankind, thus denying the Virtues to those of mixed or non-human blood, would be to turn our society into two opposing camps. In time such division will lead to strife, conflict, distrust, friction, and eventually to civil war. This is hopefully not the intent of those supporting the misguided notion of a bipolar society; one of the Virtues and one denied the Virtues. A society divided cannot stand and is inheritably weaker. Just as Lord British intended, we should strive for the most united and strongest society possible. In such a society the Virtues are the common thread, not just for some, but universally for all. To assume different is Arrogance, the diametric opposite of Humility.
Virtue: The Balance We Need
Lord British established the Virtues,
Based on the Three Principles.
He set us all on the path of Virtue.
Thus establishing a principled Order.
But soon the Order was opposed.
Opposed by the concept of Chaos.
Order and Chaos can not both exist in peace.
If Order exists then Chaos will rebel against it.
If Chaos exists then Order must fight against it.
For clarification we must note.
Order does not equate to goodness.
Just as Chaos does not equate to evil.
The followers of the Ebon Skull are followers of Order.
Their actions are to spread Chaos among others.
But our ruling councils were steeped in Virtue.
And were established to hold the path.
But now some speak of a broader more inclusive view.
They call for adoption of Balance
Over the teachings of Virtue
Choosing Balance is to ignore the Virtues.
Balance equates Order with Chaos.
It demands equal portions of both in our lands.
This balance will spread ruin across our lands.
This balance cannot exist in reality
As Order and Chaos can not be balanced.
They can only be violently opposed.
I stand here with another Balance to suggest.
I suggest a Virtuous Balance.
A Balance we have defined here before.
A Balance where you try to balance your following of each Virtue.
A Balance that recognized the Complimentary Virtues.
A Balance that implements Complimentary Virtues as
The Balance where one does not choose Valor over Justice.
The Balance where one does not choose Compassion over Honor.
The Balance where one does not choose Honesty over Sacrifice.
The Balance where one does not choose Spirituality over Humility.
For a land lacking in Virtue will fall into Darkness.
A land without a Balance in Virtue is equally doomed.
Balance must be reached
But NOT the Balance of Chaos and Order
We must strive for is the Virtuous Balance.
The Virtuous Balance found only through discipline
A discipline in harmony with the People.
A discipline in harmony with the Principles and the Virtues.
A Virtuous Balance which is the multiplier of Principles through Virtue.
The Three Halves of Virtue
There are three halves to Virtue, one half for each of the Principles. If you take the eight Virtues and examine them analytically with respect to the Principles, you find the Principle of Love in four of eight Virtues, the Principle of Truth in four of eight Virtues, and the Principle of Courage in four of eight Virtues. Each Principle is represented in half of the Virtues, thus the three halves of Virtue.
Go another step in this analysis, you will find that two of the Virtues honor all three Principles, each in a drastically different way. Spirituality constitutes the combination of all three Principles, while Humility constitutes the absence of all three Principles. Another passing note of interest is that pairing Humility and Spirituality together, they represent each Principle once. I like to call this Complimentary Virtues.
Are there other Complimentary Virtues? As a matter of fact, each Virtue has a Complimentary Virtue. This gives us four pairs of Complimentary Virtues. Compassion with Honor. Honesty with Sacrifice. Valor with Justice. And as we noted at the start, Humility and Spirituality.
This begs the question, “Is there any significance to these pairings?” In all my studies, I have not come across any formal declaration of significance, but I have theorized that there must be some relevance. My feeling is that by combining Complimentary Virtues in an act, one has committed an act of totally balanced Principle. Following these musings a little further, we find that if we were to sum the total Principles contained in the eight Virtues, we would find that they total out at four, five if you consider Humility to honor all three through their absence. Through this we see that a life lived with perfect balance of the Virtues will act as a multiplier of the three Principles. This idea of expanding the Principles through perfect balance of the Virtues further exemplifies the harmony and equality of each Virtue, such that no one Virtue holds more weight than another. This clears our conscience when we must choose a path favoring one Virtue over another. It also gives us a formula to balance each choice by seeking opportunities to perform acts of the Complimentary Virtue. Therefore, if we choose to strive for balance of the Virtues in our lives, we also choose to multiply the Principles in our lives. So may we strive for balance of the Virtues, in our lives and in our communities. Balance, the multiplier of Principles through Virtue.
Greeting Sermon
When I sat down in my office to write this sermon, all the advice and direction given me by my friends here at the Holy Church of the Virtues was swimming in my head. Make this sermon a real enlightening experience. Get the significance of the Virtues out in a way that will make an indelible impression. This advice, that advice. Well, I’m going to ignore all of it and do something totally different. Rather than bombard you with revelations on Virtue, something I am sure there will by plenty of time for in the future, I thought I would give you my feelings about the establishment of this Church.
First of all, a little bit about me. I am a fairly reserved person who has spent more time in relationships with books and ancient tomes than I have with people. Most of what I believe about people comes from these studies. Recently I had been doubting if my life had meaning and therefore actually served the Virtues. Well, when Lodi proposed that I be the Celebrant of Virtue in this Church, needless to say I was in shock. The timing could not have been better. I thought, here it is, my chance to spread knowledge while gaining real down to basics knowledge of real people. Needless to say, I jumped at this wonderful and beautiful opportunity. I am here today to tell you all that I am so glad I made that choice. Already I have met more people than I would usually meet in a year, and each one has been wonderful. I feel as if I have awakened from a lifetime of sleep.
I have great hopes that the Holy Church of the Virtues will have its Congregation grow and will spread the way of light throughout our kingdom. I look forward to meeting and exchanging knowledge, relationships, friendships, and real meaning with as many of the peoples inhabiting our lands. I honestly feel that through this Church, I have been given a gift, the gift of opportunity to serve both the Congregation, the community, and best of all, the Virtues.
Already I feel my heart leaping and jumping at every challenge. I find great joy in meeting people and going out into the world and seeing all the wonders offered. It is my hope that together we can make a more virtuous land. A land where the balance of Virtue can be found in every act of every day. A land where people make their judgments based on the three Principles and the related eight Virtues. Where by each making their own examples of each Virtue so that together we can weave a perfect fabric through our society. A diverse pattern on the fabric that will truly represent all our hopes through the Virtues.
I realize that this will take time and will require patience. Well, trust me, when you have translated ancient tomes from an obscure dialect in order to understand the wisdom within, you learn all about patience. I hope that we all will get acquainted in the near future. I also hope that word of the Holy Church of the Virtues will spread. I hope that all of you willingly spread that word. And most of all, I wish a life of balance through the Virtues for each and every one of you here today.
Thank you and may Virtue light thy path.