Keeper of the Rank.

[Dick Dastardly]

Many moons ago, Sgt. Smokepole very nobly and ably advanced the notion of Rank and Nobility designations for practitioners of Black Powder shooting.  He would be the logical choice, if someone could locate and entice him to return to his former high standing as Keeper of the Rank as pertains to the hierarchy of shooters of the One True Powder.

Should these efforts fail, it would be fitting and proper to choose among us (not myself), a new Keeper of the Rank for those that enjoy the titles bestowed upon our distinguished members of that high exulted club, Black Powder shooters.

So, what say ye?  Who shall we nominate to fulfill this thankless task?  Please post your suggestions and after an indeterminate passage of time, we shall post a poll of nominees.  Volunteers may nominate themselves without fear of self aggrandizement. 

DD-DLoS

[Crow Choker]

What levels of rank/designations are there? Just courious!!!  Merry Christmas to ya Dick!  Crow Choker

[Dick Dastardly]

It goes more or less like this. . .

1st.  Apprentice Sootlord.  This is when a shooter first comes to the Darkside with one or more guns makin' smoke.

2nd.  Sootlord.  This is when he, or she, shoots with ALL guns makin' smole and brings another heathen shooter to Darkside.

3rd.  Dark Lord of the Soot.  This is when a shooter has one or more years of shooting black powder without any contamination from heathen smokeyless powder whatsumever.  And when said shooter brings more shooters to forsake their heathen ways and come to the Darkside.

4th.  Grand High Dark Lord of the Soot.  Probably no one has attained this rank yet because it would take 20 or more years of shooting only Holy Black and bringing scores of heathen shooters to the One True Powder and having a goodly number of apprentices attain Sootlord or DLoS status.

Perhaps more ranks could be devised and sub ranks thought of that would become part of the hierarchy.  Maybe even some distinctive badges or sashes could be awarded.  Something like the belt buckles that SASS match winners are allowed to purchase.  I'm really open to the whole issue as long as it is kept in good fun.

DD-DLoS

[hellgate]

I hereby consider myself as a Dark Lord of the Soot as I have shot the Holy Black and have borught several shooters to the Dark Side but have not accumulated 20 years of organized shooting the Holy Black. I have been shooting cap& ball since 1969 but Cowboy Action since 1993 as black powder category or Frontiersman only but can't quite count "scores" of converts. I have shot C&B since 1969 but also interspersed with sm**less powder so I am not pure. I have also used a Holy Black substitute (777 in rifle only for CAS) for some time which may disqualify me from the pure faith. But a Dark Lord I am.

[Blackpowder Burn]

Mayhaps Mako or John Boy would entertain the job of Keeper of the Rank and Grand High Poobah?

Based on your description, I would be able to qualify for Soot Lord.  However, when aiming for Dark Lord of Soot, does it count against you if you shoot an occasional Wild Bunch match, which requires heathen powder?  If it doesn't disqualify you, then I am near to DLoS status, depending on the definition of bringing "more" shooters to the Darkside.

[Dick Dastardly]

Wild Bunch came up well after Sgt. Smokepole coined the phrase "Sootlord" etc.  So, as long as the unholy heathen fad powder is kept in the 1911s, it shouldn't contaminate the status of Soot Rank.  However, the other guns used in Wild Bunch could continue to use Genuine Powder. . .  Also, I have it on good authority that with proper bullets, 1911 Colt guns will run on black powder just fine.  So, perhaps this item is open to discussion.

So, so far JB and Mako have been suggested as possible nominees.  Keep them coming and we'll run a poll.  Pursuant to naming qualified nominees, I'd also put forward Cuts Crooked.

DD-DLoS

[Noz]

I would like to think I qualify for Dark Lord.

[TwoWalks Baldridge]

It goes more or less like this. . .

1st.  Apprentice Sootlord.  This is when a shooter first comes to the Darkside with one or more guns makin' smoke.

2nd.  Sootlord.  This is when he, or she, shoots with ALL guns makin' smole and brings another heathen shooter to Darkside.

3rd.  Dark Lord of the Soot.  This is when a shooter has one or more years of shooting black powder without any contamination from heathen smokeyless powder whatsumever.  And when said shooter brings more shooters to forsake their heathen ways and come to the Darkside.

4th.  Grand High Dark Lord of the Soot.  Probably no one has attained this rank yet because it would take 20 or more years of shooting only Holy Black and bringing scores of heathen shooters to the One True Powder and having a goodly number of apprentices attain Sootlord or DLoS status.

Perhaps more ranks could be devised and sub ranks thought of that would become part of the hierarchy.  Maybe even some distinctive badges or sashes could be awarded.  Something like the belt buckles that SASS match winners are allowed to purchase.  I'm really open to the whole issue as long as it is kept in good fun.

DD-DLoS

Well I fired my last round of that chemical composition when I was 30 years old and joined the ranks of Holy Black. 

That was 36 years ago. so I have 36 years of making soot.

I have probably started dozens on this path during that time.

This past year, I anointed 2 more to the dark arts. 

Not sure what rank that would make me ... some place between Dark Lord of the Soot and Grand High Dark Lord of the Soot?

[Jefro]

I nominate Driftwood Johnson, his experience and knowledge have been an inspiration to many of us. Good Luck


Jefro Relax-Enjoy

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

THE BLACK COVENANT

By this Covenant, an Order known as THE ANCIENT AND HONOURABLE BROTHERHOOD OF BERTHOLD AND BACON is hereby recognized always to have existed from the days of those Venerable and Ancient Bretheren

TO BE HEREAFTER PUBLICKLY KNOWN AS

THE SUBLYME  & HOLY ORDER OF THE SOOT, (S.H.O.T.S.) , In common parlay referred to as THE BLACK ORDER, or "The Order" in this Covenant

THE PURPOSE of The Order is to Uphold and Propagate the exercize of armes employing the ANCIENT SUBSTANCE called gonne powder or the HOLY SOOT. These armes, or devices, are called GONNES.  They vary from Artillerie, and include Rockets (as recently perfekted by Master Congreve), to handgonnes, arquebusiers, carbines and all sorts of rifled armes, musketry and fowling pieces, and include armes charged with loose gonne powder and armes charged with cartridges of metal, paper, or skin.  It does NOT include the Holy Soot used for celebration or demolition.  Guy Fawkes has forfeited his right to be a member of The Order.

THE PRACTISE  of The Order will be perpetrated in two parts;

The BLACK ART is the practise of armes using the ANCIENT SUBSTANCE while hunting, warring, or at friendly and sporting tournaments of all sorts.

The BLACK MYSTERIE is the study, experimentation, and propagation of the knowledge required to manufacture, maintain and employ all sorts of Gonnes using the ANCIENT SUBSTANCE, and the ballistiques, rapiditie and arcs of any solid object propelled by its most sudden explosion.

DEFINITIONS

The term "ANCIENT" has two meanings, not exclusive from the one to the other;

1.    Beyond the memory of living man.
2.    A man living beyond his memory, otherwise known as a "senior citizen".

A "GONNE" referred to in this COVENANT must always be emploied with the ANCIENT SUBSTANCE

MEMBERSHIP in The Order is voluntary, and is arranged in the ranks here denoted, which must be ascended in the order in which they here proceed:

NOVICE.    This being the rank open to any person who has discharged any gonne, or desires to.

BROTHER.  This being the rank open to any NOVICE who has the deed upon, or the habitual use of, any gonne.

BROTHER AT ARMES.  This being the rank open to any BROTHER who follows the BLACK ART by either hunting with a gonne, useing a gonne in mortal combat, or competing in tournaments of sport of any sort with a gonne.

LEARNED BROTHER  This being the rank open to any BROTHER who studies the Ancient texts, conducts research into the use, improvement, and employment of gonnes, and especially those who propagate their acquired knowledge of the BLACK MYSTERIE to other members or among the heathen who still use inferior forms of gonne powder, such as those foolish pieces which propagateth NOT the glorious and sulphorous cloud when discharged.

BROTHER ARTISAN being a member who engineers, revizes, beautifies or otherwize tinkers with gonnes, accoutraments or cartridges.

MASTER.  Open to BROTHERS AT ARMES, LEARNED BROTHERS, and BROTHER ARTISANS who have achieved notable success in either the BLACK ARTS or the BLACK MYSTERIES

HONOURABLE MASTER.  Open to MASTERS who are acknowledged by their brother MASTERS to have achieved notable skill in the BLACK ARTS and for theyr prominence in propagating the BLACK MYSTERIE.

Any member may precede their rank with the term ANCIENT if they satisfy either definition.

Members may append their rank, after theyr mark, or seel, on any correspondence they choose.
Members above the rank of BROTHER may refer to themselves as LORD OF THE SOOT, or by theyr rank

Members must rise through the ranks in order, except that BROTHER AT ARMES, LEARNED BROTHER, and BROTHER ARTISAN are equal in rank, and may choose theyr route to enlightenment, and may change it at theyre own whym.

Members promote themselves on the basis of Honour and Honesty, subject to challenge  by TRIAL BY INVECTIVE, Duelling having been outlawed except for a duelling tree at a friendly tourney, and only after a "seemly" period of time in each rank.

Members are reminded hereforth that the virtues of chastity, civility, sobriety and temperance are best and most happily fownde amongst other orders, such as munks.  Members are advised to follow these virtues ONLY whythe gonne in hand.

A prospective member of the Order may, at theyre own whym, and fayling memory if an ANCIENT, backdate theyre qualifications. Status as a NOVICE may be backdated indefinitely if he or she wore a cheap copy of a coon-skin cap and watched Fess Parker on a black and white television set as a child.  If memory does not extend that far, ownership of your own copy of THE OUTLAW JOSIE WALES and QUIGLEY DOWN UNDER is prima facie proofe.  Status as a BROTHER may be backdated to when you bought your first Spanish or Italian muzzleloader kit, whether you assembled it or not.
PROOFE OF MEMBERSHIP is proved by possession of a copy of this COVENANT signed by ones-selfe, without necessitie of witnesses or oathe. In the alternative, proofe may be evidenced by signing a copy on the spot in the presence of another purported member. If a copy of the COVENANT is not available a member may prove his status by crying out at the top of his voice in the presence of at least one purported member; "THE ANCIENT SUBSTANCE ENDURES - ALL LESSER PROPELLANTS SHALL FIZZLE!"

ORGANIZATION of The Order is by consensus of the members under the Benevolent Leadership of an ANCIENT AND GRAND MASTER, assisted by PALADINS appointed by hymself and a SECRETARIAT also appointed, to keep any necessary records or an Exchequer as required.  If an ANCIENT AND GRAND MASTER cannot be arrived at by consensus, GOD HELP US.

Members of any rank may be "at Large".  This does not depend on the length of theyr gonne belt, but indicates that they practise the BLACK ART or the BLACK MYSTERIE as individual champions.  Alternatively, members may arrange themselves as a HOUSE, or a COMPANY.  A HOUSE implies a geographical entity, while a COMPANY may be devoted to a particular form of the BLACK ART. 

DISPUTE RESOLUTION is normally decided by LEARNED DISCOURSE, followed by adoption by consensus.  Discourse is best proceeded with after proper vocal lubrication wythe that ancient liquid, Bier, or any other water of life.

TRIAL BY INVECTIVE may be invoked by a member of any rank who wishes to take any other member to task for any dispute, real or imagined.  It could be for a matter of fact that cannot be resolved by LEARNED DISCOURSE, or a matter of honour, or of unseemly self promotion.  Trial by Invective ends when the matter is resolved or conceded by either party, or is ended peremptorily by resolution of at least three members of the same or higher rank.   

DISSOLUTION of the Order will be readily apparent when nobody cares anymore.

BY APPENDING YOUR MARK AND SEEL HERETO YOU COVANENT TO UPHOLDE AND PROPAGATE THE PRACTISE AND VIRTUES OF THE ORDER AND OF THE HOLY SUBSTANCE


______________________________________  ( Seel)   
                                                                                                   

                    Rank                      Date Affected       ____________   
________________________________________________________________

[Blackpowder Burn]

Sir Charles,

I like it! Of course, we'll need a token of membership and rank to wear.  Badge, pin, buckle?

[Dick Dastardly]

Sir Charles,

You have indeed taken the ball and run it well into the end zone.  I am inflicted with amazement and high regard for your grasp of the venerated Order of the Soot.  To be enjoyed in good sport and good humor, this Order may well thrive and prosper under your kind of tutelage.

DD-DLoS

[john boy]

Sir Charles  ... Sir Charles ... Sir Charles deMouton-Black  - he's our  SECRETARIAT also appointed, to keep any necessary records or an Exchequer as required.
Simply an exquisite Covenant - Bravo!

[Border Ruffian]

Each prospective member should post a Curriculum Vitae of expereince in the Dark Arts.  Our founding document should be posted as a Magna Charta for all to see.

[Dick Dastardly]

This thread has taken on a life of it's own.  This is good, as long as it is kept in the warm good spirit of our sooty sport.

FWIW, Per his request, Cuts has chosen to withdraw his name from the list of nominees.  We will honor his wishes.

DD-DLoS

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Merry Chrismas, all

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I wasn't sure how this proposal would be received, and waited until the moment was ripe. This thread, thanks to Dick, seemed the right time to introduce it.

I started this project 6 or 7 years ago with editorial assistance from Sun&Air, currently a Picketts' Hill Marshal and 2/3 of a Bp shooter. ( He uses  a pair of Remington Navies, an AyA "Yeoman" SxS, both with the Holy Substance, but his .44 Ballard Extra Long ROSSI is still being stoked with a "lesser propellant".  PUK is working feverishly to get him properly converted.)

The term SECRETARIAT is a plural , and foresees the requirement for a team to administer the HOLY ORDER OF THE SOOT.  So assistance would be welcome.  Another issue is that I see this Order as being open to members of other organizations such as BPCR sillouettes, and muzzleloading groups.  As such, feel free to export this movement wherever fertile ground lies.

With your encouragement, I will repost as a new thread which just might become a sticky.  I still think the whole scheme should be based on the Honour System.  There are some folks that deserve being honoured, like Mike Venturino as one example, as an HONOURABLE MASTER, but generally I like the idea of a BP Bio being posted and a personal rank proposed. If it doesn't ring true, the COVENANT has its remedies!

We should also get some graphic art such as a crest, and perhaps a scroll to have framed above the reloading bench.  This should be FUN, with minimal administration, but lets boast a bit about our adherance to THE HOLY SUBSTANCE!

[Blackpowder Burn]

Keep running, you're right on target!

[Steel Horse Bailey]

My Goodness!  Bravo, Sir Charles!  (No abbreviation, this time.)

I like it.  It seems a more worthwhile goal to me than many organizations that require a membership fee.  I would like to volunteer myself to help wherever I can.

Make Lots of Smoke, Brethren !

[Lucky R. K.]

Sir Charles I am truly impressed by your post and suggestions.  I would be honored to be a part of it.

Lucky 

[Paladin UK]

Wow Sir Charles...........

Frm spekin toya pursonly I ddnt reolze yer ad sutc eylkunce, u gottob jest ta parrd fr t job!!

Bottom line pard.... Lets saddle up and get this show on the road 

Paladin (What Lurvs the Holy Black  ) UK