The Order of the Round Table was established in 1908 by G.H. Whyte, an Englishman, living at 19 Tavistock Square, in London. Its purpose was and is to develop the qualities of the soul and the spirit of brotherhood and chivalry among the young. From its beginning, the Order has been open for both women and men. This movement was one of the manifestations of the strong spiritual undercurrent that inspired the Western world at the beginning of the twentieth century. Whyte, under the nomen of "Lancelot" was the first Senior Knight of the Order. He died in Palestine, serving his country during World War l, in 1917. His wife succeeded him, and later Mr. Charles W. Leadbeater, from Australia took the succession. The office of Senior Knight was filled successively by Mr. George S. Arundale from England, Mrs. Srimati Rukmini Devi from India, Mrs. Ingrid Fjellander from Sweden, and Mrs. Philippa Hartley, from England.

The current Senior Knight is Mrs. Margaret Staggs, from England. The movement was introduced in the United States in 1919 by Mrs. Beckwith, of Chicago. The current Representative of the Order in the United States is: Mr. Michael Warnon (see address below).

From its beginning, the Order of the Round Table found its inspiration in the legends of the original Round Table, established by Arthur (or Artus), King of Wales, in the 7th century. The fame of the Knights of the Round Table is based more upon their integrity, courage, and spiritual values; rather than their skill as soldiers.

The legend survived Arthur's complete defeat in the famous battle of Dartmoor, where Arthur was mortally wounded, Merlin made prisoner, and the Knights of the Round Table disbanded.

The modern Knights of the Round Table continue the "search for the Holy Grail," but in a more symbolic and ethical sense. The "King" represents the highest ideal one can imagine: He is the "perfect man," the ideal knight who has reached the fullness of the stature of perfection. The Round Table, the wedding gift of Queen Guenivere, represents harmony, equality among human beings, and all the caring feminine forces of nature and the universe: this principle is called the "Queen of heaven and earth." The main objective of the Order of the Round Table remains to promote brotherhood, first among its members, then around the world. Therefore, the Order expects its members to extend their feelings of brotherhood to all, without distiction of race, religion, sex, social rank, political opinion, etc ...

Members are involved in many kinds of activities, but they meet regularly for ceremonial work. In recent years, ceremonies have been mostly associated with religion. There are, however, many other fields of human activity wherein ceremonies are used totally outside the scope of religion. The various military corps use ceremonies to reward their heros, commemorate their dead, confirm promotions and celebrate weddings. Non-military organizations, private ones (Free Masonry, the Grange) and public ones (the Olympic Committee or the NFL) are using ceremonies to open and close their meetings or events. As fas as we can remember, ceremonies have been a part of human social life. In the Order of the Round Table, ceremonies are used to teach cooperation, promote group work, and practice altruism.

The Round Table ceremonies belong to three major categories: the "core " ceremonies (including the admissions to the different degrees and the Bread and Salt ceremony that commemorate the bonds of friendship), the "drama " ceremonies (i.e. the Parsifal Ceremony, wherein the Knight quest for the Holy Grail is enacted symbolically(, and the "symbolic " ceremonies (i.e. the Flower, the Crystal, and Vase Ceremonies, whereby a deeper symbolic understanding of the universe around us can be obtained).

The Order of the Round Table is organized in cells, called "Tables," and has four successive ceremonial degrees, and three administrative ones. The degree of Page is for children from 5 to 8 years old. In this degree, the children are only expected to come and bring their joy. In the degree of Companion, the children from 9 to 12 years of age develop socially and learn about friendship. In the degree of Squire, young people from 13 to 16 become more pro-active in society and bring the qualities of helpfulness and courage. In the last degree, the Knight is expected to learn to become the "right man in the right place." The quality developed is righteousness.

Three administrative degrees may be conferred upon Knights who continue to work for the Order: a Knight of the Table (or Table Knight) works at the local level by organizing a "Table;" a Knight of the Grail, represents a Country or fulfills an international function; and the Senior Knight is the Head of the Order. Regardless of their function in the Order, all Knights are equals and have the right to elect any Knight for various administrative offices.

The Order is currently active in more than 30 countries. At present, its activity in the United States is strongly reduced due to the lack of volunteers. Tables are active in California, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.

For more information, please contact Michael Warnon, National Representative, at the address below.