Rights and Privileges
Basic Rights
_____All whom are associated with this covenant; including members, guests, visitors, residents, inhabitants, and employees; are entitled to the basic rights and fundamental dignity that are their due. To this end, they are to ever be granted a place of sanitary habitation where they may ply their trade or skills, given freedom to roam to and from our location as they will, and are to be provided with victuals and nutrition as befits their status and health requirements. Further, within the rights and boundaries of this covenant; they shall have the right to the protection, support, and safety that are to be provided by this covenant; yielding only to the Code of Hermes and the voice of the most high God.
_____All magi of the Order of Hermes, be they member or guest or visitor, shall have all the rights and benefits due a magus accorded by the Code of Hermes. This includes a guest's Rights of Residency and the expectations of Hermetic Hospitality. They shall be provided space which they may mark as their Sanctum, with inviolate rights therein, and the supply of materials thereof. They shall have monitored access to the covenant's Main Library, and provided reasonable access to the materials and professionals required for scribal activities. Trivial expenses are paid for by the covenant. Excessive expense may be the burden of their host. For an Honored Guest or Past Master the costs are absorbed by the covenant. At the council's discretion, this may be extended to other individual guests.
_____These basic rights shall not be suspended other than by expulsion from membership or having invitation as a guest rescinded.
Rights of Membership
_____In addition to the basic rights, a Journeyman is further entitled to rights of membership. This includes the right to attend General Council, speak their mind, and have a full and equal vote in proceedings. Further, they shall have unrestricted access to the covenant's Main Library, and are to be granted the staff and supplies needed for scribal activities. Further, they shall have access to the services and skills of the servants and specialists of the covenant, their needs subordinate to those of a Master or of the covenant as a whole. Further, they shall be provided a sanctum with inviolate rights therein, and shall be provided the equipment and supplies needed for their laboratories and other mystical studies. All of their basic expenses are to be covered by the covenant.
_____For Journeymen, this includes Lab Upkeep expenses up to and not to exceed 3£ in a given year. Any excess is owed by the magus but may be placed on account against future expected earnings. Further, they may take an advance of up to three pawns of Vim (or other Form), placed on account against future expected earnings. A Journeyman is eligible to earn annual Wages of 3 pawns of vim plus 6£ of silver in any year in which they perform a season of service (not to be counted as one of the three exceptional service required for eligibility to be elevated to a Master). A Journeyman cannot be an Officer, but they can be a Deputy or Assistant Officer, in which case they are eligible to receive a Stipend of 6£ silver to help cover their expenses.
_____These rights shall not be abridged except by decision of the council under conditions of grave concern.
Privileges of a Master
_____In addition to the basic rights and the rights of membership, a Master is further entitled to the privileges of a Master and is qualified to serve as an Officer of the Council. In addition to the General Council, a Master may call for and participate in a Master's Council. Such may only be called for in a meeting of General Council, and approval of to meet as such is subject to a vote of that General Council. A Masters Council, including only those who hold the rank of Master (including those who are also a Pontifex), may have private discussions and vote, and their decisions are to be treated as those of a full quorate council.
_____Further, in addition to free access to the Main Library, they are granted access to the covenant's Exclusive Collection. Further, if holding an Office, they shall have access to any texts and other resources reserved or retained for the use of that office. Further, they have access to the supplies and staff needed for their scribal activities, access to the services and skills of the servants and specialists of the covenant, their needs taking precedence to those of a Journeyman but subordinate to the needs of the covenant as a whole.
_____A Master shall have all basic expenses covered by the covenant, including up to 10£ in a year for lab upkeep. Any amount in excess is divided in twain, half to be paid by the covenant and half to be taken out of the annual payments otherwise due that magus or placed against their account. Any amount in surplus is placed into their account.
_____A Master shall receive an annual Salary of 3 pawns of Vim plus 6£ of silver, paid every Spring. One who also serves a position as an Officer receives an annual Stipend of 3 pawns of Vim and 6£ of silver, paid every Autumn. Further, a Master may receive compensation for the devotion of extra time to the covenant's needs and thereby earn an additional Wage of 3 pawns Vim and 6£ silver, to be paid every Summer. One who serves in a second office or as a deputy deserves a wage. Further compensation may be as determined by the council.
_____As for the term "Pawns of Vim", this is a unit of accounting and may be paid out in any Form including or other than Vim. A pawn of any Technique is equivalent to two pawns of Vim. Further, a Master is entitled to fair and equal trade concerning exchanges of vis and the trade of vis for silver. The covenant shall offer a Master a flat trade rate of a pawn of Vim for 12£ of silver and visa versa. Transactions such as this not to exceed a Rook in the span of a given year, and availability may be restricted by the covenant's current liquid assets at the time.
_____A Master shall be granted the use of the magical items and equipment of this covenant. The Artifex is charged with cataloging the items that are available, and is responsible for restricting access to those items considered unsafe or too essential for frivolous use. This decision may be appealed to the Council for vote.
_____A Master may request Grant or Loan of additional assets or resources for special purposes, such as travel on business or an important project or serious personal matter. A Grant requires a vote of the council, and is to be based on considerations such as the vitality and prosperity of this covenant and our Order of Hermes. Approval of a Loan is usually automatic, even if it follows refusal of a request for a Grant. The covenant shall extend credit equal up to the amount that the member has earned in the past seven years (in salary, stipend, and wages), or seven times what they have earned in the past year (whichever is greater). No interest or penalties are ever accrued, but the Treasurer may place a lien against future expected earnings if the council approves.
_____If ever a dispute arises between two Masters over use of a resource such as a book or item or whatever it may be, use is determined by the officer of that resource. Priority should be given to advanced request, but urgency and seniority may be considered in the decision. This decision may be appealed to the council, who shall decide by ballot.
_____These rights and privileges shall not be abridged except by decision of the council under conditions of grave concern.
Prerogatives of a Pontifex
_____In addition to the basic rights, the rights of membership, and the privileges of a Master; a Pontifex has certain ceremonial and traditional prerogatives that are mandated by the ancient Charter. Those of important note have been written into these Resolutions and worded appropriately. One who holds the title of Pontifex also holds the responsibilities of the Office of Pontifex. Any compensation for the duties of this office are waived in favor of the prerogatives, which instead entitle them to Benefits received every Winter equal to 3 pawns Vim and 6£ silver, received every Winter. A Pontefix may also earn regular stipend and wage for filling the duties of other offices.
_____The other prerogatives of a Pontifex primarily include those resources and assets owned individually and collectivly by the Pontifici. These private possessions are of no concern to this council. They may meet in a private Council of Pontifici, but these meetings have no bearing upon the laws of this covenant and are of no concern to this council. There are enchantments within and upon this covenant, so ancient that none has a clear understanding of them all, some which are restricted to or restricted by or impart restriction to a Pontifex. This cannot be helped, save that this council is resolved that the Pontifici shall ever consider these as sacred duties and responsibilities to the welfare of this covenant.