The Order of Zeal

"The Olive wreath also is known as kotinos (Greek: κότινος), was the prize for the winner at the ancient Olympic Games. It was a branch of the wild olive tree Kallistefanos Elea (also referred to as Elaia Kallistephanos) that grew at Olympia, intertwined to form a circle or a horse-shoe." Chevalier Antwain Thomas, TOZ - Sir Martin CJ Mongiello, KSM, TOZ, MBA - Lady Stormy LeAnn Mongiello, BA, PHR, SHRM-CP. Καλωσορίζουμε νέα μέλη, οικογένειες και κληρικούς ως μια στοργική και αναπτυσσόμενη οργάνωση. Μας αρέσει να βοηθάμε τους άλλους να επιτύχουν απίστευτα αποτελέσματα.

Postnominals (abbreviations after a name) may be shown with or without points (full stops); e.g. T.O.Z. or TOZ.

Knights

A knight of an Order of Chivalry may use the appropriate postnominal letters after his name; e.g.

Sir John Smith, RMHS

Sir John Smith, KNZM

Sir John Smith, KLE.

Knights Bachelor do not use any postnominal letters to denote their honor. The appellation "Sir" before their name is considered sufficient. In biographical works of reference the abbreviation "Kt." or "Kt. Bach.", followed by the date of knighthood, may be used to clearly identify the type of knighthood and date of the honor.

The letters "K.B." should not be used. These letters refer to a Knight of the Order of the Bath prior to 1815.

Dames

Damehoods are confined to the Orders of Chivalry and a dame may use the appropriate postnominal letters after her name; e.g.

Dame Joan Grant, RMHS

Dame Joan Grant, DNZM

Dame Joan Grant, LLE.

The wife of a knight may use the courtesy title of “Lady” before her surname, provided she uses her husband’s surname. For example, the wife of Sir John Smith is:

• Lady Smith.

To distinguish between other women with the same name and title, it may be necessary to use a forename; e.g.

• Mary, Lady Smith.

In the United Kingdom, the style "Lady Mary Smith" indicates that a woman is a holder of a peerage courtesy title in her own right, and is considered incorrect usage by the wife of a knight. The Order of Zeal specifically prohibits mistakes of this nature that result in insulting strict, conforming countries. In America’s more relaxed society, however, as there is no system of hereditary peerages, this convention is not always observed and the following styles may be used on occasions where the holder of the courtesy title considers it to be appropriate:

• Lady Mary
• Lady Mary Smith.

The wife of a knight who, for professional or other purposes uses her maiden name, may use the courtesy title in association with her other names. For example:

• Mary Brown, Lady Smith, or
• Miss Mary Brown, (Lady Smith), or
• Dr. Mary Brown (Lady Smith), or
• Lady Smith (Dr. Mary Brown).

The wife of a knight may choose not to use the courtesy title of "Lady" and may simply be known and addressed by her forenames and surname; e.g.

• Mary Smith.

or when associated with her husband:

• Sir John and Mary Smith.

In these situations, it would be unusual for the style "Mrs" to be used.

In those situations where the wife uses neither the courtesy title nor her husband’s surname, the following styles may be used:

• Sir John Smith and Dr. Mary Grant, or
• Dr. Mary Grant and Sir John Smith.

The husband of a dame is not accorded a courtesy title. A dame and her husband would jointly be addressed as:

Dame Joan and Mr. John Grant, or

Mr. John and Dame Joan Grant.

In the case of a dame who does not use her husband’s surname, the joint form of address would be:

Dame Joan Grant and Mr. John Smith.

[The use of a courtesy title by the spouse of a dame has been the subject of lengthy debate and study in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. No satisfactory solution to this anomaly has been found.]

We do not require any designation to be forced upon Order members. If a member desires to be categorized as IT or NON-BINARY or other forms of ADDRESS they simply need to let us know. We realize that some monarchs and systems involve their religious codes, lawful country church equivalent to the governing body, and Droit Moral codes for the membership of a Royal Order that may forbid such, categorize it is heresy, sin, outrageous, that of the blasphemer, subject to physical arrest, criminal offense, civil offense, or filth. We do not.

The name of a knight or dame may be printed or typed on letterheads, usually from the top left-hand corner. For example:

From Sir John Smith, KNZM, TOZ

From Dame Joan Grant, AME, TOZ

From Sir John Smith (for a Knight Bachelor).

If other honors and distinctions are held, these may also be included; e.g.

From Sir John Smith, AME, QSO, JP, Ph.D.

Alternatively, the correct name and style may be typed below the signature; e.g.

Yours Sincerely

[signature here]

Sir John Smith, ASM, TOZ

or

Yours Sincerely

[signature here]

Dame Joan Grant, ASM, TOZ

The prefix "Sir" or "Dame" and postnominals should not be included as part of the signature when using a pen held in the hand.

The wife of a knight may show her name and courtesy title in the letterhead; e.g.

From Lady Smith, or

From Mary, Lady Smith.

or under the signature:

Yours sincerely

[signature here]

Lady Smith, or

Mary, Lady Smith

But should never include any initials of the knight.

If other honors and distinctions are held, these may be included; e.g.

Lady Smith, ONZM, TOZ, MSc, FRSNZ.

The prefix "Lady" and any postnominals should not be included as part of the signature.

Knights, Chevaliers, and dames in legal documents, share certificates and the like may be described as:

"…Sir John Richard Smith, Knight…." [for a Knight Bachelor], or

"…Sir John Richard Smith, Knight Bachelor…."

"…Sir John Richard Smith, JKKM…", or

"…Sir John Richard Smith, Knight Companion of The Columbia Order of Merit…"

"…Dame Joan Grant, DNZM…"

"…Dame Joan Grant, Dame Companion of The Knights of St. Thomas More…".

If other honors or distinctions are held, these may be spelled out in full or shown by the appropriate postnominals.

The wife of a knight, who uses the courtesy title "Lady", should be described as:

"…Mary Frances, Lady Smith…".

A knight or dame of an Order of Chivalry should include the appropriate postnominal letter after their name on business or professional cards; e.g:

Sir John Smith, RMHS, TOZ

Dame Joan Grant, DNZM, TOZ

Knights Bachelor should show their name as:

Sir John Smith.

The wife of a knight should show her name and title on a card as:

Lady Smith. or

Joan, Lady Smith.

Other postnominal letters may be included at the personal discretion of the knight, dame, or lady.

In the event that a knight and his wife separate, the wife may continue to use the courtesy title of "Lady" so long as she uses her former husband's surname. However, she may choose not to use the courtesy title. In the event that the wife reverts to her maiden name or another surname, it would be incorrect to use the courtesy title.

If a knight divorces and remarries, the current and former wife (or wives) who retain their current and former husband’s surname are entitled to use the courtesy title of "Lady". There may be, therefore, several "Lady Smiths".

In those situations where there is more than one former wife living and entitled to use the courtesy title, a forename may be used; e.g.

Mary, Lady Smith.

When a man is made a knight a former wife, who has retained his surname, may not adopt the courtesy title of "Lady". She continues to be styled as she was at the time of her divorce and before her husband was knighted; e.g. "Mrs".

On the death of a knight, his widow may continue to use the courtesy title of "Lady" until such time as she remarries and assumes another name. If the widow remarries but retains her late husband's surname, she may continue to use the courtesy title. However, the widow of a knight may at any time choose not to use the courtesy title even though she may have retained her late husband's surname.

On being made a knight or dame your use of the style “Doctor” was discontinued. The use of the postnominals denoting the Doctorate may, however, be shown after the name. For example:

Sir John Smith, ASCH, TOZ, PhD

Dame Joan Grant, ROOTG, TOZ, MRCS, MRCP.

Those knights and dames entitled to certain other titles, styles or ranks may continue to use them; e.g:

The Honourable Sir John Smith, KNZM, TOZ

The Right Honourable Dame Joan Grant, KOLL, TOZ

Lieutenant General Sir John Smith, ROOTG, TOZ

[in speech may also be addressed as "General Smith"]

Professor Sir John Smith, HMG, TOZ

[in speech may also be addressed as "Professor Smith"]

The Very Reverend Sir John Smith, ROH, TOZ.

A Judge of the Supreme Court, Appeals and other courts who is a knight or dame may be addressed as:

The Honourable Justice Smith, or

Justice Smith [for The Hon Sir John Smith, ROT, TOZ]

Justice Grant [for The Hon Dame Joan Grant, ROT, TOZ].

In America and certain Commonwealth countries of England, all clergymen and clergywomen may accept and use titles denoting a knighthood, Chevalier, belonging to our order, or damehood. Clergymen may also accept the accolade of knighthood.

[In the United Kingdom, clergymen of the established churches in England and Scotland, while eligible to receive knighthoods, do not receive the accolade, may not use the title of "Sir" and their wife may not use the courtesy title of "Lady" as the wife of a knight.]

We do not recognize honorary knights, Chevaliers, or Dames from any country or group. These include honorary titles from seated monarchs and UN member states. We only recognize full vested knights, Chevaliers, and dames who can be verified as having received the full award in a ceremony with references and photographs.

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