Induction Ceremony

1. Pre-Court
   
   
   1. The designated representative of the Pages Academy who will be administering ceremony will check that the Registrar/Dean has a copy of the prospective pages’ paperwork properly filled out and signed. Forms no longer require notification. (This should have all been arranged ahead of time – they/you should have some note ahead of time that the Registrar has received their paperwork). We prefer not to accept paperwork at the site as the Page will not be considered truly a member of the Academy unless the paperwork is filed. The paperwork should be in the Registrar’s hands before any induction can occur. (This is for tracking purposes and to be sure we have necessary supplies for induction on hand). Be sure that they have met the qualifications to be a page (FYI: they are at least 9 years old, live in Atlantia, have the permission of their parents, and have a qualified sponsor).
   
   
   
   2. The Inductor needs to make sure that Sponsor is also present at the event and attending court. Check that the Sponsor meets the qualifications to be a sponsor of a page (FYI: they must be at least 18 years old, be a resident of Atlantia, not related to the Page (i.e. not parent/step parent/guardian or an immediate relation), not live in the same residence, have the approval of the Page’s parent/guardian, be willing to act as mentor and has filled out the paperwork). Check the Sponsor’s membership card to be sure that (s)he is a current member of the SCA. If not get a written statement from the Sponsor indicating when (s)he will become/reup their membership to become a current member of the SCA.
   
   
   
   3. The Inductor needs to check that the parent/guardian of the page is there and that (s)he approves the Sponsor for their child.
      
      
   4. The Inductor needs to let the Court Herald know that they need to get on the court docket for a piece of business, estimated to take five minutes per child being inducted. As a courtesy to Her Majesty, as Patroness, ask if Her Majesty or her designated representative (which can be a territorial Baroness) would like to hand out the baldrics, and otherwise be an integral part of the ceremony. Please spell out clearly what they will be asked to do to prevent confusion during Court.
   
   
   
   5. The Inductor then needs to spend 5-10 minutes going over the ceremony with the prospective pages and their Sponsors. Also make sure they know how to approach the Crowns, how to bow/curtsey, how to address their Majesties, and how to appropriately thank and leave the Royal presence at the end of the ceremony. Give the page a hornbook if (s)he does not already have one.
   
   
   
   6. The Inductor should be sure they have the names of the candidates and their Sponsors, and a copy of the Page’s Promise (which is on the induction certificate) with them when they go into court and know how to pronounce the names properly (you will need to give these names to the court herald and a copy to the Dean and Registrar).
   
   
   
   7. If the Crown chooses not give out the baldric, have the Sponsor place it on the child, during the ceremony.
   
   
   
2. During Court
   
   
   1. When the Inductor is called into court (with names of sponsors and pages in hand) approach their Majesties (specifically the Queen), and ask permission to conduct business for the Pages Academy. When they assent, either have the herald call the prospective page and his/her sponsor into court, or ask if their Majesties would grant you leave to introduce the candidates and their Sponsors to them and induct them into the Pages Academy. When they say yes,
   
   
   
   2. Either the Inductor the herald should call the candidate(s) and their sponsor(s) into court by name.
   
   
   
   3. Ask the candidate(s): Is it your desire to be a page of Atlantia and thus to serve your local group, the crown and kingdom and by your service, arts and courtesy uphold the honor of Atlantia and of the Queen the Patroness of the Pages Academy? – prompt them to answer yes
   
   
   
   4. Ask the Sponsor: Is it your desire to be the sponsor of this Page Candidate? Will you provide guidance on how to become involved in the arts and sciences, suggest ways in which (s)he can serve his/her local group and kingdom, teach him/her the ways of chivalry and courtesy, and to be a model by your words and deeds of what it means to be of the nobility of Atlantia? – prompt them to say yes
   
   
   
   5. Say to the Page and Sponsor: “Then prepare now to give your promise before the Crown and populace of Atlantia and the other Pages of Atlantia” (motion for them to stand)
   
   
   
   6. Call forth any current Pages who might be in the audience that they might come up front and stand with their fellow Pages as witnesses (optional).
   
   
   
   7. When the other pages have arrived, the Instructor should ask the candidate to raise their right hand and repeat after you:
      
      

      I promise:
      to strive for excellence in any craft or task I do,
      to serve Crown and Kingdom to the best of my ability,
      to keep my promises in word and deed, and
      to always act in a courteous, kind and chivalrous manner.
      This I promise before the Queen our patroness [if present]
      and the King [if present]
      [if they are not present use the term “Crown of Atlantia”]
      and witnessed by the populace of Atlantia.

   8. Tell the Page: “Please step forward to receive the favour from her Majesty, which is they symbol of your status as Page, and a reminder of the promise you have just made. Wear this favour proudly as remember that you represent yourself and Atlantia when you do so.”
   
   
   
   9. Hand the Queen the baldrics so that she will give them to the Pages (prompt the Pages on court etiquette here as necessary) or you will give them their baldric/belt token, if Her Majesty or her representative does not wish to do so.
   
   
   
   10. When this is done, turn then to their Majesties and then to the populace and say “Your Majesties, and People of Atlantia, may I present these new Page(s) and their sponsor(s). Note that this baldric indicates that you may call on them in service to our Kingdom” (Motion the new pages and sponsors to bow/curtsey to both Queen/King and populace).
   
   
   
   11. Their Majesties may want to say a few words to the new pages.
   
   
   
   12. When Their Majesties are finished, they will let you know, and you will need to shoo the pages and sponsors back to their seats. Be sure to thank Their Majesties for their time.