We, Emanuel Joseph, by mercy of God, Prince of Hohenzollern-Emden, have let Us found after the establishment of our Order Community “BENE MERENTI” to execute provisions and We therefore determine that the ORDER BENE MERENTI should worn solely as an accolade of the Order Community.
Article 1
The Order of Merit consists of the following Grades:
1st Grade: Grand Commander Cross on the Collar G.C.C./OBM
2nd Grade: Gold Star C.C/OBM
3rd Grade: Silver Star K.C/OBM
Special Class Grade I: Grand Commander Cross with Emeralds on the Collar G.C.C./EMD/OMB
Special Class Grade II: Grand Commander Cross with Gold Star on the Ribbon G.C.C./STAR/OMB
Article 2
The Order consists of a white cross with four rays and avers black outer brink. In the middle is the inscription “BENE MERENTI” surrounded by a green laurel wreath. At the reverse there are the initials of the respective Grand Master with sublime crown on a white ground with black border. The Order is dominated by a five stirrup shaped crown. The ribbon of the Order is white with three black stripes.
Article 3
The Order of the 3rd Grade will be worn as a Silver Star. The 2nd Grade will be worn as a Gold Star. The Order of the 1st Grade will be worn on a collar. The breast stars will also be worn on the left side of the chest.
Honorable titles are connected with the 3rd Grade as “Chevalier/Dame de”, of the 2nd Grade as “Baron/Baroness” and the 1st Grade with the honorable title as “Count/ Countesse”. Honorable titles can also be conferred separately.
Article 4
All grades of the ORDER BENE MERENTI being conferred to women, will be worn on a ribbon from the loop formed and include as set out in Article 2 that the cross generally mentioned as follows: 1st Grade cross with a crown of gold in the double loop ● 2nd Grade cross with a crown of gold in the loop ● 3rd Grade cross without the crown on the loop.
Article 5
Special Class Grade I: Grand Commander Cross with Emeralds on the Collar G.C.C./EMD/OMB
Special Class Grade II: Grand Commander Cross with Gold Star on the Ribbon G.C.C./STAR/OMB
Article 6
For extraordinary cases, We reserve Our rights, to confer personally higher decorated grades of Our ORDER BENE MERENTI. We (the Prince) do not want a generalization of this conferment.
Article 7
The purpose of the foundation of the Order, will henceforth guide Us to confer the ORDER BENE MERENTI as a reward of special merits and as awarded recognition for those who have assisted the ORDER BENE MERENTI putting their loyalty and devotion at disposal to Us.
Article 8
The conferment of our Order will be made by Our free motivation, recognizing the services being done.
Article 9
All Order (decorations) and Medals may be retained in the family after the death of the wearer. In conferring the decedent with a higher grade, the lower existing decoration must be returned tax-free.
Article 10
If contrary to all expectations, one case revealed that the proprietor of an Order has done undignified behavior he could be guilty, We will consider as Our duty to withdraw the honor of the Order and its sign from that person.
Article 11
Our plenipotentiary is obliged to establish a Special Order Chancellery, which acquires the conferment of the Order and its sign.
Article 11 Addition
According to our demise as Grand Master it is our express desire that the current Grand Chancellor of the ORDER BENE MERENTI shall maintain the leadership as interregnum. It is not in Our will to hand over the Order to our son and it is obliged to our Grand Chancellor only to change that direction and by voting (electing) a new Grand Master only persons who are of noble descent and noble birth, could be elected and excludes any natural person.
Article 12
We have approved the current statutes and let in print them under the seal of the Princely House of Hohenzollern-Emden.
HH Prince Emanuel Joseph of Hohenzollern-Emden
