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Membership
There are four categories of membership. Apprentice is the most junior, then individuals may progress through Freeman and Liveryman to Assistant.
| Methods of Admission to the Freedom of the Company: | |
|---|---|
| Servitude | An old-fashioned word for apprenticeship. Freemen and Liverymen may take young people, their children, close relations, or pupils from any of the Company’s schools, as their apprentices between the ages of 18 and 21. |
| Patrimony | Through your father or mother being a Freeman or Liveryman in the Company before you were born. On being admitted to the Freedom of the Company, men and women are also made Freemen of the City of London. |
| Redemption | An individual may be nominated to membership by two members of the Company, or it may be bestowed by the Company in recognition of long and loyal service. |
Admission to the Livery
Both men and women Freemen of the Company may apply to be selected to become Liverymen of the Company. The number of the Livery is limited to 320.
The Court of Assistants and Committees
The Court of Assistants is the senior governing body of the Company. Members of the Livery are elected to the Court of Assistants. The work of the Company is carried out by a number of Committees whose members, in the main, are drawn from the Court of Assistants. The major Committees include Education, Charities and Finance but amongst other Committees there is a Fine Arts Committee, which gives an indication of the Company's wide spread of interests. These Committees advise the Court of Assistants.
The Court of Wardens and progression to Master of the Company
The Master and four Wardens are elected annually in November to act as "in year Executive Directors" of the Company. After service on the Court of Assistants for a few years individuals then spend two successive years as a Junior Warden. After a further interval individuals are elected to serve for two successive years as a Senior Warden before being elected Master. After a year in office the Master becomes a Past Master of the Company, and remains on the Court of Assistants.