Antiquity Guild
The Book in Brief
The Living Book in plain words, in a few minutes.
A plain guide for newcomers. The Living Book is the Guild's governing document and the only authority; where this page and the Book differ, the Book is right.
What the Guild is for
Its mission, in the Book’s words: “To end poverty in all forms.” The Guild acts when basic survival, safety, autonomy or access to opportunity have measurably failed, and withdraws when communities can sustain these without harm or exclusion. It does not govern or coerce, and taking part is always voluntary.
In the Book: Mission and Purpose · Recognition Anchor
Core values
Four values the Book calls non-negotiable: Empathy, Transparency, Honor and Perpetuity. The motto is “Empatia ad infinitum”: empathy without limits.
From the Book’s Non-Discrimination section: “The Guild does not discriminate based on any characteristic or status that denies dignity, autonomy, or respect to an individual.” Under Rights of All: “The Guild is committed to recognizing and respecting the humanity and individual sovereignty of all beings, including but not limited to Homo sapiens, animals, extraterrestrials, or other sentient or sapient entities. The Guild promotes ethical treatment and ensures its practices do not harm individuals or the natural environments it interacts with.”
In the Book: Core Values · Our Motto
How decisions are made
Leadership is horizontal. The Guild aims for full consensus, where everyone votes Yes or Observe; for operational decisions only, an 80% vote may be used if consensus is not reached within 30 days. Local matters are decided locally, and only changes to the Guild’s foundations need Guild-wide consensus.
In the Book: Consensus Practices · Consensus Across Scales
Money and the Vault
Money given to the Guild is shared across four channels: the Betterment Fund for aid, Guild Overhead for running costs, Compensation Costs for pay once the Guild can sustainably afford it, and the Perpetuity Vault, the Guild’s endowment, which is “never directly spent”; only its returns may support the rest. The Guild pays its taxes and does not seek federal tax exemption or government grants, and contributions are not tax-deductible.
In the Book: Financial Allocation Process · Perpetuity · Compliance Clarification · Scope of Implementation
Representatives, Guardians and Members
Representatives carry the Guild’s work in their own communities, and every ongoing operational role is treated as an employed position under labor and tax law. Guardians are chosen from the Representatives by local consensus for one-year terms to review and safeguard, “without holding rank or power”. Members support the work; their levels are symbolic and their votes advisory.
During their lifetime the Founding Guildmaster may guide interpretation but not compel behavior; after their passing, no new Guildmaster is appointed and authority passes to the Guardians and Representatives.
In the Book: Governance & Stewardship · Monthly Membership Levels · Hiring of Representatives
Privacy and care
The Guild’s help aims for “a floor no one falls beneath, a ladder each may climb”. Aid must never require obedience, gratitude, agreement or compliance beyond what safety and sustainability strictly need, and the least intrusive help comes first: “Aid must never cost autonomy.”
The Guild never shares the identity of people it helps without their explicit, voluntary consent: “The Guild shares the impact, not the identity.” Personal data is collected only as needed: “No behavioral profiling, ad targeting, or data sale, ever.”
In the Book: Principle of Minimal Intervention · Floor and Ladder · Assistance Contract Workflow · Data Privacy
Staying out of politics
The Guild takes no part in political campaigns, lobbying or advocacy, and accepts no government funding or political donations.
In the Book: Political Activities
How the Book changes
The Guildmaster may edit the Book for clarity, consistency, structure or nuance. Substantive amendments may be proposed by any Representative or Guardian and need the consensus of all active Representatives and Guardians, and during their lifetime the Guildmaster may veto one that conflicts with the core values or mission. Every change is recorded in the Change Log. The Mission and Core Values can never be amended.
In the Book: Edits & Amendments · Amendments Process