To better clarify Wimpie's information, if you are the highest-ranked member in a guild, with no one else holding a higher rank above you, you can reclaim the above membership ranks. It removes all the ranks above you (except Founder), and makes your current rank #2, along with anyone else in that rank.
As Wimpie said, the #1 founder position isn't removed (so that they could return as founder, had they not deleted). And if you're the highest-ranked and #2 position, there's nothing to reclaim. So it's really for any members ranked #3 or lower, with empty titles above them in the guild, secret society, or religion. The link is found on the Guild Members page.
