The Order of the Secret Monitor
Otherwise known as the “Brotherhood of David and Jonathan”
AN INTRODUCTION
The Order of the Secret Monitor is an extremely happy and friendly Order.
The Order of the Secret Monitor, the brightest star in the firmament of Masonry; this wonderful fraternal Order founded on the great friendship of David and Jonathan: its lessons bear out the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.
By our exercise of Brotherly Love, we are taught to regard the whole human species as one family, the high and the low, the rich and the pure, all created by the same Almightly parent, and sent into the world for the mutual aid, support and protection of each other. On this grand principle Masonry united men of every country, sect and opinion, and thereby cultivates a true and sincere friendship among those who otherwise might have remained at a perpetual distance.
Surely this epitomises the whole teaching of the Order of the Secret Monitor. Sometimes in the exercise of some simple action we come face to face with one of the greatest things in the world... the fact of human friendship. The Order has that merit of bringing home to the Mason the practical aspects of our Masonic ideas... in other words, the practise of friendship between all our members.
The Order is of Dutch origin, and was brought to England by Dr. Zacharie on his return to that country after the American Civil War around 1875.
The Grand Conclave of the Order of the Secret Monitor or Brotherhood of David and Jonathan for the British Isles and Territories
Overseas was formed in 1887.
The early years of the Order in that country were somewhat complicated, as the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees was also empowered to confer
the Degree, but in 1931, C.W. Napier-Clavering, who headed both the Allied Masonic Degrees and the Order of the Secret Monitor, arranged for an agreement whereby the Allied Masonic Degrees gave up all rights to the Degree.
Since its foundation in 1887, the Order of the Secret Monitor or the Brotherhood of David and Jonathan has had eight Grand Supreme Rulers:
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M.W.Bro. Dr. Issachar Zacharie M.W.Bro. The Earl of Warwick M.W.Bro. Charles E. Keyser, M.A. M.W.Bro. Charles W. Napier-Clavering M.W.Bro. The Earl of Harewood, K.G. M.W.Bro. The Earl of Courtown M.W.Bro. Sir George Boag, K.C.I.E., C.S.I., M.A. M.W.Bro. Lt.Col. J. W. Chitty, M.B.E. M.W. Bro. Col. G.S.H. Dickar, CBE, TD, DL M.W. Bro. Peter Glynn Williams |
1887 to 1894 1895 to 1924 1924 to 1929 1929 to 1931 1932 to 1936 1936 to 1957 1957 to 1968 1968 to 1992 1992 to 1996 From 1996 |
Past Grand Supreme Ruler M.W.Bro. John Walter Chitty, M.B.E., was inducted into the Order in India.Our present Grand Supreme Ruler M.W.Bro. Peter Glynn Williams was also inducted in India.
He has served this Order faithfully, first as Grand Recorder from since 1968 and in 1996 as Most Worthy Grand Supreme Ruler. He has brought to the Order his great wisdom and a wealth of Masonic knowledge, which has proved of inestimable value to the success of the Order... an Order which he loves and which, under his guidance, its members love too; he is tireless in his efforts for its good and the good of its members.
The Order consists of three Degrees:
Induction as a Secret Monitor is the first, and graphically describes how Jonathan warned David (in a non-obvious manner, hence Secret Monitor), not to return to King Saul's household. It is based on passages of scripture in the first book
of Samuel. The lesson learned from this Degree is the importance of friendship and fidelity.
The second Degree is the Princes Degree, and tells how David admitted
into his band of followers one who had escaped from a massacre carried out at the order of Saul. This also is based on passages of scripture in the first book of Samuel, and further stresses the importance of
friendship and fidelity.
The third Degree is the Installation Ceremony of Supreme Ruler who is the Chairman of the Conclave. It is unique, in that in addition to the actual
Installation Ceremony that is usually carried out by the Supreme Ruler's predecessor, there is the Ceremony of Commissioning.
The Ceremony of Commissioning must be carried out by a Grand Officer, usually the most senior present, which confers status on the Supreme Ruler throughout the
entire Order, and a Certificate is issued by the Grand Conclave to that effect.
The qualification for membership is solely that of being a Master Mason in good standing, and the chair of
Supreme Ruler can be reached without having occupied the Chair in a Craft Lodge
The regalia for members is a jewel of the Order suspended from a ribbon of variant colours for each of the first two degrees. The Officers of the Conclave
wear a sash, the colours of which are variant for each of the first two degrees. The Supreme Ruler wears a robe, a jewel suspended from a collarette and a sash with the initials SR and the name of the
Conclave embroidered upon it.
Past Supreme Rulers wear a jewel of the Order suspended from a
collarette bearing a rosette.
Grand Officers wear sashes of variant colours embroidered with the symbol of the Jurisdiction and a Grand
Officer jewel suspended from collarettes again of variant colours. The Grand Supreme Ruler and Deputy Grand Supreme Rulers each wear a Chain of Office, a Grand Officer Jewel surmounted with a crown suspended on a gold collarette and carry a baton of
office,.
The Order of the Secret Monitor, or Brotherhood of David and Jonathan, is probably the most caring of all the Masonic Orders.
Each Conclave, as it is called, has four officers called Visiting Deacons, each of
whom has the responsibility for a quarter of the brethren of his Conclave "of affording assistance and support to a Brother in time of sorrow and distress and to search out and warn
him if he be exposed to danger, secret or apparent".
In practice, he is charged with making contact with each of the Brethren on his list prior to each meeting by telephone or by letter, in order to find out
if all is well, if they are able to attend the next meeting, and if not the reason for their absence, and if he can offer any assistance he is in a position to provide or arrange for them.
At each meeting of the Conclave, a roll-call of Brethren is held with the Visiting Deacons reporting on their contact with the absentees, the reason for
their absence, and if they are in need of help in any way whatsoever.