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About the Order The Order of the Secret Monitor, or Brotherhood of David and Jonathan, is probably the most caring of all the Masonic Orders. Each Lodge or Conclave as it is called, has four officers called Visiting Deacons, each of whom has the responsibility for his quarter of the members 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 practise, he must contact his members between each meeting, personally, by telephone or letter, in order to find out if all is well, if they are able to attend the next meeting, if not, the reason for their absence, and if he can be of any assistance to them. At each meeting of the Conclave, a roll-call of members is held, the Visiting Deacons report on their contact with the absentees, the reason for their absence, and if they are in need of help in any way whatsoever. The Order is of Dutch origin, and was brought to England by Dr. Zacharie on his return to this country after the American Civil War around 1875. The Grand Council was formed in 1887. The early years of the order in this country were somewhat complicated, as the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees were also empowered to confer the Degree, but in 1931, C.W. Napier-Clavering who headed both the Allied Masonic Degrees and this Order, arranged the agreement whereby the AMD gave up all rights to the degree. The Order consists of three degrees; 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 taken from the first book of Samuel. The lesson in the Degree is the importance of friendship and fidelity. The second is the Princes degree, and tells how David received into his band one who had escaped from a massacre carried out at the order of the Saul. This is also taken from the first book of Samuel, and again stresses the importance of friendship and fidelity. The third is the Supreme Ruler degree, and is the Installation Ceremony of the head of the Conclave. It is unique, in that in addition to the actual Installation Ceremony usually carried out by the Supreme Ruler's predecessor, there is the ceremony of Commissioning, which must be carried out by a Grand Officer, usually the most senior present, which gives rank and status throughout the entire Order, and a certificate is issued by Grand Conclave to that effect. The regalia for members is quite simple, a jewel suspended from a different ribbon for each of the first two degrees. The Officers of the Conclave wear a sash, the colours being different for the first two degrees. The Supreme Ruler wears a robe, a jewel suspended from a collarette and a sash with the initials SR on it. Provincial Grand Officers, and Grand Officers wear sashes of different colours embroidered with their ranks, jewels suspended from collarettes, again of different colours. The Grand Supreme Ruler, Deputy Grand Supreme Ruler and Provincial Grand Supreme Rulers, on appropriate occasions wear robes, collarettes and chains and batons, and on less formal occasions wear sashes embroidered with their ranks, collarettes and batons. The Order of the Secret Monitor is an extremely happy and friendly Order. The qualification for membership is solely that of a Master Mason in good standing, and the office of Supreme Ruler can be reached without having to have been through the Chair of a Craft Lodge. RWy Bro Harold Gould, Past Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler This page last updated Tuesday, 15 January 2008 Copyright © 2006, Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of London |
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