The Order of the Secret Monitor or Brotherhood of David and Jonathan
in the British Isles and its Districts and Conclaves Overseas
History
It is widely accepted that the roots of the Order are of Dutch origin. Indeed, we have documentary proof that an Order of Jonathan and David existed there in the 18th century, although it was not at that time a Masonic Order.
But other authors think that the Order was derived from a now defunct Masonic rite called the Early Grand Encampment of Scotland, formed in 1822, which was a system of 44 degrees. It received its charter from a similarly named body in Ireland founded around 1780, which was wound up about 1824. The 16th degree of the Rite was called the “Order of Brotherly Love”.
There is also good evidence that a “David and Jonathan” ritual was being worked in America in the late 18th century. It may have been have introduced from the Netherlands or from Scotland, or possibly influenced by both sources. From these roots it evolved into a quasi-Masonic degree that could be conferred by any brother holding the degree on any other brother, the only qualification being that he must be a “worthy Master Mason”. An exposé of Masonic ritual published in America in 1831 shows that the ceremony was similar in content to the first degree of our present Order. One significant difference being that a brother was cautioned to take heed if he was seen to be doing, or about to do, something against his own interest in a commercial sense. For this reason it was sometimes referred to as the “Trading Degree”. I am pleased to say that the commercial aspect has long since been removed from the degree.
The Degree was established in England by Dr Issachar Zacharie following his service in America as Chiropodist-General to the US Army. The Grand Council of the Order was formed in 1887, with Zacharie as the first Grand Supreme Ruler.
By late 1887 some of Zacharie’s distinguished brethren had completed the task of revising and enhancing the Secret Monitor by producing two further degrees, those of Prince and Supreme Ruler.
The Order progressed steadily and at the time of Zacharie’s retirement in 1894, 24 conclaves had been formed. There are now more than 400 conclaves world wide under the British Constitution.
Biblical Background and Ritual
The ceremonies of the Order of the Secret Monitor, otherwise known as the Brotherhood of David and Jonathan, are based on text from the Book of Samuel.
There are three degrees called, respectively, Secret Monitor, Prince and Supreme Ruler.
In the First Degree the candidate is “inducted” as a Secret Monitor. The ceremony is based on the friendship between David (father of Solomon) and Jonathan, son of Saul (the first King of Israel). David was a great warrior and a servant of the King. Saul, however, soon became jealous of David’s brilliance and plotted to kill him. Through his friendship with Jonathan, David was informed of the plot and fled to the hills for safety. In order to keep David informed of developments within the King’s court, Jonathan devised a special system of communication which the Degree embraces and develops.
Saul was informed of the association between David and his son and blamed those around him for encouraging it. Saul embarked on a major search for David, slaughtering many who he believed to be involved in his concealment. But David triumphed and eventually succeeded Saul as King. His friendship with Jonathan remained unbroken until the death of the latter. This is the main theme of the Second Degree in which the candidate is “admitted” as a Prince of the Order.
The Third Degree of the Order is unique in English Masonry in that it is also the ceremony of installation, in which the elected brother is installed as Supreme Ruler of his Conclave. It commemorates the anointing of David by Samuel and his eventual installation as the second King of Israel.
These ceremonies are very moving and it is upon the principles exemplified therein that the system of communicating friendship and caring among the members of the Order is promoted in a practical way.
Structure of the Order
The Order is controlled by the Grand Conclave, with the Grand Supreme Ruler as its head. He has Deputy and other Grand Officers. Under Grand Conclave are a number of Provincial and District Grand Conclaves, each headed by a Provincial / District Grand Supreme Ruler, who is responsible for the management of the private Conclaves within his Province or District.
Conclaves and Officers
Each private Conclave is headed by a Supreme Ruler, who represents David. The Immediate Past Ruler represents Jonathan. The other principal officers are the Counsellor and Guide. There are also four officers who are of key importance in promoting the fundamental principles of the Order – the Visiting Deacons. They are each assigned a portion of the membership and are responsible for communicating with their charges between meetings of the Conclave, to ensure that all is well with them.
Qualification for Membership
The only qualification is that of being a Master Mason in good standing from a regular Craft lodge.
Regalia
A newly Inducted brother wears a breast jewel, supplied by the Conclave. On completion of the Second Degree an identical breast jewel is worn but suspended from a different ribbon. A Conclave officer wears a crimson sash in the First Degree and yellow and violet striped sash with a narrow crimson stripe in the Second Degree. A Supreme Ruler wears the jewel of the Order suspended from a collarette, and a sash with the letters SR on it. Once commissioned, he also wears a robe of violet with yellow edgings. A Provincial Grand Officer wears a sash of blue embroidered with gold. A Grand Officer wears a sash of crimson embroidered with gold. Both also wear a collarette and jewel.
The Province of Surrey
Our present Province was constituted on 20 May 2006, along with Sussex, out of the original Province of the South Eastern Counties, constituted in 1976.
