Freemasonry is about Brotherhood and nowhere is this more openly on display than in the Order of the Secret Monitor. This order is also known as the Brotherhood of David and Johnathon and is probably the most caring of all Masonic Orders.
A Brief History of the Order:
An Order of David and Jonathan existed in Holland in the 18th Century but our present Order was brought from America to Britain by
Conclaves and Officers:
Each Conclave is headed by a Supreme Ruler who represents David. The Immediate Past Ruler represents Jonathan. The other principal officers are the Counsellor and the Guide. Then come the usual offices of Treasurer, Recorder and Director of Ceremonies.
Next are 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.
The other officers are the Assistant Director of Ceremonies, Guarder and Sentinel. In the Second or Princes Degree the titles of
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 Grand Conclave of the Order of the Secret Monitor for Northern Australia and Papua New Guinea became autonomous and was inaugurated on 31 May 1969.
The Order consists of three degrees:
Induction as a Secret Monitor is the First Degree where we have reference to 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 and the First Degree 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 Degree is the Prince’s degree:
Through his friendship with Jonathan, David was informed of the plot to kill him 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 whom he believed to be involved in his concealment but David triumphed and eventually became the second King of Israel.
This Degree tells how David admitted into his band one who had escaped from a massacre carried out at the order of Saul.
This is also taken from the first book of Samuel, and again stresses the importance of friendship and fidelity.
The third Degree is the Installation Ceremony of Supreme Ruler who is the Presiding Officer 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 Past or present Grand Officer, usually the most senior present, which confers status throughout the entire Order, and a Certificate is issued by Grand Conclave to that effect.
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.
The regalia for members of the Order is quite simple being a breast 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 each of the first two degrees. The Supreme Ruler wears a purple robe, a jewel suspended from a collaret and a sash with the name of the Conclave and the initials SR on it.
Grand Officers wear sashes of different colours embroidered with the symbol of the Jurisdiction and a Grand Officer Jewel suspended from a collarette, again of variant colours. The Grand Supreme Ruler and Deputy Grand Supreme Ruler each wear a Chain of Office, a Grand Officer Jewel surmounted with a Crown on a Collarette and carry a baton of office.
The Order of the Secret Monitor is an extremely happy and friendly Order. The qualification for membership is solely that of a being 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.
What Does the Order teach?
The rituals of this order are based on the display of friendship and consideration between David and Jonathon, son of Saul.
You may learn how in a Masonic fashion you can expand and learn to consider the ramifications of your actions towards your acquaintances.
One of the most important facets of our Order is the system of enquiry by designated officers of a Conclave as to the welfare of the members of the Conclave, between meetings of the Conclave. All Secret Monitors are charged with the responsibility of advising the Conclave as to the health or otherwise of members.
Fidelis Conclave No 19
Meets – Maroochydore Masonic Centre
3rd Sat – March, July, November. 4th Sat – May, Sept. at 10.am
Lunch follows the meeting. Ladies are always invited and generally a guest speaker is organised to entertain the Ladies while our meeting is taking place.
Annual Dues at present $40.00
For information contact: V Wthy Bro Graham Lyttle 0437339299
CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE ORDER OF THE SECRET MONITOR QUEENSLAND
Meeting Location:
211 Main Rd, Maroochydore 4558
Map: