Order of the Secret Monitor

Maeides Stana Conclave No: 341

Date of Warrant, 15th Octber1987

First Tuesday in March, Second Monday in May, 
Third Monday in November (Installation Second Monday in May)

The Order emerged in 1887 when Queen Victoria and her loyal subjects celebrated the golden jubilee of her reign, the new suspension bridge over the River Thames at Hammersmith was opened, Stainer's "The Crucifixion" had its first performance at St. Marylebone Parish Church and the Marylebone Cricket Club celebrated its centenary at Lord's.

The Order has a scriptural base, following closely the writings of the Book of Samuel, Chapter Twenty, which tells of the enduring friendship between David and Jonathan. The devotion of these two friends for one another forms the basis of the Secret Monitor ritual and precepts; indeed Friendship for one's Brother is the predominant teaching of the Order.

"The Order of David and Jonathan" was brought to the New World about 1658 by Dutch settlers of Jewish decent, it therefore follows that we must return to the Netherlands for its origin.
An unfortunate dynastic marriage at this period gave rise to strong Austrian then Spanish influence resulting in conflict between the Dutch Lutherans and Roman Catholicism which had become more dominant as a result of the marriage.

In the late 16th. century a brotherhood was established using modes of recognition by signs and symbols chosen from the story of David and Jonathan in the Bible. A similar occurrence appeared one hundred years later when Louis XIV of France instigated a Catholic crusade against the Huguenots and the same modes of recognition were used to create confusion amongst the invaders.

The ritual of our present Order appears to go back to the Dutch working of the "Order of Jonathan and David and Jesus Christ".
This Order had seven degrees of which the first three seem to be closely connected to the First Degree of our Order. The last four were reserved for "Freemasons of Eminence".

There is evidence that a quasi-masonic degree, closely following the O.S.M. First Degree, existed in America in the mid 19th. century. It was practised under various titles and was well established in the latter part of the ninetieth century. An attempt was made in 1890 to bring the Order under the jurisdiction of the Allied Degrees when the basic requirement at that time was that a candidate must be an Ark Mariner.

Provincial Grand Conclave of Surrey in the Order of the Secret Monitor, or Brotherhood of David and Jonathan in the British Isles and its Districts and Conclaves Overseas click here for more information ...
What greater themes could one wish for in any Masonic Order than those of friendship and caring? This is principally what The Order of the Secret Monitor is about.
Its ceremonial is based on the Old Testament story of the lifelong friendship between David and Jonathan.
Here you can find a brief history of the Conclave, about the Regalia required, the Conclaves which make up the Provincial Grand Conclave of Surrey, the current Provincial Officers and how to contact us for more information. You will also find some items of news of relevance to the Order.

R Wy Bro Michael Barnes