
History and Administration
Legend, Lessons and History
The Legend and the Lessons
The legend of the Order was based upon the scriptural story, found in the first Book of Samuel, of the great and enduring friendship between David and Jonathan which leads to the secondary part of the Order’s title: "The Brotherhood of David and Jonathan." Its practice and teachings have ever led to care for one’s brother and lasting friendship. 
During the period when Samuel was a noted prophet the people of Israel decided to follow the example set by neighbouring states. They wanted to dispense with the judges who had previously governed them and take to themselves a king with proven military ability. They were convinced that their future safety would be greater under a king than a judge.
Samuel listened to their demands and he selected Saul as king. Saul was a stalwart figure, impressive indeed when arrayed for battle. Unhappily, Saul did not live up to expectations: mighty though he was in battle, he lacked the mental qualities so necessary for one who held power. Samuel realised that Saul had failed as a leader and that he must be replaced. He found in David, son of Jesse, the very man he was looking for: courageous, skilled in the use of arms, yet sensitive and artistic; a soldier, poet and musician of exceptional ability. Saul, on the other hand, was determined to establish the permanent supremacy of his family in Israel through Jonathan his son.
David and Jonathan were close friends and nothing was permitted to come between them, not even the prospect of future fame and honours. Jonathan did not claim succession to his father, accepting Samuel’s decision without resentment. Saul attempted to kill David but his plans failed. David, in turn, was presented with opportunities to slay the king, but knowing that Saul was the anointed of God, he held his hand. Finally, Jonathan and two of his brothers were slain in battle when the Philistines overran the Israelite armies, and Saul, seeing all his plans failing, took his own life in despair. David, now, was fully accepted as king, but his first reaction was one of deep grief for the death of his friend. 
The unselfish devotion of these two friends is the basis of Secret Monitor ritual and precepts. Friendship for one’s Brother is the paramount basis of our teachings, even as Brotherly Love is the first tenet of the craft.
“Jonathan and David typify the conscience of man. Jonathan is emblematical of God, who advises and warns the human soul, and David of the soul. God and a man’s heart alone know a secret matter, the world without knows nothing of it”. 
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History of the Order
For the early roots of the Order we must look back to the Netherlands and the United States of America. Tradition tells us that Dutch settlers of Jewish descent took "The Order of David and Jonathan" to the New World in or about 1658. Many Dutch Protestants also emigrated to America to find a new life with greater liberty than seemed possible in Holland. The Order quickly developed in the USA amongst the descendants of these immigrants. As early as 1831 a ritual of the Degree of Secret Monitor is known to have been published by one Avery ALLYN. It was, however, originally conferred individually, as a side degree, and without any central or jurisdictional control. By the end of the nineteenth century the Order came under the control of the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America. This administrative arrangement remains in place in the USA up to the present day.
How did the Order of the Secret Monitor develop in the United Kingdom? History tells us that Dr. Issachar Zacharie brought the Order from America. Zacharie was born in Chatham, Kent, of Jewish parents who had become converts to Christianity. According to his own account he was born in the year 1827 (but since his golden wedding was celebrated in 1894, he must have married in his teens). The family emigrated to America in his early boyhood. His initiation into Freemasonry in 1848, but there is no sure knowledge where this took place. He obtained medical qualifications, probably through an apprenticeship with a physician. In the American Civil War he offered his services as a foot specialist and was in due course appointed Chiropodist-General to the United States Army.
 
Little is known of his Masonic progress, but one source quotes him as being a Past Grand Master of California. It is known, however, that he returned to this country in 1875, settled at 80 Brook Street, London, where he built up a busy and successful practice as an orthopedic surgeon. In London he became a member of the Bon Accord Mark Lodge and there he met a number of brethren who had become Secret Monitors during their Masonic progress. All of them were members of Alfred Meadows Lodge (named after a distinguished surgeon) and, at the invitation of Dr. Zacharie they met at his house on May 5, 1887. It was resolved to form the Alfred Meadows Conclave with Dr. Zacharie as first Supreme Ruler. 
Progress was rapid. On June 17, 1887, Grand Council was constituted, with Dr. Issachar Zacharie nominated as first Grand Supreme Ruler. The first meeting of Grand Council took place at 80 Brook Street on July 2, 1887.
The Freemason, a Masonic periodical of the time reported
“The special feature of the Order consists in this: Every Conclave shall appoint not more than four Visiting Deacons, whose duty it shall be to search out and call upon any Brother who may be in danger or distress, or who may have fallen into ill health, or may be in need of fraternal monition, sympathy, consolation, or assistance. This duty shall be recognised in every set of by-laws sanctioned for any conclave, and the S.R. of every conclave at his installation must be duly warned that he will be held responsible to the Grand Council for the proper and effective carrying out of this Constitution. He will also take care to impress the importance of this matter upon those whom he may appoint as his visiting Deacons.”
In 1987 the Centenary of the Order was overseen by the then Grand Recorder, Right Worthy Brother Peter Glyn Williams, and took place at King's Heath, Birmingham on 17 September 1987.
Over the past 135 years the Order has flourished in England, Wales and Scotland, and altogether there are now over 400 Conclaves including many in India, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and several European countries. The Order is divided into Provinces, each ruled by a Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler who has the authority to consecrate new Conclaves. The Grand Supreme Ruler of the Order, which is administered from Mark Masons Hall, is currently Most Worthy Brother Andrew Christopher Sweeney.
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Administration
The order is administered through Mark Masons' Hall in London along with most of the appendant orders.
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Grand conclave meets once per year in Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen Street, London.​​​

