The qualification for membership of the Order is that of being a Master Mason. The earliest documented existence for the Order of the Secret Monitor, or of Brotherly Love, is found in Scotland around 1790, but it may have existed earlier in Ireland. The degree was certainly known in the United States by the 1820s. Sometime near the close of the nineteenth century, probably around 1875, Dr Issachar Zacharie carried the Order to England, following the end of the American Civil War. Under his leadership, a Grand Council of the Order was formed on 15 July 1887 under the banner of Alfred Meadows Conclave No. 1, at a meeting held at the Hotel Victoria, London. Based upon the story of two Hebrew Princes around the year 1000 BCE, this is an Order framed upon the principles of self-sacrifice, mutual trust, watchful Brotherly care, warning in time of danger, solace in time of sorrow and skilful and effective friendly advice in every circumstance of life. It is an Order that meets a great and crying need in human affairs and is calculated to benefit those who act up to its tenets. There are now three Degrees in the Order: Induction; Admission to an Assembly of Princes; and Installation as a Supreme Ruler (including the Ceremony of Commissioning, entitling the Ruler to conduct ceremonies in any Conclave).

A candidate for induction into the Order must be a Master Mason in good standing, and member of a regular Craft Lodge under a recognised Constitution. The Order of the Secret Monitor or Brotherhood of David and Jonathan in the British Isles and its Districts and Conclaves Overseas is one of the fastest growing Masonic Orders in the United Kingdom and is administered at Mark Masons’ Hall in London. As with many orders in Freemasonry, the ceremonies typically surround a biblical story or legend and this Order is based upon the remarkable friendship which existed between David and Jonathan as can be found in the Bible – First book of Samuel. There are three Degrees in the Order of the Secret Monitor as follows:

Experience last Grand Conclave Meeting

On Thursday, 13 November 2025, Brethren gathered at Freemasons’ Hall, London for the annual meeting of Grand Conclave, presided over by M.Wy.Bro. Andrew Christopher Sweeney, Grand Supreme Ruler, in his usual kind and welcoming style. After the regular business of Grand Conclave, the President of the executive committee read out the Match-Funding Grants that had been approved. The grand Supreme Ruler commented that more Provinces and Conclaves should consider this Charitable path. The Grand Supreme Ruler was then re-elected with acclamation and he went on to re-appoint the Deputy and Assistant Grand Supreme Rulers. He was then delighted to confer appointment to, or Promotion in, Grand Rank on 168 Brethren and invest those present. The Grand Supreme Ruler then welcomed representatives from around the World, including: The Southern Caribbean, Portugal, France, Greece, South Africa, Australia & Southeast Asia. The Grand Supreme Ruler then proceeded to present a 50 year certificate and jewel to Very Worthy Brother Howard Doe, to which he then added a field promotion to Past Grand Guide.