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 by Dr. I. Zacharie about 1875.

Originally the Order, as worked in America, consisted of a single degree, which could be conferred on any worthy Master Mason by another brother who had received it himself.

Under Zacharie, a Grand Council was formed in 1887 and the ritual was extended to the present system of three degrees. Later there followed a problematic period when the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees was empowered to confer the American version of the Degree.

The conflict between the two bodies was mainly resolved in 1931, when all rights were transferred to the Grand Council (later Grand Conclave) of the Order of the Secret Monitor. However, the question of recognition remained outstanding until 13th November, 2008, when in an impressive ceremony in Birmingham, representatives from The Grand Conclave (UK) and The Allied Masonic Degrees (USA) signed Articles of Agreement as follows:

"By the Articles of agreement between...

The Grand Conclave of the Order of the Secret Monitor or Brotherhood of David and Jonathan in the British Isles and its Districts and Conclaves Overseas

and

The Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America

ARTICLE 2

The Grand Conclave of the Order of the Secret Monitor or Brotherhood of David and Jonathan in the British Isles and its Districts and Conclaves Overseas and The Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America mutually recognize each other, and their respective Officers as the proper authorities to control and superintend the Order of the Secret Monitor in their respective jurisdictions and will afford full Masonic courtesy to the rank, title and privilege of their respective Officers Grand and subordinate."

This effectively means that each Sovereign body will recognise as Secret Monitors all Brethren who hold the the certificates of the three Degrees issued by the other Sovereign Jurisdiction.