Royal Order of Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord

Towards the close of the 19th Century, The Order of the Secret Monitor resolved to form a Benevolent Fund and in December 1899 it was formally opened with a credit balance of seventeen guineas.

In order to promote this Benevolent Fund and to increase the membership of the Order of the Secret Monitor, a senior member, R.Wy.Bro. Judge Philbrick conceived the idea of forming an appendant rite to be known as The Royal Order of Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord.

Candidates for this Order were required to be Princes of the O.S.M. and members of its Benelovent Fund.

The six grades of the Rite were:

Grade 1: Where candidates were elected to be Ostiartii or Doorkeepers.

Grade 2: Where they were chosen to be Lectors or Readers.

Grade 3: They were promoted to be Fellows.

Grade 4: Preferred as members of the Court of Assistants.

Grade 5: Dedicated as High Priests.

Grade 6: Installed as Knights.

The Grand Supreme Ruler of the Order of the Secret Monitor was 'Summus' of this Rite and other high ranking Secret Monitors were appointed to such impressive titles such as; Regent, Vicarius, Episcopus, Diaconus, Cancellarius, King of Arms etc. Court Dress or uniform was obligatory for Grand Officers and full evening dress for others.

Admission to and promotion within the grades was permitted by attaining certain ranks in the O.S.M. and by making donations to the Benevolent Fund.

The Metropolitan Consistory worked regularly until 1914, but went into abeyance during the war years; it was revived in 1919 but ceased operations in 1929, possibly due to the onset of the World Depression followng the Wall Street Crash.

During the thirty years it was worked regularly, it raised a great deal of money for the O.S.M. Benevolent Fund. So much so that today, the fund, which annually distributes thousands of pounds to Secret Monitor Petitioners and local charities with virtually no incoming donations, still boasts a credit balance in excess of £400,000.

A short while ago it was decided that if the Order for the OSM Benevolent Fund was to become more active and properly justify its Charitable Status, it would be necesary for a source of funding to be devised and The Grand Supreme Ruler consented to the Royal Order being revived. This took place in 2006 with the Consecration of the Scarlet Cord Conclave No. 500 and in excess of 500 members of the OSM have joined this Conclave and the Benevolent Fund has subsequently been increased by their contributions.

Such has been the enthusiasm for this Royal Order that The Grand Supreme Ruler has decreed that Provincial Conclaves should be established for its better government and several Provinces have already done this, either on their own or in conjunction with one or more other Provinces. So, for example, Dorset together with Hampshire and Isle of Wight, which prior to their separation formed the Southern Counties' Province, have combined to create one Scarlet Cord Conclave to cover both Provinces, which is called appropriately The Southern Counties' Scarlet Cord Conclave.

In the two Provinces which fomerly constituted the Province of South Wales and Monmouthshire there are currently in excess of 50 members of the Scarlet Cord, easily enough to justify a Conclave of our own.

I have therefore carefully consulted with my Colleague R.Wy. Bro. Nigel Adams, the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler for the Province of West Wales and we have given our authority for such a Conclave to be Consecrated to serve both our Provinces, in the same way that Dewi Sant Conclave No. 425 serves as a Past Supreme Rulers Conclave for both Provinces.

A final decision on the name has not been made, but a working title of 'Gwalia' has been chosen as appropriate for a Welsh Conclave covering both Provinces.

We believe that this will further strengthen the close bond of affection and co-operation which exists between our two Provinces.

The Conclave will be based in Llanelli where the annual installation meeting will be held and at such other venues and at such other times as best serve the needs of the Conclave in promoting the Royal Order. All current members of the Scarlet Cord in the two Provinces are invited to become founder members and will be entitled to transfer their membership from Conclave 500 at nil cost.