District of South Africa Northern
R Worthy Bro B F McDermott
District Grand Supreme Ruler
V Worthy Bro K P Pickup, PG Visitor
Deputy District Grand Ruler
Worthy Bro L B Shaw, PG Sword Bearer
Assistant District Grand Ruler
District Grand Secretary:
Worthy Bro. F G Bendell, PG Sword Bearer
P O Box 657
Bruma 2026
Home Phone: 011 622 2120
Cell Phone: 082 699 2392
Email: fgbendell@gmail.com
History and Origin
While the first references to the Order of David and Jonathan are known to be of Dutch origin, the Secret Monitor arose in America as a side degree conferred by any mason who had received it himself. It was brought to England by Dr I. Zacharie when he returned from America (following the Civil War) around 1875. Under his leadership a Grand Council was formed in 1887 and the ritual was extended when a further two degrees were added, one of which pertained to the chair of Supreme Ruler.
The degrees gained in popularity, but this success was to bring about a series of unfortunate events, for in the meantime the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees had been emÂpowered by an American body (of similar name) to confer their version of the degree. This resulted in the Allied body denouncing the Grand Council of the Order of the Secret Monitor and attempting to assume sole jurisdiction over the degree, but in spite of this Dr Zacharie's group prospered. Regretfully a period of over 37 years elapsed, during which both orders were conferring a Secret Monitor degree, but the matter was finally resolved in 1931 when C. W. NapierÂClavering was in the favourable position of being Grand Supreme Ruler and also Grand Master of Allied Masonry. He then implemented an agreement transferring all rights to the Grand Council of the Order of the Secret Monitor and the degree was removed from the list of degrees of the Allied body.
The Order comprises of the following degrees:
- Secret Monitor
- Prince
- Supreme Ruler
Reference: 'Beyond the Craft' by Keith B Jackson. Published by: Ian Allan Publishing
District Grand Conclave Executive 2013 - 2014
| Conclave | Meeting Place |
|---|---|
| Sentinel Conclave No. 22 | Johannesburg, Park Lane |
| Transvaal Conclave No. 30 | Co-Masonry Temple,Craighall |
| Gemini Conclave No. 41 | Johannesburg, Rand Club |
| Friendship Conclave No. 104 | Phoenix, Mauritius |
| Arcadia Conclave No. 145 | Pretoria, The Willows |
| Lion of the North Conclave No. 167 | Louis Trichardt - Masonic Hall, 127 Munnik Street |
| Blue Diamond Conclave No. 183 | Kimberley |
| Benoni Conclave No. 202 | Kensington |
| Eastern Tvl Conclave No. 213 | Middelburg And Witbank |
| Volksrust Conclave No. 254 | Volksrust |
| Jonathan Conclave No. 312 | Kinross - Mendel Spitz Masonic Hall, 18 Joel Road |
| Centenary Golden Harvest Conclave No. 398 | Johannesburg, Park Lane |