Order of the Secret Monitor
Ceremony of Induction in the First Degree

2000

Form of Opening a Conclave

The Supreme Rulers gavels. All stand.
Supreme Ruler: Brethren assist me to open this Conclave. Brother Guide, what is our first care?
Guide: To see the Guarder at his post. and that only Brethren of David and Jonathan are present.
Supreme Ruler: Brother Guide, are you a Brother of the Order?
Guide: I am Supreme Ruler, try me and prove me.
Supreme Ruler: As Master Masons where do we meet?
Guide: On the Centre, Supreme Ruler.
Supreme Ruler: You will prove the Brethren Master Masons by the Penal sign.
Guide: Brethren, by command of the Supreme Ruler, you will prove yourselves Master Masons by the Penal sign.
The Brethren prove themselves by standing to order as Master Masons.

Guide gives the Sign and reports: Supreme Ruler, the Brethren have duly proved themselves.
The Supreme Ruler gives the Sign and gavels **   *. Sign of a Master Mason is dropped.
Supreme Ruler: Brother Counsellor, as Brothers David and Jonathan where do we meet?
Counsellor: At the appointed place, Supreme Ruler.
Supreme Ruler: Brother Guide, you will receive from each Brother present the name of the appointed place, and communicate it to Brother Counsellor.
Guide, commencing with the Immediate Past Supreme Ruler, goes round, by way of the South, outside the holy ground and receives the word Ezel from each one, with the exception of Grand Officers. He continues upon the holy ground and receives the word Ezel from the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 3rd Visiting Deacons in turn, Guide enters from, and leaves the holy ground by the East.

Stepping up to Counsellor he whispers the word to him, and proceeds to his seat.

Supreme Ruler: Brother Counsellor, which is the appointed place?
Counsellor: By the Stone Ezel, Supreme Ruler.
Supreme Ruler: To order, Brethren, as Brothers of David and Jonathan.
The Brethren stand to order with the Sign of a Secret Monitor. Note: the complete sign, i.e., Point, Draw, Pierce, should be given on even occasion.
Supreme Ruler: Brother Guarder, what are the duties of your post?
Guarder: To admit only tried Secret Monitors, to receive candidates on the point of peril, and to report the approach of friend or stranger, Supreme Ruler.
Supreme Ruler: Brother Visiting Deacons, what is your constant duty?
4th Visiting Deacon: To search out and visit all Brethren, members of the Conclave, who may be in danger or distress, or may need or desire friendly monition, fraternal sympathy, or brotherly and disinterested advice, to minister to their necessities and report to you, Supreme Ruler.
Supreme Ruler: Brother Guide, what duties are yours?
Guide: It is mine to see that only true and worthy Brothers of David and Jonathan are present, to receive the reports of the Guarder, to collect the Artillery, and to deposit it in a place of safety, Supreme Ruler.
Supreme Ruler: Brother Counsellor, in whom we confidently trust, what is your duty.
Counsellor: To give the token and word, Supreme Ruler, to respond to your call, and to hold myself as a faithful friend, till death us do part.
Supreme Ruler: Brethren, before I declare the Conclave open.
Chaplain: Let us implore the aid of the Almighty Friend of all Friends, the Founder of faithful friendship. May He graciously vouchsafe His blessing on our Order and His favour on all its members.
Omnes: So mote it be.
Supreme Ruler: In the name of David and Jonathan, I declare this Conclave of Secret Monitors duly opened.
Supreme Ruler gavels *   **   *, repeated by Guarder and Sentinel on the door.
All discharge Sign.
Immediate Past Supreme Ruler or Director of Ceremonies opens Volume of Sacred Law at Samuel I Chapter xx.
The Volume of Sacred Law should be placed so that it can be read by the candidate, the points of the extended Compasses, above the Square, pointing to the foot of the page.
The Brethren resume their seats.
The Minutes of the last Meeting are read and confirmed.
Supreme Ruler: Brother Scroll Bearer, you will call the Muster Roll
Brother Visiting Deacons upstanding.
The Scroll Bearer calls the Muster Roll, Brethren present rise and answer "Present Supreme Ruler" with the Sign of a Secret Monitor. The Supreme Ruler does not rise or salute. The Visiting Deacons report as to absent Brethren on their respective Lists.

Supreme Ruler: Brother Visiting Deacons resume your seats

Ceremony of Induction

The Sentinel gives one knock on the door of the Conclave.
The "alarm" for candidate is one knock. The report for a Brother seeking admission is the knocks of the degree in which the Conclave is open. The Guide’s answer to a report is "Find out the occasion thereof".
Guarder, with sign of a Secret Monitor: Brother Guide, there is an alarm.
Guide, seated: Ascertain the cause thereof.
Guarder, opening the door: Wherefore this alarm?
Sentinel: Brother ..., a Master Mason, desires to be received into this Order, that he may be the better enabled to discharge his duties to his Brethren.
Guarder: Wait while I report to the Supreme Ruler.
Guarder, after closing the door: Supreme Ruler, at the door of the Conclave stands Brother ..., a Master Mason, who desires to be received into this Order, that he may be the better enabled to discharge his duties to his Brethren.
Supreme Ruler: Brother Guarder, first assure yourself that he has signed the customary declaration; then admit him in due form, and admonish him to take heed how he enters.
The Guarder, goes outside, sees the signature affixed, and asks the Candidate for the password; as he cannot give it the Sentinel gives it for him in a whisper, and the Guarder returns to the room.

Guarder: Supreme Ruler, the Candidate has subscribed the declaration, but is not in possession of the password. I will however give it for him.
Guarder advances to the East, gives password to the Guide aloud, and, by way of the South, returns bearing the bow and three arrows. The Guarder gives one arrow to each of the 2nd and 4th Visiting Deacons and himself retains the bow and third arrow.

Supreme Ruler, when the Guarder returns: Brother Deacons, admit the Candidate.
The 2nd and 4th Visiting Deacons open the door; not the Guarder, they close the door when Candidate is inside, standing each side of him, while Guarder faces him with Bow drawn and the Arrow touching his left breast.
The Director of Ceremonies should not take part but be in a position to direct the procedure.
Guarder: Brother ..., in this degree of Freemasonry you are admitted on the point of an Arrow. May your heart never be pierced by the Arrow of unfaithful friendship.
The Guarder carries the bow to the Supreme Ruler and places it on the Pedestal, gives the third arrow to the 1st Visiting Deacon, and returns to his seat by way of the South.

The Candidate, conducted by the 2nd and 4th Visiting Deacons, is placed in the North West facing the Supreme Ruler.

Supreme Ruler: Do you pledge your honour as a man and your fidelity as a Mason that you will steadily persevere through the ceremony of Induction into the honourable brotherhood of David and Jonathan, and that with the same strict caution as with other Secrets in Masonry you will conceal whatever may now be known by you, or may at any future time be communicated to you?
Candidate: I do.
Supreme Ruler: Then you will kneel while the blessing of heaven is invoked upon our proceedings.
Stool is placed by Director of Ceremonies.

Candidate kneels. 2nd and 4th Visiting Deacons stand on either side and turn inwards and cross Arrows above the head of the Candidate, the Arrow being held in the right hand; no attempt should be made by them to give Sign of Reverence.

Supreme Ruler gavels.

All other brethren rise giving Sign of Reverence.

Chaplain: Vouchsafe unto us, O merciful Lord, that the Candidate now about to be received into our Order may be endued with the graces meet to merit and appreciate true friendship. May his life and ours henceforth be more fully devoted to Thy service; and do Thou so increase and multiply upon us Thy mercy, that, Thou being our Ruler and Guide, we may in such wise pass through things temporal that we finally lose not the things eternal.
Omnes: So mote it be.
Supreme Ruler: Let the Candidate rise.
Director of Ceremonies: Brethren be seated.
All sit.

Stool is removed by Director of Ceremonies.

Supreme Ruler: Brother ..., as none but a worthy Master Mason may be received into this Order, I demand of you. are you a Master Mason?
Candidate: I am.
Supreme Ruler: You will advance to the Deacon and give the proofs.
2nd Visiting Deacon moves towards South West and turns towards the Candidate.
4th Visiting Deacon tells the Candidate to turn towards the 2nd Visiting Deacon, and to advance towards him in the three degrees of Craft Masonry showing the full signs in the 3rd degree.
2nd Visiting Deacon tells the Candidate, now in line with Ezel, to turn towards the Supreme Ruler. Both Deacons take post by the Candidate.
2nd Visiting Deacon, with no sign: The proofs are correct, Supreme Ruler.
Supreme Ruler: Brethren, Brother ..., who is this day a Candidate for Induction into the Order, having proved himself a worthy Master Mason, the Deacons will now instruct him to advance to the Ezel in due form.
The 2nd Visiting Deacon instructs the Candidate to advance to the Stone Ezel as follows.
2nd Visiting Deacon: The method of advancing to the Ezel is by four steps, the first and fourth long and slow, the second and third short and quick, I will go through them and you will afterwards copy my example. Place your feet in this position left foot pointing East, right foot pointing South and step off with the left foot.
After demonstration both Deacons advance to Ezel with Candidate.

Supreme Ruler: Brother ..., will you kneel on both knees, place both hands on the Volume of the Sacred Law, state your names at length, and repeat, after me.
Supreme Ruler gavels. The Brethren rise and stand to order with the Sign of Fidelity.
The 2nd and 4th Visiting Deacons, face each other, cross Arrows above the head of the Candidate, the Arrow being held in the right hand; no attempt should be made by them to show Sign of Fidelity. 

Obligation

I , in the presence of Almighty God, and of this warranted Conclave of Brothers of David and Jonathan, regularly held and assembled, do hereby and hereon solemnly and sincerely swear that I will faithfully conceal any or either of the secrets or mysteries of this Degree, and never reveal any of them to anyone in the world, except a Brother of the Order, and not even to him, except in strict conformity with the laws of the Order; that I will in all things cheerfully obey the rules and constitutions of the Grand Conclave of the Order in the British Isles and in Territories Overseas, that I will not confer, or assist in conferring the degree of Secret Monitor on any person who is not a worthy Master Mason, nor on him except in accordance with the rules of this Order, and in a meeting of a regularly warranted Conclave, holding under the Grand Conclave.
I further promise and swear that I will, in all things, act as a true and faithful Secret Monitor, and will caution a Brother Secret Monitor by word, sign, or token, whenever or wherever I see him doing, or about to do, anything contrary to the true principles of Freemasonry, or against his own interests.
I likewise solemnly promise that, when I am so cautioned by a Brother Secret Monitor, I will pause and reflect on the course I am pursuing.
I furthermore solemnly promise and swear that I will assist a Brother Secret Monitor, at any time, so far as lies in my power, without detriment to myself or my connections; that if he be in sorrow he shall have my sympathy, if in danger my monition, if in distress my consolation, if in poverty my aid, so long as he prove worthy and I be able to assist.
All these points I solemnly promise to observe, without evasion or mental reservation of any kind, on the faith of my former Obligations, and further binding myself under a penalty no less than that of having my heart thrust through with the arrow of an enemy,
the 1st Visiting Deacon presses the point of an arrow on Candidate ‘s left breast
and to be left without a friend in the hour of my tribulation. So help me Almighty Friend of all Friends, and keep me steadfast in this solemn obligation of a Secret Monitor.
Supreme Ruler: As a pledge of your fidelity, you will seal that Obligation, with your lips on the Volume of the Sacred Law.
The Candidate salutes the Volume of the Sacred Law.

All drop Sign of Fidelity.

Visiting Deacons lower Arrows.

Supreme Ruler: Rise, duly obligated Secret Monitor, and listen with an attentive ear to a portion of Holy Scripture.
All, except four Deacons, resume seats.

Chaplain stands and reads Samuel I, chap. xx, vv. 16-23 and 35-42.

Chaplain: So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, ‘Let the Lord even require it at the hand of David’s enemies.’
And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
Then Jonathan said to David, ‘Tomorrow is the new moon; and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.
And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.
And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.
And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, "Go, find the arrows." If I expressly say unto the lad, "Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them"; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the Lord liveth.
But if I say thus unto the young man, "Behold, the arrows are beyond thee"; go thy way: for the Lord hath sent thee away.
And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the Lord be between thee and me for ever.'
And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David. and a little lad with him.
And he said unto the lad ‘Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot.’ And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, ‘Is not the arrow beyond thee?’
And Jonathan cried after the lad, 'make speed, haste, stay not’. And Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.
But the lad knew not anything: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
And Jonathan gave his artillery unto the lad, and said unto him, ‘Go, carry them to the city.’
And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
And Jonathan said to David, ‘Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying: The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever’. And he rose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.
The 3rd and 4th Visiting Deacons, with the Candidate between them, stand aside in the North.

The 1st Visiting Deacon collects Arrows from the 2nd and the 4th Visiting Deacons, and hands them to the Supreme Ruler, he then stands aside in the South with 2nd Visiting Deacon; the Director of Ceremonies standing between them.

The Supreme Ruler takes the Bow and shoots three Arrows beyond the Ezel.

Supreme Ruler, after shooting 1st arrow: find out the arrows which I shoot.
Guide crosses to South side.
Supreme Ruler, after 2nd arrow: Is not the arrow beyond thee?
Guide takes one step forward

Supreme Ruler, after 3rd arrow: Make speed, haste, stay not.
Supreme Ruler holds Bow horizontally in both hands.

Guide collects arrows and places them on Bow.

Supreme Ruler then hands Bow and Arrows to Guide.

Supreme Ruler: Go, carry them in to the city.
Guide places Bow and Arrows on the pedestal and returns to his seat.
The 1st and 3rd Visiting Deacons take charge of the Candidate and place him before the Supreme Ruler, to the East of the holy ground. They stand beside him.
2nd and 4th Visiting Deacons return to their seats.
The Counsellor, with the sign, places himself about three paces from the Supreme Ruler, approaches him by three steps each with the left foot closing the right to it, bowing on the completion of each step. They give the token by intertwining the index finger of the right hand and then place the left hand on each other's right shoulder.
Counsellor: I am David.
Supreme Ruler: I am Jonathan.
Counsellor: David and Jonathan knew the matter.
Supreme Ruler: The lad knew nothing at all.
Finally both say the word MAGEN DAVID in a whisper.

Supreme Ruler and Counsellor resume the penal part of the sign of a Secret Monitor.

Counsellor steps back with three steps in the same manner in which he advanced and resumes his station.

Supreme Ruler: Now that you have taken the solemn obligation of a Secret Monitor. and received the word, I will proceed to entrust you with the secrets of the first degree of the Order.
You will recollect that, in the passage of Scripture you have just heard, Jonathan was to make known to David his success, or want of success, by shooting Arrows on this or that side of the Stone Ezel. Had the Arrows fallen on this side, the meaning would have been that David was to proceed to take his accustomed place with the king’s household; but the words "The arrows are beyond thee." signified that he must no longer seek the peace of home, but must become a fugitive, fleeing from the presence of his king, and leaving behind him family and friends.
From this circumstance is derived the password of the first degree Ezel,
Candidate repeats the word EZEL; the Supreme Ruler then spells the password which is repeated by the Candidate

and so the words "The arrows are on this side of thee.", spoken by one Brother Secret Monitor to another, mean "Proceed" while the words "The arrows are beyond thee." mean "Desist".
To caution a Brother, if you see him doing, or about to do, anything contrary to the true principles of Freemasonry, or against his own interests - By word - you may suggest that he should "Take two" or that "Two are better than one" which means "Desist"; on the other hand, if you would advise him to "Proceed" you may say "One is as good as two".
By sign - you may raise the left hand to represent the Stone Ezel and signal on this side with one finger or beyond with two fingers, with the meaning given in the previous explanation.
Candidate copies.

By grip or token thus - you may shake hands by intertwining the index finger of the right hand; this will mean "Proceed"; but should you desire to warn him, you would give him two fingers and this would mean Desist".
Thus you may caution a Brother by word, sign or token; and, when so cautioned, he is bound to pause and reflect.
The Supreme Ruler rises: The Due Guard and Sign of this degree is given by placing oneself in the attitude of springing a Bow in imitation of Jonathan shooting the Arrows; to complete the sign, strike the left breast over the heart, with the end of the forefinger of the left hand, the other fingers clenched.
This alludes to the penalty of the Obligation.
The complete sign should always be used on entering and on leaving the Conclave and when addressing the Supreme Ruler.
Supreme Ruler leaves the chair, and stands in front of Candidate: The word of this degree is given thus.
The Supreme Ruler and Candidate give the token by intertwining the index finger of the right hand and then place the left hand on each other's right shoulder.

Supreme Ruler: I am David.
Candidate, prompted by the 1st Visiting Deacon: I am Jonathan.
Supreme Ruler: David and Jonathan knew the matter.
Candidate, prompted by 1st Visiting Deacon: The lad knew nothing at all.
The word Magen David is then given aloud to the Candidate by the Supreme Ruler.

This word must not be repeated aloud except in open Conclave when inducting a candidate. The meaning of the word is the Shield of David; and as this Shield of David afterwards became the Seal of Solomon it has been adopted in other degrees of Freemasonry, as you are no doubt aware.
I now decorate you with this jewel, the badge of the Order, which should always be worn upon your left breast whenever you are attending a Conclave of the Order.
The Supreme Ruler resumes his seat.

As for your Induction you are called upon for certain fees, it is my duty to inform you by what authority we act.
Supreme Ruler stands to display Warrant.

This is our Charter or Warrant from the Grand Conclave of the Order in the British Isles and in Territories Overseas; it is open for your inspection at this or any other meeting of the Conclave. No Conclave can be lawfully held in the absence of such a Warrant; and the Obligation, which you have just taken, forbids you to confer, or assist in conferring, this degree except in a warranted Conclave, regularly held and assembled.
I present to you copies of the Constitutions and Regulations of the Order and of the Bylaws of the Conclave.
From the latter you will learn your duty to your Conclave, while from the former you will obtain information which you will appreciate more highly as you advance in rank.

Explanation of the Weapons

The weapons of the Secret Monitor are the Bow and Arrow - The Bow picks it up
which though bent bends it by superior power for some wise purpose known only to the bender, yet springs back releases it to its former shape, is an emblem of our mortal life.
It typifies that the trials sent us by the Almighty hand should not leave us cast down, dejected and repining; but like the bow bends it which, when the strain is relaxed releases it at once resumes its original form, so we, aided by the help that comes from above, should learn to rise superior to our griefs, intent only on doing our duty, in our day and generation,. with joy and friendliness.
puts Bow down And, as the arrow picks one up shot by the unerring hand of a skilful archer speeds straight to its destined mark, so the Brethren and Officers of this Conclave, each in his particular sphere, will strive, we trust, with single mind and clear intention to carry out the commands of their Supreme Ruler, to render to each other comfort and aid, and to fulfill the great ends for which God has placed us here on earth
puts Arrow down.

Thus the weapons of a Secret Monitor teach us to remember the duties we owe to our Conclave and to each other; they also remind us of the great archer Death, whose unerring and remorseless shaft will, sooner or later, strike each one, and summon him to render an account of the manner in which he has discharged his duty to his Brother and his God.

Address to the Candidate

Brother ..., in admitting you a member of our Order, - a step we have been induced to take by reason of the good report we have heard from those in whose judgment we place the utmost confidence, - we trust we have received into our ranks one whose future conduct will fully justify the choice we have made, whose presence among us will always be welcome, whose advice within the Conclave will be filled with wisdom and sound judgment, whose ear will be continually open to the cry of the suffering and needy, and whose bosom will ever glow with satisfaction in fulfilling the great ends and aims of our Order. We trust that the Supreme Ruler of all things may guide you in all your paths, and that, when for you the shadows of this transitory life shall have faded into the realities of the life to come, you may be received into that Grand Conclave above, over which the Grand Supreme Ruler of all presides, where distress and sorrow are no more, and where all is harmony and peace.
The Supreme Ruler may now congratulate the Candidate.
The Visiting Deacons conduct the Candidate to a seat in the Conclave. 

Form of closing a Conclave

Supreme Ruler gavels: I rise to enquire for the first time rises if any Brother has aught to propose for the good of the Order in general or this the ... Conclave Number ... in particular.
gavels

I rise to enquire for the second and third times.
gavels

I rise to enquire for the fourth time...
The Supreme Ruler gavels. All stand.

Supreme Ruler: Brethren, assist me to close this Conclave.
Brother Guide, what is the constant care of every Secret Monitor?
Guide: To see the Guard close set within and without, that no intruder may mar our peace.
Brother Guarder, is the Guard set without?
Guarder gives knocks *   **   * on the door.
Sentinel gives knocks *   **   * on the door.
Guarder, with sign of a Secret Monitor: All is safely guarded, Brother Guide.
Guide, with sign of a Secret Monitor: Our Conclave is securely guarded, Supreme
Ruler.
Supreme Ruler: Brother Counsellor, what is the next care?
Counsellor: To see that the Brethren appear to order as Secret Monitors.
Supreme Ruler: To order Brethren, as Secret Monitors.
The Brethren stand to order with the sign of a Secret Monitor.
The Counsellor, with the sign, places himself about three paces from the Supreme Ruler, approaches him by three steps each with the left foot closing the right to it, bowing on the completion of each step. They give the token by intertwining the index finger of the right hand and then place the left hand on each other's right shoulder.
Counsellor: I am David.
Supreme Ruler: I am Jonathan.
Counsellor: David and Jonathan knew the matter.
Supreme Ruler: The lad knew nothing at all.
Finally both say the word MAGEN DAVID in a whisper.

Supreme Ruler: Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn, both of us, in the name of the Lord, saying the Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever.
Omnes: So mote it be.
Supreme Ruler and Counsellor resume penal part of the sign of a Secret Monitor.
Counsellor steps back with three steps in the same manner in which he advanced and resumes his station.
Supreme Ruler: Brother Counsellor, the labors of the day being ended, you have my command to close the Conclave.
Counsellor: Brethren, in the name of David and Jonathan, and by command of the Supreme Ruler: I close the Conclave.
Guide: And it is closed accordingly until the next regular meeting, emergencies excepted, of which due notice will be given.
Supreme Rider gavels *   **   *.
Guarder gives knocks*   **   * on the door.
Sentinel gives knocks *   **   * on the door.
Immediate Past Supreme Ruler or Director of Ceremonies closes Volume of the Sacred Law.: Nothing now remains except, according to ancient custom, to lock up our Secrets in a safe repository, uniting in the act of Fidelity, Fidelity Fidelity, Fidelity.
All give Sign of Fidelity four times to rhythm of knocks of the degree.

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