The North-East Province of the Order of The Secret Monitor, or Brotherhood of David and Jonathan, was reconstituted on Tuesday, 25 July 2023 at Gateshead Masonic Hall.
The original North-East Province was constituted in 1973. Prior to that there were 3 unattached conclaves meeting in Hartlepool, Sunderland and Newcastle upon Tyne. By 2002 the Order had grown such that it was divided into two Provinces of Northumberland and Durham, also at Gateshead Masonic Hall.
The dissolving of those two Provinces and Reconstituting of the North East Province was carried out by Most Worthy Brother Andrew Christopher Sweeney who, along with a team of Grand Officers, went on to install the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham’s North West Area Assistant Provincial Grand Master, John David Watts, as the first Right Worthy Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler of the reconstituted North East Province.
John subsequently went on to install his Deputy, Worthy Brother Reece Derek Valentine, and his Assistant, Worthy Brother Richard Willian Vipond.
Over 150 were present in the Lodge room and in addition witnessed the unfurling of the North-East banner, brought back into use after being safely preserved in the Provincial Museum at Sunderland for the past 21 years.
In excess of 14o enjoyed the hospitality and lunch afterwards, during which the Grand Supreme Ruler was presented with a book “My North East”, featuring the bridges across the River Tyne, strong and permanent links between Durham and Northumberland.
Among those present were Past Provincial Grand Supreme Rulers; John Warham (Northumberland) and Robert Henderson (Durham) along with several National and Provincial Heads of Orders, including Most Distinguished Companion Ian Currans of the Ancient Order of the Scarlet Cord; Right Worshipful Brother Prof Denovan Wilson, Assistant Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mark Masons; and Right Worshipful Brother John Thompson, Provincial Grand Master of Durham who attended the lunch as he is not a member YET!
With 14 conclaves, the North-East is now one of the largest Provinces of the Order. Twelve are regular Conclaves where ceremonies of the 2 degrees, Brother and Prince of The OSM are performed, plus a Past Supreme Rulers Conclave and a Conclave restricted to current and past members of the Provincial Grand Supreme Rulers Arch of Steel.
For further information about this Companion Order contact the Provincial Grand Recorder Ian Dixon on: RecorderNEProvince@outlook.com
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