!Grand Master

The Supreme and Infallible Primate of Darwin Central.  The __''Dominus Maximus''__, the __''Kourios Megalos''__, the __''Capissimo di Tutti Capi''__, the __''Big Cheese''__.

!!Origin of the Title

According to ((OCT|Old Conspiracy Theorists)), the venerable title of __Grand Master__ antedates the formation of Darwin Central by many centuries, and is ultimately derived from the __Knights Templar__.  The title remains in use by other secret societies, such as the __Freemasons__ and the __Illuminati__, the ancestors of Darwin Central.  Though the notional leaders of these other cabals are still permitted, for the sake of maintaining a veil of both secrecy and misinformation, to style themselves as 'Grand Masters,' they are in fact mere sock-puppets of __''the''__ Grand Master.  Accept no subsitutes.

OCTists also claim that passages within the controversial ((ProtocolsDarwin|Protocols of the Elders of Darwin)) indicate an internal hierarchy of ((Degrees of the Brotherhood|33 Degrees of Brotherhood in Pondscum)), wherein the Grand Master, as Supreme Primate of the cabal, is the sole occupant of the 33rd Degree. ((YCT|Young Conspiracy Theorists)), while accepting the legitimacy of the __Protocols__ document and its associated ((Trowel Strategy)), hold instead that the title Grand Master originates with Darwin Central, and was probably first held by __Karl Darwin__ himself.

!!Natural Selection of the Grand Master

The identities of subsequent Grand Masters since Templar times are shrouded in mystery, as is the precise manner of their elevation to the __Supreme Primateship__. It is not known how candidates are identified or evaluated.

It is also suspected that, the better to conceal identity, the successful candidate is subjected to a carefully staged 'accident' or other untoward occurance to 'remove' him from his previous (and often high-profile) life before taking up the __Supreme Primateship__. 

However, it has now been established that, on the death of a Grand Master, the ((League of Overseers)) is assembled in a ((Conclave of Selection)) to name his successor. 

!!Was Darwin a Grand Master?

((YCT|Young Conspiracy Theorists)) are adamant that ((Karl Darwin)) was the First Grand Master of the conspiracy, but many ((OCT|Old Conspiracy Theorists)) not only insist that the lineage of the office is far older but additionally question whether Darwin ever held the Supreme Primateship. 

!!Duties of the Grand Master

Although it is presumed no one knows more about the plottings of Darwin Central than the Grand Master himself, it is not certain that even he can possibly have full visibility of so vast and arcane a global conspiracy. 

The Grand Master, whose offices occupy a cavernous subterranean bunker at DC Head Office Zero in the Galapagos Islands, chairs  the weekly ((Coven of Ministers)) as well as the monthly meeting of the __Darwintern__.  He also presides, every year on 12th February, as the Lord of Misrule at the annual Head Office __Darwin Day__ Celebrations, one of the rare occasions when DC agents of non-ministerial rank may catch a glimpse of the __Dominus Maximus__ himself.

Otherwise, the Grand Master is said to relax in the luxurious ((Vetting Chambers)) of his private wing in the company of a bevy of ((Angels)) when he isn't whisking around the globe on his private yacht, __''The Dominatrix IV''__, or on board his luxury Lear jet, the ((Peppered Moth)). 

All decisions of the Grand Master are final.  No correspondence will be entered into.