DeMolay International
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DeMolay International (also known as the Order of DeMolay), founded in Kansas City, Missouri in 1919, is an international youth fraternity for young men. DeMolay derives its name from Jacques DeMolay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar. It is a Masonic-sponsored youth organization for boys ages 12-21, and no relation to a Mason is required in order to join. DeMolay was incorporated in the 1990s and is classified by the IRS as a 501(c)(3).
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[edit] Overview
DeMolay is open for membership to young men between the ages of 12 to 21, and currently has about 36,000 members in the United States and Canada[1] and several thousand more world wide. It uses a model of mentoring; adult men and women called advisors, often past DeMolay members or fathers and mothers of DeMolays, mentor the active Demolay members. An advisor is referred to as 'Dad Smith' instead of 'Mr. Smith', in respect of Frank Land and his fatherly role to the founding members. The mentoring focuses on the development of civic awareness, leadership skills and personal responsibility.
Founded by a Freemason, DeMolay is closely modeled after Freemasonry. It is not directly connected to Freemasonry, though it normally meets in a Masonic Lodge room. DeMolay is considered to be part of the Masonic Family, along with other youth groups like Job's Daughters and the Rainbow Girls. Like the Rainbow Girls, a young man does not need to have a family tie or sponsor in a Masonic organization to join DeMolay.
DeMolay has seven Cardinal Virtues, which are the soul structure of what they follow. These Cardinal Virtues are:
- Filial love (love between a parent and child)
- Reverence for sacred things
- Courtesy
- Comradeship
- Fidelity
- Cleanness
- Patriotism
[edit] History
DeMolay was founded in 1919 by Frank S. Land, a successful businessman in Kansas City, Missouri. During World War I, Land had become concerned with the plight of boys who had lost their fathers in the conflict. He decided there was a need for an organization where they could associate with others of their age and learn responsibility and other important life skills. A fatherless boy named Louis Lower and eight of his friends became the first DeMolay members.
The organization is named after Jacques DeMolay, a knight and crusader who was the 33rd and last Grand Master of the Knights Templar. He was taken prisoner by King Philip IV of France, who wanted to seize the Templar's vast wealth. DeMolay was presented before three inquisitors and asked the location of the Templar's treasure. He was even offered a share of it. He refused and was sentenced to the rack. When his spine was broken, he was once again presented to the inquisitors. Again he refused, saying he would rather die than betray his brothers. After being repeatedly tortured and still refusing to talk, he was finally burned at the stake. Members are encouraged to model their conduct after Jacques DeMolay's example of loyalty and fidelity.
The organization rapidly grew, and by the end of 1921, Land realized he had to devote full time to the new organization. As the organization continued to grow, interest developed in the Masonic fraternity, and official recognition and approval by Masonic groups began in many states. Today, many members of DeMolay go on to become Masons when they are of legal age.
DeMolay continued its growth, initiating new members and instituting new chapters in every state of the USA. It then went international, as the organization spread into foreign countries. The organization now exists around the world, including chapters in Canada, the Philippines, Aruba, Australia, Brazil, Bolivia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Panama, Colombia, Paraguay, Mexico and Latin America .
[edit] Structural organization
A local DeMolay organization is known as a Chapter and is headed by the Master Councilor. The Master Councilor is elected by members of his Chapter and is usually among the older members of the group. The Master Councilor is assisted in his duties by a Senior Councilor and a Junior Councilor. The Senior Councilor is usually considered to be next in line as Master Councilor and Junior Councilor to follow, though two people can run against each other. The officers of a Chapter which are appointed, are done so by the Master Councilor, except the Scribe, who is appointed by the Chapter's Advisory Council.
Senior DeMolays (members over 21), Masons, or other adult mentors supervise the Chapter and are usually referred to by the moniker "Dad," a term harkening back to one of the first members, who thought of founder Frank Land as the father he never knew and called him "Dad Land." In recent years, women have also served as advisors for the group and are referred to as "Mom".
Above the individual Chapter, the DeMolay organization has an officer structure at the state level. A State Master Councilor or Jurisdictional Master Councilor is the head of a statewide DeMolay organization. There are also other state positions based on the officers of a chapter, which vary for each jurisdiction. The lead advisor (always a Master Mason and a member of the Supreme Council) in a state is called an Executive Officer and the lead advisor (always a Master Mason) nationally is known as a Grand Master who governs the Supreme Council. There are also officers at an international level as well; the International Master Councilor and International Congress Secretary are the heads of the International DeMolay Congress and serve on the Board of Directors. These officers are always past State Master Councilors.
[edit] Chapter officers
DeMolay functions through a set of officers. Some are elected; some are appointed. The Master, Senior, and Junior Councilors are always elected, but appointed officers are elected in some jurisdictions. The officers of a DeMolay Chapter are as follows:
| Office | Elected/Appointed | Duty |
|---|---|---|
| Master Councilor | Elected | Sits as Chair for Meetings, Official Representative of Chapter to outside
persons and organizations. |
| Senior Councilor | Elected | Many times oversees degree,ceremony work and fund raising. Assists Master
Councilor and takes charge in absence of Master Councilor |
| Junior Councilor | Elected | Many times oversees membership, Assists other Councilors and
takes Charge in absence of both Master and Senior Councilors |
| Scribe | Appointed
by Advisory Council |
Records minutes at meetings, files necessary paper work, sends
and receives communications. “So goes the Scribe, so goes the Chapter” |
| Treasurer | Elected or Appointed | Manages Chapter Account |
| Senior Deacon | Elected or Appointed | Conducts candidates in initiation, Assists Councilors,
Sometimes proceeds to Junior Councilor |
| Junior Deacon | Appointed | Communicates with Sentinel, assists Senior Deacon |
| Senior Steward | Appointed | Keeps facilities clean and in order, Provides Refreshments |
| Junior Steward | Appointed | Assists Senior Steward |
| Orator | Appointed | Presents ceremonies, Makes necessary announcements |
| Sentinel | Appointed | Verifies persons entering meetings, Keeps away disturbances |
| Chaplain | Appointed | Prayer |
| Marshal | Appointed | Conducts necessary movement in meetings |
| Standard Bearer | Appointed | Oversees flags and proper presentation of such |
| Almoner | Appointed | Collects alms for charities, and those sick or distressed |
| Seven Preceptors | All Appointed | Represent the seven Cardinal Virtues of DeMolay |
| Organist (Optional) | Appointed | Provides Music |
Some DeMolay chapters elect a "Chapter Sweetheart" to serve as the female representative of the chapter. Her duties include attending chapter functions and acting as the Master Councilor's escort. The "Sweetheart" must meet the age requirements of a particular jurisdiction or chapter, usually set at twelve to twenty-one. She may be member of a neighboring Job's Daughters Bethel, Rainbow Assembly, Triangle, or Constellation, but that is not a set requirement. Some chapters also elect a "Duchess", "Princess","Li'l Sis", or "Junior Sweetheart" in addition to the Chapter Sweetheart.
[edit] Activities
DeMolays participate in a wide range of activities that can include: Camping, Holding Dances with Rainbow Girls and Job's Daughters, Playing Basketball, Football, Baseball, Soccer, Tennis, Paintball, Billiards, Going Canoing & Kayaking, Taking long distance trips and much more,"much" more. The Chapter collectively decides what events they enjoy doing, then plan them accordingly, and in many cases, hold fund raisers to finance them.
[edit] Honors and Awards
Degree of Chevalier is the highest honor that an active DeMolay can receive. This honor may also be granted to a Senior DeMolay. The Degree is a citation for outstanding DeMolay service and activity. In order to receive the honor, a DeMolay must be at least 16 years old on January 15th of the year nominated, have been a member for at least two years as of that date, and have the approval of the Executive Officer of his state.
The Legion of Honor is the highest Honor conferred by the International Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay. Since amendment of the Statutes of the International Supreme Council in 1985, nominees for the DeMolay Legion of Honor must be at least 25 years of age before January 15. The International Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay may confer the DeMolay Legion of Honor (LOH) upon a Senior DeMolay for outstanding leadership in some field of endeavor, service to humanity, or for success in fraternal life, including adult service to the Order of DeMolay. The International Supreme Council may confer upon a Freemason, who was not a DeMolay, who has performed unusual and meritorious service in behalf of the Order of DeMolay, or who has evidenced a spirit of cooperation and appreciation for the Order of DeMolay, the Honorary Legion of Honor (HLOH).
[edit] Order Of Knighthood
The Order of Knighthood is an appended organization of Older DeMolays. The Knighthood program is for active DeMolays between 17 and 21 years of age who are organized into a subordinate unit known as a Priory with its own officers and ceremony work.
The Order of Knighthood made its debut in 1946, when Dad Land wrote the Priory ritual. This ritual was not exemplified before the Grand Council, now known as DeMolay International's Supreme Council, until 1947, as Dad Land held off on its implementation.
Through the years, the activities of the Knights have consisted of social and educational programs geared to older DeMolays, with a special emphasis on career planning and coed activities.
The official name of the order of Knighthood is the Chivalric Knights of the Holy Order of the Fellow Soldiers of Jacques DeMolay. It is not an honorary degree or award, but a working body whose purpose is to extend fellowship and serve the Order of DeMolay.
The main functions of a Priory are to:
- Extend and assist the Order of DeMolay and its Chapters.
- Maintain the active interest of older DeMolays.
- Provide an interesting program for the Priory members.
- Above all to provide and maintain a proper example for all DeMolays.
[edit] Hall of Fame
Over the years, DeMolay has had many alumni who have gone on to achieve wide recognition outside of the organization. Some of them have been elected to the DeMolay Hall of Fame.[2] However, not all DeMolays who have received recognition have been inducted into the Hall of Fame; some can be found on other lists.[3]
The following is a partial list of the members of the DeMolay Hall of Fame. The full list is available on the DeMolay International website.
| Name | Dates | Profession | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carl B. Albert | 1908 - 2000 | Politician | Speaker of the House (1971-77) | |
| Cecil D. Andrus | b. 1931 | Politician | Governor of Idaho (1971-77, 1987-95), U.S. Secretary of the Interior (1977-81) | |
| Reubin O'Donovan Askew | b. 1928 | Politician | 37th Governor of Florida (1971–1979) | |
| John S. Bailey | b. 1929 | Soldier, International Educator | ||
| Walter "Red" Barber | 1908 - 1992 | Sports Broadcaster | Recipient of Ford C. Frick Award from National Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| E.P. Baruth | 1906 - 1995 | College Track Coach | ||
| Robert Lee Beck | b. 1936 | Dentist, Physician, Olympic Athlete | Won Bronze Medal in Modern Pentathlon at 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. | |
| Mel Blanc | 1908 - 1989 | Cartoon Voice Actor | "Man of a Thousand Voices" | |
| Frank Borman | b. 1928 | Astronaut | Commander of Apollo 8, CEO of Eastern Airlines (1975-86), recipient of Congressional Space Medal of Honor | |
| Vance D. Brand | b. 1931 | Astronaut | Flew on Apollo-Soyuz, as well as 3 Space Shuttle missions | |
| Floyd A. Cailloux | 1913 - 1997 | Businessman | ||
| Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. | 1940 - 2005 | Politician | Governor of South Carolina (1987-95) | |
| Curtis L. Carlson | 1914 - 1999 | Entrepreneur, Philanthropist | Founded The Carlson Companies in 1938 as The Gold Bond Trading Company | |
| Mel Carnahan | 1934 - 2000 | Politician | Governor of Missouri (1991–2000) | |
| Bill Clinton | b. 1946 | Politician | 42nd President of the United States | |
| Gary Collins | b. 1938 | Actor | Best known for Airport (1970) | |
| Walt Disney | 1901 - 1966 | Cartoonist and entrepreneur | Creator of Mickey Mouse, Co-Founder of The Walt Disney Company | |
| Lee S. Dreyfus | b. 1926 | Educator and politician | Governor of Wisconsin (1979-83) | |
| J. Robert Duncan | b. 1942 | Businessman, Avid Pilot | ||
| Buddy Ebsen | 1908 - 2003 | Actor, singer, dancer | Jed Clampett in The Beverly Hillbillies | |
| Kenneth B. Fischer | b. 1937 | Engineer, Civic, and Masonic Leader | Most Eminent Past Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America | |
| Roy E. Fitzgerald | 1907 - 1999 | Businessman, Philanthropist | ||
| Raoul L. Frevel, Sr. | b. 1951 | Businessman, Civic and Masonic Leader | Past Imperial Potentate of the Shriners of North America | |
| David Goodnow | b. 1940 | Broadcast Journalist | Former Anchor of CNN Headline News | |
| Paul Harvey | 1918 - 2009 | ABC Radio broadcaster | Recipient of Presidential Medal of Freedom | |
| Mark Hatfield | b. 1922 | Politician | Governor of Oregon (1959-67), U.S. Senator (1967-97) | |
| Burl Ives | 1909 - 1995 | Folk singer and actor | A Holly Jolly Christmas, narrator of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer | |
| Henry M. Jackson | 1912 - 1983 | Politician | U.S. Senator (1953-83) | |
| Brereton C. Jones | b. 1939 | Politician | Governor of Kentucky (1991-95) | |
| Harmon Killebrew | b. 1936 | Former professional baseball player and businessman | Member of National Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Richard King | b. 1938 | Former President of Rotary International | ||
| Elmer Lower | b. 1913 | Journalist, Media Executive | Former President of ABC News | |
| Bob Mathias | b. 1930 | Olympic Athlete, Politician | Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, U.S. Representative from California (1967-75) | |
| Edgar D. Mitchell | b. 1930 | Astronaut | 6th Man to Walk on the Moon on Apollo 14 | |
| Tom Osborne | b. 1937 | Athlete, Coach, Politician | Former Head Coach at University of Nebraska, Member of College Football Hall of Fame | |
| Walter C. Ploeser | 1907 - 1993 | Businessman, Politician | U.S. Representative from Missouri (1941-49) U.S. Ambassador to Paraguay (1957-59), U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica (1970-72) | |
| Karl Reed | 1911 - 2000 | Businessman | ||
| Pete Rose | b. 1941 | Baseball player | All-Time Major League Baseball Leader in hits with 4,256. | |
| Ronald W. Roskens | b. 1932 | Educator, Researcher, Administrator | Former Administrator of United States Agency for International Development (1990-92) | |
| David Gray Ross | b. 1935 | Judge | ||
| James Nicholas Rowe | 1938 - 1989 | United States Army Colonel | Vietnam POW, Author of Five Years to Freedom | |
| Edward T. Schafer | b. 1946 | Politician | 29th United States Secretary of Agriculture, Governor of North Dakota 1992–2000 | |
| Harold Schafer | 1912 - 2001 | Philanthropist and businessman | Founder of Gold Seal Company | |
| Ronald A. Seale | b. 1948 | Lawyer and Masonic Leader | Sovereign Grand Commander of The Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, USA | |
| Lance P. Sijan | 1942 - 1968 | United States Air Force Captain | Recipient of the Medal of Honor | |
| Alex Spanos | b. 1923 | Owner of the San Diego Chargers | ||
| Dean Spanos | b. 1950 | Businessman, Community Leader | President and CEO of the San Diego Chargers | |
| John Steinbeck | 1902 - 1968 | Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Nobel laureate | Wrote The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men | |
| John Cameron Swayze | 1906 - 1995 | Newscaster | ||
| Fran Tarkenton | b. 1940 | Professional Football Player, Businessman, Entrepreneur | Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame, Member of College Football Hall of Fame | |
| John Wayne | 1907 - 1979 | Actor | Won Academy Award for Best Actor for True Grit in 1969 | |
| James C. Wright, Jr. | b. 1922 | Politician | Speaker of the House (1987-89) |
[edit] References
- ^ "Membership Statistics". DeMolay International. http://www.demolay.org/resources/membershipstats/. Retrieved on 2008-07-31.
- ^ "DeMolay Hall of Fame". http://www.demolay.org/aboutdemolay/halloffame.php. Retrieved on 2008-06-30.
- ^ "Cherokee Chapter, DeMolay's list of famous DeMolays". http://suburban740.org/demolayfamous.htm.
