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DeMolay International

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DeMolay International (originally known as the Order of DeMolay) is an international youth fraternity for young men between the ages of 12 to 21 (members who reach the age of 21 are referred to as 'Senior DeMolays'). The organization helps prepare young men to lead successful, productive and happy lives through the development of civic awareness, leadership skills and personal responsibility. It is modeled after Freemasonry, and like Freemasonry, members are initiated into DeMolay through ritual and an allegorical program. DeMolay is considered an appendant body to Freemasonry; every DeMolay chapter is sponsored by a Masonic Lodge or other Masonic body. DeMolay is considered part of the family of Masonic youth groups along with Job's Daughters, and Rainbow Girls.

Contents

History

The Order of DeMolay was founded in 1919 in Kansas City, Missouri by Frank Sherman Land and nine young men. Since then the organization has spread to all 50 U.S. states and many other countries around the world including Canada, Philippines, Aruba, Brazil, Bolivia , Germany, Italy, and Japan.

The organization is named after Jacques de Molay, a knight and crusader who was the 23rd and last Grand Master of the Knights Templar. Members are encouraged to model their conduct after his example of loyalty and fidelity.

The initiation program consists of two degrees, the Initiatory Degree and the DeMolay Degree. The initiatory degree is solemn, and shows how one will dedicate himself to the Order. The DeMolay degree portrays the tribulations experienced by Jacques DeMolay and inculcates his values of loyalty and love for his comrades. There is also a DeMolay Mother's Degree.

Structural Organization

A local DeMolay organization is known as a Chapter and is headed by a 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. All the officers of a Chapter are appointed by the Master Councilor, except for the Councilors and Treasurer, who are elected, and the Scribe, who is appointed by the chapter's Advisory Council.

The Officers of a Chapter are:

Senior DeMolays, Masons, or other adult mentors supervise the Chapter and are usually referred to by the moniker "Dad". In recent years, women have also served as advisors for the group, and are referred to as "Mom". DeMolay Chapters may also periodically elect a member of a neighboring Job's Daughters Bethel, Rainbow Assembly, Triangle, or Constellation as a "Chapter Sweetheart." Though to be a sweetheart, a young woman does not necessarily need to be in these organizations, though it makes the job easier as she must communicate with them. She must only meet the age requirements of a particular jurisdiction or chapter, usually set at fifteen to twenty-one.

The next level above the Chapter is 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 off of the officers of a chapter, which vary for each jurisdiction. The lead advisor in a state is called an "Executive Officer" and the lead advisor nationally is known as a "Grand Master." 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 usually past State Master Councilors of their respective states.

An honorary title that is given on rare occasions to a Senior DeMolay who has had some outstanding contribution to the DeMolay movement or humanity at large is the title of Honorary International Master Councilor. Former United States President Bill Clinton was a recipient of this honor.

Current Leadership

Keith K. Klein of Indiana was elected to serve DeMolay as its Grand Master on June 17th 2006, in Seattle Washington. James Connors II of Oregon was elected as 40th International Master Councilor and Nate Stallings of Virginia was elected to serve as 40th International Congress Secretary.

Famous DeMolays

Over the years, DeMolay has had several alumni who have gone on to achieve wide recognition outside of the organization DeMolay Hall of Fame. http://universe.demolay.org/halloffame/ DeMolay Hall of Fame. Notable Senior DeMolays include Alex Spanos, Bill Clinton, Bob Mathias, Brereton Jones, Buddy Ebsen, Burl Ives, Lance Sijan, Carl Albert, Carroll Campbell Jr., Cecil Andrus, James Nicholas Rowe, Colonel Frank Borman, Curtis Carlson, David Goodnow, Dean Spanos, Robert Lee Beck, Elmer Baruth, Elmer Lower, Floyd Cailloux, Fran Tarkenton, Gary Collins, Harmon Killebrew, Harold Schafer, Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson, J. Robert Duncan, James Wright Jr., John Cameron Swayze, John Steinbeck, John Stephen Bailey, John Wayne, David Gray Ross, Karl Reed, Larry Dee Wilcox, Lee Sherman Dreyfus, Mark Hatfield, Mel Blanc, Mel Carnahan, Paul Harvey, Pete Rose, Raoul Frevel, Reubin O'Donovan Askew, Richard King, Ronald Roskens, Roy Fitzgerald, Tom Osborne (Nebraska), Vance Brand, Walt Disney, Walter Barber e Walter Ploeser.

Notes

External links

 

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