DeMolay International
DeMolay International is an international fraternal organization for young men ages 12 to 21. There is in some select area a "Squire" program for those younger than 12. It was founded in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1919 and named for Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar. DeMolay was incorporated in the 1990s and is classified by the IRS as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.
This article is about the fraternal order. For the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, see Jacques de Molay.
DeMolay is open for membership to young men between the ages of 12 and 21 who acknowledge a higher spiritual power. It has about 12,000 active members spread throughout every continent except for Antarctica.[2] There are active chapters in Canada, Germany, Australia, Japan, Philippines, Argentina, Aruba, French Guiana, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador (affiliated to Peru jurisdiction), Italy, Romania, Greece (affiliated to Romania jurisdiction), France, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia (affiliated to Serbia jurisdiction), Bulgaria and the United States.[3]
Although young women are not permitted to join DeMolay, chapters are permitted to elect chapter "sweethearts" and "princesses."
DeMolay is part of the "family" of Masons and associated organizations. DeMolay is the youth group for young men. (Rainbow Girls and Job's Daughters are similar Masonic-related organizations for young women.)[4]
Founding[edit]
The Order of DeMolay was founded in 1919 with nine members, most of whom lived near each other in Kansas City.[5]
The crown appearing in the self-adopted heraldic arms (the emblem) of the order contains 10 rubies, each representing one of the original nine members and the organization's founder, Frank S. Land. Frank S. Land was a member of Ivanhoe Lodge No. 446. The rubies were originally portrayed as pearls; as each founding member died, the pearl representing him was changed to a ruby.
DeMolay has seven Cardinal Virtues, taught as its basic ideals. The Order calls for every member to live according to these Virtues, which are considered as the things that distinguish a good leader and a good man. They are:
DeMolay defends three fundamental freedoms:
DeMolay has an Ethical Code, composed of the following statements:
Jurisdictional officers[edit]
Each state or jurisdiction holds an annual (or biennial, in some) event known as a Conclave or Convention. At this event, the members of the state or jurisdiction may vote on the State Master Councilor (or, in some cases the Provincial Master Councilor / Jurisdictional Master Councilor) and other elected positions. Some jurisdictions may elect a Deputy State Master Councilor, Sweetheart, and / or various other positions. In same cases, these officers are appointed by the executive officer of jurisdiction. Some jurisdictions may hold a specific event, called Congress, separate and apart from Conclave or Convention to elect their jurisdictional officers and vote on any changes to the jurisdictional by-laws, then install the new officers at their Conclave or Convention.
Jurisdictional/State Officers are the leaders of their state/jurisdiction. They plan, lead, and execute all of the events happening in their state. They also serve as a resource for the DeMolays in their state to help them with events, ceremonies, and any other DeMolay related activities.
Adult supervision[edit]
Each chapter must be sponsored by a local Masonic body or some other group composed exclusively of Masons.[9] The sponsoring body is responsible for providing the chapter with adult advisors[9] and a place to meet. Members of the sponsoring body form the chapter's initial "advisory council". The advisory council selects one of its members to be its chairman, and he is the official liaison between the chapter and the sponsoring body. Another member of the advisory council is designated the "chapter advisor," and he is the official liaison between the advisory council and the chapter.[9] The chapter's advisory council is responsible for supervising the chapter and its activities.