What is DeMolay?
DeMolay is the largest youth fraternity in the world. The Order of DeMolay was started over 80 years ago in Kansas City, Missouri. DeMolay is a character building organization for young men who are 12 to 21 years of age. In over 700 chapters throughout the United States, these young men have the opportunity to develop management, leadership and social skills as they participate in community projects, sports, and other educational programs. DeMolay also has chapters in Canada, Brazil, Australia, Germany, Panama, Japan, Italy, and the Republic of the Philippines. More than two million young men have been members of DeMolay. Alumni members include John Wayne, Pete Rose, Walt Disney, Dan Rather, Willard Scott, Burl Ives, Walter Cronkite and countless others. DeMolay’s alumni are distinguished leaders including many U.S. senators, state governors, U.S. astronauts, professional athletes, and major U.S. corporation presidents. DeMolay is dedicated to providing a safe environment in an organiz
DeMolay is an organization dedicated to preparing young men to lead successful, happy, and productive lives. Basing its approach on timeless principles and practical, hands-on experience, DeMolay opens doors for young men aged 12 to 21 by developing the civic awareness, personal responsibility and leadership skills so vitally needed in society today. DeMolay combines this serious mission with a fun approach that builds important bonds of friendship among members in more than 1,000 chapters worldwide. DeMolay alumni include Walt Disney, John Wayne, Walter Cronkite, football Hall-of-Famer Fran Tarkenton, legendary Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne, news anchor David Goodnow and many others. Each has spoken eloquently of the life-changing benefit gained from their involvement in DeMolay. DeMolay still teaches the same seven precepts or basic life principles upon which DeMolay members should base their lives: Filial love (love of parents), reverence for sacred things, courtesy comradeshi
The Order of DeMolay was founded in 1919 in Kansas City, Missouri by Frank S. Land. His intention was to create a club for young men to learn life and leadership skills. With World War I raging in Europe, many of these young men had no father at home, and Frank Land became a kind of guide and father figure for them. He was awarded the honorary title of “Dad” by the first group of DeMolays, a title which has since been passed on to every Advisor of a DeMolay Chapter. The boys struggled to come up with a name for their new organization until someone suggested it be named after Jacques DeMolay, the last Grand Master of the medieval Knights Templar. After listening to the story of Jacques DeMolay’s torture and ultimate death for steadfastly refusing to reveal the location of his hidden brother Knights and their vast wealth to the evil king of France, the boys decided to name their club the “Order of DeMolay.” Each new member takes an oath to live up to Jacques DeMolay’s ideals of honesty,
The International Order of DeMolay is the world’s largest fraternal organization for young men between the ages of 13 and 21. The Order was founded in Kansas City, Missouri on March 24, 1919 by Frank Sherman Land. DeMolay Chapters are sponsored by Masonic Lodges, and some members of the sponsoring body also serve as Advisors on the Chapter’s Advisory Council. Structurally, it is similar to Masonry. The officers of a Chapter are the Master Councilor, Senior Councilor, Junior Councilor, Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, Senior Steward, Junior Steward, Orator, Scribe, Marshal, Chaplain, Standard Bearer, Sentinel, Almoner, and seven Preceptors. DeMolay Chapters hold monthly or bi-weekly meetings with Masonic-like Ritual. Other activities include athletic tournaments and events, social functions (joint activities with Rainbow are encouraged), fund-raising activities, Masonic service activities, and civic and philanthropic activities. DeMolays are taught the seven cardinal virtues of the Order–
