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DeMolay International is a youth fraternity and 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, Buddy Ebson, Mel Blanc, Burl Ives, and Many others. Each spoke eloquently of the life-changing benefit gained from their involvement in DeMolay.

DeMolay was the brainchild of Frank S Land, a 33-degree Mason. Frank saw the need for an organization to act as a father figure for young men who had lost their own fathers as a result of the war. In 1919 Louis Gordon Lower at the age of 17 was introduced to Frank Land. At that time, Louis was merely looking for a job to help out with family finances, but his demeanor piqued Land’s interest. Land soon suggested that Lower could help him organize a young-men’s club – an organization to encourage and give direction to young men like Louis Lower.

Within a few weeks, the first unofficial meeting of the Order of DeMolay took place at the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City. Lower was the first DeMolay – His patent, issued by Mother Chapter of Kansas City, Missouri is dated 5 October 1919 and bears the signature of Frank S Land. Louis was also the first member of the Legion of Honour.

The namesake of the Order of DeMolay was born in Vitry, Department of Haute Saone, France in the year 1244. At the age of 21, Jacques DeMolay joined the Order of Knights Templar.

The Knights Templar was an organization sanctioned by the Roman Catholic Church in 1128 (See the detailed history on this click —> here), to guard the road between Jerusalem and Acre, an important port on the Mediterranean Sea. The Order of Knights Templar participated in the crusades and earned a name for valor and heroism. With many nobles and princes sending their sons to join the Knights Templar, the Order became very wealthy and popular throughout Europe.

Of any 100 young Men who join DeMolay, five of those will become Master Councillor of their DeMolay chapters. And at least one of them will later say that he valued that experience above his college degree. Eighty or more of the 100 will go on to complete some form of post-high school education.

Many of the 100 will find their vocation through other DeMolay involvement, such as Merit Bar work. DeMolay has produced a good number of men, who after serving as chaplains of their local chapters, went on to become ministers or pastors. Along the same lines, several of the 100 DeMolay will first be introduced to some form of organized religion by attending some church or temple through a chapter function.

Of any 100 young men who become a DeMolay, thirty will drop out in their first year. Perhaps this may be regarded as a failure. But in later life, most of them will remember they were in DeMolay and speak well of the program and its lessons.

Only rarely will one ever appear before a juvenile court judge or be in any trouble with the law. In fact, DeMolay produces a great many lawyers. And, although the percentages are not known, many of the 100 will join the military. Each of the 100 will learn something from DeMolay and benefit from their association with the fraternity. Again the percentages are not known, but a considerable number of the 100 will also go into the Masonic Lodge in later life. Of the 100 who join Masonry, many will serve as a head of one of the Masonic organizations.

The beautiful ritual of DeMolay was written by Frank A Marshall of Kansas City, Missouri and the circumstances surrounding the writing of this marvelous work are very interesting, especially to those who have seen the exemplification of the Ritual. Brother Marshall was an energetic, loyal, and sincere member of the Fraternity and a pleasure to meet. He had been active in and received all of the official honors of both the York and Scottish Rites. Brother Marshall and his wife were frequent visitors in St. Louis, spending time while there with their daughter, Mrs. Mamie Ocker, High Priest of Sprig of Acacia Conclave, U.D. wife of W. Bro Erwin L Ocker, WM of Magnolia Lodge No. 626

When brother Marshall was so often asked ‘How did you happen to write the DeMolay ritual? His reasons are too many to list in this article. What stands out is that when Frank Land explained what he wanted to do it seemed so obvious. With Jacques DeMolay his idol and Freemasonry foremost in his mind, especially The Scottish Rite, it necessarily followed it would be based on that ritual. Many meetings with Land followed before the final draft was approved. It is interesting to note that this Ritual has never been changed since 1919.

Dad Frank S Land passed away on 8 November 1959 and was buried with honored ceremonies at Mt. Moriah Cemetery. In the fall of 1960, a memorial committee was appointed to set up a memorial in his honor. This committee recommended that Dad Land’s office should remain as he left it, to be forever a shrine to his memory and his work. They further recommended that the room adjoining his office should be converted into a museum or exhibit room to house the jewels, Masonic regalia, his paintings, and the bronze head that was presented at his testimonial dinner. The idea for a stained glass window came from H. Malvern Marks. He had it taken from a drawing that was part of the Members Record Book. This record book was sent to all new members beginning in 1925.

The window was placed in the memorial room so it could be seen from the street. It was also lit so that it would be visible at night. The window is in beautiful colors and shows a DeMolay young man robed and kneeling at the DeMolay altar, on which is the Crown of Youth, the Bible, and the school books.

The bottom of the window reads, ‘I do so promise and vow…’ The ideals of Frank S. Land continue today with the devoted members of the entire world, working tirelessly to keep his dream alive.
To install Filial Love, Reverence, Courtesy, Comradeship, Fidelity, Cleanness, and Patriotism.

There is not one DeMolay who is ashamed to say ‘I am a DeMolay’.