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What is DeMolay? DeMolay is fun. DeMolay is and can be most anything you would like it to be. We have sports, dances, all sorts of competitions in all sorts of areas and it's the largest fraternal (fraternity) organization for young men in the world. What do you do? We do almost everything and anything. We have dances, parties, and picnics. We play most sports from basketball to softball to volleyball. How big is DeMolay? DeMolay was started in 1919, and since that time over 4 million young men just like us have joined. Today there are about 1500 chapters, located in the United States, Canada and several other countries. Who belongs to DeMolay? Lots of guys just like us, who like to have fun at great activities and to learn things that will prepare them (and us) for the future. What are the membership requirements? To join DeMolay, you must be a young man between the ages of twelve and twenty-one; believe in a supreme being; be a person of good character and good reputation; and petition a DeMolay chapter. How much does it cost to join? There is a ONE! time membership fee of $40.00. We do have to pay for some of the activities we do.... When and where do you meet? Most of the Chapters meet in Masonic Lodge Halls. We meet twice a month, once to conduct business and plan projects and activities, and once to initiate new members or work on some type of project, like finishing last minute details for a softball game or a dance. Can I attend a meeting? Well, you can't formally attend a meeting until you join, but you can come to our activities and meet some of the guys. If you really want to attend a meeting to see what it's like, you can come down to our next meeting for a while and I will introduce you to all the guys. Are there any girls in DeMolay? DeMolay is an organization for young men, but there are girls at some of our activities. There are other organizations, for young ladies, similar to DeMolay, and sponsored by the Masonic Family, such as the Rainbow Girls. What makes DeMolay different from other young men's organizations? What sets us apart from the other young men's groups is that we have a feeling of "brotherhood" that comes from belonging to our fraternity. DeMolay will provide you with many lasting experiences. What are the ceremonies I would go through? Ever since DeMolay began in 1919, all of its members have gone through the same initiation ceremonies. When you join you will go through the same one that all DeMolays went through, including John Wayne, Walt Disney, Walter Cronkite, and Dan Rather. What is the initiation like? To be a DeMolay you must go through two ceremonies, which we call "degrees". The first is the Initiatory Degree where the Seven Cardinal Virtues (Precepts) of a DeMolay are explained to you by the members of the chapter. The second degree is the DeMolay Degree. This one is great, it's where we dress up in costume and put on a play for you to watch. The play is about the trials of Jacques DeMolay (the person DeMolay is named after), and teaches us about the bonds of friendship and loyalty we share as DeMolay members. What are the seven cardinal virtues? They are the basic principles that we feel help us to be better people. They are:
Is DeMolay a religous group? No. DeMolay is not a religious group, DeMolay teaches no religion but expects each member to profess a belief in a Supreme Being and be tolerant in your opinion of others. What is a fraternity? A fraternity is an organization whose members have a special bond with one another regardless of age or position. It is a brotherhood built on common interests. Is DeMolay a secret fraternity? We are not a secret fraternity, and hold no secrets from non-members as to our type of organization, our purposes, activities and beliefs. What are your secrets? The only thing that someone might consider secret about DeMolay are our passwords, signs, and handshakes. This is our way, like all fraternities, to make being a member really special. What does the name DeMolay come from? Jacques DeMolay lived around the 14th century in France, during the time of the great Crusades. He was the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, which was the fraternity of Crusaders in France. He was a Knight and a leader of men who stood up for the less fortunate and was true and faithful to his cause and his friends until death. Abbreviations PMC = Past Master Councilor, RD=Representative DeMolay, Chev=Degree of Chevalier, LOH=Legion of Honor, COH=Cross of Honor, AM=Active Member of ISC, DM=Deputy Member of ISC, PGM=Past Grand Master, ISC=International Supreme Council, PJMC=Past Jurisdictional Master Councilor, SD=Senior DeMolay Any one of the following implies Senior DeMolay or Advisor (LOH, COH, AM, DM, PGM)
100 DeMolay's Of any 100 young men who join DeMolay, five of those 100 will become Master Councilor 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 chaplain of their local chapters, went on to become ministers or pastors. Along those same lines, several of the 100 DeMolay's 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 these will remember that they have been in DeMolay and speak well of the program and the lessons it teaches. Of any 100 DeMolay's, 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 most all will 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. A number of the 100 come from single parent families and look to their advisors (Masons) as positive role models. One out of the 100 will be awarded the rank and honor of Chevalier, the highest honor granted to an active DeMolay. Approximately sixteen of the 100 will value their time in DeMolay so much that they will "give back" to DeMolay by serving as an adult volunteer in later life. Although only one out of every 1,000 young men in the United States, age 13 to 21, will join DeMolay, it is interesting to note that many of this nation's leaders in business, religion, and politics belonged to DeMolay in their teens. In fact, one out of every twelve State Governors is a Senior DeMolay and one out of every ten United States Senators is a Senior DeMolay. One hundred DeMolay's ... equals a high number of leaders. Who was Jacques DeMolay?
The Knight’s Templar were founded in 1118, when nine nights took vows to protect Jerusalem and the Holy Lands, recently captured by the first crusade. The Templar’s were ferocious warriors; pitching themselves into the midst of their enemies, astride charging war-horses, against incredible odds and quickly earned a name for valor and heroism. Sanctioned by the Catholic Church, and with many nobles and princes sending their sons to join the Knights Templar, the Order became very wealthy and popular throughout Europe. The Order was said to possess 9000 estates and great wealth, which was deposited in its temples at Paris and London. Numerous princes and private individuals banked their personal property there, because of the uprightness and solid credit of such bankers. In Paris the Royal Family’s treasure was kept in the Temple. Grand Master: In 1298, Jacques DeMolay was named Grand Master of the Knights Templar, a position of power and prestige. He was however in a difficult position. In the eyes of European monarchs and the Church, the Templar’s raison deter had ceased with the loss of the Holy Lands. Philip IV (the fair) of France, who like much European royalty was deeply in dept to the Order, had seen their treasures stored in Paris. To prevent a rise in the power of the Church, and to increase his own wealth, Philip set out to take over the Knights. Friday The 13th: On Friday morning October 13, 1307 (and the reason for which Friday the 13th has been known ever since as an unlucky day), Phillip with French Pope Clement V, ruthlessly tried to suppress the Order throughout Europe, with false accusations, arrests, torture and executions. Owing to the lack of evidence, the accused could be convicted only through their own confession and, to extort this confession, the use of torture was considered necessary and legitimate. Many of the accused declared themselves guilty of these secret crimes only after being subjected to such ferocious torture, that many of them died. While the Templar’s wealth and property were confiscated and given to Philip's supporters in France, most of the rest of Europe found them innocent and left them to merge with other orders. For seven years, DeMolay and the Knights suffered torture and inhuman conditions. DeMolay continued loyal and refused to betray his at-large comrades or disclose the location of the Templar’s funds. On March 18, 1314, the Pope planned for DeMolay & his three first dignitaries to publicly confess their guilt and be reconciled to the Church. A platform was erected in front of the great Notre-Dame Cathedral to hear the confession. Jacques DeMolay instead professed the innocence of the Templar’s and the falsity of his own alleged confessions. Another Knight, Guy of Aubergine, likewise disavowed his confession and stood with Jacques DeMolay. King Philip ordered them both to be burned at the stake that day before the gates of the palace, This brave death deeply impressed the people, and, as it happened that the Pope and the King died shortly afterwards, the legend spread that DeMolay in the midst of the flames had summoned them both to appear within the year before the tribunal of God. Thus the story of Jacques DeMolay became a testimonial to loyalty and friendship.
How do I join DeMolay?
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What is DeMolay?
Jacques DeMolay, the namesake of the Order of DeMolay was born in, France in 1244. At 21, DeMolay joined the Order of Knights Templar.
