The Order of DeMolay is an International Youth Organization dedicated to the principles of
building better citizens out of teenage boys.
The youth movement was founded on March 16, 1919 in Kansas City, Missouri by Frank S.
Land, and nine teenage youths. Frank Land became the Secretary General for DeMolay and
held this position until his death on November 8, 1959.
By 1920, the Mother Chapter had grown to 3,000 members and Chapters were soon founded
from coast to coast and in several foreign countries. Today, there are over 2,000 active
DeMolay Chapters and nearly three million young men have joined DeMolay.
DeMolay membership is open to any boy of good character who is between the ages of 12 and
21. Although DeMolay Chapters are sponsored only by Masonic Bodies or individual
Masons, it is not necessary that a boy be a son or relative of a Mason in order to belong to
DeMolay.
The organization was named for Jacques DeMolay, the last Grand Master of the Knights
Templar, who was burned at the stake by King Philip of France on March 18, 1314, as a
martyr to loyalty and toleration.
The Order of DeMolay is a non-profit corporation with an international office located in its
own building in Kansas City, Missouri. Under the guidance of the Grand Secretary, a small but
highly efficient staff acts as the clerical and administrative group to maintain a central office of
records and promote the growth and development of the organization.
The Officers of a Chapter are young men who are given the chance to express themselves
before a group of their fellow members and are taught responsibility. Although DeMolay ritual
and meetings are serious and reverent, the organization does not advocate any particular creed,
but teaches only a profound faith in one true and living God.
Each Chapter is encouraged to have a balanced program of social activities. Each social event,
like all other DeMolay activities, is supervised by adult advisors for the Chapter.
The participation of DeMolay Chapters in community projects has been extensive and is
sometimes carried out on an International level.
Each Chapter is supervised in all of its functions by an adult from the Advisory Council. One
man is designated as the official Chapter Advisor and handles the supervision of Chapter
meetings and counsels Chapter members.
DeMolay does not take the place of home or church, but rather supplements them. Members
are reminded that they get out of DeMolay what they put into it. A DeMolay will form lasting
friendships and also learn responsibility and self-reliance.
The purpose of this organization is to offer young men of today:
Wholesome occupation for his spare time,
Worthwhile associates,
The best environment,
An interesting and complete program of all-around development.
These goals should be striven for, not just every two weeks at meetings, but every day in their
personal time and self-reliance.
