DeMOLAY'S RELATIONSHIP TO FREEMASONRY
This article has been developed from an address presented to the executive
Councils of DeMolay of North America on March 1, 1991. It was prepared by Thomas
W Jackson, Grand Secretary of The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. Editor
It was my privilege to recently address the executive officers of the Order
of DeMolay on the subject "What Does Freemasonry Expect from DeMolay?" When
preparing to address this subject, I found it to be an interesting and
intriguing question but one without a recognized and clear-cut answer. Many
times we hear expressed what DeMolay expects from Freemasonry, but I had never
before considered what Freemasonry expected from DeMolay.
As a boy I did not have the opportunity to be a member of the Order of
DeMolay. In fact, I never heard of DeMolay until I became a Freemason. I was,
however, active in the Boy Scouts of America for a period of 27 years and found
the basic principles of both organizations to be the same although the modes of
operation are quite different. I would have loved, however, to have had the
opportunity to work with the ritualism of DeMolay.
Freemasonry does, indeed, have a right to expect something, from not only the
Order of DeMolay as a Body, but also from each individual member of that Body.
Simply defined, we have the right to expect a performance from the members of
DeMolay that reflects the purpose of the organization. Many of our Members,
however, fail to recognize that purpose.
Brother Frank Land, when asked to define the Order of DeMolay, stated:
"Literally speaking, I would say the Order Or DeMolay is a youth organization
for young men whose purpose is the building of better citizens."
In trying to define what Freemasonry expects from DeMolay, we should look to
the seven cardinal virtues and the vows of a DeMolay. They are, after all,
reflective of what it takes to become a better citizen. They also represent what
is required as a commitment to DeMolay.
The systematics within the Order to build that better citizen lies within the
keeping of the vows and the practice of the seven cardinal virtues. Freemasonry
has every right to expect that purpose to be carried out by each individual
member of the Chapter, as well as the Order in general!
One of the unique facets of DeMolay which has made it so different from other
youth organizations has been the emphasis on the first cardinal virtue, Filial
Love. This is a quality never specifically stressed in any other organization
with which I am familiar. We have the right, as a Masonic Fraternity, therefore,
to expect the members of the Order of DeMolay to display a respect for their
parents and to acknowledge their parents contributions in their lives.
We have every reason to expect a member of the Order to display reverence for
sacred things. A genuine belief in a Supreme Being is a fundamental
philosophical principle of Freemasonry, and we can accept no less from the Order
of DeMolay.
Courtesy as a virtue seems to be a lost ingredient in present day society and
is an attribute which contributes to the exemplary quality of the Order.
Freemasonry has every reason to expect courtesy in every way from our young men.
The ability of man to relate to man may well determine the future of the
world. Indeed, I would suspect the virtue of comradeship would be one that will
become more valuable in the life of a young man with each passing year. We have
every right to expect the development and practice of this virtue by members of
the Order.
We have every reason to expect a display of fidelity on the part of each
young man who belongs to the Order. Perhaps this is one of the least emphasized
virtues in society today, yet one of the most valuable.
Cleanliness in thought, word and deed becomes more unique to general society
yearly! The last two decades have evidenced a remarkable change in sociological
attitude toward this virtue. Indeed it seems almost nonexistent in our
permissive society. What was once an accepted standard is now almost the
exception. We have however every right to expect cleanliness as a virtue within
the members of DeMolay.
Finally, above all, we should expect no less than an absolute dedication to
the concept and display of patriotism. The Masonic Fraternity, itself,
emphasizes the need for the commitment of each of us to his country, and we
should never expect less from members of the Order of DeMolay.
In addition, the vows of DeMolay require each member to uphold and aid the
public school system, and to honor and protect every woman. Freemasonry has a
right to expect to see these vows practiced.
To see a more specific aspect of what Freemasonry expects we would have to
look at the reaction of our Members to specific stimuli and the image that they
expect to see in the organization they support.
It may not be fair and, indeed probably is not, to expect the members of
DeMolay to respond to the image some of our Members expect. However, as an
active Advisor of a Chapter, I heard, and I am certain all of you have heard,
some of our Members complaining about the actions of individuals within the
Order of DeMolay. These actions can be as minor as simple misconduct in a Lodge
Hall to major misconduct which can reflect upon the organization as a whole.
Many of our Members who have never been exposed to the Order of DeMolay, or
for that matter to the actions of current young people in general, have a much
greater tendency to look with disdain upon the Order of DeMolay because the
young men of the Order do not always create the image which is expected of them.
Appearance and acts of individual DeMolays can and do impact the opinion of
Masons about the Order.
I personally do not disagree with the right of anyone to express themselves,
this is part of their inherent right as an American citizen. I do, however, as a
Freemason, feel that there is an assumed obligation by a member of the Order of
DeMolay to display a mode of conduct which reflects positively upon the Order.
Many Masons who are in a position to greatly influence the future of DeMolay
express concern with images created by individual members of the Order.
The fact remains that simple and unintentional misconduct or poor appearance
by one individual member of the Order can and does create an impact on the Body
as a whole.
We as Masons assumed an obligation that whatever we did would reflect
positively upon the Fraternity. The members of the Order of DeMolay assumed that
same obligation !
Because the majority of society accepts a certain set of values does not mean
that Freemasonry or the Order of DeMolay are obligated to comply with this same
set of values! What is considered wrong in accordance with Masonic Law and
Masonic values does not have to fall to the level of the values of today's
society. This higher value system applies also to the Order of DeMolay.
Therefore, what Freemasonry expects specifically from the young men comprising
the Order of DeMolay is that they present themselves in appearance and conduct
on a level higher than that expected from society in general.
Much of the "sale" of DeMolay to Freemasons is based upon their future
membership in Freemasonry, and it certainly serves as a selling point for
Masonic support for the Order.
However, Masonic membership is not the purpose for the existence of the Order
of DeMolay. Brother Land stated that its purpose was to develop better citizens.
If those "better citizens" then choose to affiliate with the Masonic Fraternity,
that should be regarded as a side benefit. But, it certainly should never be the
expected end result to justify the support of Freemasonry!
Inasmuch as our Fraternity is devoted to developing a better world, if we can
develop a better citizen, we are accomplishing that purpose whether they are a
Member of the Craft or not.
There is a universal problem today in securing leadership in the form of
Advisors to our Chapters. This lack of leadership is alarming to all of us.
However, it would behoove us to recognize that it is not a problem limited to
the Order of DeMolay. It is a problem basic to our Lodges and to just about
every other organization in existence.
When I affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America in 1948, 1 joined a troop
which was being re-organized because they were able to secure a Scout Master. In
the 27 years I was active in that organization, lack of leadership was always a
problem. Whatever decisions we make today to solve this problem should be based
on a thorough analysis of what the end results will be over a period of time!
We, as leaders of DeMolay, must take the initiative to expose the Order to
the Masonic Fraternity. We cannot sit back and expect the Fraternity to invite
us to be a participant in their activities. It is important that we educate our
Masonic membership to realize that the purposes of DeMolay justify all the
support we can provide, but Masons must know that purpose.
It, therefore, is extremely important not only to let the Order of DeMolay
know what Freemasonry expects from it, but also to let Freemasons know what
Freemasonry expects from DeMolay. We must educate our Masonic membership so that
they realize that the purpose of their support for DeMolay should be to produce
better citizens, through the teachings of the Order of DeMolay.
It is the responsibility of members of the Order to become better citizens.
This improved citizenship should be revealed by the practice of the seven
cardinal virtues and vows of the Order. Freemasonry has every right to expect to
see this end achieved.
The understanding by both members of the Craft and the Order DeMolay of what
is expected from DeMolay cannot help but improve the relationship between the
two organizations!
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