DeMbolay international, officially The Order of DeMolay International, was founded in Kansas City, Missouri in 1919 by Frank S. Land and nine founding members (boys). It was named for Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the Knighis Templar. Today it is an international fratemal organization for young men ages 12 to 21, of good character, who acknowledge a higher spiritual power. It has about 15,000 active members in the United States and Canada, as well as active chapters in Australia, Argentina, Aruba, Philippines, Paraguay, Bolivia, Ecuador, Brazil, Italy, Peru, Romania, France, Guiana, Albania, Japan, Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia. DeMolay was incorporated in the 1990s and is classified by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
Although not a “Masonic organization” as such, DeMolay is considered to be part of the general “family” of Masonic and associated organizations. Being from a family connection to Masonry is not a prerequisite for membership into DeMolay.
DeMolay has seven Cardinal Virtues, taught as its basic ideals. They are:
- Filial love (the love of parents)
- Reverence for sacred things
- Courtesy
- Comradeship
- Fidelity
- Cleanness
- Patriotism
A local DeMolay body is known as a Chapter and is headed by the Master Councilor. The Master Councilor is elected by members of his Chapter and he is assisted in his duties by a Senior Councilor and a Junior Councilor.
Senior DeMolays (former members now 21 or older), Masons, or other adult mentors supervise the Chapter and are referred to as “Dad.” In recent years, women have also served as advisors for the group, and are referred to as “Mom”.
In addition to the individual Chapter, DeMolay has an officer structure at the state, provincial, or other large regional level, led by a State Master Councilor, Provincial Master Councilor, or Jurisdictional Master Councilor.
Each chapter must be sponsored by a local masonic body or some other group composed exclusively of masons. The sponsoring body is responsible for providing the chapter with adult advisors and a place to meet.
DeMolays participate in a wide range of social and sports activities that may include: camping, holding dances with members of Rainbow and Job’s Daughters, playing basketball, football, baseball, soccer, tennis, paintball, or billiards, going canoeing and kayaking, and taking long distance trips. Both Chapters and individual DeMolays participate in competitions for the best performance of the various Ceremonies of the Order. Winners of local competitions, in ritual and sports, may compete for State Championships and sometimes State winners compete at higher levels. The Chapter collectively decides what events they enjoy, plans them, and in many cases holds fund risers to finance those events.
DeMolay alumni have gone on to achieve wide recognition outside of the organization (e.g): Catt B. Albert, Ceci D. Andrus, Reubin O’Donovan Askew, Walter “Red” Barber, Mel Blanc, Frank Borman, Vance D. Brand, Richard Bryan, Bill Cinton, Walt Disney, Buddy Ebsen, David Goodnow, Paul Harvey, Burl Ives, Pete Rose, Tom Osbourne, Lance P. Sijan, John Steinbeck, Fran Tarkenton, and John Wayne.