What is DeMolay?

DeMolay is an 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, football Hall-of-Famer Fran Tarkenton, legendary Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne, news anchor David Goodnow and many others. Each has spoken eloquently of the life-changing benefit gained from their involvement in DeMolay.


How the Chapter Works

Every organization has a leader and DeMolay is no exception. The leader of a chapter is called The Master Councilor. The Master Councilor is elected by the brethren to serve a 6 month term of office. He is assisted by The Senior Councilor and Junior Councilor. These 2 officers are also elected and move up in station every term until they reach the highest position of the Chapter.

In total, there could be up to 21 officers in a DeMolay Chapter. The members of the chapter vote on events, create a budget, raise their own monies and pay their own bills under supervision from certified adult supervisors – “Advisors”. Advisors normally are Master Masons from a Masonic Lodge but women are allowed to serve as Advisors too. There are training classes Advisors go through and every adult leader must pass a background investigation.

The members are supported by a parent’s club made up of the parents of our membership. They are there to assist the Advisors in ensuring the chapter runs smoothly and events are successful.

Severn Cardinal Virtues

DeMolay has seven Cardinal Virtues, which constitute the basic ideals and essential teachings of the organization. They are:

  • Filial love: To understand, appreciate, and reciprocate the love our parents give to us.
  • Reverence for sacred things: To respect the religious beliefs of everyone, and to believe in a cause higher than ourselves.
  • Courtesy: To value every person through acceptance, empathy, respect, and tolerance.
  • Comradeship: To form true and long lasting friendships far and wide.
  • Fidelity: To be true, trustworthy, and honest to yourself and your values.
  • Cleanness: To be clean in thought, word, and deed.
  • Patriotism: To honor your country and be a contributing citizen.  To respect those who have and continue to serve our Country in every field of sacrifice and service.

Leadership Skills Developing

DeMolay provides the vital tools to all young men to take on the challenge of developing into the leaders of the future!  Everyone has the ability to be an effective leader.  DeMolay is the jumping-off point for young men to learn, enact, and control their leadership opportunities and skills.  Having the drive to be “a leader” and working up for increased responsibilities is the first step that DeMolay provides a young man, and the lessons they learn through involvement and hard work is what sets them up on the path to self-developed leadership.

Leadership is influencing people by providing purpose, motivation, and direction while operating to accomplish a goal, mission or task, and improve the organization.

DeMolay builds:

CONFIDENCE.  Confidence is the faith that leaders place in their abilities to act properly in any situation, even under stress and with little information. Leaders who know their own capabilities and believe in themselves are confident. Self-confidence grows from experience. Too much confidence can be as detrimental as too little confidence. Both extremes impede learning and adaptability. Loud-mouthed bragging or self-promotion—is not confidence. Truly confident leaders do not need to advertise because their actions prove their abilities.

CHARACTER. A person’s ethical qualities, helps determine what is right and gives a leader motivation to do what is appropriate, regardless of the circumstances or the consequences.

RESPECT. Treating people as they should be treated. The leader demonstrates the value of dignity and human worth, creating a positive environment and projecting cultural tolerance.

SOUND JUDGMENT. Judgment requires having a capacity to assess situations or circumstances shrewdly and to draw feasible conclusions. Good judgment enables the leader to form sound opinions and to make sensible decisions and reliable guesses. Good judgment on a consistent basis is important for success and much of it comes from experience.

INTERPERSONAL TACT. Effectively interacting with others depends on knowing what others perceive. It also relies on accepting the character, reactions, and motives of oneself and others. Interpersonal tact combines these skills, along with recognizing diversity and displaying self-control, balance, and stability in all situations. Good leaders control their emotions.

LEADING BY EXAMPLE.  Leaders constantly serve as role models for others. Leaders will always be viewed as the example, so they must maintain standards and provide examples of effectiveness through all their actions. Proper role modeling provides tangible evidence of desired behaviors and reinforces verbal guidance through demonstration of commitment and action.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS.  Leaders communicate effectively by clearly expressing ideas and actively listening to others. By understanding the nature and importance of communication and practicing effective communication techniques, leaders will relate better to others and translate goals into actions.

ORGANIZATION SKILLS. Leaders ensure they are prepared to execute their leadership responsibilities fully. They are aware of their limitations and strengths and seek to develop themselves. Only through continuous preparation and practicing lifelong learning and development can an individual fulfill the responsibilities of leadership.

DEVELOPS OTHERS. Leaders encourage and support others to grow as individuals and teams. They facilitate the achievement of organizational goals through assisting others to develop. They prepare others to assume new positions elsewhere in the organization, making the organization more versatile and productive.

INTERPERSONAL TACT.  Effectively interacting with others depends on knowing what others perceive. It also relies on accepting the character, reactions, and motives of oneself and others. Interpersonal tact combines these skills, along with recognizing diversity and displaying self-control, balance, and stability in all situations. Good leaders control their emotions.

DECISIVENESS.  Effectively leading requires having the ability to analyze, process, and problem solve situations to reach a decision.  Making the “right” decision will not always be the outcome.  Not having the ability to make decisions is far worse than making wrong decisions.  We all learn from wrong decisions.

Many DeMolay Jurisdictions hold annual Leadership Training Conferences to help you succeed in becoming an effective leader for the future.

Would you like to be a leader?

“Why The Name”

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

The Knights Templar was an organization sanctioned by the Roman Catholic Church in 1128 to guard the road between Jerusalem and Acre, an important port city 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 also became very wealthy and popular throughout Europe.

In 1298, Jacques DeMolay was named Grand Master of the Knights Templar, a position of power and prestige. As Grand Master however, Jacques DeMolay was also in a difficult position. The Crusades were not achieving their goals. The non-Christian Saracens defeated the Crusaders in battle and captured many vital cities and posts. The Knights Templar and the Hospitalers (another Order of Knights) were the only groups remaining to confront the Saracens.

The Knights Templar decided to reorganize and regain their strength. They traveled to the island of Cyprus, waiting for the general public to rise up in support of another Crusade.Instead of public support, however, the Knights attracted the attention of powerful lords, who were interested in obtaining their wealth and power. In 1305, Philip the Fair, King of France, set about to obtain control of the Knights Templars. They had been accountable only to the Church. To prevent a rise in the power of the Church, and to increase his own wealth, Philip set out to take over the Knights.

The year 1307 saw the beginning of the persecution of the Knights. Jacques DeMolay, along with hundreds of others, were seized and thrown into dungeons. For seven years, DeMolay and the Knights suffered torture and inhuman conditions. While the Knights did not end, Philip managed to force Pope Clement to condemn the Templars. Their wealth and property were confiscated and given to Philip’s supporters.

During years of torture, Jacques DeMolay continued to be loyal to his friends and Knights. He refused to disclose the location of the funds of the Order and he refused to betray his comrades. On March 18, 1314, DeMolay was tried by a special court. As evidence, the court depended on a forged confession, allegedly signed by DeMolay.

Jacques DeMolay disavowed the forged confession. Under the laws of the time, the disavowal of a confession was punishable by death. Another Knight, Geoffrey de Charney, likewise disavowed his confession and stood with Jacques DeMolay.

King Philip ordered them both to be burned at the stake that day, and thus the story of Jacques DeMolay became a testimonial to loyalty and friendship.

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INTERESTED IN JOINING DEMOLAY?

DeMolay is an 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.