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SpotlightGA DeMolay Featured in National Royal Arch Mason MagazineReprinted with permission of the author, this article appeared in the Fall 2007-2008 Royal Arch Mason Magazine, a nationally distributed magazine. GEORGE WASHINGTON JOINS DEMOLAYby David Goodnow, LOH, 33o ATLANTA - DeMolay, the world’s largest youth fraternity, got its start with help from the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons almost nine decades ago. These many years hence, that early assistance of the Grand Chapter has resulted in great strides and advancement for many young men as they have grown and developed.
This legacy also means much to some Freemasons in Georgia who have recently become Honorary Senior DeMolays and members of the DeMolay Alumni association. You might say it’s all about a new chapter in the DeMolay story as well as the new George Washington Alumni Chapter, Order of DeMolay in Georgia. It’s the story of an idea whose time has come. Frank S. Land was a successful young Kansas City, Missouri businessman who founded the DeMolay fraternity and guided it as it grew and developed over the years. The 28-year-old community leader started the group for young men in March, 1919. That first small circle would grow over the years to change the lives of succeeding members with help from countless other Freemasons. This new organization needed a name. Brother Land helped the first nine members of the group as they considered a list of names of those connected with Masonry and settled on that of Jacques DeMolay, the heroic last Grand Master of the Knights Templar. History has proven the wisdom of W. Bro. Land as the ensuing decades brought many former members of the Order of DeMolay into prominence in their respective vocations. Lives were changed for the better for many of those members by the lessons learned in their DeMolay chapters. Many also would become Masons and work as DeMolay advisors, or “Dads,” in helping build the network of DeMolay chapters across the country and, later, across many borders. Only a few years after its establishment, and in addition to the General Grand Chapter, many distinguished Masonic organizations endorsed DeMolay including Grand Lodges and the Knights Templar. Sponsorship was vital and had to come first. The initial 12-members of the advisory council were all Scottish Rite Masons. All either were or would later receive the 33rd degree. Dad Frank Land would eventually become Imperial Potentate of the Shrine of North America. Decades passed and the Order grew and prospered until membership began to decline during the period of the so-called counter-culture when it was thought unseemly to be a “joiner.” The drop off in membership and attendance caused more than a few Masons and senior DeMolays, former members attaining the age of 21, to wonder about the fraternity’s future. But DeMolay was here to stay and all involved kept working to keep it alive and healthy. Fast forward to the Order of DeMolay in Georgia in 2001. The notion of an alumni chapter got its start in that year with an unpleasant surprise. Georgia DeMolay Executive Officer Mark B. Bohn attended grand lodge and also set up a DeMolay informational display to point out the history of the Order, its goals and accomplishments. To his considerable surprise, no less than three Masons stopped to ask about DeMolay, apparently being unfamiliar with any elements of it and how it related to Freemasonry in general. “They asked, ‘What’s DeMolay?’ I was amazed and shaken,” Executive Officer Bohn said. Following this news, the fraternity’s Executive Officer Steering Committee set up a three-year strategic plan with the goal of strengthening the beginning of what would eventually become the George Washington Alumni Chapter, Order of DeMolay.
It was a momentous session. The committee members hoped the decision would stimulate the future growth of DeMolay in Georgia as well as in other states that might see some positive results and institute similar plans to boost awareness of the Order. Knowing of a DeMolay project in Florida in 2006, Executive Officer Bohn and State Master Councilor Geoff Bard said it was worth looking into that state’s King Solomon DeMolay Chapter. The group meets once yearly at Grand Lodge to educate attending Florida Masons about the youth fraternity. Deciding this was part of the wakeup call to bring DeMolay to the forefront of awareness in Georgia Masonry, Brother Bohn and SMC Bard agreed a specific project of that sort was sorely needed as part of the overall growth plan. It was obvious the real growth in DeMolay was going to come with help from the state’s Masonic organizations. It would be the centerpiece of the three-year plan set out in 2003 as the result of that surprising encounter with Masons unaware of this Masonic-related youth fraternity. At the 2006 DeMolay state officers meeting, State Master Councilor Bard brought up the idea of an alumni chapter, noting the Florida King Solomon Chapter. He and Executive Officer Bohn were confident this would interest the Masonic fraternity in DeMolay. Upon hearing of the project from State Master Councilor Bard, EO Marc Bohn and Dad Larry Griggers, a member of the DeMolay International Supreme Council, Georgia Deputy Grand Master Eli Stafford saw this as something important for the support of youth in Georgia. The Deputy Grand Master was enthusiastic and not only gave his whole-hearted backing to the idea, but suggested Georgia DeMolay work through the new Grand Lodge masters and wardens workshops and training sessions for the coming year. What better way to get out an important message and lay the DeMolay informational groundwork? The workshops, usually totaling a half-day in length, ran a full day with half the session being allocated to the DeMolay presentation. A vital part of the growth plan, as presented to the new masters and wardens, involved forming a new chapter, an alumni group of Freemasons and non-Masons at least age 21. They would be initiated, take the obligation and learn the tenets of DeMolay. Thus began the actual planning for the George Washington Alumni Chapter of the Order of DeMolay in Georgia. Masons and others so initiated would be lifetime members of the George Washington Chapter and the DeMolay Alumni Association. They would also be awarded the title “Honorary Senior DeMolays.” Once the idea was formed, State Master Councilor Geoff Bard, his brother State Senior Deacon Peter Bard and State Junior Councilor Todd Stovall assembled the degree teams with advice from Dad Jim Bard, Director Of Events for Georgia DeMolay and a deputy member of the DeMolay International Supreme Council. In order to shorten the length of the ceremony for the alumni members, State MC Bard re-wrote the ritual in order to produce an abbreviated Initiatory Degree and used the Ceremony of Light as well as the full DeMolay Obligation. The DeMolay Degree would be presented in full. DeMolay International has permitted various jurisdictions establishing regular pilot chapters to use abbreviated rituals. The first George Washington Alumni Chapter initiation was held in Albany, Georgia in 2007. New Grand Master Eli Stafford was the active candidate while the other 17 new members observed. All then stood behind the Grand Master to take and seal their obligation. State Master Councilor Bard and Executive Officer Bohn then greeted each with a handshake and welcome. It was official: the first 18 were now members of the new alumni chapter. The following Saturday in Savannah, Georgia at the York Rite center, more new Masons were initiated. As the months have passed, the George Washington Chapter’s current roster now totals over 150 members. At the Albany ceremony, the Grand Master said he saw the value of the new chapter. He continues to be an enthusiastic supporter of DeMolay. Mark Bohn says, “He is a real campaigner for DeMolay and is working to make it a success.” Now past State Master Councilor Geoff Bard noted, “Grand Master Stafford is very pro-youth.” All grand lodge officers are also members of the new chapter. As of this year’s Georgia state DeMolay conclave, 41 new young members, starting at age 12, were added to the regular roles. This reflects positive growth; the first time DeMolay in Georgia has shown a membership increase in six years. The idea of forming the George Washington Chapter was timely. The proof of that will undoubtedly be seen as membership, both alumni and regular, continues to grow. Along the way, Masons in Georgia and, possibly, many other places, will learn more about the DeMolay fraternity and the support and advancement it offers boys leading to success throughout their lives. Thus, the George Washington Chapter is Georgia DeMolay's Official Alumni Chapter. Membership is open to any male adult 21 and over. The support of the General Grand Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons those decades ago, helped start something big. Now retired, David Goodnow, Atlanta, was one of the original anchors of CNN Headline News. A native of Vincennes, Ind., he is an active member of the DeMolay Legion of Honor and the DeMolay Hall of Fame. He received the honorary 33rd Degree of the AASR NMJ, and the Caleb B. Smith Award, the highest honor of the Grand Lodge of Indiana. Artwork is courtesy of Larry Griggers, Director of Masonic Relations for Georgia DeMolay. |
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