 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The following are questions that Dad Leo and the other advisors have been asked frequently in getting the Orange-Rockland Central Chapter started. They’re offered here in the hopes of introducing you to DeMolay.
Who can become a member of DeMolay?
To join DeMolay, you must:
What do you do?
A little bit of everything! We plan and run our own activities which include sports, video games, trips, dances, and pizza!
How much does it cost?
The one-time induction fee for Orange-Rockland Central Chapter is $45 but there are no annual dues for the rest of your life! Some of our activities cost money but we do fundraising to help out with that.
Can I attend a meeting and see what it’s like?
Sure! You can’t participate in the formal Chapter meetings until you are a member but we welcome prospects to visit with their parents and get to know about DeMolay and our Chapter. You’re also welcome to join us at our ’fun activities’ and get to know us better!
Can girls join?
DeMolay is an organization for young men, but there are girls at many of our activities. There are other organizations for young ladies, similar to DeMolay, and sponsored by the Masonic Family such as the International Order of Rainbow for Girls. Our Chapter works closely with the Rainbow Assembly in Middletown, NY.
What are the ceremonies I would go through?
Ever since DeMolay began in 1919, all of its members have gone through the same initiation ceremonies, including John Wayne, Walt Disney, Walter Cronkite, and Dan Rather. To be a DeMolay you must go through two ceremonies, which we call ‘degrees’. The first is the Initiatory Degree where the Seven Cardinal Virtues (Precepts) of a DeMolay are explained to you by the members of the Chapter. The second degree is the DeMolay Degree where we dress up in costumes and put on a short play for you to watch. The play is about the trials of Jacques DeMolay (the person DeMolay is named after), and teaches us about the bonds of friendship and loyalty we share as DeMolay members.
Seven cardinal virtues?
They are the basic principles that we feel help us to be better people. They are:
Members must believe in God, is DeMolay a religion then?
No, DeMolay is not a religious group, and we’re not here to replace your church youth group! DeMolay doesn’t teach or require any specific religion but expects each member to hold a belief in a Supreme Being and to be tolerant in your opinion of others.
How is DeMolay a fraternity and what exactly does that mean?
A fraternity is an organization whose members have a special bond with one another regardless of age or position. It is a brotherhood built on common interests and experiences. DeMolay is not a secret fraternity, and we have no secrets from non-members as to our type of organization, our purposes, activities and beliefs. The only things that someone might consider secret about DeMolay are our passwords, signs, and handshakes. This is our way, like all fraternities, of recognizing our members and helps to make being a member really special.
So, it’s kind of like Animal House?
Uh, no. Go back and read that last part again. DeMolay is about character and leadership. There are no embarrassing or secret activities ever. You will never be asked to do anything that you would not be comfortable doing in front of your parents, at school, or in church.
What if my mom wants to know what happens at meetings?
There is nothing in or about DeMolay that your parents shouldn’t know. In fact, there isn’t a DeMolay activity that your parents or guardians are not welcome to attend. Most Chapters, including our own, have Parents or Mothers Clubs, and many fathers become Chapter advisors.
What’s with the ‘Dad So-and-so’ thing?
Dad is a title given to the advisors of a Chapter. This practice actually began in the earliest days of DeMolay when Frank S. Land created a group to provide activities for boys, several of whom had lost their fathers during World War I. Despite his own young age at the time, Land was a father figure to these young men and they began to call him 'Dad'. As DeMolay grew and other men became involved to share the responsibilities, members took to calling them 'Dad' as well. Recognizing that this very significant title would be a reminder to the adults of the great responsibility they had undertaken, the practice was continued and today, advisors are called 'Dad' rather than the more formal and impersonal 'Mr.' or the much more casual first name. It reminds DeMolays of their ability to talk freely and openly to an Advisor should they so choose and reminds the Advisor of his responsibility of leadership. It is not intended in any way to replace a true 'Dad' in a family environment. (It's important to note too that for some DeMolays, the problem of a fatherless family continues....)
OK, how do I join?
