James L. Johnston, 33°
521 Chofu Jutaku
2-52-1 Kojima-cho, Chofu-shi
Tokyo, 182-0026, JAPAN

DeMolay is as relevant to the new millennium as it was the year of its founding in 1919.

According to Brother Frank S. Land, the Order of DeMolay is "a youth organization for young men from the age of 13 to 21 whose purpose is the building of better citizens." The Order began in 1919 at the Kansas City, Missouri, Scottish Rite Temple where Frank Land was the Social Service Director. He had given Louis Lower, a fatherless high school boy, a job. Land found there were other boys seeking companionship, leadership, inspiration, and a direction in life. They, too, were invited to the Scottish Rite Temple to talk about forming a new boy's club.

It was decided to call the club "DeMolay," named after Jacobus Burgundus Moliensis, or Jacques DeMolay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar. He had been burned at the stake in 1314 as a martyr to loyalty and toleration, preferring death rather than betrayal to his ideals. DeMolay and the Knights Templar are, of course, central to the Scottish Rite Council of Kadosh, Fourth Apartment.

Within a year, from a group of 31 boys, DeMolay grew to a membership of 2,000. Frank Marshal, an editorial writer for the Kansas City Journal, wrote the Ritual, which is basically unchanged from 1919 to today. It and the Flower Talk have been termed ageless and are still relevant to the new millennium. The growth of DeMolay was impressive. In just four years, DeMolay Chapters had been established in 39 states and the District of Columbia. For example, in February 1923, 1,099 boys were initiated in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

Today, the Order of DeMolay is a worldwide organization, and over three million young men have become members. Recently growth has been impressive in South America, and the potential for DeMolay Chapters to be either established or reactivated is much greater than just a few years ago. Accordingly, I challenge Masons to continue and expand this growth. At your next stated business meeting, make plans for either establishing or reactivating a DeMolay Chapter for the teenagers in your community during the year 2000. Yes, it would be a lot of work; yes, it would take a lot of time; yes, it would take a lot of effort; yes, it would take a lot of incentive; and yes, it would be very worthwhile to do. It would take a positive, concerted effort to accomplish this task, but it can be done. Each Lodge could have a DeMolay coordinator (preferably a Senior DeMolay or a father of a teenage son) appointed to promote DeMolay and form an Advisory Council.

Consider the words of Ill. Bro. J. Edgar Hoover, 33°, Grand Cross, former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C., who was an ardent supporter of DeMolay: "When I think of DeMolay, I think of the purpose for which the Order was founded; 'To establish standards of character and ideals of citizenship among young men from the age of 13 to 21 as a preparation for future citizenship.' I found that expression of purpose impressive when it was first brought to my attention many years ago. It is the achievement of that purpose which I find impressive today.

"In an age when so much stress is being put on self—indeed, when scores of children and young people are reared in homes in which many pressures conspire to make them think only of their own wants and desires—it is entirely gratifying to witness the growth [of DeMolay] which flies the banner of selflessness and whose members dedicate themselves to supporting standards which are in keeping with true chivalry.

"It takes a youth of strong character to resist the blandishments of those who seek to turn youths into pliant, amoral weaklings that can be manipulated like puppets and trained to serve totalitarian masters. The vast majority of young people, I am convinced, will continue to stand firm in the face of this attack, and the members of the Order of DeMolay, who already are distinguishing themselves in the field of leadership, will, by holding to their own high standards, inspire others to do the same.

"Long centuries ago, when mankind was struggling to lift itself out of the despair of the Dark Ages, the youths of warring nations met in mortal combat on many historic battle fields. The outcome of such battles often depended upon the ability of one knight with the gift of leadership who, by fighting off attack after attack and keeping his banner flying, was able to rally his countrymen to his flag, inspire them to greater effort, and ultimately, win the field. I believe that the young men of this age, who uphold the principles and ideals which form the banner of DeMolay, similarly inspire others to rally to the same standard. In doing so, I am convinced they strike a tremendous blow in behalf of preserving the democratic way of life."

James L. Johnston is the Personal Representative of Ill. Joe A. Diele, 33°, Deputy in Japan and Korea. He is a Past Grand Master and incumbent Grand Treasurer, Grand Lodge of Japan, and a very active ritualist in the Tokyo Scottish Rite Bodies. A Past Master Councilor of Whittier (California) Chapter, he has been awarded the Active Legion of Honor for his many services to the Order of DeMolay. Until recently, he was on the faculty of Policy Studies, Chuo University Department of Political Science and Department of Cross-Cultural Studies in Tokyo.