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Frequently Asked Questions Q: What is DeMolay? A: DeMolay is a youth group for teenage boys that allow a young man to learn leadership skills through his own active involvement. DeMolay allows an opportunity for young men to develop their own management ability and public speaking skills. The DeMolay program offers athletics, social activities and charitable community involvement, by which efforts a young man learns teamwork, pride of accomplishment, dedication, ability to achieve and communication skills.
A: Every young man has the opportunity to excel in DeMolay in whatever part of DeMolay attracts him. The more involvement he has, the more of an opportunity exists. He can learn basic leadership skills, public speaking, and general life skills. He will have the opportunity to meet many other young men and perhaps make the friendships of a lifetime. He will have the opportunity to learn teamwork while accomplishing goals with his peers. He will have opportunity of having the satisfaction of working for charitable efforts or civic projects. He will have the opportunity of attending social and fun activities. He will have the opportunity to earn scholarships for his education. He will have the opportunity of attending special seminars and conferences focusing on leadership training. This could be, for your son, the experience of a lifetime. It certainly has been for many others.
A: DeMolay accepts applications from all young men between 12 and 21 years of age. It is required that applicants be of good character and believe in a supreme being.
A: DeMolay Chapters are sponsored by recognized groups of Masons. The sponsor provides the meeting facilities and an adult group of advisors. DeMolay chapters, therefore, meet in Masonic Lodge building.
Q: When are the Chapter meetings? A: Each Chapter holds meetings twice monthly (such as 1st and 3rd Wednesdays). A regular business meeting of the chapter would include a formal opening (with ceremony) and a full business agenda meeting, following Roberts Rules of Order. The dress for a regular business meeting of a DeMolay Chapter is jacket and tie. The officers of the Chapter run the meeting. Some Chapters meet once per month formally, as described, and once informally, where they dress casually, hold a quick business discussion and schedule some type of social activity (billiards, games, bowling, etc.) The meeting schedule is at the discretion of the Chapter officers, as approved by the advisory board. Q: What types of activities could we expect? A: DeMolay Chapters are run by the members themselves, with the adult guidance of the advisory board, so almost any type of activity is possible. An average, well rounded DeMolay Chapter’s officers would plan a six or twelve month term plan that would include social, athletic, fundraising and charitable projects that would appeal to the members.
A: That is strictly an individual’s choice. Each young man decides his own level of involvement. Besides meetings, the young men may choose to run weekend activities such as dances, camping trips or trips to interesting places. The athletics are normally on Sunday afternoons. Your son will have the opportunity to accept more responsibility by striving for an office, or he could choose to sit back and enjoy more of the social aspects. A young man will tend to “find time” for what interests him. The organization fully realizes, and emphasizes the fact, that it is secondary to family, school, religion, and the other priorities of life. DeMolay seeks to reinforce these important parts of a young man’s life.
Q: What will DeMolay membership cost? A: Each DeMolay Chapter sets its own life membership fee, averaging around $35-$50, as there are no annual dues. DeMolay Chapters run their own fundraising events to keep the Chapter solvent, and they may use those funds as they wish to offset the costs of various other activities. The Chapter treasury belongs to the members. There will be costs for attending various events such as the young man’s DeMolay career advances, at his choice, but there is no other “up front” money required.
Q: What is the initiation like? A: DeMolay’s two-part initiation, which is like no other, is a serious deep meaning ceremony. The first section explains the virtues of DeMolay by which one should guide his life. The seven virtues, or precepts, of DeMolay are Love of Parents, Reverence for Sacred Things (or respect for one’s religion), Courtesy, Comradeship, Fidelity, Cleanness and Patriotism. The second section is done in play form telling the story of the organization’s namesake Jacques DeMolay, who gave up is life rather than betray his friends. The lesson taught in the second section is fidelity and toleration. The initiation contains no hazing or embarrassing acts, as they have no place in DeMolay. The initiation is performed by DeMolay members who take great pride in their memorization of the ceremonies. All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend the initiation ceremonies. The initiation is not open to other children, in respect to the DeMolay members, as they have their own fraternal signs of recognition to be respected.
A: Members of the advisory board supervise all events. It is not an official DeMolay event unless it is first approved by the advisory board and then supervised by at least two advisors. Volunteer parents are welcome to assist as chaperones and/or drivers for events, but advisors will always be present.
A: The adult advisors for each DeMolay chapter are made up of men and women who volunteer their time for the youth. They could be Masons, Senior DeMolay (former DeMolay members over 21 years) or non-Masonic fathers and mothers. All advisors must submit an “Adult Worker Profile” to the State DeMolay Executive Officer prior to being accepted as an advisor and all advisors must complete an advisor-training program developed by DeMolay International. Background checks are completed on all advisors. Advisors are recruited by the sponsoring body and serve at the discretion of the DeMolay Executive Officer for New Jersey.
A: Each Chapter strives to have an active Parents Club who assists the advisors by volunteering to prepare meeting refreshments, attend Chapter activities and generally assist the advisors. Any parent is welcome to officially join the advisory board.
A: Yes. New Jersey DeMolay is part of a national insurance policy secured at our national headquarters. It is a secondary policy, as the individual’s insurance is the primary source.
A: Absolutely not. The Masonic Fraternity proudly sponsors the young men of DeMolay as a service to the community and to the youth, as part of Masonry’s large-scale charitable efforts. DeMolay membership does not automatically make a young man a Mason at the age of twenty-one. A DeMolay member, upon attaining the age of twenty-one, may ask for an application for membership to join Masonry, just as any other applicant would make such a request.
A: While commonly called Masons, Freemasonry is centuries old and the largest fraternal organization in the world. The worldwide membership consists of more than six million men from every race, creed, color, and political persuasion. Freemasonry is NOT a “secret society”, as the only “secrets” are traditional signs and words used between members. Any man, over 21 years of age and of good character, may seek membership. Freemasonry is not a religion, it not “anti” any other group and favors no particular religion, but believes in a supreme being. Freemasonry’s charitable efforts are second to none. The Masonic umbrella of organizations, including the Shriners, Scottish Rite, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, and others, donate over $1.5 million PER DAY to charity. |
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