Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who can become a member of DeMolay?
To join DeMolay, you must:
- Be a young man between the ages of 12 and 21
- Believe in a Supreme Being
- Be a person of good character and good reputation
- Petition a DeMolay Chapter
A little bit of everything!
We plan and run our own activities which include sports, social activities, community service, fundraising, trips, dances and much more!
We plan and run our own activities which include sports, social activities, community service, fundraising, trips, dances and much more!
John Wayne Chapter No.3667 Order of DeMolay charges a one-time initiation fee of $100 to join, but there are no annual dues for the rest of your life! Some of our activies cost money, but we do fundraising to help out with that.
Can I attend a meeting and see what it’s like?
Sure! There is nothing in or about DeMolay that you as a parent shouldn’t know. In fact, there isn’t a DeMolay activity that you as parents or guardians are not welcome to attend.
DeMolay is an organization for young men, but there are girls at many of our activities. There is another organization for young ladies similar to DeMolay, which is also sponsored by the Masonic Family and named the International Order of Rainbow for Girls. The closest Rainbow assembly is Pearland Assembly #337 sponsored by C.F. Spencer Lodge in Pearland.
What are the ceremonies my son would go through?
Ever since DeMolay began in 1919, all of its members have gone through the same initiation ceremonies, including John Wayne, Walk 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 or ‘precepts’ of 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 the initiates to watch. The play is about the trials of Jacques DeMolay (the person DeMolay is named after), and teaches us about the bond of friendship and loyalty we share as DeMolay members.
They are the basic principles that we feel help us to be better people. They are:
- Filial Love (Love of Parents)
- Reverence for Sacred Things (Respect for things you feel are important, or for things others feel are important.)
- Courtesy
- Comradeship (Friendship)
- Fidelity (Being true to your friends and beliefs)
- Cleanness
- Patriotism
Members must believe in God, is DeMolay a religion then?
No, DeMolay is not a religion, 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 their 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 interest and experiences. DeMolay is not a secret fraternity, and we have no secrets from non-members as to our type of organization, our purpose, 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 sure being a member is really special.
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 some of whom had lost their fathers. With Land and the boys becoming familiar with each other, they all felt that the title of "Mr." was too formal, but they still wanted to show respect for him. That is when they agreed upon the title of "Dad", which was less formal, but still respectful. 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 each advisor became known as “Dad”. Since women have become advisors, each has become known as "Mom." These titles remind DeMolays of their ability to talk freely and openly to an Advisor should they so choose, and reminds the advisors of their responsibility of leadership. It is not intended in any way to replace a true "Mom" or “Dad” in a family environment.
How are adult advisors selected?
Advisors must be 25 years of age or older and can be a parent or grandparent of a DeMolay, a Mason, a Senior DeMolay, a Community Leader, or an adult sibling of a DeMolay. Those wishing to be an advisor must complete the required paperwork and submit to thorough background verification. DeMolay International randomly rechecks advisors annually, and every advisor is rechecked every five years. In addition, the Chapter Advisor and the Chairman of the Advisory Council must be master masons in good standing.
This website is the official website of John Wayne Chapter#3667 Order of DeMolay and acknowledges the authority of and yields allegiance to DeMolay International, of which Frank S. Land was the founder.
