PARENTHESES

This week marks the 87th year of the International Order of DeMolay since its Annos Ordinis. This week also marks the 692nd death anniversary of the Last Grand Master of the Knights Templars, Jacques DeMolay, our hero and martyr whose name we have taken into our lips.

Millions of young men from all walks of life all over the world have become members of the Order since its founding in 1919. Many DeMolays became prominent in their fields of endeavor, like Walt Disney, John Wayne, John Steinbeck, Mel Blanc and Former US President Bill Clinton to mention a few. The Order of DeMolay was founded by Dad Frank Sherman Land, a prominent Mason in Kansas City, Missouri. Since its foundation, the Order is kept under the guardianship of the world’s most ancient and noble fraternity, Freemasonry.The Order of DeMolay is the main youth organization of the universal Masonic fraternity.

The Philippines takes pride in being the first to establish a DeMolay Chapter in Asia, the Jose Abad Santos Chapter which was established in March 23, 1946. Today there are more than 70 DeMolay Chapters scattered all over the country existing under the auspicies of the Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay of the Republic of the Philippines. Philippine DeMolay has also its share of members excelling in their chosen fields like the award winning film directors Joel Lamangan and Ben Cervantes, Mayors Jejomar Binay and Nepthali Gonzales Jr, Eli Buendia of the erstwhile Eraserheads, Luke Mejares of the South Border Band, etc.

This year also marks my 25th year as member of the Order of DeMolay. Since my initiation to the Order until now I have always enjoyed the comradeship of my brethren. I consider it a unique privilege to be counted as one among the million of men around the world who have knelt before the altar of everlasting fellowship, beheld our martyr’s trial, took his name sacred and proudly proclaims, “I am a DeMolay”.

To my Brethren in the Order of DeMolay, my stp o grs, sgn o wcm, tkn o btd n wrd o emn,DeMolay! Happy 87th Anniversary!!!

Our Order had endured the test of time and thirteen years more, we will be celebrating our Centennial!