P’ mo, MOSSIMO!
Mossimo is a mid-range American apparel company, founded in 1986. Mossimo specializes in youth, teenage, and adult male clothing. It draws from street, urban and sport styles.
Its local outlet in the Philippines had produced and released into market a T-shirt printed with a defaced insignia of the Order of DeMolay. Active and Senior Members of the Order of DeMolay in the Philippines are now up in arms against Mossimo!
The DeMolay seal is a property of the Order of DeMolay. It is worn with pride and honor by millions of DeMolay members all over the world. Like the Masonic Square and Compasses its usage is bounded by rules and confined exclusively within Fraternal domain. Our emblems are strictly not under public domain – “like the cross” or, the swastika!.
The DeMolay insignia was designed by the founder of our great Order, “DAD” Frank S. Land. He designed it as a pin and symbol that recognizes us as DeMolays. This emblem is to be worn only by DeMolays and their representatives. Every part of this insignia has a particular significance, and we as DeMolays know them by heart.
As DeMolays we are reminded, “… to wear this insignia proudly, whether it be on a pin or a crest. Don’t wear it any place where you would be ashamed to take your mother or your sister. Remember, in all humility, when you wear this emblem, you are representing and speaking for over three million other DeMolays scattered throughout the world, who cannot, for the moment, speak for themselves.”
Whatever reason Mossimo has, it cannot justify the use of the DeMolay emblem for any purpose, much so deface an emblem revered by millions throughout the world.
From where I come from, wearing an insignia of a fraternity which you don’t belong is dangerous to your health…defacing that insignia, is a fatal mistake and a sure prescription for disaster!
What Mossimo did is an insult to the Order of DeMolay in particular and the Masonic family in general.