The DeMolay Order is the largest youth organization in the world with philosophical, philanthropic, and nonprofit purposes, having initiated since its origin over than 2.5 million young men. It’s considered by UN like a non-governmental organization of fundamental importance, because it works on the idea that “educating a young person we’ll be avoiding the task of punishing an adult”. Founded on March 18, 1919 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, with the objective of making young men from 12 to 21 years old, better citizens and leaders through the development and strengthening of the personality and emphasizing indispensable virtues to good social conduct. Contrary to what many people think, we aren’t a young Masonic Institution, but unified and directed by Masons, organized since its origin as an International Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay, in Kansas City, USA.

The DeMolay Order doesn’t have the pretension or desire to replace Home, Church or School for their improvement, but unify them in a teaching program looking for a good citizenship to its members. It’s based on loyalty, leadership, responsibility spirit and search for an ideal that the DeMolay Order works for values and virtues of its members, looking for a decent and fair world for all, without distinction. The Order’s teachings guide its members to dedicate themselves to happiness of their fellow, not just because rationality or moral imposes it, but because this feeling of solidarity makes them brothers.

And as it gets stronger, the countries of the whole world get closer to each other, been linked through young DeMolays whom develop in themselves the Seven Cardinal Virtues: Filial Love, Reverence for Sacred Things, Courtesy, Comradeship, Fidelity, Purity and Patriotism. So, the activities and efforts become more important to reach the true mutual comprehension of cultural and social values of each Nation, despite origin, race, color, nationality, religion, language or gender.

When a young boy initiates in the DeMolay Order so many things pass by his head, like the idea of the great responsibility he assumes when joining “the largest young army of the world”. This could be extreme, but from there we can see the mind of a future leader being formed who will guide his conduct based on values of our Order.

Nowadays the DeMolay Order is in 13 countries, of which we can highlight Brazil, United States, Australia, Japan, Italy and Germany. And other countries want to implant the Order such as England, France, India and Norway. Besides United States, another 5 countries have their own Supreme Council, including Brazil.

What does DeMolay Order mean?

The DeMolay Order is an organization for young men aged 12 to 21, having been active for more than 80 years and being proud to be a young fraternal society of millions of members.

Its Patron, Jacques DeMolay, who was a Knight Templar in the XIV century, was burned for being loyal and not betraying his brothers and followers. From his example, the DeMolay Order learned the lesson of how important honesty, loyalty and fraternal love are. We revere his memory and try to live based on this principles and ideals, with which any young person can live. The Order has at its foundation 7 essentials principles, which we call Seven Cardinal Virtues: Filial Love, Reverence for Sacred Things, Courtesy, Comradeship, Fidelity, Purity and Patriotism.

What can the DeMolay Order do for a guy?

The goals of the DeMolay Order are many: social and constructive character are some of them. That may be said that the activities are varied, always involving everybody. In the DeMolay Order the young man is encouraged to express himself and make his opinions known; talk to other guys and discuss common problems to youth.

In the DeMolay Order the boy will be supported to become a kind of person who we’ll be an asset to society, not being forced that way, but willingly, because this is the right thing to do like a man and like a DeMolay. Nowadays with the pressures on the youth and demands put on them, they have the right to be treated like young people and as a result, the world has the right to wait that they guide their own lives the way it must be done.

The DeMolay Order has the power of enlisting to youngsters good principles and transform them in leaders, giving them the teachings and day to day laws to guide the direction of their lives and the nation too. Each new DeMolay is a potential leader, it lacks only the appropriate training.

How does a young man get qualified to become a DeMolay?

To enter this Grand Organization of Youngsters, it is necessary, especially, to believe in a God, independently of any religion. However, it is worth mentioning that the DeMolay Order isn’t a religion. The young guy must bring with him the basic principles of the DeMolay Order. And if a young person holds these virtues, certainly he won’t pass by us without being noticed.