INTERNATIONAL ORDER OF DEMOLAY
DeMolay was my first exposure to a youth group. It is chivalrous fraternal youth organization based on the story of Jacques DeMolay. DeMo is sponsored by the Masons, but has been wrongly referred to as being "the junior masons." However, there are strong ties between freemasonry and De Molay. What is clear is that DeMo is a benevolent order to bring youths together under pure and true aspirations.
I have to thank Dad Jim Dierke for getting me involved with DeMolay. In the true spirit of DeMolay, I came to his attention when I was in trouble and he helped me become a better person/citizen/human being. Dad Dierke was the Dean of students @ Washington High where I was a student. I got busted for doing somethhing stupid and he gave me options in order to get me back on the path of the straight and narrow. One of those options was DeMolay. Once I joined, I learned that most of my friends from high school were also involved in DeMolay.
DeMolay teaches seven precepts or basic life principles upon which DeMolay members should base their lives: Filial love (love of parents), reverence for sacred things, courtesy, comradeship, fidelity (faithfulness), cleanness, and patriotism.
My chapter of DeMo was a little different than most. We were the fastest growing chapter nationwide at the time and even had a star named after us from our national offices. Dad Dierke and the other chapter Dads made social responsibility and charity work fun. Dad Carter took me under his wing and showed me how to be a good officer and treasurer. San Francisco Chapter was a great experience and did a lot for a kid who could have followed the wrong path in life.
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