The Order of DeMolay – Origins and History

It all started with… Hugh de Payen and nine other members of the French nobility They traveled to Jerusalem in 1118 They met Bowdoin I, King of Jerusalem

Saint Bernard de Clairveaux,

The Last Days of the Order Acre falls as the last bastion on the Crusader state in Palestine Philip the Fair arrests Templars on October 13th Templars burned at stake to harass remaining Templars into confession Jacques de Molay and Guy de Auvergne* martyred, burned at the stake on an island in the river Seine in the middle of Paris * Modern research sources cite it was really Geoffrey de Charnay who was martyred with de Molay

Our Hero  Comte Jacques Bernard de Molay  Born 1244 c.e. in Vitrey, Department of Haute Saône, France  23 rd and Last Grand Master of the crusading order of the Knights Templar  Died by the hand of Philip IV on March 18, 1314 c.e., in the Place du Vert- Gallant, on the Ile de la Cité, Paris

Jacques de Molay recants  “I think it only right that at so solemn a moment, when my life has so little time to run, I should reveal the deception which has been practiced, and speak up for the truth. Before heaven and earth, and with all of you here as my witnesses, I admit that I am guilty of the grossest iniquity. But the iniquity is that I have lied in admitting the disgusting charges laid against the Order. I declare, and I must declare, that the Order is innocent. Its purity and saintliness is beyond question.” The End?

It all started with…  Frank S. Land  Kansas City, MO  Very Spiritual  Artistic  Entrepreneur  Scottish Rite  Employment Office

Enter: 17-year old Louis G. Lower Father had passed away Mother had a job, but it wasn’t enough to support the four kids ages His exemplary character shone through He was given a job on the spot

Nine Boys and a Man Brother Land recognized the need He suggested a club Next week eight other boys showed up The guys got a guided tour of the mysterious and beautiful Scottish Rite building They liked the idea of Knights and Chivalry and that kind of thing But they were at a loss… Who could be the exemplar of the club?

EUREKA!!! Brother Land was the Commander of DeMolai Council of the Kadosh He told the boys the story of Jacques DeMolay’s heroic life and martyr’s death The guys were instantly hooked

Spring of 1919 The word ran like wildfire 31 boys showed up for the first official meeting Brother Land got the nickname of “Dad” “Dad” Land said that the meeting and club were theirs, he was only there to advise He quietly sat in the back They later decided to limit their membership to 75 and it was unanimously adopted Then “Dad” Land stood up…

Summer 1919: Frank Marshall What makes us different? Our Ritual! Soon to be “Dad” Marshall was a journalist Dad Marshall had to be cajoled He worked all night long, and within 24 hours, the fundamentals were laid out – we had our Degrees September: Final version

Nearly 90 years and millions of boys later…