Legacy of the Nine

Today we'll be taking a short break from our Region II Spotlight series for a quick DeMolay history lesson. I was recently asked to send a copy of the DeMolay emblem to one of our District Deputy Grand Masters. It donned on me, even though I had already known it, that the emblem now contained all rubies. When I first started in DeMolay there was one pearl remaining on the emblem. This led me to search for a quick history of all of the original members and what happened to them. Thankfully, a I found a great Wiki article, which I'm including below.

The Order Of DeMolay originally had nine members. The crest of the order contains 10 rubies. Each represent one of the original nine or Dad Frank S Land. A pearl denoted one of the original ten who was living. When one of the original founders died, that pearl was changed to a ruby. Today, all of the original founders have died and all pearls are rubies now.

Ivan M. Bentley - He lived in Louis Lower's neighborhood. Crowned a Chevalier in 1920. Died in an accident in 1921. His death made him the first Ruby in the emblem.

Louis G. Lower- The first DeMolay and the first Active DeMolay Legionnaire (LOH). Crowned a Chevalier in 1920. He was gunned down by an intoxicated security guard on July 18, 1943. He was the second of the original nine to die, became the second ruby.

Dad Frank Land - The third ruby on the DeMolay crest was for Frank Land himself. Doctors diagnosed his disease as scleroderma. Doctors advised Land to slow down but he continued to work at his frenetic pace telling them, "My work must go on. DeMolay must go on." Although he had begun to show signs of fading, Frank Land's death on November 8, 1959 came as a shock, especially to his beloved DeMolay organization. The fraternity successfully made the transition to new leadership but mourns his passing to this day. Every DeMolay around the world honors Dad Land's memory every year on November 8.

Edmund Marshall- He lived next door to Elmer Dorsey. Crowned a Chevalier in 1920. Graduated from University of Missouri. President of the Kansas City Board of Trade. He died on November 8, 1966 and became the fourth ruby.

Clyde C. Stream - Cousin of Gorman McBride. He was a technical Engineer with the Sagano Electric Company. Retired to Bradenton, Florida. He died on May 3, 1971 and became the fifth ruby.

Gorman A. McBride- He lived in the neighborhood with Louis Lower. Second Obligated DeMolay. First Master Councilor of Mother Chapter. Crowned a Chevalier in 1920. Became an Active Member of the International Supreme Council. Received the Founder's Cross from Dad Land, the only one of the original nine to do so. A Lawyer by profession and was Director of Activities at ISC Headquarters in the 1960s. He died on November 10, 1973 and became the sixth ruby.

Ralph Sewell - He lived in the home of Louis Lower. Became the Credit Manager for H. D. Lee Mercantile Company, makers of Lee jeans. Skilled Pianist and Organist. He died on July, 1976 and became the seventh ruby.

Elmer V. Dorsey - He lived just behind Louis Lower. Successful Businessman. Moved to Texas and became an Advisor to Richardson Chapter. He died on November 1979 and became the eighth ruby

William W. Steinhilber- He lived in the neighborhood with Louis Lower. Became a successful stock and bond broker. Captain of the first DeMolay baseball Team. He died on October 28, 1992 and became the ninth ruby

Jerome Jacobson- He lived one block from Louis Lower. Graduated from University of Kansas, admitted to the Missouri Bar as a lawyer. Outstanding career in law and finance. Lived in Kansas City all his life. He died in May, 2002 and became the tenth and final ruby

Without these men, there would be no DeMolay, so let's remember them and what they did for us!

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony