Centennial Memory #3: PA Hosting DeMolay International

To celebrate the DeMolay Centennial, PA DeMolay will be counting down 100 memories worth celebrating that took place within the DeMolay Chapters and Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania.

Members and Advisors from DeMolay International travel to various locations for the annual Supreme Council and Congress Sessions. This year, the Centennial Session will be held in Kansas City, Missouri from June 26 to June 29, 2019. 

In April of 1990, Pennsylvania hosted DeMolay International in Philadelphia. This was not the only time PA DeMolay hosted International, but it is the most recent. The second, and only other time, was in 1929 held in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, I do not have a picture from that conference, but I do have one from the session held in Philadelphia. Below, you will see the Congress Delegates in a picture located at the staircase of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, with special guest Benjamin Franklin.   

Centennial Memory #20: CHIP Program

To celebrate the DeMolay Centennial, PA DeMolay will be counting down 100 memories worth celebrating that took place within the DeMolay Chapters and Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania.

The CHIP Program, or Child Identification Program, was designed to provide parents with extra safety for their children. It was sponsored by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and was conducted through the Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation. Helpers would interview the children, asking them basic information about themselves that were placed onto a CD. Fingerprints were taken and put into the same kit as the CD. The CD was then given to the parents as an easy means of communication for local authorities in case of emergency.

DeMolay Chapters took this on as a personal project to help their local Masonic lodges and their community. Although this event traveled throughout the state of Pennsylvania, some of the most prominent Chapters involved were Freedom, Elizabethtown, Northeast, FBC, Pilgrim and Somerton. The CHIP Program was also offered at local community programs such as Autumn Day. Here are some photos below of DeMolay members making the community a safer place.

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin 

Centennial Memory #28: PA DeMolay Excalibur

To celebrate the DeMolay Centennial, PA DeMolay will be counting down 100 memories worth celebrating that took place within the DeMolay Chapters and Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania.

At the annual Convention in Gettysburg, a sword was presented to PA DeMolay from the Grand Commandery of Pennsylvania. The sword was dedicated to the memory of Sir Knight Kenneth J Faub, Right Eminenet Past Grand Commander. "Dad" Faub was also a senior DeMolay.

In 2000, another sword was presented to Pennsylvania DeMolay, which we refer to as Excalibur. The sword was presented at the 2000 Convention in Camp Hill to Executive Officer, Samuel C. Williamson. It was presented by St. Alban-Swain Lodge No. 529. Since receiving this sword, it has been used as the official sword of the Legion of Honor Ceremony, and has been used to confer many Chevaliers as well.

Centennial Memory #29: Erie Anniversary Banquet with a Special Guest Speaker

To celebrate the DeMolay Centennial, PA DeMolay will be counting down 100 memories worth celebrating that took place within the DeMolay Chapters and Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania.

In the June 1970 issue of the DeMolay Cordon, the magazine highlighted events and activities that several chapters observed during DeMolay week. Each event was based around the seven cardinal virtues, with a section dedicated to each precept. Erie Chapter was mentioned in the section involving Comradeship, because of their successful Anniversary Banquet. Based on the time-frame, this would have been the Chapter's 46th Anniversary.

The guest speaker for the banquet was Gary Collins, former Wide Receiver for the Cleveland Browns. As the article indicates, this event brought a lot of interest for the organization, including from prospective members. This is an event that I wish I had a picture of, so if any member of Erie Chapter has anything regarding this banquet and photos with the guest speaker, please feel free to share it with us.

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin

Centennial memory #30: Chester Chapter Takes Special Trip

To celebrate the DeMolay Centennial, PA DeMolay will be counting down 100 memories worth celebrating that took place within the DeMolay Chapters and Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania.

In 1973, Chester Chapter decided that they wanted to do something special for the Thanksgiving holiday. That idea was to take a trip to Jamaica. The Chapter took 47 members and Advisors to Montego Bay, Jamaica, visiting many popular sites and attractions. They even had the opportunity to hold a meeting while on vacation. This was not the only trip that the Chapter was known to take, although this does seem to be the furthest.

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin

Centennial Memory #35: Trinity Chapter Helps with George Washington Masonic Memorial

To celebrate the DeMolay Centennial, PA DeMolay will be counting down 100 memories worth celebrating that took place within the DeMolay Chapters and Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania.

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial can be found in Alexandria, Virginia. The Order of DeMolay is known for donating the statue which is the center of this monument. It was considered a gift to Freemasons everywhere. The statue is made out of bronze and stands 17' 4" tall. It was presented on February 22, 1950 by President Harry Truman on behalf of DeMolay. "Dad" Land sent out a message in 1940 making this a national fundraising effort, with hope that every member would donate .25 cents towards the cost of the statue. Several Chapters worldwide helped raise funds to get the statue built. Although I'm sure it may not have been the only Chapter in Pennsylvania to help raise funds, Trinity Chapter, which met in Bradford, PA, was published in the local paper in 1953 for having helped donate $200 towards the efforts to build the statue.

For more information about the GW Memorial and the statue of George Washington, click on the links below.

DeMolay International Centennial Celebration Moment #31

DeMolay International Centennial Celebration Moment #32

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin

Centennial Memory #43: A Tale of Two Rauschenbergers

To celebrate the DeMolay Centennial, PA DeMolay will be counting down 100 memories worth celebrating that took place within the DeMolay Chapters and Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania.

In a previous post, I mentioned that PA DeMolay has had three sets of brothers who have served as State Master Councilor. Another unique family tradition would be father and son. Many Chapters have fathers and sons who have served as Master Councilor, including one family from Allentown that we covered in a previous post. To date, only one father son duo has gone on to become State Master Councilor, the Rauschenbergers.

"Dad" Curtis R. Rauschenberger served PA DeMolay as the State Master Councilor from 1980-1981. He is still very active with Lorraine Chapter, and is currently the Chapter Advisor. His son, Alexander C. Rauschenberger served as State Master Councilor from 2012-2013. Like his father, he is still active with Lorraine Chapter, and serves as the Chairman of the Advisory Council for the Chapter.

Curtis R. Rauschenberger

1980-1981

Alexander C. Rauschenberger

2012-2013

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin

Centennial Memory #52: Hoffman Family Knows How to MC

To celebrate the DeMolay Centennial, PA DeMolay will be counting down 100 memories worth celebrating that took place within the DeMolay Chapters and Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania.

One of the major teachings of DeMolay is the importance of family. We build family-like bonds within the fraternity, but our own biological family still comes first. It's great to see when families have the chance to share the DeMolay tradition by passing it down to the next generation.

The Hoffman family had DeMolay in it's bloodline. The tradition started with Donald Hoffman. Donald served as Master Councilor, and would later become an Active Legion of Honor recipient. Donald would later have three sons, Donald Jr., Edwin and William. Every male member of their family served an autumn term as Master Councilor of Allentown Chapter. Below you will see an article featured in the May 1963 issue of the Cordon. Since I do not have a picture of the family together, I will provide a picture of two of the Hoffman sons, as they both went on to become Past State Master Councilors of Pennsylvania DeMolay. 

Left to right: Edwin P. Hoffman, SMC 1961-1962,
William G. Hoffman, SMC 1965-1966

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin

 

Centennial Memory #56: Grand Lodge Approves DeMolay Sponsorship in PA

To celebrate the DeMolay Centennial, PA DeMolay will be counting down 100 memories worth celebrating that took place within the DeMolay Chapters and Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania.

For many years, Pennsylvania DeMolay has had the overwhelming support of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and many of the subordinate bodies within Freemasonry. Where did it all start? I'm sure at a later time, we will talk more about the founding of DeMolay in Pennsylvania and the part that the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar played in making it possible for PA DeMolay to form.

Today we will discuss the support from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. In 1959, the 40th year of DeMolay International, Right Worshipful Grand Master, Sanford M. Chilcote, established an edict permitting lodges within Pennsylvania to sponsor a DeMolay Chapter. They were allowed to spend their current lodge funds to financially support a Chapter.

Although this may not seem like a big deal now, in 1959 this was a big deal. PA DeMolay was founded by the Grand Commandery, and although the Grand Lodge was supportive of DeMolay coming to Pennsylvania, this was the first sign of contribution. Since then, the lodges working within Pennsylvania have provided homes and support for Chapters all through the Commonwealth. The article below is from the March/April 1959 issue of the DeMolay Cordon.

Centennial Memory #59: International DSA to Kalodner

To celebrate the DeMolay Centennial, PA DeMolay will be counting down 100 memories worth celebrating that took place within the DeMolay Chapters and Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania.

Yesterday's post, we talked about the Distinguished Service Award, in which a recipient was determined for each jurisdiction. DeMolay International also awarded an International DSA to one of the recipients chosen from each jurisdiction, per term. In 1973, the distinction for the winter term went to a PMC of Chester Chapter, Brother David R. Kalodner.

A summary of his achievements is found in the picture below, which is from the December edition of the DeMolay International Cordon Magazine.

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin 

Centennial Memory #82: First Issue of the Keystone Crusader

To celebrate the DeMolay Centennial, PA DeMolay will be counting down 100 memories worth celebrating that took place within the DeMolay Chapters and Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania.

Today's post will be a blast from the past. We've all seen the Keystone Crusader over the years. Below you will find the very first edition of the newsletter. It shows within the reading the original intent behind the newsletter.

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin