The Honor Apron Quest Begins: A Tale of Three Entries

Pennsylvania DeMolay is pleased to announce that the first three entries have been made into the special drawing for the Past Grand Master Honor Apron!  This special Masonic Youth Apron has been signed by all living R.W. Past Grand Masters of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and will be presented to one lucky Pennsylvania Mason later this summer.

Following a presentation on Elizabethtown Chapter, Order of DeMolay, at the January 8^th District 1 Lodge Officers’ Meeting, Jason Lewis, Secretary for Lodge No. 43 that meets in Lancaster, took the information on DeMolay to his 12 year old nephew, and this was just the beginning of a whirlwind month for Jason and his nephew, Noah!  Jason’s application for the Past Grand Master’s Apron included Noah and two other young men from the Lancaster area. 

Noah attended a laser tag prospect party that was hosted by Elizabethtown Chapter, and – having had a great time – decided to join DeMolay.  He was inducted into DeMolay at the Regional Patriots Class in Reading on February 13th, the same day as Uncle Jason took the DeMolay Advisor Training and submitted the paperwork to become an advisor for Elizabethtown Chapter. 

Okay, let’s do the math: Master Mason Jason submitted the Apron Application listing the contact information for three young men of DeMolay age and eligibility.  That’s worth one entry into the special drawing that will be held on June 1^st.  One of the recommended young men joined DeMolay, giving Jason a second entry into the drawing, followed closely by a third entry because he became an Advisor for Elizabethtown Chapter.  The next step, for as many of two additional entries, is to get one or both of the other recommended young men to join DeMolay.

Pennsylvania DeMolay congratulates “Dad” Lewis on earning the first three entries into the Past Grand Master Honor Apron drawing, and on becoming a DeMolay Advisor; and we congratulate Noah on becoming a member of Elizabethtown Chapter! 

This article was written by "Dad" Dave Berry. Thank you "Dad" Berry for your contribution. 

Millenial Masonry

DeMolay is not now, nor has it ever been, a "junior Masonic Lodge." However, with it being sponsored by the Masonic fraternity, many young men decide to join Freemasonry as their DeMolay career culminates. The transition between DeMolay and Freemason is a rewarding, yet challenging one. It's akin to going from the age of boy to man, when you now sit in Lodge with your father and grandfather, being on equal level with them.

As young men, under the age of 30, become members of Lodges, their expectations of membership are often at odds with what they thought the experience would be. Their ideal of what the fraternity is rarely matches up with what they find beyond the portals of the Lodge. Interestingly though, many find the experience an educational one, even if it didn't exactly match their preconceived notions.

Recently, I came across a blog from a young Freemason named Nick Johnson. Nick's website is called "The Millennial Freemason" and documents his experiences with the Masonic Fraternity. I follow Nick's blog pretty regularly, as it gives me insight into what other young Masons are experiencing outside of Pennsylvania. Plus, Nick has a great writing style and a good sense of humor. I strongly encourage you to check it and get an idea of what young Freemasons are feeling as they embark on their Masonic journey.

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

What Do You Know About Poverty and Youth?

Sometimes we are teachers and mentors, and sometimes we are students.  When Bro. Thom Stecher and his team of dedicated professional educators come to the Patton Campus to conduct the annual LifeSkills Conference, I become a student for the week.  Bro. Stecher has a unique perspective on working with children, how to motivate and serve their needs while building up their self-esteem and self-worth.

Bro. Thom writes a blog aimed at teachers and others who work with youth that is worth following.  In particular, I want to draw your attention to a piece he wrote on children living in poverty.  I admit that I have very little experience with this, but I also know that our DeMolays are not exempt from this condition, and I think some of us may know of a young man or a young woman who is living in less than ideal conditions.

http://thomstecherandassociates.blogspot.com/2011/03/understanding-children-affected-by.html

I recommend this blog post to you, to alert you to the problem and some of the concerns that we cannot ignore if presented with them.  This is a part of our Youth Protection obligation, too.  If you DO come across a member living in a dangerous situation, neglected, or without basics-- food, proper clothing or housing-- we have a moral obligation to try to be of assistance.  I am not suggesting that you need to investigate the home lives of every member-- just be aware of your members and, if warranted, ask some appropriate questions.  We are a brotherhood-- we can and will help.

Tom Labagh
Executive Officer

PA SMC Tom Moyer Speaks to Masonic Leaders

One of the last duties of a State Master Councilor in Pennsylvania is to stand before 600+ members and guests of the Pennsylvania Council of Deliberation and speak for a few minutes on the experience of leading Pennsylvania DeMolay. The Council of Deliberation is a gathering of all of the leaders of the Scottish Rite, plus all of the major appendant Masonic bodies in Pennsylvania. It is a very imposing group to address for most adults-- it can be downright scary for a young man!

But Tom Moyer did an exceptional job of sharing what he learned while serving you last year, and you can watch and listen to his remarks, here.



As an Executive Officer, I couldn't have been more pleased and proud of his presentation. He represented YOU well, and proved the value of the DeMolay program once again!

The next time you see Tom, say thank you for his leadership, for his example, for his dedication and for his sacrifice of personal time for YOU this past year. He is a hard-working, thinking, caring servant of the Order of DeMolay, who could have been a leader in any organization he chose, and we are fortunate that he gave his time and talents to us!

"Dad" Thomas R. Labagh
Executive Officer in PA