DeMolay is proud of saying that we are the world's premier organization for young men (sometimes we tack the word Masonic in there as well.) I firmly believe we are. If I didn't, I wouldn't have dedicated so much time to the organization. DeMolay is a fantastic group that has helped many young men become leaders in their communities and in their homes. It also helps that, for the most part, we are the only Masonic youth group for young men. However, about a year ago I started finding references to another youth organization sponsored by the Masonic fraternity.
It's name is Asociacion de Jovenes Esperanza de la Fraternidad which, roughly translated, means "Association of Youth Hope of the Fraternity." With such a long title the group more commonly goes by "A.J.E.F." Interestingly, the the letters of the name also stand for some of the principle values of the group, namely "Amor, Justicia, Esperanza y Fraternidad" (Love, Justice, Hope, and Fraternity.)
The group was founded in 1936 in Havana, Cuba. This was a time before the communist rule of that country, when the politics there were more closely related that of the United States. By 1938 the group had over 5000 members and in 1939 it established it's first international group in Veracruz, Mexico. Initially local groups were known as Lodges, but to distance itself from the idea that it was just "Junior Freemasons" the group quickly changed the operating name to Chapters. The organization is not just for young men, but for young women as well. There is one big caveat though; the young men and women never meet in the same room or at the same time, but hold their own separate meetings. The only time they can come together is when a Master Mason is present to supervise the situation and only for special events.
So, what is the group actually all about? The motto of the organization is "Por la patria y la humanidad," which means "for the nation of mankind." The induction ceremony of the group isn't quite as set as it is DeMolay, as the ceremony used varies from region to region, however, all of the ceremonies aim to teach young people better morals and social skills to be used in their communities. Many of the ceremonies of the group are based in more difficult to grasp subjects including history, ethics, and the liberal arts.
The group operates much as DeMolay would, but with some key changes. As there is no international governing body for the group, the several regional organizations will meet once a year to tweak the work of the Order and to handle any wider changes to the organization. Just like DeMolay, the group has officers that help run the Chapters on the local level. They are:
- Guide (Guía)
- First adviser (Asesor Primero)
- Second adviser (Asesor Segundo)
- Scribe (Secretario)
- Treasurer
- Orator (Orador)
- Guardian (Guardián)
- Master of Choir (Mestro de Coro)
- Leader of Ceremonies (Director de Ceremonias)
- Donations Collector (Colector de Obolos)
- Steward
- Banner
- Flag Keeper
- Expert (Experto)
Instead of a Chapter Advisor the group has a Master Mason who serves as the "Instructor," which helps coordinate the activities of the Chapter. The members of the group are collectively known as a "Town." There is some speculation that this may relate to the proverb that it "takes a village (town) to raise a child." The group mostly exists outside of the U.S., but there is at least one Chapter meeting in Hialeah, FL.
Why did I bring this up? While some may think it a distraction, or perhaps a nuisance to the DeMolay program, I think it teaches us something about a key lesson in DeMolay - toleration. We don't have all the right answers. The DeMolay program may not be for everybody. It's really that simple. Here is an example of a group that developed without the influence of DeMolay, in a culture very different from our own, that is thriving in several communities in Central America. At the end of the day, we are both working towards similar goals though. Can we learn anything from what they are doing that could help our program? Are they reaching out to people that DeMolay misses? What do they think of DeMolay? All of those questions are rhetorical, of course, but I think they are great places to start the discussion.
So, what do you think about this group? Go out and do some research of your own. Give me your thoughts and feedback in the comments section!
Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony
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! 
