DON'T THROW ANYTHING AWAY!
by "Dad" Thomas R. Labagh
It is, quite clearly, the ugliest item on display at the DeMolay International Service and Leadership Center, in a locked bookcase in the "archive room." (This is the room with several locking book shelves that hold copies of all of the Proceedings of the Grand and Supreme Councils: Statutes, Bylaws, Rules and Regulations; and one copy of most of the DeMolay Grand and Supreme Council publications and magazines produced since 1919.)
At first glance, it is just a ruined old Masonic book, called MASONRY DEFINED...
...which was an encyclopedia of Masonic facts, figures, definitions, philosophy and esoterica.
The volume has obviously been very wet, and in the drying process it expanded and snapped its binding.
But this isn't just any old Masonic tome full of dry wisdom and enlightenment.
It is the Autograph Collection Book of Bro. Gustav E. Venaas, of St. Paul, Minnesota, whose DeMolay letterhead above identifies him as an Advisor for St. Paul Chapter, and whose hobby is collecting autographs of Masons.
And what a fascinating collection it is! Brother Venaas was an intrepid collector, gathering autographs of prominent Freemasons everywhere he went. He also obviously wrote to celebrities who were Masons, and asked for them to send him an autograph. In this book, he had pasted autographs, photos, news clippings and anything related to the subjects who signed cards for him.
Brother Venaas liked a little bit of fame, himself, because he was the subject of several newspaper articles because of this unusual collection and his success in acquiring a number of impressive names, all of whom are Freemasons. And he didn't limit himself to Americans... he also wrote to famous Masons in Europe, and in Central and South America!
Some of the pages are filled with signatures acquired at an event, and include prominent Masons who were present for the meetings. These were the movers and shakers of Freemasonry in the 1920s.
Obviously, as a DeMolay Advisor, he was very proud to have collected signatures from "Dad" Frank S. Land, the Founder of the Order of DeMolay...
...and the signature of "Dad" Frank A. Marshall, Author of the DeMolay Ritual...
...and "Dad" Roy Dickerson, who was in charge of programming for the Grand Council, and worked in the Kansas City offices with "Dad" Land.
The question of WHY this volume is in the possession of DeMolay International is answered by the fact that the first scrap-book of news clippings and letters related to St. Paul Chapter was also in the book case. Either he left it to DeMolay International, or his family sent it in, not realizing exactly what they had in their hands.
Some of these signatures have serious value on the collectible market, and, as a complete themed collection of famous Masons, it may have even more value than we can imagine.
The signature of a President of the United States is always worth something, if it is really his signature and not a staff member who has learned to fake it, or a machine that makes a perfect signature every time. This one from Herbert Hoover, the 31st President, looks legitimate, and considering the time it was sought, it is quite likely to be real. Not known as one our our best Presidents, he presided from 1921 to 1928. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Hoover
These signatures got me excited, because I love poetry and authors, and Edgar Guest was one of the most popular poets of the early 20th Century. For more information about him, and a sample of his easy-rhyming poems, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Guest
The signature at the bottom of the page is even more impressive. Rudyard Kipling, the author of The Jungle Book, Kim, The Man Who Would Be King, and may poems, notably Gunga Din, and Danny Deever. Kipling was a British Mason in the country of India, when the British military occupied the country, and he wrote about his experiences in a Lodge with men of multiple religions working together in peace and harmony. He is revered for the many Masonic references included in his writings.
This page initially caught my eye because of the signature of Ernest A. Reed in the center of the page. I knew of him because he was a Grand Master Councilor of the Order of DeMolay from New Jersey, my home state. He was probably the "founder" of DeMolay in New Jersey, if I recall correctly. But the astonishing signature at the top is of greater interest-- it is of the silent film star, Harold Lloyd. Best remembered for a stunt where he is hanging from the hands of a large clock on a skyscraper, Lloyd was one of the most successful comedic silent film stars, rivaling Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Lloyd was also a very active Freemason, involved in many appendant bodies. He had a special affinity for the Shriners Childrens Hospitals and Burns Centers because of serious burns he had suffered in his life. He served as Imperial Potentate of the Shrine of North America in 1949-1950.
Here's a name you MIGHT have heard, if you or your father grew up watching Western TV shows and movies. Tom Mix was known as Hollywood's first major Western Star, making 291 films in his career, all but 9 of them silent films. Less than 15% of those films are available for viewing today, as film preservation wasn't thought of in the early days of film, Mix was a Pennsylvanian, having been born 20 miles north of State College, and growing up in DuBois, PA. It is reported that Mix helped John Wayne (Senior DeMolay, Freemason, Shriner) get his first jobs in Hollywood. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Mix
They certainly aren't "politically correct" these days, and they earned their living perpetuating some disturbing stereotypes, but there is no denying the "star power" of Freeman Gosden ('Amos') and Charles Correll ('Andy') who performed on the radio, and at public appearances from 1928 to 1960. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos_%27n%27_Andy
General John J. Pershing led the American Army victory in World War I. Known as "Black Jack" Pershing, he mentored some of the key generals of World War II (Eisenhower, Bradley, Marshall and Patton) and had a profound effect on the US military's world dominance of the 20th century. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_J._Pershing
Jack Dempsey was a prize fighter who owned the Heavyweight championship title from 1919 to 1926. Considered to be one of the most powerful and relentless fighters of the first half of the 20th century. He was a Freemason in Kenwood Lodge No. 800 in Chicago, IL.
At the top of this page is the signature and Masonic record of Charles Partlow "Chic" Sale. That is NOT a name I was familiar with, but, he was a BIG name in the 1920s. A vaudeville comedian and entertainer, he parlayed a long running joke about outhouses into a comedic career. It is interesting to note that the 1950s-1960s comedian, Soupy Sales, created his last name in honor of "Chic" Sale. If you are interested in him, here is a Wiki about him.
I cannot read the middle signature, but the name at the bottom is of the great romantic silent film star, Douglas Fairbanks, who, with D. W. Griffith, Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplain established the United Artists motion picture studio in 1919.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Fairbanks
This is a fascinating signature by Calvin Coolidge, President 1923-1929, and it may have been acquired BEFORE he was President. What makes it unique is that it is smudged by the signer, (and from all the examples I have seen on the internet, it is his signature, and not that of a White House secretary.) I almost think this makes it more unique, because very few collectible signatures are ever seen in this condition! The imperfection makes it a one of a kind example.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_Coolidge
The only blurry photo I took had to come with a very important signature-- Will Rogers! This man and Mason was a great political commentator, humorist, entertainer and film star of the 1920s and 1930s. He was at the height of his popularity when he died in a plane crash in 1935. He ran a mock campaign for President of the United States that was covered nationally. One of his most famous quotes was "I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Rogers
The signature and photograph above is of John Philip Sousa, known in his day as "The March King" for the plethora of marching music he as written, including the Stars and Stripes Forever, The Liberty Bell, Semper Fidelis, The Washington Post and Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Sousa wrote 136 marches between 1917 and his death in 1932 at age 77.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Philip_Sousa
Irving Berlin's signature is at the top of the page. You know who Irving Berlin is, right? He was, perhaps, America's songwriter in the 20th Century. Writing for Broadway and for the movies, he penned classics known worldwide such as "God Bless America," "White Christmas," "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "Blue Skies," "Easter Parade," and every Mel Brooks fan's favorite, "Puttin' on the Ritz!" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irving_Berlin
Charles H. Mayo was a co-founder, with his Father, William W. Mayo, and his older Brother William J. Mayo, of the private medical practice that became known as the Mayo Clinic in 1919 in Rochester, MN. The clinic was, and still is, a marvel of integrated medical specializations. Interestingly, Mayo received the Founders Cross from Dad Land for personal loyalty and dedication to the Order of DeMolay. Another interesting fact-- like Dad Land, Mayo's admirers have preserved his office exactly as it was on the day he died, and a tribute and museum to his work. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Horace_Mayo
and J. C. Penney, Founder of the Department Store
Daniel Carter Beard is a name well-known to Boy Scouts as the American who worked with Lord Baden Powell and merged his Sons of Daniel Boone with Powell's Boy Scouts.
Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David; (23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972)
Prince of Wales, Later King Edward VIII This is one of the few photos pasted in the book that did not have an accompanying autograph, suggesting that one had been requested and expected, but either never returned or, for some reason we will never know, it never got pasted into the book. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VIII
There are perhaps 150 more autographs in the book, and many were prominent Freemasons of that day. There are possibly others, of great value and historical interest, that I did not notice or could not read. As a collection, it is, in many ways, priceless. As individual autographs, most of these have 3-figure values.
We are probably indebted to "Dad" Lester W. ("Sarge") Israel, Archivist of DeMolay International during the traumatic moving years of the early 1980s when the offices occupied no less that 4 different spaces in a period of less than 6 years, that this volume survived being tossed into a dumpster.
As an object lesson to all of us, "don't judge a book by its cover!"
On behalf of the Pennsylvania DeMolay office, I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Safe travels to all whom are visiting family and friends for the holiday season. My goal is to get one more blog post in before the year is over, but if I'm unable to do so, Happy New Year to all as well!
The concept of Nerf started in 1969 with an idea that was
originally meant to be a Volleyball game with a 4 inch foam ball. Parker
Brothers kept the foam ball and expanded on the idea. Eventually Hasbro, the company
that produces Nerf to this day, took over the company from Parker Brothers. Nerf,
which is an acronym for Non-Expanding Recreational Foam, became a worldwide
success. New products were being created, mostly involving sports. Growing up,
most kids I knew had Nerf basketballs, frisbees, soccer balls, and the most
popular, footballs. My personal favorite was the Vortex Howler Football, a
football that had a long-distance tail that made the football go further than
most usually do. Friends and I would toss one around for hours down the back alley until our parents called for dinner. 
With the Grand Banquet coming up in the next few weeks, most of you may be worried about meeting new people. What do I say to someone I've never met before? Where do I start? Should I ask them about their families? Should I ask them about work? Maybe I'll just ask about the weather?
Challenge Accepted! This is the story of how Elizabethtown Chapter embraced that challenge...
Along with presenting
the books, 5 of our chapter members helped prepare and serve a luncheon for the
Lancaster Lodge of Perfection. The Lancaster Lodge of Perfection, Ancient
Accepted Scottish Rite Masons of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, is the main
sponsoring agency of the Children's Dyslexia Center of Lancaster. We thought
that supporting the Scottish Rite in this way was especially appropriate since the
founder of DeMolay, Frank S. Land, was an employee of the Scottish Rite Valley
located in Kansas City. The officers of Elizabethtown DeMolay were happy with
the success of the luncheon and donation of the books, and appreciated the
support of family members, friends, residents of the Masonic Village in Elizabethtown,
and our advisors, as without them this would not have been possible. 
Challenge Accepted! This is
the story of how Northeast Chapter embraced that challenge...
Today we have a special guest blog post. This post is from Sarah Sellers, Pennsylvania DeMolay's State Sweetheart.
The application is available [here]. We’ll accept applications until Sunday, December 6, 2015. After that date, we’ll evaluate applications and present the best candidates with a special, open-ended project. No details on the project are available now - you’ll have to apply to find out more!
This year in Pennsylvania DeMolay, the elected state officers are encouraging chapters to be different. In the upcoming days, if your chapter didn't already receive them at Game Show Weekend, you will be receiving a packet explaining the incentive program. It will have all of the features including; the Bro Tie mentor program, the Past Grand Master's Honor Apron applications, and a schedule of upcoming events.
On this special Veterans Day version of the blog, I'd like to just take the time to thank our Veterans who have served our country. Many of our DeMolay members and advisors, past and present, have served our country. Their efforts should not go unnoticed.
I can't speak for everyone, but I've always been a fan of a feel good underdog story. To see a team overcome the odds that have been set for them for 30 years and finally win a championship, it makes a person think that anything is possible. A dynasty is great, but it gets old. It's nice to see a team succeed that hasn't in quite some time.
