Thursday, January 10, 2019

Centennial Memory #74: PA DeMolay Helping Form DeMolay in Austrailia

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.

I enjoy getting the opportunity to look into PA DeMolay's history, because you truly do learn something new each day. One of the interesting things I've learned is that PA DeMolay played a part in forming Australia DeMolay, although very much unintentionally.

Life Magazine did an article on Wilbur Chapter in Bethlehem, PA in 1938. The magazine circulated to Australia, allowing Masons in Australia to reach out looking for information to form DeMolay Chapters. 

Looking at a Convention program from the 50th Anniversary of PA DeMolay, I found information that proved this to be true. The following is the excerpt from that program.  

"Of special interest is the fact that a Pennsylvania chapter was inadvertently responsible for the Order of DeMolay being established in Australia. Wilbur Chapter at Bethlehem was visited in early 1938 by writers and photographers from Life Magazine. They published an article and photo lay-out entitled "Life Goes to a DeMolay Coronation Ball."

Since the pictures showed DeMolays in their robes and ritual positions, the chapter's charter was suspended. Life was circulated in Australia and Masons of that country saw the article and wrote to the chapter to learn how they could start DeMolay chapters. The inquiry was forwarded to "Dad" Land who carried out successful negotiations. Incidentally, Wilbur Chapter had its charter restored."



"Dad" Seth Anthony also covered this topic in a blog post from 2010, which is where I found more information about it, including the article that was used in Life Magazine. Below, you will find the Life Magazine Article that highlighted Wilbur Chapter. 





Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin

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