Centennial Memory #98: PA DeMolay Supports the Children's Dyslexia Centers

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 now, members of PA DeMolay have been accustomed to the State Charity being the Children’s Dyslexia Centers, sponsored by the Scottish Rite. When did this start? Here is a little backstory of our history with the Learning Centers.

The Children’s Dyslexia Centers officially became the State Charity at the PA DeMolay Convention in 1999. Starting in 2000, the State Sweetheart has taken on the responsibility of working closely with the State Charity, helping to make the Chapters aware of the Dyslexia Centers and helping motivate the Chapters to donate. Here is a list of some of the known fundraisers that have taken place to benefit the Dyslexia Centers:

• PA DeMolay Sweatshirt sales
• “Not just a Fraternity..but a way of life” T-Shirt sales
• Bake Sales
• Penny Wars
• Soda Can and Soda Tab Collection
• Spaghetti Dinners
• Chicken Pot Pie Dinners
• Sub Sandwich sales
• Charity Poker Tournament
• Raffles and Door Prizes
• Dodgeball for Dyslexia

These are just some of the fundraisers that have taken place over the years. One thing that Chapters were encouraged to do was create a fundraiser for Frank S. Land Memorial Day, with the proceeds going to the State Charity. Chapters still do this to date, and are encouraged to be inventive when thinking of ideas. Some Chapters also do more than just raise money; they participate in walks to help bring awareness to the cause, and even visit their local center. A few PA DeMolays have been a product of the Children’s Dyslexia Centers, making them even more a meaningful cause for our youth.

 

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin

Charity: Making a Difference

The following blog post is from Brother Tyler Moyer, Deputy State Master Councilor of PA DeMolay and PMC of Pilgrim Chapter. 

Charity is a principal tenet of Masonry. As DeMolays, we too are taught of its importance. While the installation of Almoner is one not too commonly seen, the lessons it teaches are quite valuable and important for all to know. The following is the part for installing the Almoner, “It is your province to remind us, in the performance of your official duties as Almoner, that charity, not the ostentatious and unmeaning doling out of alms, but the charity which has been translated ‘Brotherly Love,’ is a virtue which all should practice. The cry of need is ever sounding in our ears and to it our ears must never be closed.” My brothers, while we may not directly see the effects that our charitable contributions have on those they go to, we know that there are many who need it nonetheless, and thus our contributions must continue.

For the past 19 years, our State charity has been the Children’s Dyslexia Centers of Pennsylvania. In total there are eight centers scattered around our Commonwealth and they each offer selective services to children who are affected by Dyslexia. These services typically come to an annual total of $6,000, per child. While that may seem like a lot, it’s something that the centers make sure that no family has to pay.

Each year our goal is to see 100% participation from all Chapters, and this year is no different. We currently are at 50%, though there is still time to get your Chapter on board and make a donation to the State Charity. Even the smallest donation will go a long way and there are several opportunities available to make your donation. One of the more popular being Elizabethtown Chapter’s Dodgeball for Dyslexia on May 13th, there’s still time to sign up, donate, and have a fun time playing dodgeball with your brothers. Expect to see more postings on our Facebook page with more programs and opportunities to donate to our State charity. I’d like to leave you with this line from the 9 o’clock interpolation prayer, “We are all brothers of the helpless and suffering and rejoice in every call to the relief of pain or the alleviation of sorrow.” While we may not associate children with dyslexia as suffering or being in pain, there is still a call and an opportunity for us to answer.

Frank S Land: Father of DeMolay

The following blog post was written by Brother Blake Anderson, State Junior Deacon and PMC of Elizabethtown Chapter.

Frank Sherman Land was the Director of the Masonic Relief and Employment Bureau of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. He was very well known for his work in Freemasonry, even serving as Imperial Potentate of the Shrine in 1954-55. What was his view behind the Order of DeMolay?

Land was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and gained a reputation as the "Boy Preacher” at his Sunday school at Fountain Park Congregational Church Sunday School. He became a member of Ivanhoe Lodge #446 on June 29, 1912 in Kansas City. He was honored with the Knight Commander of the Court of Honor of the Scottish Rite and created a 33° in 1925. He received the first International Gold Service Medal of the General Grand Chapter of York Rite Masons in 1951 for work in Humanities. He received the Grand Cross of the Southern Jurisdiction of the Supreme Council of Scottish Rite 33° in 1955. He was the president of the Kansas City School Board, a Director of the Columbia National Bank, and a trustee of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum at the time of his death.

It was the end of World War 2, when he came across a fatherless young man named Louis Gordon Lower. Soon after, Land suggested Lower to create a young men group, an organization to encourage and give direction to young men. Weeks later, the unofficial meeting of the Order of DeMolay took place at the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City. Lower would become the first DeMolay of Mother Chapter, located in Kansas City. The original members of DeMolay were 9 young men and Land. The organization started as a baseball team and eventually evolved into the community minded organization it is today. Land originally set a limit of membership for the Mother Chapter to a total of 75 young men. By the end 1920 there were over 300 DeMolay members.

How did DeMolay actually get it’s name? Soon after the organization took off, Land ordered the young men to create a name for the group. After going through books that Land had, they came across a heroic figure, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, known for his heroic fidelity to his brethren, Jacques DeMolay. He was born in Molay, Haute Saone, France in the year 1244. At the age of 21, DeMolay joined the Order of Knights Templar. The Knights Templar was an organization sanctioned by the Roman Catholic Church in 1128 to guard the road between Jerusalem and Acre, an important port city on the Mediterranean Sea. The Order of Knights Templar participated in the Crusades and earned a name for valor and heroism.

Since its founding in 1919, DeMolay has grown to over 1,000 chapters worldwide and over 3 million members. Notable figures from sports, entertainment, politics, the news media and the military, including Walt Disney, President William Clinton, Walter Cronkite, Fran Tarkenton and astronaut Edgar Mitchell. joined DeMolay, making it one of the most well known organizations known around the world. Frank S. Land never imagined that DeMolay would spread as fast as it did. In March of 1922, DeMolay had been established in 39 of 48 states (at the time), as well as in the District of Columbia. As DeMolay grew, so did Dad Land's commitment, he became fully involved in his once little club which was sweeping across the nation by the thousands. Five years after DeMolay started, there were 1,171 active chapters with 114,798 members. Dad Land was committed to DeMolay until the end of his days. Dad Land called to his wife one night feeling nauseous after 3 months of sickness and on November 8, 1959 spoke his final words "It is the beginning. My work must go on; DeMolay must go on.” 

Be Different Spotlight: Elizabethtown Chapter

The following post is part of a series entitled the “Be Different Spotlight.” This post will display a chapter’s effort to grasp the concept of the theme for this year. Each chapter was challenged by the State Master Councilor, Adam Pritchard, to “Be Different.” 

Challenge Accepted!  This is the story of how Elizabethtown Chapter embraced that challenge...

Our Chapter proudly accepted the challenge and decided to do something different for our Frank S. Land Memorial Obligatory Day by doing something we have never done before. With the cooperation of family and friends of our members, with some kind and courteous Masonic Village Residents helping, we collected nearly 400 gently used books and presented them to the Children’s Dyslexia Center of Lancaster. We presented the books in support of the center's book give away which was held as a part of the Extraordinary Give in Lancaster County on Friday, Nov. 20^th.  This one day, 24-hours of online giving raised over 6.1 million dollars for over 350 charitable organizations.  The Children’s Dyslexia Center had over $7,000 donated to it in just 24 hours.  The books that were collected and donated were available for pickup by anyone who stopped by the Dyslexia Center on Nov. 20th. 

In addition to donating the books, 8 members of our Chapter willingly donated a total of $225 for the purchase of any other books in support of the book drive that brought donors into the center.  Over the past 15 years Elizabethtown Chapter has raised and have been honored to donate nearly $35,000.00 to the center through various fundraisers, which includes our annual chicken pot pie dinners.  Our Chapter Advisor, Dad Jesse Spence, makes a very good chicken pot pie, and if you haven't had one yet I highly recommend it to you! Our next chicken pot pie dinner and special auction of gifts and passes will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2016. 100% of our profits are donated to the center, our state charity that helps kids get the help they need to overcome dyslexia and succeed in school.

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. 

From the Officers, Members, and Families of Elizabethtown Chapter, Order of DeMolay we want to wish you a Happy and Safe Holiday Season! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

This blog post was written by current Senior Councilor of Elizabethtown Chapter, Blake Anderson. Thank you Brother Blake for your contribution.

Elizabethtown Chapter has completed the challenge to “Be Different.” What has your chapter done in order to change things up a bit? Send in program details or write a post for your chapter and send it to me at JAPullin@pademolay.net.

Be Different and Be Charitable

Today we have a special guest blog post. This post is from Sarah Sellers, Pennsylvania DeMolay's State Sweetheart.

As a DeMolay, you know that the Pennsylvania State Charity is the Children's Dyslexia Centers. You know that throughout the year, you and your brothers strive to raise money to donate to this charity, and after all of your hard work, a check is presented at Convention to the Scottish Rite Representative. You also know that this year, your State Master Councilor, Adam Pritchard, has challenged each chapter to "Be Different," be it in membership recruitment, community service, or chapter events. As your State Sweetheart, I also present the challenge of "Be Different"; however, I challenge you to be different in how you donate to your State Charity. Yes, raising funds throughout the year is still acceptable – in fact, it is highly encouraged – but change up how you raise these funds. You could even change up how you become involved with your local learning center. Be Creative. As long as you are embracing PA DeMolay's theme and are connecting with the Children's Dyslexia Centers, anything goes.

You may be thinking, "Yes, I am ready to 'Be Different!' The thing is, I'm not sure how." If you are
stuck or having doubts, that is perfectly normal. No one is expecting you to come up with these new ideas on your own. For tips or advice, I suggest you use your resources. Ask the members of your chapter what they might think, or look to what other chapters have done in the past. In May, Elizabethtown Chapter organized a dodgeball tournament to raise funds for the State Charity. In October, Pilgrim Chapter donated CD players and $500 in gift cards to their local center. Other chapters have participated in their local Walk for Dyslexia, challenged lodges to raise funds, and have simply visited their local learning center. All of these are wonderful examples as to how chapters have strayed from the expected monetary donations to contribute to the charity. Even though PA DeMolay has been successful in raising funds over the years, do not be afraid to change up how it is done. When it comes to the Children's Dyslexia Centers, do not be afraid to "Be Different."

Hanging "DAD"

In the November 2014 Issue of the Keystone Crusader, "Dad" Tom Labagh, Executive Officer of Pennsylvania DeMolay, shared the details of a very special fundraising appeal that has been launched by DeMolay International: the placing of a portrait of "Dad" Frank S. Land, DeMolay Founder, in the Pillars of Charity Hallway in the Southern Jurisdiction's Scottish Rite House of the Temple.

Located in Washington, DC, the House of the Temple Pillars of Charity Hallway features portraits of the great philanthropists of the 20th Century who have given one million dollars to the Scottish Rite Museum.  Some of the notables with portraits in the Circular Hallway, as it's commonly known, include President Harry S. Truman, General Douglas MacArthur, Astronaut John Glenn, Golf Legend Arnold Palmer and Entertainer Burl Ives.

DeMolay International has partnered with the Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite to raise a half a million dollars for this project - with a bit of a twist: the funds raised by DeMolay will be returned to DeMolay International to improve the investment package and programs of DeMolay.

In support of this special endeavor, Pennsylvania DeMolay has pledged $25,000.00 to the cause, and "Dad" Labagh has challenged each DeMolay Chapter in Pennsylvania to help raise these funds over the next two years.

During the Volleyball Tournament, on January 10th, Elizabethtown Chapter became the first chapter to support the appeal by presenting a check for $500.00 to State Master Councilor Isaac Holtzer.  In making the presentation, Elizabethtown's Master Councilor, Evan Crawford, joined by the members of the chapter who were at the volleyball tournament, encouraged other chapters to step forward and support this important project.

"Dad" Labagh has asked that all contributions to the "Dad" Land Pillars of Charity project be made by Convention 2016.  Please contact the Pennsylvania DeMolay Office at 800-266-8424 X4 or Executive Secretary Dave Berry at dwberry@pademolay.net for more information.

SMC Speaks to PA Masonic Leadership

Bro. Matt Blaisdell, then State Master Councilor of Pennsylvania DeMolay, spoke at the Annual Banquet of the Pennsylvania Council of Deliberation of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, on Saturday, July 14th at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center.  This annual banquet usually has about 600 people at it-- 300 of the most influential Masons of PA, and their wives-- who are there for a social and fraternal experience.  To be a featured speaker at THIS gathering is a huge responsibility for anyone, and for a State Master Councilor it is usually a stressful experience getting ready for it, because he is required to turn in his text for publication in the Annual Proceedings of the organization.  They get to read and study the remarks of previous SMC's so that they don't repeat what was said by another, and also, so they can see the quality of writing that is required of them.  For every SMC this is a huge challenge, and there is writing, editing, rewriting, more editing, and then practice, practice and more practice to make sure that the text and its delivery will be heard and understood by all who are present.

I could tell you how I feel Matt Blaisdell did in representing you, but, I would rather have you watch this video, and judge for yourself.  It starts just after he mentions that his boss, the Executive Officer for PA DeMolay, was on a Church Mission Trip and could not be present, but had some advice for him:

When you get the chance, ASK MATT how he felt during the preparation, practice, and finally the delivery, and aftermath of the speech, and especially what it was like to get a standing ovation at its conclusion!

We are so fortunate in Pennsylvania DeMolay to have had Matt Blaisdell lead and represent us this past year! 

"Dad"  Tom Labagh,
Executive Officer in PA

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