Old Timey Regalia

I love finding odd bits of DeMolay history, especially as it relates to regalia. This advertisement was recently sold at auction, but I snagged a scan of it before it sold. Check it out!

 

Would your Chapter wear something like this today or is it too much of a relic of the past? Put your answer in the comments section!

 

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

 

Get a C.L.U.E.: Party IX - The case so far...

As PA DeMolay prepares for the upcoming C.L.U.E. Spring Leadership Weekend, to be held May 2-4, 2014, at Patton Campus, it's now time for the investigators to release the information they have gathered so far.
 

"Dad" Boddy was last seen exiting the Kitchen (using the WRONG DOOR) with a worried look, or looking worried; either way, something was afoot. He didn't even grab a slice of last night’s cold pizza! Was he trying to get away? Was someone chasing him? Was his life or wallet in danger?

There were some incriminating items found out of their normal places when the first search for “Dad” Boddy was made.

1. The Gavel - normally used to silence the Chapter - Could have been used to silence “Dad” Boddy.

2. Sounding Block - used in the Chapter to absorb the blow of the Gavel…Did “Dad” Boddy absorb the blow of the sounding block?

3. The Marshal’s baton - carried by the Marshall to conduct people around the room…maybe it was used to conduct “Dad” Boddy out of this world into the next?

4 The Pillow - Used in the Chapter room to hold the Crown of Youth…could it also have been used to stifle the screams of “Dad’ Boddy?

5. Candles - There are seven of them, all in heavy brass holders…one fell on my foot once…it hurt…what could it do if it were dropped out a second floor window on an unsuspecting “Dad’ Boddy?

6. Cordon - Normally a decoration on the shoulder of the Officer’s robe…but it could have made a nice garrote or a noose in the hands of someone looking to git rid of “Dad” Boddy.

All of these things were found in and around the various rooms of the Chapter’s meeting place, which includes the Blue Room, the Red Room, the Secretary’s Office, the Regalia Room, the Library, the Foyer, the Dining Room, the Cloak room and the Kitchen.

Now, we know you are thinking ”What about the knives in the Kitchen? couldn’t they have been used?” or “Couldn’t someone have slammed “Dad” Boddy in between the Blue Room Doors?" or “Couldn’t have “Dad" Boddy been grabbed by someone who isn’t on the Advisory Council?" or “Hey, Why doesn't your meeting center include a bathroom?” or “Will we have time to go to the pool before lights out tonight?”

Well forget about all those things…there are really logical reasons why those things are like that and I just don't have time to tell you everything! sheesh! Way to spoil a whodunnit!

So, here is your task. Find out what happened to “Dad” Boddy, including which of the members of the dysfunctional, delusional, occasionally flamboyant Advisors do you think did…well, whatever it is you think they did. Also, we need to know what inefficient, cumbersome and overtly symbolic tool did they use and which room in "the  meeting place with no bathroom" did they do whatever they did to him in.

For one day, and one day only, we will be loading all of these loonies into one area where you can observe them, question them, and, if you are smart, try to avoid them while you try to figure out…

WHAT HAPPENED TO “DAD” BODDY?

Get a C.L.U.E.: Part VIII - What happened to "Dad" Boddy?

As PA DeMolay prepares for the upcoming C.L.U.E. Spring Leadership Weekend, to be held May 2-4, 2014, at Patton Campus, we thought it time to fill you in on a little more backstory about the event.

“Dad” Boddy is missing!

It has been 2 weeks since “Dad” Boddy, Chapter Advisor of Preposterous Chapter in Unlikely, PA has been seen. He has missed his Chapter Meetings,  missed the Advisory Council Meeting, and he has not attended his knitting circle meetings, which he would NEVER miss, if he was able to get to them.

“Dad” Boddy has served as the Chapter Advisor of his Chapter for the last 10 years. Most of the time, he described his job as “Ring Master;" not because of the kids - they were great, and the reason he stayed so long. No, when he had problems, it was from his fellow Advisors. Did one of them finally snap and do “Dad’ Boddy a mischief? Lets look at the rogues…uh Advisors... that make up the Council:

“Dad” “The Colonel” Mustard - serves as Chairman of Preposterous Chapter and is known for his people skills, which are mostly awful. British Born and Military trained, he moved to the United States with the blessing (some say at the command) of the Queen. He and “Dad” Boddy had served together in the war…but “Dad” Boddy was born in America…Is “Dad” Mustard lying? Or is he just an idiot?

“Mom” Peacock - The Awards Advisor - She has lots of money…but money doesn’t buy everything, Mrs Peacock says it can sure rent it. One of the few people who would dare say “NO” to her was “Dad” Boddy. Did he de-rail one of her schemes, one too many times? Did he use his salad fork for his fruit cup? Is she capable of getting rid of the Boddy? Or is she just a bunch of feathers?

“Dad” “Professor” Plum - The Youth Protection Advisor - He is well travelled, educated and a ceaseless irritant to all who know him. He always likes to be the most knowledgeable on any topic, but “Dad’ Boddy always got in the last word when it came to the Chapter. Did the Professor check out a volume of" How to Win Friends and Influence People" and read it backwards? Is he capable of high crimes and misdemeanors? Can he spell high crimes and misdemeanors?

“Mom” Scarlet - Advisory Council Secretary - She has files…lots of files…on everything and everyone! Never one to pass up a juicy secret, on more than one occasion, “Dad’ Boddy told her to mind her own business. Did she make it her business to give “Dad’ Boddy the business?
Did she find out something that could make him disappear? Is red really her natural color?

“Dad” Green - Assistant Chapter Advisor - He has been in “Dad” Boddy’s shadow ever since he was a child. Did he take matters into his own hands and clear “Dad” Boddy out of his way? He always thought “Dad” Boddy was out to get him but did he get to “Dad’ Boddy first? was it the Green Monster of jealously that made Mr. Green see red? Wouldn’t that make him purple? Have you had enough of color based jokes?

“Mom” White - Advisory Council Treasurer- She likes Cats, she has 11 of them and they aren't cheap to keep. Rumor has it that the Chapter has invested in a lot Fancy Feast lately and it wasn't for the members. Also, "Dad” Boddy told her she can’t bring her cats to Chapter Meetings. Was that enough for her to sink her claws in him? Did she have the eye of the tiger and sneak up behind them like she was on a hot tin roof? Can I make one more cat reference in this paragraph that would make it just purrfect? Do I need to be medicated?

“Dad” Jeeves," - Superintendent of the Masonic Center - He buttles and is under suspicion as well. A bit high strung, "Dad" Jeeves has never taken criticism well, especially as it relates to his job.  Did “Dad” Boddy criticize his door opening skills? Did he miss cleaning up a scuff on the floor? Or did he scuff up "Dad" Boddy?

That will be for YOU to decide.

On Thursday, we will posting what we know about the case so far, so check back to get the first CLUEs for the weekend!

Get a C.L.U.E.: Part VII - The Butler

As PA DeMolay prepares for the upcoming C.L.U.E. Spring Leadership Weekend, to be held May 2-4, 2014, at Patton Campus, we thought it high time to introduce you to some of the characters that you'll meet during the weekend. This is the final character to be introduced.

 

David Anthony Michael Saint-John Smythe Worchester Jeeves was clearly meant for service.  He was born with a silver salver in his hand, much to his mother’s chagrin:  She was hoping for a child who would grow up to be a barrister.  Or at least a barrista.  Jeeves was educated in a fantastically mediocre English Comprehensive School in Leeds, which was subsequently sold to the lowest bidder and relocated brick by brick to a more fashionable suburb of Hoboken, New Jersey.  While at school, he was voted “Chap With Way Too Many Names For A Working Class Boy.”  He passed his GCSE’s magna cum lucky, and came to service early, accepting a situation as a footman to who he believed to be the Lord Privy Seal, but who turned out in fact to be the Lord Privy Cleaner.  The job looked good on paper, but soon his spirits plunged, and he feared his career was going down the drain. 

 

He was able to gain a place in the entering class of the Theological College of Saint Lowell of Emgee (LOL OMG). Upon graduation, he was dismayed to find that the school was not recognized by the Church of England, but rather by the Church of New England (CoNE), a little known splinter sect of the Anglican tradition.  So he headed for America in search of a vicarate, and arrived at the See of the CoNE, headquartered in a former ice cream parlor with heavily boarded windows in South Boston, and covered in graffiti reading “Protestants Go Home!”  He rang the bell for several hours.  No one answered.

So he began a ministry of itinerant preaching, working his way south into Pennsylvania.  He was pontificating on a street corner in Unlikely, PA one day, and was overheard by our own “Dad” Boddy.  So, struck was “Dad” Boddy with the Reverend Jeeves’s preaching that he immediately insisted on hiring him on to act as the caretaker of the Masonic Center.  And so Jeeves went from dog-collar to dogsbody, and had to content himself with service once again.  He hoped to put his ministerial training to some use, and volunteered, with “Dad” Boddy, to work with the young men of Preposterous Chapter. 

Still, contentedness eluded him.  He was continuously galled by the treatment he received from “Dad” Boddy and the rest of the Council.  These ugly Americans understood nothing of the fine tradition of service, nor of the honor of the English clergy.  To them, he was a well-dressed janitor, and their “Downton Abbey” references were about to get one of them punched up the bracket.
He had become a truly unsettled man.  But is he capable of murder?

Membership Recruitment - It's no mystery!

Many of you know that I'm always scanning the internet for great resources or ideas to bring to Pennsylvania DeMolay. Recently, on one of these searches, I came across a fantastic video produced by the State Master Councilor of Indiana DeMolay.

Bro. Sunny Atwal was on vacation, visiting family abroad, during an important workshop weekend for Indiana DeMolay. Rather than just not be there, Sunny produced a short video on his tips for membership recruitment for DeMolays. The information in the video is really presented well and I think every DeMolay (and Mason) could benefit from understanding the principles that Sunny lays out. So, on with the video!

 

Note: Sunny talks about some Indiana DeMolay programs in his video (such as how they administer the PMC-MSA) This varies in Pennsylvania, so be aware.

Did you learn something from Sunny? If so, leave a comment and let us know.

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony