Universe

I think there's something wrong with the ritual. I'm not normally one to complain about it but this really struck me hard, forgive me for quoting it but it needs to be said so we can discuss it. From the Marshal part in the Initiatory Degree:

"Do you assert upon your honor that you are not inspired by an unworthy desire to be exclusive by belonging to a Secret Order?"

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but the order of DeMolay is NOT a secret order. Or at least I've been lead to believe that it isn't. If it were a secret order, we would not have websites chock full of information about DeMolay, or go around displaying shirts and hats with DeMolay plastered all over them, would we?

If it were a secret order, I would not be talking to you about it right now on the internet, the most open of places.

I just want some opinions on this, because it hit me today and I'm thinking "Wait a minute, we may be an Order with secrets, but we are definately NOT a secret order."

So just gimme an opinion on this, I wanna know if anyone else thinks this should be changed, or if (since its such a small detail) we should leave it alone.

S&F

Brother Codey,

I don't think it is on the wrong. I beleive it is saying that we are not a secret Order, and was inteded to make sure that they were not interested in joining because they beleaved we are one.

quote:

Originally posted by Cody Boyles, PMC Treasurer:
I think there's something wrong with the ritual. I'm not normally one to complain about it but this really struck me hard, forgive me for quoting it but it needs to be said so we can discuss it. From the Marshal part in the Initiatory Degree:

"Do you assert upon your honor that you are not inspired by an unworthy desire to be exclusive by belonging to a Secret Order?"

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but the order of DeMolay is NOT a secret order. S&F

The statement is correct. It affirms the fact that we are not a Secret Order. Hence we do not accept those who are inspired only by their unworthy desire to become a member of a Secret Order.

Mind the mention of the phrase "not inspired by an unworthy desire to be exclusive by belonging to a Secret Order". By way of rephrasing it, it means, to be part of a secret order is an unworthy desire.

Hmm... I didn't think to look at it that way... I guess there's nothing wrong then.

Oh well, at least that means that nothing has to change. Thank you Jacobus.

S&F

I think this try to avoid that people join to DeMolay think we are a Secret Society. Just this. But this does not means we are a secret society.


God Bless you


Sir Jaimar PMC
Príncipe das Caraubeiras Chapter
Cavaleiros do Oeste Potiguar Priory

I still remember my first LTC in Jacksonville, Florida, on Dad Keith Klein's staff (was it really 1978?) when he explained that Masonry, and by extension DeMolay, were not secret organizations, they were just organizations that had a few secrets. It has stuck with me all this time as succinct and true. A great discussion guys. I love knowing that folks are still reading the ritual and still learning new things!

DeMolay is not a secret society. This young member has seen the words in a section of text relating to this. I am sure that before he joined, DEMolay was explained to him and what we stand for. Yet, after reading this section, these words stood out. The question that should be asked is why he questioned them?

YES, he read it wrong. My question is why did he and how many other people have done the same thing and reached the same conclusion.

My reason for posting on this site is to challenge those members who have stated the obvious to this member. Why not go one step forward and have the words changed in the ritual so no one else has the same problem in the interpretation.

A concerned member in Australia.

I think that in every single country and chapter, you have different ways of reading this, I say, in some chapters they are very very, carefull about the secrets and others don't.

Brother Cody,

I can't say for sure, but I have always had the impression that what Dad Marshal meant when he wrote that particular question was "Do you declare that you aren't asking to join DeMolay because you think it will make you a member of some kind of snobby elite?"

That is how I interpret "an unworhty desire to be exclusive by belinging to a Secret Order".

Whether or not we DeMolay's view ourselves as a "Secret order" many of the "uninitiated" do view us as such. We can quibble about definitions all day, but the perception of outsiders won't change one bit because we do.

I take that question as a challenge "Do you want to be a DeMolay because it will let you 'look down you nose' at others who aren't DeMolays?" And if it sparks a little bit of guilt in any candidate who maybe had just that idea, then so much the better, since he has to answer the challenge.

Dad/Bro Dale Dietzman

PS No, I don't think we need to change the Ritual unless there is a better reason for doing so than anyone has put forward here.

The fact that each new DeMolay undergoes the same ceremonies Louis Lower and his friends did, way back in 1919, is what makes us DeMolays, not "Tenth Street Tigers" or some other group.

This hails back to the days when DeMolay was a secret order. We did not admit people who just wanted the secrets to join. It is a harmless but interesting bit of DeMolay heritage.

I really like Steve's reponse and I share his point.

Did you think or anyone on this forum think that it meant that DeMolay is a secret order?

I am going to start a poll for the answer. Please look for it.

Then if most of us did not understand the question then maybe the ritual should be rewritten for clarity.

But, I still have one question.... How many of you asked your Chapter Dad first before posting a response? Honestly, Cody, and I am not trying to pick on you, but did you involve your advisors first and ask them for advice on this topic?

This forum cannot replace your individual Chapter's Officers, Members or Advisory Council. We need to keep that line of communication open. I think your post should have been, "I was confused about this, until I talked to my Dad, is anyone else confused like I was..." Although, I still applaud you for asking and not assuming. Sounds like I am playing both sides. lol.

I truly enjoy this forum but don't forget to use the resources of your Chapter. How many of you take things you learned from this forum to your Chapter?

Bohannon, your facts are not right. DeMolay was never secret, but your point of denying membership to those who just wanted the secrets and not for comradeship is true.

Fraternally Yours,
Cash Stocker