Universe

All across DeMolay-land, here and there, people are receiving notification that they have been Elected to one of DeMolay's Honors: the Degree of Chevalier, the Cross of Honor, the Active or Honorary Legion of Honor Degree.

Many of them will have the reaction "I don't deserve this."

Let me assure each of you, that SC is very careful to preserve the integrity of these Honors by guarding membership in them to those who are truely worthy.

You would not have been Elected had you not deserved the recognition, even if you would have never put yourself forward for it. Indeed, if you had sought the Honor, it would have been denied.

Congratulations to each and every Honoree-Elect, and please continue to conduct yourself in the way(s) that lead you to this point. You have been doing the "right stuff" so keep up the good work.

D.

Dad Dale,

It is true what I see here on DeMolay International Awards Page that you now only have to be 15 years of age and do 2 years of service and whay did they change it to a lower requirement

Brother Greg,

Without going back and researching, I can't name a specific year when the change occured.

However, it was basically inevitable that when the membership minimum age was lowered to thirteen, or even 12 with some qualifications, that the minimum age for the Chevalier Degree would be lowered, too.

It has always been a requirement that one have been an Active Member for two (2) full years to be considered, even when the minimum age was 16 to join. Depending on when you joined, you might be closer to three years before you are elligable for consideration, since that only happens once a year.

If someone has joined at age 13, that means they could be considered at age 15 or 16, to fulfill the two years requirement. That does not mean they will be nominated or elected, only that they can come up for consideration.

The minimum age for election is always around 2 + years above the minimum age for membership. When the minimum age for membership was 14, the minimum age for election was 17. [But if you joined at 17, you couldn't be considered until you were 19.]

My son joined at age 13, and was already a Past State Junior Councilor and three time State Champion of the Flower Talk when he was nominated at age 20 and elected just after he turned 21 (I abstained from any involvment in his nomination or election).

The vast majority of nominations are of DeMolays who are either of college age, or perhaps high school seniors, who have been members for 3 or more years, and have remained active even when they reached PMC status, or, in rare cases, where they never became Master Councilors.

I assure you that it would take a really extraordinary young man to be nominated and elected a Chevalier at age 15. I personally can not imagine the circumstances.

Respectfully and Fraternally,

D.