Universe

What is the officer structure of a DeMolay chapter and the process of advancement through the offices?

Bondi,

The officer structure of the Chapter are as follows; The three top officers who are nominated and voted on by the members are; Master Councillor, Senior Councillor, Junior Councillor,the Treasurer is selected by the Advisory Council and is usually a one year term. The rest of the offices in the Chapter are usually up for grabs(so to speak). I don't know if that is the way the rest of the Chapters do it, but that's the way I remember having the offices filled.
If you are interested, go back to the home page and check out the Hall of Fame under History and facts and you may be suprised as to how many names of famous people you may recognize.
Good luck and I hope that this helps you.


Dad Rob Sharrocks
PMC Victoria Chapter, '75-'76
Victoria, B.C
Canada

Bondi,
Properly, the structure is much like that of many traditional Masonic Lodges. There is 21 officers that comprise a DeMolay Chapter. The top officers namely the Master Councilor, Senior Councilor, Junior Councilor, Treasurer, and Scribe are all elected by the members of the chapter. Some Chapters have combined the position of Scribe and Treasurer for convenience to the chapter. The other remaining officers are appointed by the Master Councilor to serve during his term of office. I hope this helps in your understanding.

quote:

Originally posted by DeMolayGuy:
There is 21 officers that comprise a DeMolay Chapter.

23 Officers to exact.

Master Councilor - Elected by the Chapter
Senior Councilor - Elected by the Chapter
Junior Councilor - Elected by the Chapter
Treasurer - Elected for 1 year by the Chapter
Scribe - Appointed by the Advisory Council
Senior Deacon - Appointed by the MC
Junior Deacon - Appointed by the MC
Senior Steward - Appointed by the MC
Junior Steward - Appointed by the MC
Chaplain - Appointed by the MC
Almoner - Appointed by the MC
Marshal - Appointed by the MC
Orator - Appointed by the MC
Sentinel - Appointed by the MC
Organist - Appointed by the MC
First Preceptor - Appointed by the MC
Second Preceptor - Appointed by the MC
Third Preceptor - Appointed by the MC
Fourth Preceptor - Appointed by the MC
Fifth Preceptor - Appointed by the MC
Sixth Preceptor - Appointed by the MC
Seventh Preceptor - Appointed by the MC

Now, this may sound like a lot, and, yes, it is. But to be realistic, most Chapter do not fill every officers position. In fact, most Chapters I know of don't utilize half of the officers.

There are some Chapters that fill every station and more. I have seen stations "created" to allow members feel more of a part of the "running" of the Chapter. Positions like Crown Bearer, Prompter, Aide to the Master Councilor, to name a few.

Hope this helps and doesn't confuse.

Dad Rusty Pratt

How many of the positions are held by adults, if any?

And which offices would need to be filled, minimum, to enable a Chapter to open.

I presume Chapter operates similar to lodge, where only a few officers partake in ceremony and again like lodge where a small number are required to operate a Chapter.

Bondi,
Adults do NOT hold any office in a DeMolay Chapter. Adults are advisors to advise the boys and assist with decisions only in the best interest of the young men, such as planning trips, events, etc. In that, they must assure there will be adult supervision and transportation to events the chapter would plan. The Chapter is a autonymous body where the young men create their own atmosphere for the harmony of others.
As for parts, each office has a part that is necessary to keep a chapter functioning whether it is in the opening, degrees, or administrative.

Hm.. I've never heard of a Chapter making up offices to make others feel important. I love that idea! Now if we could only get the members of my own Chapter to show up more often!

By the way, in my chapter our Treasurer is appointed, and is our scribe, but he runs a year term I believe, unless he moves into the electeds line (MC, SC, or JC)

The Officers that "participate" in the Opening and Closing ceremonies are:

Master Councilor, Senior Councilor, Junior Councilor, Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, Senior Steward, Junior Steward, Chaplain, Marshal, and, Sentinel (Organist, is optional)

In the Initiatory Degree, the Officers that "participate" are:

Master Councilor, Senior Councilor, Junior Councilor, Scribe, Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, Senior Steward, Junior Steward, Marshal, Sentinel, Organist (again, optional), and all Seven of the Preceptors.

In the DeMolay Degree, the Officers that "participate" are:

Master Councilor, Senior Councilor, Junior Councilor, Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, Senior Steward, Junior Steward, Marshal, Orator, Sentinel, and, Organist (once again, optional)

Like the Master Mason Degree, there is an additional "Section" to the DeMolay Degree in which DeMolays portray Jacques DeMolay, his Officers, members of the Inquisition and other period characters in a synopsis of the trial and final hours of DeMolay before the Papal Inquisition.

Now, to add confusion to the mix, some Juridictions, also, use a "short form" of the Opening, Closing, and, Initiation ceremonies. In Illinois, we have a 5 man Opening and a 3 man Initiation. There is a HUGE controversy within the various Jurisdictions of DeMolay International concerning the use "shortened" ritual, and, by no means am I wanting this to turn into a debate over it's pros and cons. I just wanted to inform you of their use in addition to the "Full Form" rituals.

Dad Rusty Pratt

As far as advisors doing positions, all I have ever seen and they should not ever be more than: scribe and treasurer

I asked irt once and had no answer. Please what are the meanings of each officers. Their stations anda their jewels?I know this is not a secret. I'd just like to know... Please could some one answer it?

Rusty has it right.

Scribes are appointed by Advisory Councils.
Treasurers are elected by the membership to serve one full year.

M.C. S.C. & J.C. are elected by the membership to serve one term from installation to installation. Lenght of term of these offices can vary depending upon by-laws of the Chapter.

All other officers are appointed by the M.C.

Jaimar,

You ask the "meaning" of each offices. I think a better term might be "function of the offices"

The Master Councilor is the "Presiding Officer" or leader of the Chapter. Other organizations might refer to this position as the "President"

As the Presiding Officer, he conducts the meetings of the Chapter. At other times he is the leader of the chapter. To accomplish his duties he appoints others to various functions. Those functions can change from one Master Councilor to another. So one chapter may have the Junior Councilor make a sickness or injury report and another chapter may appoint this duty to the Senior Deacon.

The Senior Councilor and Junior Councilors are also leaders of the Chapter. They may preside in the absence of the Master Councilor.

All other officers have specific duties or functions as describe by DeMolay ritual when opening or closing the chapter or when obligating new members.

We often think of the Marshall as being the official escorter of visitors and guests to the chapter. But in reality the Master Councilor can direct any officer or member to escort someone in, around and out of the Chapter room.

All officers of a chapter must be "Active DeMolay members" of the chapter. Often an adult advisor will fill in as Treasurer or Scribe in the absence or lack of a Treasurer or Scribe.

One of the great things about DeMolay is that DeMolay provides the framework for the organizational structure of the Chapter but what activities and how the chapter performs is up to the local chapter.

You want to go paintballing, skating, camping, play baseball? Do X,Y,Z, and you will go paintballing, skating, camping, and play baseball. Its up to the members.

Thanks for the informations, but I'm 8 years old in the DeMolay. I'm a Past Master Councilor in BRazil and Advisor in my Chapter and Priory. What I really wanted to know is if is there any Simbolism concerning the Officers or their Jewels. I'm worried about it because in Brazil, many people use to say things about the Officers that I think it didn't exist in DeMolay, even in USA. Just an exemple:
The Marshal has a stick or a bat (don't know how fyou call it) that is a conductor of energy that doesn't interrupt the energy flow that comes form the 4th candle to the MC's head, so that he can pass through the Altar and the MC's station.. But it is not necessary to use it every time.

I think this is not true. I saw an explanation about it given by a experient Bro. I'd like to know what are the simbolisms linked to the Officers. Wahy the Master Councilor wears a Gavel? Wahy the Almoner wears a bag etc...

Please could you answer me?

In the U.S. it is a Baton - pronounced "BA-ton". They are usually made of wood. Energy Flow??? Thats a new one on me. I have never seen or heard anything to that effect let alone think of any energy that wood is a good conductor of.

In any case there is no way I would stand in front of a bunch of DeMolay and explain to them that some mystical energy passes from the alter through the baton, held by the Marshall, to the Master Councilor. Its just not gonna happen.

Yes I know it. It's bit stupid. I'm sorry for asking so fool question. But I often hear this in Brazil and I don't think that's right. So I'd like to know what simbolizes each jewel and names of the officers. Please. Thank you so much for the help with "Baton."

Sir Jaimar
Senior DeMolay
Principe das Caraubeiras 098 Chapter - GCE-RN - SCODRFB

bro. jaimar,

i hope this can help you:

master councilor - crossed gavels, to indicate that he holds the highest position in the chapter.

senior and junior councilors - single gavel, to indicate that they also hold power, although they are subordinate to the MC.

treasurer - key, indicates his function of safeguarding the funds of the chapter

scribe - pen, to indicate his primary function of recording chapter activities proper to be recorded

deacons - doves, remember noah from the bible? he used a dove as a messenger. since the deacons often function as messengers of the MC and SC, this could be an explanation

stewards - horn of plenty, same symbol is used by masonic lodges for their stewards. in our case, the term "stewards" can be taken to mean, "custodians" since the stewards "keep" the two bulwarks of the Order - the bible and the schoolbooks.

marshal - crossed batons, from the english custom of a marshal being given a white rod to symbolize his authority. let me dig up my notes on this one...

chaplain - open bible, to indicate his duty of leading the chapter in its devotions

almoner - bag of coins, to indicate his duty of keeping the funds of the chapter allocated for charitable use

orator - scroll, in allusion to his job of delivering oration

organist - harp, indicates his job of providing suitable music for the ceremonies of the chapter

sentinel - crossed swords, to indicate his duty of guarding the outer door of the chapter. swords indicate vigilance. double swords could indicate double vigilance (remember the junior deacon's part in the opening?)

standard bearer - standard or banner, indicating his duty of "keeping" the national flag and presenting it during our ceremonies

preceptors - crown, indicates that they are keepers of the symbolic jewel of the crown of youth.

if there are deeper meaning to these symbols, i am not too sure. let me get back to you after i dig up my old notes. i'll go consult my late grandfather's books on masonry.

Thank you so much indeed, Nirdla. It will help me too much.

Sure if you can help me with some information else I'd be very glad. Just another question: Are these interpretation the official ones of the Internation Supreme Council?

Thank you again...

Sir Jaimar

Most of the items have been covered very. I offer a few additional thoughts.

The size of Chapter membership makes a big difference in how some of the offices are staffed. As noted before the three Councilors are elected offices and are usually progressive, Junior to Senior to Master. Scribe and Treasurer are important to the continuity of their charge. Sometimes elected, sometimes appointed by the Advisory Board and sometimes by the Master Councilor. The position of Treasurer is unique because in many jurisdictions a person must be of legal majority to enter into a binding contract. This impacts the responsibility for writing checks. So some Chapters may havae a Treasurer but there must be an Advisors signature on all agreements and checks to make them binding.

Progression in appointed offices is not required but can be benificial to the individual as responsibilities increase as through the ranks of the offices. When our Chapter was very large, a member was required to take a primary speaking part in the DeMolay Degree play to become qualified to old an appointed office. In others, members were not permitted to hold an appointed office for two consecutive terms. This was to give more members the opportunity to hold these offices.

Dad Zimmer

Bro. Jaimar,
The jewels are the official ones sanctioned by ISC. While I have never seen an official meaning assigned to them, the meaning described above is an example of good symbolism, and very likely correct.

Although the Masonic Lodge does not use the doves as symbols of the Deacons, in my Grand Lodge anyway, they are expressly "messengers" of the Master and the Senior Warden, among other duties.

Fraternally,

Dale

I thought the square, level and plumb were the pricipal officers' jewels in the lodge. Am I wrong?

Yes,

The Square, Level and Plumb are the jewels of the Master and the Sr. and Jr. Wardens, respectively, but a Lodge has a lot more officers than that! The exact number varies from Grand Lodge to Grand Lodge, and there is some variance in the Jewels, too, I imagine.

In my Grand Lodge the Jewel of the Senior Deacon is the "Sun within a Square and Compasses", and the Junior Deacon has a "Crescent Moon within a Square and Compasses". Those same emblems top their rods. In some Grand Lodges, the Deacons are elected officers, too. In mine they are appointive, by the W.M.

The Stewards in our Lodges wear the Cornucopia as their jewels, the Treasurer has Crossed Keys, the Secretary has Crossed Quills, the Marshal has Crossed Batons, the Tyler a Sword, the Musician a Harp, the Chaplain an Open Book.