Featured Image: Members of Allentown City Council present Proclamation to members of Allentown DeMolay to commemorate The centennial of DeMolay and March as DeMolay Month in Allentown. (back row, l to r): Council members Daryl Hendricks, and Julio Guridy, Council president Roger Maclean, and council members Cynthia Mota and Ed zucal; not pictured, Council members Candida Affa and Courtney Robinson (front row, l to r): Daniel Hollenbaugh, Master Councilor, and Jonathan Rhoads, Senior Deacon, both officers of Allentown DeMolay, a Masonic youth organization for boys 12-21 that meets in Allentown’s Masonic Temple. Contributed photo by Edward John White
Allentown DeMolay is celebrating the Centennial of DeMolay International and the month of March as DeMolay Month again this year.
Allentown City Council recognized the group with a Proclamation presented to Chapter officers on Wednesday, March 6, in Allentown City Council Chambers.
DeMolay is an international youth organization sponsored by the Masonic fraternity that builds character and leadership skills in young men between the ages of 12 and 21.
The Order of DeMolay was founded in 1919 in Kansas City, Missouri, by a Kansas City area Mason, Frank S. Land, who selected the name to honor Jacques DeMolay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar in France.
Allentown Chapter was formed in 1926 by local Masons, who also built the local Masonic Temple located on Linden Street across from Allentown’s West Park.
Allentown DeMolay is sponsored by Allen-Beauceant Commandery No. 20 of the Knights Templar.
Both groups meet in the Commandery Asylum located on the first floor of the Temple.
Allentown Chapter includes boys from the City of Allentown and many neighboring municipalities and school districts throughout the Lehigh Valley, including Allentown, Bethlehem, East Penn, Parkland, Salisbury, Whitehall-Coplay, Northampton, Nazareth, Bangor, and Easton.
The current Master Councilor of the Chapter is Daniel Hollenbaugh, a senior at Emmaus High School.
To encourage all Pennsylvania DeMolay Chapters to organize, execute, and document successful DeMolay Month
As a part of this contest, each Chapter can earn points by completing certain tasks, and the winner will be recognized with the Pennsylvania DeMolay “DeMolay Month 100th Anniversary Award of Excellence.”
In addition to one Chapter winning the Award of Excellence, the top three Chapters in Pennsylvania also will be recognized with certificates and cash prizes at the state organization’s annual convention, which is being held this year in Cranberry Townahip near Pittsburgh.
Allentown Chapter is seeking to win the Award of Excellence and the top cash prize to help offset the cost of chapter activities, according to Edward John White, the Chairman of Allentown Chapter’s 14-member Advisory Council and a Senior DeMolay who has been involved with the local chapter since 1975.
DeMolay is an international nonprofit organization recognized by the IRS as a public charity under IRS Section 501(c)(3).
One of the ways each Chapter is encouraged to participate in DeMolay Month and for which it can obtain points toward the contest awards, White said, is to obtain proclamations or resolutions recognizing DeMolay and DeMolay Month from local, state, and national elected officials.
Wednesday’s presentation by Allentown City Council was attended Officers, members, advisors, and parents of Chapter members.
Information Provided By:
Edward John White
Chairman, Allentown DeMolay Advisory Council
