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It has been said that a day can be
changed or a great moment launched by a single phone call.
Such a call came in January of 1919. As
Frank answered the telephone he recognized the voice of Sam
Freet, newly installed Senior Warden of Ivanhoe Lodge.
"Frank, I have a favor to ask.
One of our members, Elmer E. Lower, who
had been initiated as a Fellow Craft, died a year ago. Could
you find a part-time job for the oldest boy, Louis? He is
one of the finest young men I have ever seen. |
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"Sam, you called at just the right time. I would be glad to
talk to this boy. Send Louis to me, say after school
tomorrow if you can arrange it. I shall look forward to
meeting him." |
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The next afternoon Louis arrived promptly for his interview.
Shaking hands with this youth brought a response to Land
that seemed to blend them into a common experience that
would unite them for years to come. Louis radiated an
honesty of character, a natural aptitude for leadership, and
the grace of movement of the athlete. Frank thought, "If I
had a son, I would want him to be just like this lad." |
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| They talked for
a while about school. Louis told him of his aspirations for
a place on the track team, of his position as a pitcher on a
baseball team, and in response to a question said, "I am a
fairly good student. Even with the hard time we are having,
I want to finish high school and then help with the
education of the others." |
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Frank responded, "It is a good goal. You will meet the
challenge. Now, tell me about your father. I knew him but
only from very casual meetings." |
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Louis hesitated as though reluctant to look into the past
but finally said, "My father was the finest father a boy
ever had." |
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| That evening,
as Nell Land cleared the dinner dishes, she said, "Frankie,
something happened today. You look like you have found a
long, lost friend." |
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| "Not a lost
friend but a new young friend. This boy I talked to today is
tremendous. One of the finest young men I have ever met. He
is going to work with me in the office and I know I shall
enjoy having him around. Perhaps we could take him to church
with us Wednesday evening. The teachings of Christian
Science would be good for him and you could meet Louis
Lower." |
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| "Yes, we should
do just that," she said. "I suggest that you have him bring
a few friends over to the apartment some evening. I would
like to meet him." |
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| It was not
until the middle of February that the opportunity for such a
meeting took place. "Louis," said Mr. Land, "who do you run
around with?" |
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| "I have some
friends in my neighborhood," said Louis. |
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| "How would you
like to form a Club and meet here at the Temple?" |
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| Louis thought
the idea had possibilities and showed up the next week with
eight other boys. That was February 19, 1919. |
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| The boys came
early that Wednesday evening and each in turn was introduced
to Mr. Land by Louis Lower with, "I want you to meet Ralph
Sewell, Elmer Dorsey, Edmund Marshall, Jerome Jacobson,
William Steinhilber, Ivan Bentley, Gorman McBride, and Clyde
Stream. There are nine of us." |
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| They were a
group destined to form a great youth organization and each
was to advance through his efforts and determination to
prominence in his chosen field of work. |
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| Mr. Land
acknowledged each introduction with a handshake and word of
welcome. "Before we get down to business, let's make a tour
of this building. I think you will find it just about right
if we should decide to form a Club and use it as a meeting
place." |
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| It was a
radiant group that gathered about the long table in one of
the meeting rooms that night. There was no doubt that they
should continue to meet as a Club. The only question was a
name. One suggested they use Greek letters as the college
fraternities did but this was instantly voted down as making
them only a part of other organizations. The name must be
distinctive and carry meaning. They turned to Land for
suggestions. He pointed to a recent series of prints on the
wall that showed the adventures of Sir Galahad and the
Knights of the Round Table. There was a negative shaking of
heads. |
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| The greatest of
wars had ended only a few months before and the adventures
of knights of old seemed far away. Then names were mentioned
from history and from the Bible. Stories such as Damon and
Phythias, David and Jonathan and of Nathan Hale. Nothing
seemed to click until one of the boys, Clyde Stream, said
"Mr. Land, tell us something connected with Masonry. They
must have great names and we are meeting here in one of
their buildings." |
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| Frank smiled,
"This year I am serving as the head of one of the Masonic
Groups. I am the Commander for the DeMolai Council of Kadosh.
There are many names and stories directly connected with
Masonry, but I think I should tell you about the last leader
of the Knights Templar. His name was Jacques DeMolay or as
they say in history books, James of Molay." |
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| The story and
the name caught the imagination of the boys. Here was
heroism. Here was a great example of loyalty, of courage.
Here was a theme from knighthood and chivalry, at its best,
and the name of a martyr to fidelity and toleration. The
boys were ready without further consideration to accept this
name as the name of the group. But Land interrupted, "Now
let's wait just a little bit and sleep over this. Let's not
rush into it. Perhaps with a little more thought we can come
up with a better name. One that might be more in keeping and
more appropriate. It is growing late and you should all be
going home. Come back next week and bring a few more of your
friends. We will talk more together about it then. Good
night and thanks for coming." |
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| While the boys
talked to Land about the Club when they came to the Temple,
it was their long talks together at school and as they
walked from school to home that heightened their interest
and gave momentum to their organization. One afternoon after
a chemistry class, Elmer Dorsey caught up with Louis Lower
to ask, "Louis, I think this club idea is terrific. But what
is it all about? What does Mr. Land get out of it? Do they
want us to become junior Masons?" "I don't have all the
answers, Elmer, I only know that Frank Land is one of the
greatest. His only motive is the one he tells us. He likes
to be with young people and sincerely believes that if we do
form such a group each of us will benefit from it. How he
ever talked the older boys into letting us use their temple
is beyond me. They must be interested in us as Land is,
because he has told me that we are not to be a junior
Masonic group. He told me these men are concerned about only
one thing and that is that we should grow into decent men
who will be respected in the community." |
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| March 24, 1919
was the day in history that launched the Order of DeMolay.
During the next few years, however, the date of March 18,
the date in the past that had witnessed the death of Jacques
DeMolay, came to be more frequently used. |
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| Thirty-one
boys, all from the same high school, came to the Scottish
Rite Temple that night. Frank Land made each boy welcome and
then explained briefly his ideas of a Club. Land said, "This
is your meeting. I will serve as Advisor but it is your
meeting. Why not proceed with an organization and elect a
few officers. I will take charge until you have completed
your election." |
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| During the next
few months the group grew in numbers, in activities and
interest. Then a fear came to some of them that they were
growing into too large a Club. |
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| Someone
suggested that a committee talk with Mr. Land and endeavor
to convince him that membership should be limited to 75.
Land neither criticized or admonished the committee at the
time. In fact they didn't know whether he agreed or
disagreed to their suggestion. |
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| Later when the
meeting was called to order, the chairman reported and moved
that the membership of DeMolay be limited to 75. The motion
quickly received a second and was unanimously adopted. It
was then that Dad Land rose from the back of the room where
he had been more or less out of sight for he wasn't the type
to take the spotlight, or the forefront in their meetings.
He wanted them to conduct their own meetings. |
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| As he came to
the front of the room that night, he proceeded to tell
them—and in no uncertain terms—how selfish and how
inconsiderate they were. He told them that they were
operating and thinking absolutely contrary to every idea
that he had in mind for this organization. He reminded them
that there were three other high schools in Kansas City
which had young men who were just as capable, just as
qualified, and just as upstanding as they were. In fact, he
indicated he thought they were probably much, much better
than what they thought they were. He said that if it was
good for one boy, it must be good for all eligible boys. He
reminded them that 'to become big, they must be big.' The
motion to limit membership to 75 was rescinded. It was then
that DeMolay was permitted to grow and develop. |
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| And grew it
did. DeMolay continued its growth initiating new member and
instituting new chapters in all states of the continental
USA. DeMolay then crossed the oceans and the organization
was developed in many foreign countries. Thousands upon
thousands of young men have had their life enriched by the
rescinding of the motion to limit the Order of DeMolay to
just 75 members. |
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Back to Top |
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(An excerpt from
www.demolay.org) |
