The Demolay Story (early 1960's)

This color educational film is about the Order of Demolay, which was to help boys 14-21 to become better sons and better men. This film is circa the early 1960s based on research.

John Cameron Swayze walks out of a house and says he is going to tell us about the story of Order of Demolay. DeMolay International, was founded in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1919, and is an international fraternal organization for young men ages 14 to 21. It was named for Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar. Its principles are based on love of God, love of parents and love of country. Opening titles: The Demolay Story, presented by the International supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay (:10-1:45). A statue of a soldier wearing a suit of armor on a horse. Jacques de Molay artist rendering. Gargoyles. Smoke plume. A group of men sit around a table. Frank S. Land, called ‘dad’ (1:46-3:56). Land created seven cardinal virtues: Filial Love, Reverence, Courtesy, Comradeship, Fidelity, Cleanness, & Patriotism. A man walks onto an altar between 6 candles. Other men follow and speak on the altar, one at a time (3:57-6:50). Inside Land’s office. Photographs on the wall: generals, entertainers, statesmen, business leaders, Mickey Mouse and others. Men wearing capes walk out and bow. Men sit at a table, the advisory council. They exchange papers and discuss. Three men kneel and they are given the degree of chevalier. Each one receives the honor, stands up, and shakes the hand of the presenter. Boys play basketball. Boys play softball (6:51-10:10). A rifle tournament for the boys. Demolay bowling league. Swimming races. Boys clap. Diving off the diving board into the pool, boys clap. A track meet. Volleyball game. Water skiing. Canoe racing. Canoe derby on the Mississippi. A woman helps some boys with some envelopes. Two boys do fundraising door to door with a woman. A man is sold something. On the street the boy sell items. A car wash is going on as a fundraiser. A chapter waiters club. Waiters serve dinners at a suited affair. Boys clean parked cars as a service. A card is placed under the windshield wiper (10:11-14:08). Boys carry baskets of food out of a building. Chapter members clean up liter on city streets and off highways. A play is performed of cops badgering a suspect. The drum corp in Illinois performs on an empty field. Caldwell, NJ bagpipe band performs in a parade (14:09-16:45). A campfire is set as a large group of boys sing around it. Beach. Boys swim in the surf. A band plays at a dance as boys dance with girls. Women walk to be judged as the ‘sweetheart.’ Judges discuss. The winner is crowned in a royal manner. (16:46-18:31). People dance. At 9pm no matter the activity, everything ceases, and a speaker talks about pausing so the chaplain can lead a prayer. The chaplain prays while those men in the chapter kneel. Tall buildings, a giant pool near the beach in Miami Beach, FL. Tree shaded camp in Wisconsin. Boys sit and listen at camp. Boys practice archery. Outdoor basketball. Horseback riding. The flower talk is performed and its a tribute to motherhood (18:32-24:07). Mothers club for the chapter members. Women serve the boys fruit punch from a bowl, some sew. Another ceremony for those distending adult members. On the Sunday nearest March 18th, those recommit themselves to the cause of the Demolay. A speaker inside the church speaks (24:08-26:53). Boys leave a service and shake hands with others. Glass stained painting that reads: I do so promise and vow as the narrator wraps up the Demolay morals. Symbol of the Demolay. The Demolay vow crawls slowly across the screen (25:54-28:56). End credits (28:57-29:05).

DeMolay International, founded in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1919, is an international fraternal organization for young men ages 12 to 21. It was named for Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar. DeMolay is classified by the IRS as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. DeMolay is open for membership to young men between the ages of 12 to 21 of good character who acknowledge a higher spiritual power. It has about 15,000 active members. Although not a “Masonic organization” as such, DeMolay is considered to be part of the general “family” of Masonic and associated organizations. A family connection to Masonry is not a prerequisite for membership.