 |
In 1942,
with America embroiled in World War II, DeMolay faced the possibility
of losing as many as 4 out of 5 of it's active members to the
draft. In this crisis, "Dad" Land saw an opportunity.
He sent a letter to local Advisors, outlining his vision for what
was to come. In his own words, here is that vision:
 |
| September
28, 1942
My dear
Brother:
Our country
is at war. The whole world is in chaos. Every bit of earth
is a battle front. Men are fighting and dying. DeMolay
is experiencing its first war.
|
 |
During
such an hour I wish that I might, through some magical formula,
knock at your door, sit down and visit with you awhile---but
this is impossible. I must depend upon these written words,
inadequate as they are, to ask you to join
with me in advancing DeMolay frontiers. It will
mean doing the greatest “bit” of boy work we |
| have
attempted
… Perhaps new and better ideas will come to you than
here expressed but the important point is that DeMolay
has heard a “call” and we who hold its
destiny in our hands must plan, work and then labor as never
before if we truly love youth. Any sacrifices that we make
will be very small indeed beside those of our boys at the
front.
|
For
twenty-three years DeMolay, quietly but militantly, has been
preparing boys for the test they now face … Our program
has been one of developing character with
special emphasis on love of God, love of Home and love of
Country. By precept and example, we have been hammering constantly
into the hearts and minds of our boys the eternal virtues
taught every child at its mother’s knee. |
 |
| During
the present conflict we must not
deviate the slightest from this simple program of character
development. This is our work and must be our destiny.
We have taken
pride during peaceful pursuits, in the worthwhile evidences
of DeMolay teachings. Now we meet
the supreme tests of seeing how well our teachings
stand the onslaught of treacherous warfare influences …Hundreds
of active DeMolays have enlisted in |
 |
the armed forces of the nation and thousands upon thousands
of majority DeMolays are now serving in the army or navy.
It now appears certain that within the next sixty or ninety
days, those of our membership in the eighteen and nineteen
year old groups will be drafted. |
| When
this happens — and it is going to happen — DeMolay
must devote itself exclusively to the fifteen, sixteen and
seventeen year old boys …
At first
thought we might be inclined to think that we will not be
able to carry on under such conditions but I want you to
stop and think for a moment because this condition that
has come upon us can prove to be a
blessing and opportunity for greater service.
|
 |
|
DeMolay
started in your town and my town with fifteen, sixteen and
seventeen year old boys … Our
greatest memberships were in the first couple of years of
our chapters existence … Today, the
largest chapters of the Movement are composed almost exclusively
of high school boys. They maintain large memberships
because each DeMolay in high school meets scores of boys
daily, eligible for DeMolay, while the employed boy is confined
to a small circle immediately surrounding him. You and I
know this is a true statement of facts.
This
letter is meant to stimulate and afford a change of base
in DeMolay thinking … Right now you are
probably electing and appointing your officers for the Fall
and Winter terms. With the certainty that the eighteen and
nineteen year old boys will be drafted within the next few
months, isn’t it sensible to clean house, do away with
progressive advancement of officers for the “duration”
and appeal directly to the high school age bracket for members
and officers? …
|
|
In other
words, start this Fall with a new
vision. Start the Fall activities as though you
were just instituting your chapter.
All of
this might seem rather disconcerting for the moment in view
of the fact that your present chapter set-up may be ever
so successful with older boys but we
must face the future courageously and with open minds if
we are going to bridge the present emergency and keep
DeMolay alive in your community. I would not
have you, for one moment, feel that I am underestimating
the great value of the older youth, nor do I mean …that
the eighteen,
|
 |
|
nineteen
and twenty year old boys should be ignored and forgotten
— that would be nonsensical — but you know, as
I do, that during these times, he will not be available
for DeMolay activity much longer.
Three
weeks ago, I called a meeting of the [Mother]chapter and
explained the situation. Only one boy on the line was a
high school student. They arose nobly to the emergency and
promptly set to work to bring into the chapterboys of high
school age … young men were invited to a chapter dinner
… and they were invited to join DeMolay with a very
definite understanding they would
be called upon almost immediately to select the
chapter’s
|
 |
officers
from those joining the chapter … DeMolay
in this community is back to its natural field of endeavor.
These high school boys are creating more DeMolay activity
than has been prevalent in the past fifteen years. A
lasting reservoir for future members is being tapped. |
|
I hope
you will enthusiastically consider this suggestion and profit
by our experience here … It
is our duty to make available to every youth the teachings
and ideals of DeMolay … I trust that with
the help of God you will join with me in this effort.
With word of deep personal regard and best wishes, I am
Cordially,
|
 |
|
The above is excerpted from a letter from Frank S. Land to DeMolay
Advisors in 1942. The letter was sent to PA DeMolay by "Dad"
Al Spina of Friendship-Bray Chapter after he found it in their historical
files. A complete scan (.pdf, requires Acrobat
Reader) of the actual letter is available
here (435K).
|
