The Leader
February 2019: 100 Years of Masonic Youth

DeMolay International celebrates its centennial this year, marking a century since Mason Frank S. Land had the idea for a boy’s club based on fraternal values. The female orders of Job’s Daughters and Rainbow for Girls followed, and today, the three organizations provide friendship, values, and life skills to young men and women ages 10 to 21.

In the Southern California city of Thousand Oaks, Conejo Valley Lodge No. 807 makes it possible.

Like all youth orders, this community’s DeMolay chapter and Job’s Daughters bethel rely on local Masons for support. Conejo Valley Lodge proudly steps up in a number of important ways. Master and DeMolay advisor Brandon Lippincott; secretary and Senior DeMolay Stephen Wurtzel; and past master and Grand Master's Youth Service Award recipient Steven Cooley explain.

Adult advisors

• To succeed, the youth orders need a dedicated, cohesive group of adult advisors. Young people are incredibly intuitive, and pick up on any discord among the adults. Advisors should be as supportive and positive with each other as they are with the youth.
• We have a very cohesive advisory group, made up of Masons from Conejo Valley Lodge, Simi Valley Lodge No. 806, and Channel Islands Lodge No. 214, as well as non-Masons.
• Adult advisors often get as much out of our involvement as we put in. We form close friendships with each other, and witness young members grow into extraordinary adults.

Year-round activities

• We try to have at least one brother attend every youth meeting. A lodge presence is one of the most meaningful ways to show these young people that we care.
• We always support youth order special events, from attending their installations to donating to fundraisers. For example, the DeMolay chapter recently sold movie theater tickets for a special viewing of Aquaman as a fundraiser. With the help of our brothers, the theater was packed.
• We do not charge the youth orders rent for our hall, a critical savings for them.
• The youth orders often play a central role in our lodge’s special events. They present the flag at our installations, and DeMolay gives a special presentation for mothers at our annual Sweethearts Dinner. The youth feel valued and get to learn what goes on at lodge. Everyone gets to experience the true meaning of brotherly love and fraternal family.

Youth Orders Month and DeMolay Centennial

• In support of Youth Orders Month, we are challenging everyone to attend both of our local youth meetings in March.
• We’re encouraging brothers to participate in SoCal DeMolay’s Honorary Degrees event, part of DeMolay’s centennial. It’s an opportunity for Masons who were not in the youth order to receive DeMolay degrees and become life members. Sign up at scjdemolay.org/honorary-degrees.

Benefits to youth

• The youth orders instill core virtues and values in their young members, making them exemplary citizens and leaders.
• The youth orders prepare young people for the rest of their lives – teaching them public speaking, management skills, and event planning, as just a few examples.
• Young men and women gain a support network for life, connecting them with lifelong friends and trusted adults.
• In addition, DeMolay is a wonderful opportunity for young men to learn about Masonry.

Benefits to the lodge

• Being involved with the youth orders is an ongoing source of pride and inspiration for our brothers. These young men and women bring fresh perspective, energy, and life experiences into our lodge.
• Through their presence in the community, the youth orders promote Freemasonry in general.
• There is something special, and especially fun, about getting the whole fraternal family together. The youth orders remind us that when our Masonic family comes together, we can accomplish amazing things.

Contact:
Brandon Lippincott
Stephen Wurtzel
Steven Cooley

*Want to read inspiring stories about DeMolay’s past, present, and future? Keep an eye out for the upcoming March/April issue of California Freemason magazine, devoted to 100 Years of DeMolay!