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The Degree of Chevalier is the highest honor that an active DeMolay can receive. This honor also may be granted to a Senior DeMolay. The Degree is a citation for outstanding and marked DeMolay activity and labor.

Every year on November 8th, those in the Order of DeMolay who hold this degree are bound by a solemn obligation to do the following:

I furthermore and most solemnly promise and vow that hereafter on Novebmer 8th of each year, as a memorial to our founder, Frank Sherman Land, I will hold communion with with a fellow Chevalier or Court of Chevaliers, wherever I may be, and should this be impossible, I will break bread with an Active Demolay or a young man in his teens.

As a Chevalier, I had the honor to attend a Chevalier banquet with Nation’s Capital Court of Chevaliers on Saturday, November 8th for a traditional observance. The event was held at Belmont Mansion near DuPont Circle. Belmont Mansion was built by the famous Belmont family, of Belmont Stakes fame. They sold the building to the Order of the Eastern Star (OES) and the mansion now serves as the international headquarters for OES.

Chevaliers, from young men to older gentelmen, attended the banquet which was catered by Federal Lodge #1 in Washington, DC. We were also graced by the presence of Jerold J. Samet, who served as the Grand Master of the International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay in 1992. Bro. Samet is also a Past Grand Master of Masons in Washington, DC. Also attending was DC DeMolay’s current Executive Officer, Kurt Hamrock.

This was a fine evening of brotherhood as we revered the memory of our founder, Frank S. Land. It was also a time of renewed commitment for me and that very evening my younger son, Lucas, decided to join DeMolay. I sincerely hope that he will make the same lifelong friendships as I did and enjoy the brotherhood of those in the Order for the rest of his life.

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On Saturday, November 1, 2008 guests from around the Washington, DC Metro area converged on the House of the Temple for the official launch of the Masonic Geocaching Society (MGS).

Geocaching is a new high-tech treasure-hunting sport gaining popularity across America and is now being introduced to the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Participants hide containers, known as geocaches. Treasure Hunters then use GPS devices to locate geocaches, exchange gifts, and share their experiences online at www.geocaching.com.

Scottish Rite Valleys across America are participating in the sport by sponsoring caches on their property. You are encouraged to talk with your Scottish Rite leadership to see if your Valley is participating. If not, let them know about it and encourage them to contact Ill. Bro. Dean Alban, 33°, Director of Membership Services at the House of the Temple for more information on how to get started. Be sure to read my article which appeared in the most recent issue of the Scottish Rite Journal to get more familiar with how geocaching fits in with the lore of Freemasonry. You can also see a great photo of my daughter, Marina, right after she found her first cache.

Becoming involved in geocaching is a grea way for your Valley or Masonic Lodge to become involved with Masonic Youth organizations such as DeMolay, Rainbow, or Job’s Daughters. Speaking of youth, the logo which appears above was designed by my older son, Zachary Finnell. Zachary was honored as part of the festivites on November 1st. As you can see, geocaching is a great bridge to the younger generation.

The Masonic Geocaching Society has also commissioned a trackable geocoin that you can activate and place in caches. The coin can be tracked online at geocaching.com. Many of these coins travel the globe and I cannot think of a better way for people to get interested in Freemasonry than running across one of these items in a geocache somewhere.

So what are you waitng for? Join the Masonic Geocaching Society today. Join us on Facebook and through your Scottish Rite Valley.

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