Chevalier Observance
Posted by Adoniram on 15 Nov 2008 at 10:26 pm | Tagged as: DeMolay
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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Amen. So Mote It Be.
I had the pleasure and honor of having my son join me in the ranks of DeMolay. As an Active DeMolay he far surpassed his old dad in a lot of ways, retiring at 21 as the three time undefeated State Champion of th Flower talk and the State Junior Councilor.
He was invested with the Chevalier Degree when he turned 21, by me, but without any efforts on my part to secure his Nomination or Election. He did it on his own, as it should be.
I await the day he decides to petition Freemasonry, as I am sure he will, but I can’t fault his choices to pursue his MBA first, his marriage, or the shiny new grand-daughter he and his wife presented us with earlier this year. Everyone has priorities, and I can’t fault his.
Thanks for the comment and congratulations on your new granddaughter.