FAQ: Are there youth groups?
Larry the Mason from Holbrook
Version 1.0
August 2006
This Frequently Asked Question comes from the weekly USENET MASONRY FAQ, posted to alt.freemasonry every Friday at 08:00 Pacific. Please refer to the weekly FAQ for other resource and contact information.
06
Are there youth groups?
Yes, there are, and they are thus described:
a. DeMolay: The International Order of DeMolay is the world's largest
fraternal organization for young men between the ages of 12 and 21.
The Order was founded in Kansas City, Missouri on March 24, 1919 by
Frank Sherman Land. DeMolay Chapters are sponsored by Masonic
Lodges, and some members of the sponsoring body also serve as
Advisors on the Chapter's Advisory Council. Structurally, it is
similar to Masonry. The Master Councilor is the presiding youth in
a chapter.
DeMolay Chapters hold monthly or bi-weekly meetings with Masonic-
like Ritual. Other activities include athletic tournaments and
events, social functions (joint activities with Rainbow are
encouraged), fund-raising activities, Masonic service activities,
and civic and philanthropic activities.
DeMolays are taught the seven cardinal virtues of the Order --
filial love, reverence for sacred things, courtesy, comradeship,
fidelity, cleanness, and patriotism -- and the importance of
practicing them in their daily lives.
The Order's namesake is Jacques DeMolay, who was the last Grand
Master of the Knights Templar and who was executed by Philip IV's
soldiers on March 18, 1314. Louis Lower, the first DeMolay, and his
group of friends, when asked by Dad Land to choose a name for their
group, believed that his heroic fidelity and loyalty to his fellow
Templars were qualities with which they wanted their group to be
identified. Mind you, Dad Land explained this to them before they
chose their name.
A fascinating book about the history of the Order and the life of
Frank S. Land (1890-1959), titled "Hi! Dad," is available from the
DeMolay and More Store or practically any member of the Order. The
phone number of the DeMolay and More Store is 1-800-DEMOLAY.
(Thanks to Tom Schnorrenberg)
b. Rainbow: The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls (called
IORG, or Rainbow) is a non-profit, fraternal youth service
organization for girls between the ages of 11-20. The Order was
founded in McAlester, Oklahoma on April 6, 1922 by Reverend W. Mark
Sexon, a 33rd degree Mason. Rainbow Assemblies are usually
sponsored by Eastern Star Chapters, or by Masonic Lodges or other
Masonic bodies, and some members also serve on the Assembly's
Advisory Board. The Worthy Advisor is the presiding youth in an
Assembly.
Rainbow Assemblies hold bi-weekly meetings with a Masonic-like
ritual.
Rainbow provides an environment where teenage girls gain self-
confidence and self-respect while practicing reverence, patriotism,
love and service. Rainbow teaches leadership skills, service to the
community, patriotism to our country and respect for all. There are
seven degrees, represented by colors of the rainbow: Red for Love,
Orange for Religion, Yellow for Nature, Green for Immortality, Blue
for Fidelity, Indigo for Patriotism and Violet for Service.
It is not a religion, cult or secret order. Nor is it connected
with any other group using "rainbow" in their name or logo. Rainbow
is a character-building service organization that is open to all
girls regardless of their religious belief.
More information about Rainbow can be found at the Supreme Assembly
web site: http://www.iorg.org/
c. Job's Daughters: The International Order of Job's Daughters is an
organization of young women between the ages of 10 and 20 who are
related to a Master Mason and share a common bond. They have
members in the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil and the
Philippines. They enjoy activities such as swimming parties,
dances, family picnics, slumber parties, miniature golf, marching
in parades, travel and so on.
Throughout the year, they perform service projects to help their
community, the less fortunate, and other charities. They actively
support the Hearing Impaired Kids Endowment (HIKE) Fund, which
purchases hearing assistance devices for hearing impaired children.
By holding various offices in Job's Daughters, they gain valuable
leadership experience, team spirit and learn democratic principles.
Job's Daughters can qualify for various scholarships that are
offered in a state-wide and a national level.
All Job's Daughters are members of a local chapter called a Bethel.
Members of a Bethel elect their own officers, decide their own
activities, and plan their own events. In short, Job's Daughters
International offers the qualities that today's young women want
and need from organizations that earn their commitment: fun,
friendship, helping others, and the chance to learn organizational
and leadership skills.
Job's also has a program called Jobie2Be, which accepts girls who
are under ten years of age but are otherwise qualified and desire
to be Job's Daughters. They are generally permitted to attend and
help with fund raisers, open meetings and other events, although
they cannot yet attend a regular (closed) meeting. Not all
jurisdictions sponsor a J2B program, and those that do set the
minimum age for their program.
(Thanks to Paul Zentmyer for updates)
For more information, visit http://www.iojd.org/
d. Triangles: The Organization of Triangles, Inc., is a Masonic Youth
Organization. It was established in 1925 as "Daughters of the
Eastern Star", and in 1961 was incorporated with its name being The
Organization of Triangles, Inc.. Triangle is only active in New
York State and does not have affiliations in any other state or
country.
Any girl between the ages of 10 and 21 years of age, and is related
by blood, marriage, or adoption to a Master Mason, a member of the
Order of the Eastern Star, or a member of the Order of the Amaranth
in good standing, is eligible for membership. In addition, a Master
Mason, Eastern Star, or Amaranth member may easily sponsor a girl
for membership in the Organization of Triangles, Inc.
For more information on how to join, visit
http://www.nytriangle.org/