It all started with a fateful phone call in 1919. Frank Sherman Land, employed as the social services director for the Scottish Rite bodies in Kansas City, Missouri, received a call from Sam Freet, a friend who had recently become Senior Warden of Ivanhoe Lodge. Freet asked a favor – to find a part-time job for a bright youth named Louis Lower, whose father had passed away the year before.
Intrigued, Land agreed to interview Louis. The next day, the young man arrived, radiating honesty and leadership. Land felt an instant bond, thinking “If I had a son, I’d want him to be just like this lad.” As they talked, Louis spoke admiringly of his late father and his aspirations to finish school and support his family. Land was inspired by the boy’s character and resilience.
That night, Land excitedly told his wife Nell about his new young friend. With Land’s encouragement, Louis soon brought a group of friends – youths also missing father figures due to abandonment or death – to the Scottish Rite headquarters. From this gathering, the idea for the Order of DeMolay was born – a club that would provide guidance and mentorship to young men needing positive role models.
The group of youths decided to name their new club after Jacques DeMolay, the last Grand Master of the medieval Knights Templar. DeMolay had embodied loyalty, friendship and integrity. Accused of heresy by King Philip IV of France, he was imprisoned and tortured for seven years but refused to betray his comrades. Sentenced to death by burning in 1314, DeMolay courageously accepted his fate. The young founders selected his name to represent the noble values they sought to uphold.
The new youth group grew rapidly – in three years, chapters spread to 39 states, demonstrating its wide appeal. While World War II slowed expansion, DeMolay endured, emerging to welcome a new generation. Over the decades, millions of young men have developed courage and character through DeMolay, including famous figures like Walt Disney, John Wayne, Walter Cronkite and football Hall-of-Famer Fran Tarkenton.
Today, DeMolay chapters empower boys in their community service initiatives, teamwork opportunities and crisis support. The group remains true to its founding principles – embracing honesty, compassion and respect for all. From a simple phone call was born an iconic youth institution that has helped shape many outstanding men.
Northern California DeMolay Jurisdiction Office
Jurisdictional Office 34400 Mission Blvd. Union City, CA 94587