Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1924-03-29
Twenty-Seven Boys Initiated
AT Salisbury Last Friday
Evening.
INSTALLATION OF
PRINCIPAL OFFICERS

On Friday of last week, 26 POGO
moke boys between the ages of 16
and tWenty-one journeyed to Sails
bury to be initiated into the order Of
DeMolay. They were accompanied
by a goodly number of Masons al
though the night was about as stormy
as old March could make it.
Arriving at the Wicomico capital,
they round a contingent from Easton,
and these with the Salisbury lads
made up a total Of nearly seventy
five.
The initiation ceremonies were con-
Quoted by the Baltimore Chapter,
nearly 80 strong, headed by Grand
Master, A. F. & A. M, and, it is
said they responded to the call to a
man-with only one exception.
The Fourth Regiment Armory was
used as the place to conduct the ex-
ercises; the original intention to use
the Masonic lodge rooms was frus-
trated by the large number present to
see the work. The room was an ideal
one to stage the performance, and,
had it been a little better heated,
would have constituted more COM
Portable house.
Boys and men together made up a
bout 500 people, and, it is safe to
say, not one person regretted the trip
through rain, sleet, and snow to see
the imposing ritual of DeMolay.
The rendition of the parts was, to say
the least, most remarkable. The boys
were letter-perfect in their lines, and
the boyish appreciation of the senti-
ment did credit to more mature
minds. The beautiful drama, por-
traying the staunch devotion of De-
Molay to duty; his sacrifice to his
sworn word; and his firm adherence
to his friends; was beautifully per-
formed. The boys exhibited dramatic
talent far above the average, and the
seriousness, the real dignity of their
entire attitude toward the deep mean
ing of the DeMolay sentiment, was
truly marvellous.
What added to the interest of the
occasion was the costume effect. The
military uniform; the choral vest
ments; the inquisition funeral robes;
the white garments of the crusader;
the medieval armor of the Knight
errant; the distinctive costumes OF
the order itself, all blended to make
most imposing scene.
And the youthful enthusiasm of the
actors, the thorough love for Demo-
lay, was evident in every move. If
the principles Of the Order are alb
sorbed to the extent of one-half, and
these are practiced by the youthful
membership, then truly DeMolay is
worth while.
A boy assuming the obligation,
with a clear understanding of its
weight and significance; determining
TO carry out in so far as he is able
what is contained therein; can not
fail to get started in the right way OF
living. America will profit by the es-
tablishment of the craft ,and it is to
be hoped every town and village will
organize a chapter. This school will
do more than any forcible means of
training can do to bring up men, and
let every town and hamlet organize
DeMolay.
In the issue of the Democrat, Mch.
%, the statement was made that at
the age of 81, boy automatically
ceased to be a member of DeMolay
and could then become Mason or
any other lodge member. 1t was not
meant that he could be a Mason by
virtue of having been DeMolay; on
ly, rather, by virtue of having arrived
at the age of maturity.
DeMolay does not make Masons;
the order is sponsored by the Mason
for the boys sake; to start them on
the road to good citizenship; to instill
into them ideals Of good living; to
teach them to value the right; to
save them from the perils of the
wrong. That done, and the boy
merges into the man, he is free
agent so far as lodges are concerned,
Continued on Page 10)