Order Of Demolay
Mill Valley Chapter
DeMolay was started seventy-five years ago in 1919, by Frank S. Land in Kansas City, Missouri. DeMolay began as a club for nine boys. As more learned about it, other communities clamored for Chapters of their own and DeMolay began growing into the world wide fraternal organization it is today.
DeMolay came to Mill Valley with the institution of a Chapter on October 27, 1937. Mill Valley Masonic Lodge #356 recognized that the Order of DeMolay was a constructive way for young men to mature, and was receptive to sponsoring a Chapter. The driving force behind creating a new Chapter came from Warren Plamondon, a young Mill Valley resident, Tamalpais High student, and a member of the DeMolay Chapter in San Rafael. Warren would have been the first Master Councilor ("President") of Mill Valley Chapter had it not been for his fateful act of heroism in which he lost his life trying to rescue a drowning swimmer at Stinson Beach. Thanks however to his leadership, the Chapter was instituted with William Hatch as the first of many fine Master Councilors.
In 1942, the Chapter was forced to temporarily close. At the time, membership was restricted to sixteen to twenty-one year olds. The onset of World War II drained too many of the members for the Chapter to continue meeting. Past Master Councilor William Hatch was one member who went to war: He became a pilot, and would become Diplomat Averrel Harriman's personal pilot. With the peace in 1945, however, the Chapter sprang back to life, and continued until about 1990 when declining membership again caused its close. Growing with the times, DeMolay recognized the increasing maturity of younger boys, and has reduced the minimum age over time to the current minimum of thirteen.
During these boom years, Mill Valley Chapter distinguished itself in many ways in the community and in DeMolay. In the 1950's and again in the 1960's, Mill Valley Chapter hosted the Redwood Empire Division Conclave, a gathering of DeMolay's from the nineteen chapters between Mill Valley and Crescent City: The visiting DeMolay's were housed by Mill Valley Chapter members' families. DeMolay's took Bay Cruises, held rifle and bowling matches, banquets and formal dance.
The Chapter's social calendar has varied to keep pace with the times. DeMolays run DeMolay and, with competent adult supervision to see nothing gets out of hand, plan all their own activities. Over the years, activities have included summer hay rides from the Safeway parking lot to the beach, picnics to places like Marin Town and Country Club and Boise Hot Springs, eighty person camping trips to Lake Pillsbury, and winter trips to Lake Tahoe. In between, the Chapter put on dances often with live bands, and competed in basketball, softball against other Chapters' teams, and took hiking, fishing, and bicycle trips. From the 1950's to the early 1970's, the Chapter had target shooting team which won many trophies competing at the local and state level against other DeMolay Chapter's and high schools.
Chapter members often visited neighboring chapters as far away as Eureka, giving High School students a wider view of other people, reinforcing DeMolay's lessons of toleration toward others and comradeship. Mill Valley Chapter was a training ground for both regional and state DeMolay associations: Four of Mill Valley Chapter's Past Master Counselors went on to become Redwood Empire Division Master Counselor, presiding over a far flung regional association of chapters. Another Past Master Counselor served as Editor for the Northern California DeMolay Association.
A lesser known, but proud accomplishment was the publication of a newspaper for members called, "The Run of the Mill." In the early 1980's this paper was twice voted newspaper of the year in the Redwood Empire Division, and once newspaper of the year for Northern California.
Long time Mill Valley residents may also remember the Chapter for it's fundraisers, which like all of Mill Valley Chapter's activities have been the biggest and the best around. First, came Mill Valley DeMolay's Christmas tree lot on Miller Avenue which operated from the early 1950's to 1975 on the site of the present Wells Fargo Bank. The Chapter also sold concessions at the County Fair which was then at the Marin Arts and Garden Center in Ross. Later the Chapter raised its operating funds as a concessioner at the Mountain Play, selling ever popular snow-cones and hot-dogs.
The Chapter used its financial means well by giving back to the community: Members learned in DeMolay that "...charity, not the ostentatious and unmeaning dolling out of alms, but the virtue which has been translated brotherly love is a virtue all should practice...." Each year, the Chapter donated heavily to local and state wide charities. And, to this end, Mill Valley Chapter members not only used their hard earned money, but gave their time to visit convalescent hospitals.
Fun and good works aside, DeMolay in Mill Valley has well served its most ambitious goal: To help its members grow into better men and citizens. DeMolays learn by doing, and from running a Chapter DeMolays learn organization, budgeting, communications, public speaking -- all skills that transfer directly to academics, business, and civic life. Chapter members through the years have proven leaders in high school scholastics and extracurricular activities. The majority of Mill Valley Chapter's members graduated as life members of Tamalpais High School's "Dean's List" (Honor T/CSF) for their scholastics, and were active in high school government, sports and music.
Many of Mill Valley Chapter's Senior DeMolay's have gone on to graduate from prestigious and demanding colleges, including Cal Berkeley, Cal Poly, Swarthmore, M.I.T., West Point, and Crown Point, some with financial assistance from the DeMolay Foundation. Some have furthered their educations by attaining advanced degrees in accounting, engineering, law, and medicine. A few Mill Valley DeMolays have become active in local government. Some have joined the Mill Valley Police and Fire Departments. At least one Mill Valley DeMolay now teaches at Tamalpais High School.
Why DeMolay?
The Order of DeMolay's namesake, Jacques DeMolay lived in 14th century France, during the time of the last Crusade. He was the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, which was a fraternity of crusading knights throughout Europe. He was a great knight and leader of men who defended the less fortunate, and was true and faithful to his cause and to his friends unto death, dying a martyr to loyalty and toleration.
The Order of DeMolay uses this example to inspire members. DeMolay seeks to impart to its members of all faiths, creeds, races the relevancy of such timeless principals as love of parents, respecting beliefs and opinions of others, courtesy, friendship, faithfulness, cleanness, and patriotism. From the good example of a knight of yore, the Order of DeMolay offers members a modern code of Chivalry.
Joining a DeMolay Chapter requires only that a prospective member by a young man, between thirteen and twenty-one years of age, who has some belief in any supreme being. Initiation is a serious occasion, due respect being given to the candidate and to the seventy-five year tradition of modern Chivalry. Absolutely no hazing has ever been permitted.
The officers and members of Mill Valley Masonic Lodge #356 strongly believe in DeMolay's relevancy and value for todays youth, and our community.
MILL VALLEY CHAPTER PAST MASTER COUNCILORS
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