Frank S. Land

The Order of DeMolay was founded in 1919, in Kansas City, Missouri by Frank S. Land. Land was a community leader, who at 28, already had a successful business career as a restaurateur. Frank S. Land was selected to act as the director of the Masonic Relief and Employment Bureau of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. This charity would come to help hundreds and hundreds of families. Land’s Blue Lodge Senior Warden asked Frank, to find a part-time job for Louis Lower, the oldest son of a recently deceased lodge member. After meeting Lower, Land had discussions with his wife Nell, and Frank decided there was a need for an organization where boys would have the opportunity to associate with other boys, share common interests, learn responsibility and other skills that would benefit them throughout their lives. His ideal model for this organization included having business or professional men, Masons, taking interest in the young people, being a friend to them, advising them. They decided to form a club and meet at the Masonic Temple. The first meeting was with Lower and eight friends. Heroic figures from history & the Bible were discussed for the group’s name. A picture of DeMolay caught their interest and Land explained his story of loyalty and courage. The group liked the name, but Land encouraged them to think on it and come back on March 24, 1919 with other suggestions and more friends. That night 31 members voted on the name DeMolay.