Allentown DeMolay Wins Most Outstanding DeMolay Chapter in Pennsylvania for Second Year in a Row

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The Allentown Chapter of the Order of DeMolay International, a Masonic youth organization for boys 12-21, was named the Most Outstanding Chapter of the Year in Pennsylvania for the 2018-2019 competition year on Saturday afternoon at the organization’s annual state convention held at the Doubletree Hotel by Hilton in Cranberry Township, just outside of Pittsburgh, PA.
The Chapter, which meets in the Allentown Masonic Temple located on Linden Street across from Allentown’s West Park, won the award for the second year in a row after it finished second two years ago.
Five delegates and four advisors from the Chapter attended the convention.
The Chapter earned the most points in the year-long competition for large chapters (50+ members) and the most points overall among the 20 active DeMolay Chapters in Pennsylvania.
DeMolay was founded in 1919 in Kansas City, Missouri, in Pennsylvania in 1922 and in 1926 in Allentown, by local Masons who wanted to help boys in their local communities.
The Allentown Chapter is sponsored by Allen-Beauceant Commandery No. 20 of the Knights Templar, a Christian Masonic group, but membership in DeMolay is open to any young man of good moral character between the ages of 12 and 21 who believes in a supreme being and who is also recommended by two members and a Master Mason.
The organization is a character and leadership development organization based on seven basic principles which are demonstrated by the members in monthly meetings and other ceremonies.
The Chapter also finished first in several other year-long competitions, including ones for most other chapters visited, most miles traveled visiting other chapters, several self-achievement awards and best printed publication.

The Chapter also was recognized as the only chapter in Pennsylvania to earn the prestigious Centennial Chapter designation for completing a set of specific tasks intended to promote the organization during this, its 100th Anniversary year.
The Chapter’s current presiding officer is Daniel Hollenbaugh, a 2019 graduate of Emmaus High School who will be attending Penn State University – Harrisburg in the fall. Other delegates to the convention included Ethan Flanagan, also a 2019 Emmaus grad who will be attending Kutztown University in the fall, Miles Green, a rising senior at Emmaus High School, Jonathan Rhoads, a rising junior at Emmaus, and Justin Ortiz, also a rising junior at Emmaus.
Green also won a State Competition for public speaking and received the State Master Councilor’s Service Award for his service to Pennsylvania DeMolay during the 2018-2019 DeMolay year, and Hollenbaugh was recognized as a Finalist for the Representative DeMolay of the Year Award competition for the middle age division.

The Order of DeMolay is run by the young men, including the chapter’s business meetings, and it is supervised by a 19-member Advisory Council of adults who have completed leadership and youth protection training. The Advisory Council is headed by Edward John White, a Senior DeMolay, Past Master Councilor, Past State Officer and Masonic Youth Representative from Jordan-Martin Lodge No. 673 in Allentown, who is the Chairman, and Garrett Rhoads of Lower Macungie Township, the Chapter Advisor, who is also a member of Lehigh Valley Day Lodge No. 813 and a member of the Advisory Board of Lehigh Valley Assembly of the International Order of Rainbow for Girls No. 190, which both meet at the Lehigh Masonic Lodge, which is located at 2120 Route 100 in Macungie.
The Chapter will be holding its semi-annual Open Installation of Officers on Sunday, July 28, at 2:00 p.m. at the Lehigh Lodge.
The public is invited to attend.
For questions about DeMolay International in general or Allentown DeMolay in particular, please contact Chapter Chairman Edward John White via email at edwhitemagic61@gmail.com or via telephone at 610-739-3414.
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