DeMolay
International sought to have a benefiting piece of art
commissioned in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the founding of
DeMolay. Such a piece was brought to reality in vibrant colors by
renowned Midwest artist, Aaron Presler. The piece was first
unveiled at the 75th Anniversary Session the International
Supreme Council of DeMolay, held in Kansas City, Missouri, in
June 1994. It was met with a great deal of adoration for its
great detail and fine work.The original piece, now on permanent
display at DeMolay International, was done in a variety of art
mediums including colored pencil, charcoal, water color, and air
brush. This unique piece depicts many subtleties involving the
history of DeMolay and its founding by Dad Frank S. Land.There are obvious items of remembrance
in the portrait, including a likeness of Jacques DeMolay in
Knightly Robes; a miniature portrait of Frank Marshall, author of
the DeMolay rituals; a sketch of “Hi, Dad!”, a book
referencing the history of DeMolay and biography of Dad Land; a
sketch of the Chevalier medallion and cordon; a depiction of the
Scottish Rite Temple where DeMolays first met; drawings of
membership cards throughout the years; and a detail of the
stained glass window depicting a young boy first kneeling at an
altar and assuming his vows as a member of DeMolay.The subtle
images show Frank Land as a man devoted to his country, Masonry,
and his love of art. The American Flag that blends into Dad Land’s
suit coat illustrates his love of country. His love of Masonry is
revealed by the Masonic emblems that can be found. Besides the
prominent Square and Compass, one can locate Land’s Shrine
lapel pin with five stars for his service as Imperial Potentate.
Also, Dad Land is wearing his 33rd Degree Scottish Rite ring.Perhaps the most subtle aspect of all
can be picked up by DeMolay historians. The four DeMolay Emblems
shown in the artwork each have a date above them. These dates
show when the emblems were first created and when they were used
by DeMolay as its official emblem. The date above the first
emblem reads 1910. How could this be, when DeMolay wasn’t
founded until 1919?The answer can be found in Dad Land’s
background. Dad Land loved art. In fact, he was a graduate of the
Kansas City Art Institute. Dad Land designed each of the official
DeMolay emblems. 1910 is when Dad Land actually designed the
first DeMolay emblem prior to even thinking about starting a club
for boys. He did so as an art student. The incident is touched
upon in the book “Hi, Dad” on pages 40 and 41.“One
evening, Frank arrived home in a state of eager excitement. He
had just thought of a solution to a problem that had been in the back of
his mind for a long time. His wife welcomed him at the door of
their apartment to be surprised at his greeting of ‘Nell,
where is the picture I painted a long time ago of a Heraldic
Shield? You know, the one I drew in Art School …’Nell
thought for a while. ‘I believe I can find it, Frankie,’
she said, and after some delay, brought it into the living room.
Frank looked at it from every angle, placed in on a chair to view
if from a distance, and exclaimed, ‘it’s perfect. It is
just what we need for our emblem … Look at it! There are
even ten jewels surrounding the shield.’ He thought for a
while. ‘It seems to me that the jewels should personify
something and have greater meaning than just serving as
ornaments.’‘What do you suggest?’Land seemed lost
in his world of dream and finally answered, ‘I believe they
should signify the first of our boys, Louie Lower and the other
eight who came with him on that first night that now seems so
long ago.’‘But that is only nine,’ questioned
Nell. ‘How about the tenth jewel?’Slowly Frank turned
to her, took her hand in his, and with deep emotion replied,
‘the tenth jewel will stand for me as the Founder of the
group. I will always be proud of becoming in this way a part of
the symbolic organization of DeMolay.’ Slowly he continued,
‘In the years to come, each of us will enter into the
adventure beyond this life. Then the color of each jewel, in
turn, can change from white to red. Years from now, there will be
ten rubies to give testimonial that in the beginning there were
ten who shared a dream together.’” Today, there are no
remaining pearls. All ten pearls have now changed to rubies at
the request and wishes of Dad Land. Another interesting fact
about the first DeMolay emblem is that it was only used for about
eight or nine months in 1919 because the boys had problems
figuring out what the round object on topof the shield was. In
response, Land turned the helmet sideways and added the second
sword. Below are the emblems and dates they were used.
DeMolay
International sought to have a benefiting piece of art
commissioned in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the founding of
DeMolay. Such a piece was brought to reality in vibrant colors by
renowned Midwest artist, Aaron Presler. The piece was first
unveiled at the 75th Anniversary Session the International
Supreme Council of DeMolay, held in Kansas City, Missouri, in
June 1994. It was met with a great deal of adoration for its
great detail and fine work.The original piece, now on permanent
display at DeMolay International, was done in a variety of art
mediums including colored pencil, charcoal, water color, and air
brush. This unique piece depicts many subtleties involving the
history of DeMolay and its founding by Dad Frank S. Land.
There are obvious items of remembrance
in the portrait, including a likeness of Jacques DeMolay in
Knightly Robes; a miniature portrait of Frank Marshall, author of
the DeMolay rituals; a sketch of “Hi, Dad!”, a book
referencing the history of DeMolay and biography of Dad Land; a
sketch of the Chevalier medallion and cordon; a depiction of the
Scottish Rite Temple where DeMolays first met; drawings of
membership cards throughout the years; and a detail of the
stained glass window depicting a young boy first kneeling at an
altar and assuming his vows as a member of DeMolay.The subtle
images show Frank Land as a man devoted to his country, Masonry,
and his love of art. The American Flag that blends into Dad Land’s
suit coat illustrates his love of country. His love of Masonry is
revealed by the Masonic emblems that can be found. Besides the
prominent Square and Compass, one can locate Land’s Shrine
lapel pin with five stars for his service as Imperial Potentate.
Also, Dad Land is wearing his 33rd Degree Scottish Rite ring.
Perhaps the most subtle aspect of all
can be picked up by DeMolay historians. The four DeMolay Emblems
shown in the artwork each have a date above them. These dates
show when the emblems were first created and when they were used
by DeMolay as its official emblem. The date above the first
emblem reads 1910. How could this be, when DeMolay wasn’t
founded until 1919?The answer can be found in Dad Land’s
background. Dad Land loved art. In fact, he was a graduate of the
Kansas City Art Institute. Dad Land designed each of the official
DeMolay emblems. 1910 is when Dad Land actually designed the
first DeMolay emblem prior to even thinking about starting a club
for boys. He did so as an art student. The incident is touched
upon in the book “Hi, Dad” on pages 40 and 41.“One
evening, Frank arrived home in a state of eager excitement. He
had just thought of a solution to 
a problem that had been in the back of
his mind for a long time. His wife welcomed him at the door of
their apartment to be surprised at his greeting of ‘Nell,
where is the picture I painted a long time ago of a Heraldic
Shield? You know, the one I drew in Art School …’Nell
thought for a while. ‘I believe I can find it, Frankie,’
she said, and after some delay, brought it into the living room.
Frank looked at it from every angle, placed in on a chair to view
if from a distance, and exclaimed, ‘it’s perfect. It is
just what we need for our emblem … Look at it! There are
even ten jewels surrounding the shield.’ He thought for a
while. ‘It seems to me that the jewels should personify
something and have greater meaning than just serving as
ornaments.’‘What do you suggest?’Land seemed lost
in his world of dream and finally answered, ‘I believe they
should signify the first of our boys, Louie Lower and the other
eight who came with him on that first night that now seems so
long ago.’‘But that is only nine,’ questioned
Nell. ‘How about the tenth jewel?’Slowly Frank turned
to her, took her hand in his, and with deep emotion replied,
‘the tenth jewel will stand for me as the Founder of the
group. I will always be proud of becoming in this way a part of
the symbolic organization of DeMolay.’ Slowly he continued,
‘In the years to come, each of us will enter into the
adventure beyond this life. Then the color of each jewel, in
turn, can change from white to red. Years from now, there will be
ten rubies to give testimonial that in the beginning there were
ten who shared a dream together.’” Today, there are no
remaining pearls. All ten pearls have now changed to rubies at
the request and wishes of Dad Land. Another interesting fact
about the first DeMolay emblem is that it was only used for about
eight or nine months in 1919 because the boys had problems
figuring out what the round object on topof the shield was. In
response, Land turned the helmet sideways and added the second
sword. Below are the emblems and dates they were used.
