Supporting the Youth

An organization with millions of alumni and thousands active members all started with nine young men and a man who was just trying to help. Since 1919, Masons have been pledging their support of young men around the world. The first official support came from The General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons International, who fully endorsed DeMolay in September 1921. In June of 1922, the Grand Lodge of Mississippi became the first Grand Lodge to officially authorize Lodges to sponsor DeMolay chapters.

Over the last 100 years, there have been four Declarations of Principles signed by Masonic leaders. The bodies of the four declarations are almost identical, but who signed them make them unique. The first, signed in 1963, was signed by the heads of the national Masonic bodies. The second one was also signed by the heads of the national Masonic bodies in 1969 for the 50^th anniversary of DeMolay. The third was signed in 1994, and was the first meant to be signed by representatives of all of the Grand Lodges of the United States. It is missing only the signature of the representative of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. A fourth resolution of support was signed in 2013 at the Conference of Grand Masters of North America, and contains the signatures from all US Grand Lodges and many of the visiting Grand Lodges as well.

From Dad Land's Speech Notes

The Leader

In troubled times the world will always greet

That man who promises the best, the one

Who prophesies the brightest road, the sweet

And peaceful way past thunder to the sun

But the history of earth has always been

A tale of mass confusion, focused time

And time again by one man who begins

By bringing unity to humankind

Today we tremble on the outer rim

Of chaos, listening in every heart

To hear his step upon the wind, his dim

Approaching tread. O, if he were here to start

The spirit marching where the future sings

And truth and justice are the only kings!

--Harold Applebaum

Senior DeMolay Spotlight

David Goodnow

"Toss a pebble in a pond. The waves may spread far beyond what you expect. The life of a DeMolay may be like that pebble. I learned that taking a stand for what is honorable can make a difference and spread out to influence the lives of many. In this way, DeMolay builds better citizens and better lives. " – David Goodnow

David Goodnow was initiated in to Vincennes Chapter in Vincennes, Indiana on September 16, 1952. He is a member of the DeMolay Legion of Honor and remains active in DeMolay. At Georgia’s annual Grand Masters Class, he regularly performs as Master Inquisitor, adding the unique experience of performing the first paragraph of the ritual in both French and English.

Brother Goodnow is also a Master Mason of Lessing Lodge #464 F&AM in Evansville, Indiana and a member of the Valley of Evansville of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite. He received the Thirty-third Degree in September of 1998.

Professional Life

Joined CNN Headline News as one of the original anchors at the Atlanta International Headquarters (1982)

Vincennes University Faculty Citation (1989)

Honorary Doctorate degree in broadcasting from Vincennes University in Indiana (1996)

Recipient of Media Fellowship International's Ambassador Award (1997)

Charter committee member of the Indiana Higher Education Television System

Manager of the first non-publicly supported educational TV station in Indiana, WVUT - Vincennes

News anchor, weather person, and sports reporter at WTVW - Evansville, Indiana
Principal anchor at WTHI-TV - Terre Haute, Indiana