The Order of the Carnation

Central to the success of DeMolay has always been its relationships with other Masonic bodies, and especially those with the other Masonic youth organizations. In 1952, Dad Millard Heath of Texas wrote a ceremony for DeMolay chapters to use to honor Rainbow Girls called The Order of the Carnation. The ceremony was written as a way of recognizing Rainbows for their dedication to the Order of Rainbow for Girls.

Dad Heath decided to center the ceremony around two symbols: red and white carnations, and a sword. The degree explains that the carnations are, “symbolic of mothers love and care,” while the sword represents, “the vow to honor and protect true womanhood.” The Orator later performs a small excerpt of the Flower Talk during the ceremony. The excerpt comes from an older version of the piece that most active DeMolays wouldn’t be familiar with, though the ideals professed are unchanged. Some of the phrasing is also adjusted due to the recipient being a Rainbow Girl instead of a newly initiated DeMolay. The Rainbow Girls being honored are then made honorary members of DeMolay by kneeling and being dubbed “the Lady______” by the Master Councilor in a manner similar to the Degree of Chevalier and the Legion of Honor Investiture with the accompanying words changed to “For God. For Home. For Country”

The ceremony appears to have been performed for only a few years in only specific parts of the country, especially in Texas where it originated, and it was never officially approved or sanctioned by the Grand Council (pre-1954) or International Supreme Council (post-1954).

A Letter from Dad Land

Arthur Becomes King of England

In the days of old, King Arthur and one hundred and twenty-eight knights, chosen for their honor and gallantry, instituted a Round Table to which the best and bravest knights of all the world sought admission. So well-known was their unity that when a hostile knight inquired of a wayfarer about their strength, the wayfarer replied, “By my head, I have just left there, and have espied King Arthur’s court and such fellowship is there as may never be broke or overcome; for well-nigh all the chivalry of the world is there, and all full loyal to the king, and now I ride back homewards to the north to tell our chiefs, that they waste not their strength in wars against him.”

It was a dramatic episode which brought King Arthur to the throne.

At the beginning of the sixth century, King Uther died, and it was not known who was entitled to succeed him. A civil war seemed imminent because of the many claims and counter claims. Finally, there appeared in front of the great church of England a rude, square stone in which was imbedded a beautiful sword. It was proclaimed that the man who could draw out the sword would go to the throne of England. Naturally a great many selfish hands pulled and tugged at the sword but none of them were able to dislodge it.

And then, when there was a great tournament in the land, Sir Kay, foster brother of Arthur broke his sword. Arthur, who was his esquire-at-arms was dispatched to find another suitable sword. He was, however, unable to find one which he felt to be worthy of his brother and so thought of the beautiful sword he had seen in the stone in front of the church. At the first touch of his hand—the first unselfish hand to touch it—the sword yielded, and Arthur possessed what entitled him to the throne of England.

It was later proved that Arthur was the son of Uther so that, like all men, he received only that to which he was in all ways entitled.

The Round Table motto became, “He who seeks to serve a brother, best serves himself.”

Senior DeMolay Spotlight

The Smothers Brothers

To make up for not really having a Senior DeMolay in our “Senior DeMolay Spotlight” last month, we’re going to give you a pair of them to make up for it this month. Brothers Thomas and Richard Smothers—better known as The Smothers Brothers—were both initiated into AF. Hopkins Chapter in Tujunga California. Tom on October 21^st, 1952 and Dick January 20^th , 1953. Tom and Dick Smothers would go on to host The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour from 1967 to 1969. The show was one of the most popular shows of its time, though it was also the most controversial. They frequently performed satirical sketches related to contentious issues of the day—especially racial tensions and the war in Vietnam. They also hosted many guests who were controversial due to their political affiliations like The Who, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Harry Belafonte, and The Doors. Their inclination to challenge the status quo and address controversial issues eventually led CBS to cancel their show mid-season in 1969, leaving one show unaired. However, that same tendency to court controversy also helped fuel the show’s popularity and made it into one of the most successful and influential shows of the ‘60s. The Smothers Brothers would go on to tour for more than 50 years before their retirement in 2010. They were elected into the DeMolay Hall of Fame in 1986. DeMolay International came to find out about The Smothers Brothers being senior DeMolay’s after the executive committee for the 50^th anniversary tried to hire them as the entertainment.

Come back next month for more letters from Dad Land, spotlights on Senior DeMolays who have done remarkable things, and fascinating pieces of DeMolay history!