Effective meetings are the cornerstone around which a chapter functions and grows. Meetings give members the opportunity to be creative and turn their ideas into reality. Every DeMolay has a role in the opening and closing of meetings. Every 6 months new roles are selected for members, and an election is held for new chapter leadership. The leader of a chapter is the Master Councilor. This position provides hands-on experience through challenging the young man in charge to make decisions for the chapter and organize the “when, where, and how” of events. Guest speakers like veterans, teachers, and public servants, are often invited to give special presentations.

As Frank Land was putting together the pieces of his club that would become DeMolay, he asked a local writer, Frank Marshall to write some performances for his club, that represented the virtues he wished to impress upon them. Though he didn’t believe he could, Frank Marshall found himself compelled to try, and he wrote the degrees of DeMolay. What Marshall produced was so well written that a century later, the majority of his writing has gone unchanged. Many other pieces were introduced with time, and all together DeMolay boasts some of the most moving presentations a person can see. From a monologue honoring a Mothers’ love, to a sending off of brothers who have reached the age of majority, each carries a different lesson that the young men take with them beyond their time in DeMolay. Anyone watching a DeMolay performance for the first time is likely to be astounded by the ability and professionalism of the members – many of whom have no idea that what they’re doing is truly special.

The titles of “Mom” and “Dad” are indicative of the kind of impact Advisors can have on the DeMolays they work with. Members often refer to DeMolay as a “second family” because of the level of attention and affection given to the young men. By surrounding them with the right people, and giving them assistance, while promoting individuality, DeMolay attempts to provide guidance which will bring the best out of each young man.

Chapters and members are part of a larger Jurisdiction, which are usually are defined by state lines or Country borders. The Executive Officer is the Advisor responsible for management of the Jurisdiction, and will often recruit other adults to serve as staff who assist in jurisdictional operation. Just like a Chapter, the Jurisdiction has its own officers with the top officers chosen by election. The youth leader of the Jurisdiction is called the State Master Councilor or Jurisdictional Master Councilor. DeMolays serving their Jurisdiction keep their Chapter role and attend meetings as usual. The role of the Jurisdictional Master Councilor and other officers is to visit all Chapters and provide help with a number of efforts while rallying the members behind their vision of how to move DeMolay forward. They often will travel beyond Jurisdictional lines to experience DeMolay from a different perspective and make connections with brothers  from hundreds of miles away.

Once a year, DeMolay hosts an International Session, where Jurisdictions send their top ranked DeMolays along with their Executive Officer (adult in charge of the Jurisdiction). While there, they get the rare opportunity to meet some of the best DeMolays from across the globe. The location of session changes every year, often being held in historic locations like Kansas City, or Washington DC. The primary youth function during the week is the Congress Session where delegates from every Jurisdiction of DeMolay have their voice heard and vote on changes they would like to see on an International scale. Also during the week of Session, the youth representatives elect an International Master Councilor and an International Congress Secretary to be the youth representatives for DeMolay. These elected officers travel the world on behalf of DeMolay and are voting members of DeMolay’s Board of Directors.