Tolerance Awareness Tuesday

I attended the Minnesota DeMolay conclave in St. Peter last weekend. I mentioned in my remarks that in DeMolay, as well as in Masonry, one can pick up something new every time he hears the ritual performed. The ritual is NOT just for the candidate - it is for all the sideliners, and for the person delivering the ritual, as well.

For me on Saturday, it was the reminder that Fidelity and Tolerance are prime tenets of the DeMolay. The story of Jacques DeMolay, last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, is a great example of the injustice that can occur when tolerance is lost or forgotten.

Philip the Fair, King of France, imprisoned DeMolay and many Knights Templar in 1307. After seven years of imprisonment and torture, DeMolay retracted a confession that was either forged or obtained through torture. For more information on DeMolay, check out JaquesDeMolay.org.

DeMolay's refusal to name his associates, even upon threat of being burned alive at the stake, is a testament to fidelity and loyalty.