Sir Knight J. Weldon Clampitte
While talking with Grand Master Koon, I suggested that an article from DeMolay be placed in the Knight Templar magazine, to which he agreed. I was preparing the article when the October 2011 issue of the Texas DeMolay Crown was emailed to me for approval, and after reading the article by Brother Jason Coffelt, I felt I could not explain what DeMolay means to anyone any better than he did in his article. Since Brother Coffelt was writing his article from the heart, it is inspiring to see what DeMolay brings to so many fine young men and with the proper guidance leads them into Masonry. His article is below, and I hope that all Masons, whether Knights Templar or not, realize what we can do to guide these young men to better themselves throughout their lives.
"And now, the series finale of Smallville…"
by Jason Parker Coffelt
I have always loved watching the television show, Smallville, which showed how a young Clark Kent grew to become the character we all know as Superman and the trials that he had to face on the road to reaching his destiny. The lessons that Clark learned on the show that helped him grow are similar to the ones we learn in real life by being a part of the Order of DeMolay. In a way, I feel that there has always been a special bond between this show and me, because the show first aired on October 16, 2001, my eleventh birthday. Ten years later, my final year in DeMolay was also the year that the final season of Smallville aired, which showed how Clark reached his full potential and finally accepted his destiny as Earth's mightiest superhero. When describing the scene where Clark receives the suit from both his fathers (his biological father, Jor-El, and his adoptive father, Jonathan Kent), it was like watching a DeMolay receive his Majority Service. I saw Clark receiving the suit symbolizing a Senior DeMolay receiving the Crown of Manhood along with the words of JorEL stating that even though Clark is of his blood, it was what he learned growing up in Smallville with the Kents that made him the hero he is today, symbolizing the lectures that are said by the three councilors.
One of the many things I kept referring to during my last year in DeMolay was my childhood hero, Superman. Before DeMolay, I always looked up to him because of his powers and doing cool stuff like punching evil doers into space. Two lessons that I deeply learned, both from watching Smallville and being in DeMolay were first, that we are all going to be confronted with trials, but the true measure of a man is how he chooses to react in the face of those trials and second, that the suit doesn't make the hero. A hero is made in the moment by the choices that he makes and the reasons that he makes them. A hero brings out the best in people. Imagine these lessons combined with the teachings of love for parents, love for God, courtesy, comradeship, fidelity, cleanness, and patriotism. I believe that DeMolay helped me become the man I am today and has helped me make one of the biggest decisions of my life, the decision that led me to joining a Masonic lodge, learning the work, and being raised as a Master Mason in November of 2010 by the same brother who initiated me into DeMolay.
I feel that with my parents or any direct family members not involved in the Masonic Family, I have the right to label myself an exact product of what DeMolay can offer the Freemasons of Texas today. If it wasn't for a Mason having faith in me and seeing that I could reach my full potential, you would not have the man you have before you today. I will always be in debt to him, my parents for making me join, and the others whom I have met in DeMolay who have helped me grow and were always there to offer wisdom and advice. I guess you could say that a young man in DeMolay is much like Clark Kent growing up in Smallville, trying to find his place in a world filled with doubt and uncertainty, hoping to be the light that spreads the lessons he has learned to others, and making a difference in someone's life.
I hope that you enjoyed this young Mason's article as much as I did. The young men of DeMolay and I as Grand Master of DeMolay wish the best to all Knight Templars and our thanks for the support we receive from this great Fraternity. I would like for you to keep an eye out for our new DeMolay program premiering in February of 2012, "THE KINGDOM of DEMOLAY."
Sir Knight Clampitte is Past Commander of Houston Commandery No. 95, holder of the Knight Templar Cross of Honor, and Executive Officer of DeMolay for Texas as well as Grand Master Councilor of the Order of Demolay, International. He resides at 8809 Bonhomme Rd., Houston, Texas 77074 and can be contacted at gm@demolay.org
Jason Parker Coffelt is a Past Master Councilor of Waco Chapter Order of DeMolay and a member of J. H. Gurley Lodge in Waco, Texas. He resides at 2233 Charboneau Drive, Waco, Texas 76710 and can be contacted at jsncoffelt@gmail.com