Our Seven Cardinal Virtues to Live by

 

"Each member of DeMolay is taught several characteristics which represent what the Order of DeMolay is about. They are not an entire list of what would complete the character of an upstanding person, but none can be omitted from the list. Below are the Seven Cardinal Virtues to which we, as DeMolays, have pledged to base our lives:

Filial Love

Filial Love represents the love between parent and child. That love that existed before you were born, has remained with you all your life through and will follow you even beyond the grave. The sages named this love AGAPE, love for no other reason than the sake of being.

Reverence for Sacred Things

A young man crossing the threshold of DeMolay for the first time professes a deep and abiding faith in one living and true God. Without this steadfast faith, and the grace of our heavenly father, our toil would be for nothing.

Courtesy

The courtesy we speak of is one that transcends friendships, a courtesy that reaches to the stranger, to the aged, to all (men) human beings. It is this courtesy that brings a warm feeling and a smile and makes life more pleasant for others as it lights the pathway before us.

Comradeship

Millions of young men have knelt at the symbolic altar and dedicated themselves to the high principles of good sonship and good citizenship. As long as we are faithful to these pledges, as long as there is an Order of DeMolay --- we are one.

Fidelity

A DeMolay can never be justly false to his vows, his promises, his friends, his God. He is called upon daily to defend the bulwarks and precepts of the Order that he might never fail as a leader or as a man.

Cleanness

Cleanness encompasses not only the bodily cleanness which we all practice, but the cleanness of every thought, word, and deed. Only in cleanness can a DeMolay be rightly representative of the pureness of our teachings.

Patriotism

Perhaps we shall never be called upon to defend our country on the field of battle, but each day affords us new opportunities to stand as good and upright citizens in defense of our beloved flag and our hallowed land."