I guess my stance is it is probably just as easy to get the DeMolay in a Lodge as it is for a Boy Scout troop.
Like it or not, there are far more Boy Scout Troops than DeMolay Chapters. Where will Lodges find Brothers to start a Chapter much less keep it going? This may not be a problem if you have a active lodge with many members. If that's the case, chances are you already have a DeMolay Chapter
Why would you not want to allow an orginization that we can control? One that we know will teach Masonic views.
Here's the Scout Motto:
"On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight."
While the Scouts aren't a Masonic organization, I would be more than happy to have them meet at our Lodge. They share similar Morals and upright conduct.
I just think that we can do so much more for the DeMolay but we want to take the easy way and let someone else do the work and allow the Boy Scouts in because they are established
Don't get me wrong, our priority should be the DeMolay over the Scouts, however I would prefer the Lodge to decide whether to allow them access to the Lodge facilities, not Waco. I don't understand why my Brothers feel it would be a competition. The DeMolay is a Masonic organization and will always have close ties to the Lodge. When it comes to Boy Scouts, I would like for them to have an opportunity to use our facilities. Since many of our local Boy Scouts meet at church, could the same argument be applied? Are they competition for the churches youth organizations? Of course not. It's one thing to give a Den Master a set of keys to use a facility, it's a whole new ballgame when you want a Lodge to start a new DeMolay Chapter! What better way to snag the interest of a youth than to allow them access to the Lodge? Many of you scoff at this, but visit a rural Lodge and listen to their Treasurers report or see the empty chairs and protem'd stations. Goto the Grand Lodge website and view the hundreds of rural Lodges there are. They are hurting and hurting BAD. To deny those Lodges a wonderful opportunity to support the community and organizations like the scouts would be a shame. Again, I support the Boys Scouts USE of Lodge facilities if they so desire.