Frank Sherman "Dad" Land (June 21, 1890 – November 8, 1959) was the Founder of the Order of DeMolay. A business and community leader in Kansas City and a member of Ivanhoe Lodge No. 446, Land served as Imperial Potentate of the

Shriners Shriners International, formally known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (AAONMS), is an American Masonic society established in 1870 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Shriners International describes itself ...

and is revered today as the Founder of the Order of DeMolay.

Biography

Land was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and gained a reputation as the "Boy Preacher” at his

Sunday school A Sunday school is an educational institution, usually (but not always) Christian in character. Other religions including Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism have also organised Sunday schools in their temples and mosques, particularly in the West. Su ...

at Fountain Park Congregational Church Sunday School. He attended the Kansas City Art Institute. At age 21 he was elected president of the Municipal Art Club in Kansas City. He became a member of the Ivanhoe Lodge #446 on June 29, 1912, in Kansas City. His position was the Secretary of the Social Service Bureau of the Scottish Rite Bodies. Married Miss Nell M. Swiezewski on September 15, 1913, at Budd Park

Christian Church In ecclesiology, the Christian Church is what different Christian denominations conceive of as being the true body of Christians or the original institution established by Jesus. "Christian Church" has also been used in academia as a synonym fo ...

, his best man was Sumner N. Blossom. He died on November 8, 1959, and is interred at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Kansas City.

Founding of DeMolay

Land was selected to act as the director of the Masonic Relief and Employment Bureau of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. This charity would come to help hundreds of families. A community leader who, at the age of 28, already had a successful business career as a restaurateur behind him, Land met Louis G. Lower in January 1919. Lower was a sixteen-year-old boy who had recently lost his father, Elmer Lower, a member of Ivanhoe Lodge. Frank S. Land gave up his social service job with the Scottish Rite and became full-time Secretary General in the headquarters of the DeMolay organization in 1922. Lower came to be the director of the

Municipal Auditorium (Kansas City) Municipal Auditorium is a multi-purpose facility located in Kansas City, Missouri. It opened in 1935 and features Streamline Moderne and Art Deco architecture and architectural details. Background Municipal Auditorium was the first building bui ...

Honors and awards

Land was a past Potentate of Ararat Shrine Temple and served as Imperial Potentate of the Shrine in 1954-55. He was honored with the Knight Commander of the Court of Honor of the Scottish Rite and coroneted a 33° in 1925. He was named an honorary member of the University of Missouri chapter of

Acacia Fraternity Acacia Fraternity, Inc. is a Fraternities and sororities in North America, social fraternity founded in 1904 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. The fraternity has 27 active chapters and 3 Colony ( ...

. He received the first International Gold Service Medal of the General Grand Chapter of

York Rite The York Rite, sometimes referred to as the American Rite, is one of several Rites of Freemasonry. It is named for, but not practiced in York, Yorkshire, England. A Rite is a series of progressive degrees that are conferred by various Masonic ...

Masons in 1951 for work in Humanities. He received the Grand Cross of the Southern Jurisdiction of the Supreme Council of Scottish Rite 33° in 1955. He was the president of the Kansas City School Board, a Director of the Columbia National Bank, and a trustee of the

Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum is the presidential library and resting place of Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the United States (1945–1953), his wife Bess and daughter Margaret, and is located on U.S. Highwa ...

at the time of his death.

Legacy

Today, every member of DeMolay International learns about Land through the book ''Hi, Dad!'' and chapter activities. Recipients of the Degree of Chevalier take a vow to honor Land's memory every year on November 8 by breaking bread with a fellow Chevalier, an active DeMolay, or a young man in his teens. DeMolay International also endows a scholarship in Land's name.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Land, Frank S. 1890 births 1959 deaths Kansas City Art Institute alumni Masonic youth organizations