Merit Bars

  • DeMolays are eligible to acquire points from the day they receive the Initiatory Degree until they become 21 years old.
  • It will become the responsibility of the DeMolay to track, record and apply (on the proper form) his Merit bar awards
  • The Awards Advisor or Chapter Advisor must approve all applications for merit bar awards by signing the application form
  • The regalia shall consist of the head (which shall be earned by reciting the Initiatory Degree obligation from memory in open chapter) and the Drop (which shall be earned by reciting the DeMolay degree from memory in open chapter). 
  • There are twenty categories that an active DeMolay may earn Merit Bars.
  • Each Merit Bar is produced in five (5) colors. Each color designates the number of times a DeMolay has received a bar in that category:
  1. White
  2. Red
  3. Blue
  4. Purple
  5. Gold
  • The Advisory Council through the Chapter's Advisor in charge of awards will be responsible for acquiring and distribution of merit bars
  • The previous level of merit bar must be returned with the application for the next level of achievement
Merit bars are earned in the following categories:
  • Athletics
  • Attendance
  • Civic Service
  • Conclave
  • Fine Arts
  • Fundraising
  • Installation
  • Journalism
  • LeadershipCorrespondencee Course
  • Masonic Attendance
  • Masonic Service
  • Merit
  • Membership
  • Priory
  • Religion
  • Ritual
  • Scholastics
  • Visitation
  • Technology
  • Safe Driver
Merit Bar Requirements:
 
Athletics – Awarded for participating in a Chapter’s athletic program for one full year with a minimum of six (6) game competitions in one or more sports. 
 
Attendance – For perfect attendance at regular meetings for one year in a member’s chapter.
 
Civic Service – A member must contribute ten hours of service on behalf of the Chapter without financial remuneration in at least three different civic service projects. 
 
Conclave - For attending three state, jurisdictional, or provincial conclaves as a participant or as a visitor.
 
Fine Arts – For working in or on a musical group with a minimum of three performances or for participating in a minimum of two theatrical performances. These need not be DeMolay related.
 
Fundraising – Work on at least three different fundraising projects for the Chapter, for a total of twenty hours, without direct financial remuneration to himself.
 
Installing - For participating in three Chapter installation ceremonies as a member of the installing team.
 
Journalism – For being a member of, or submitting to, a Chapter newspaper, public newspaper, electronic newspaper, web newsletter, web site, or any other form of published communication with at least six articles submitted and published.
 
Leadership Correspondence Course - The Leadership Correspondence Course is a five course program. The Lamp of Knowledge certificate is awarded for successfully completion of the fifth course.  
 
Masonic Attendance – Awarded to an active DeMolay who brings in three different Master Masons in good standing, to one or more DeMolay Chapter meetings. He may not be an Advisor of any chapter or jurisdiction.  Limited to one bar per year.
 
Masonic Service – For participating in three different Chapter Masonic Service projects with a minimum of ten hours without financial remuneration to either individual or Chapter.
 
Merit - For contributing twenty hours of service to DeMolay in an area not covered by another bar with no financial remuneration to the individual or the Chapter.
 
Membership - For securing and being the first line signer for three membership applicants who are initiated into the Chapter.
 
Priory - Be a member in good standing for a minimum of one year and attend two-thirds of the Priory functions. (Priory must have held a minimum of six activities other than regular meetings.)
 
Religion -For attending at least thirty regular weekly religious services per year.
 
Ritual – For sustained and UNUSUALLY HIGH GRADE work in either or both degrees with a minimum of 125 points earned according to the DeMolay International point scale. Points are awarded each time part is given. (See below table for ritual points)
 
 
Scholastics – Maintain a “B” grade average (or equivalent) for one full year of school.
 
Visitation –For six visitations at regular Chapter meetings of a Chapter other than his own, or a total traveled distance of 150 miles (one way).
 
Safe Driver – For driving one year with no infractions as measured from the anniversary date of the issuance of a permit or license.
 
Technology – Utilize technology in a way that is beneficial to the Chapter or jurisdiction in an area not covered by another merit bar.
 
Once you determine that you have earned your merit badge in a specific category, you should provide the justification to your Chapter Advisor or the person designated on your advisory council to coordinate Merit badges for the Chapter.