Frank Sherman "Dad" Land (June 21, 1890 – November 8, 1959) was the Founder of the

Order of DeMolay DeMolay International is a youth leadership organization with Masonic origins for young men ages 12 to 21. There is in select areas a "Squire" program for those younger than 12. It was founded in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1919 and named for Ja ...

. 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 body, Masonic society. Founded in 1872 in New York City, it is headquartered in Tampa, Florida, and has over ...

and is revered today as the Founder of the

Biography

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

Sunday school ] A Sunday school, sometimes known as a Sabbath school, is an educational institution, usually Christianity, Christian in character and intended for children or neophytes. Sunday school classes usually precede a Sunday church service and are u ...

at Fountain Park Congregational Church Sunday School. He attended the

Kansas City Art Institute The Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) is a private art school in Kansas City, Missouri. The college was founded in 1885 and is an accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and Higher Learning Commission. The 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 Social services are a range of public services intended to provide support and assistance towards particular groups, which commonly include the disadvantaged. Also available amachine-converted HTML They may be provided by individuals, private and i ...

Bureau of the

Scottish Rite The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry is a List of Masonic rites, rite within the broader context of Freemasonry. It is the most widely practiced List of Masonic rites, Rite in the world. In some parts of the world, and in the ...

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 Christ. "Christian Church" has also been used in academia as a syn ...

, his

best man A groomsman or usher is one of the male attendants to the groom in a wedding ceremony. Usually, the groom selects close friends and relatives to serve as groomsmen, and it is considered an honor to be selected. From his groomsmen, the groom usuall ...

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

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 b ...

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

and coroneted a 33° in 1925. He was named an honorary member of the University of Missouri chapter of

Acacia ''Acacia'', commonly known as wattles or acacias, is a genus of about of shrubs and trees in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. Initially, it comprised a group of plant species native to Africa, South America, and Austral ...

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

York Rite In Anglo-American Freemasonry, York Rite, sometimes referred to as the American Rite, is one of several Rites of Freemasonry. It is named after York, in Yorkshire, England, where the Rite was supposedly first practiced. A Rite is a series of ...

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 system, presidential library and resting place of Harry S. Truman, Harry S Truman, the List of presidents of the United States, 33rd president of the United States ( ...

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 Chevalier may refer to: Honours Belgium * a rank in the Belgian Order of the Crown * a rank in the Belgian Order of Leopold * a rank in the Belgian Order of Leopold II * a title in the Belgian nobility France * a rank in the French Legion d'h ...

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 Acacia members