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duties President Roosevelt describes “to show himself Montana DeMolay News
in every respect a good citizen.” I believe we have
always said, “our main purpose in Masonry is to make Sam Whitehead, Executive Offi cer
good men better,” and I would challenge all of us to Having served as Executive Offi cer of Montana DeMolay
make good citizens better citizens. for the last thirteen years, I have been working on an exit
plan which will allow me to retire as Executive Offi cer
We strive to improve upon Grand Lodge by putting the in the next couple years. This will give me more time to
Grand back in Grand Lodge by not exhibiting personal devote to my position with the Veterans Administration at
the VA Hospital at Fort Harrison and more time with my
signs of conceit, ostentatious behavior, or pretentious wife and family and of course as a member of the Grand
attempts, but by revealing our true love for Masonry. Lodge Offi cer line. I have been working with DAD Dan
In fact, many of you have already heard my description Massey for some time now and believe that he will make
of PURE Masonry; Professionalism, Unity, Respect, a great Executive Offi cer for Montana DeMolay. This year,
and Education to improve upon ourselves as Men and Brother Dan was elevated and elected as an active member
Masons. During last years Grand Lodge in Missoula, of the DeMolay International Supreme Council, the voting
I met a young Mason in the Men's room at the Hotel, members of DeMolay International of which there are only
150 Class One members.
and he stated he had enjoyed my PURE Masonry
presentation at the Masonic College in Helena, and DAD Massey joined Loyalty Chapter
I thanked him appreciatively. As I was washing my Order of DeMolay in 1989. He served as
hands, I described myself as “a little diff erent, probably Master Councilor of the newly formed
more touchy-feely than other Grand Lodge Offi cers”! Magic City Chapter in 1992. He joined
the State Offi cer Team that same year as
I heard the restroom door close, and I never saw the the State Sweetheart Director followed
Brother again….. by the State Conclave Director, State
Junior Councilor, and State Senior
Brother Benjamin Franklin stated; “Masonic labor is Councilor, and fi nally State Master DAD Dan Massey
purely a labor of love. He who seeks to draw Masonic Councilor in 1996-1997. After his SMC term, he received
wages in gold and silver will be disappointed. The his majority and degree of Chevalier in 1997. After serving
wages of a Mason are in the dealings with one another; our country in the United States Air Force and attending
college on an ROTC scholarship from 1997-2011, he
sympathy begets sympathy, kindness begets kindness, returned to Montana to run the family business. He became
helpfulness begets helpfulness, and these are the an Advisor in 2011 for Magic city DeMolay chapter in
wages of a Mason. Billings, MT, and was awarded the Guild of the Leather
Apron the following year for his service to Magic City
Our love for our Brotherhood must be worn on our chapter and Montana DeMolay.
sleeves, but more importantly in our hearts. We must In 2012 he decided to join the Montana DeMolay
choose to show our desire to help one another by truly Executive offi cer staff as the convention advisor. He took
serving the Craft and thinking about the betterment of it upon himself to expand our convention and make it
our Brothers. I hope we can defi ne ourselves by the bigger and better, and he has succeeded in that eff ort. He
quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Do not go where was also the one that decided to go to the joint convention
the path may lead; Go instead where there is no path with Montana Job’s Daughters. We will be going on our
and leave a trail.” 4th year, and it is getting bigger and better every year.
He is still to this day managing and planning all masonic
youth conventions. In 2014 he was promoted to Deputy
Executive Offi cer of Montana DeMolay, and at the session
in 2014 he was made a deputy Member of the ISC. His
dedication to DeMolay is unmatched by anyone that I have
ever met. When I do retire, he will be well prepared to
take over as Executive Offi cer. In 2014 he was honored as
an active legion of honor for his tireless dedication to all
of DeMolay. Not only is he Deputy EO and Convention
advisor he is also the Chapter advisor and chairman of his
local chapter. To further his education in DeMolay he took
JMT at session in 2016.

Not only is he active in DeMolay he is a member of
Rimrock Lodge #149, a member Al Bedoo shrine and
Billings Valley Scottish Rite. He has been an aid to the
potentate for the shrine and has held several positions in the
Scottish Rite. This year he was honored with the KCCH
for his service to the Scottish Rite.
Volume 94 Number 6 Montana Freemason Page 5