The Scottish Rite

Paul R. Kach, 33°

DeMolay Essay Competition

Interested in winning some cash? How does $300 sound? Or better yet, $1,500?

Each year, the Kach Essay Competition awards $300 to each Region winner (two winners from each of DeMolay's eight regions) and $1,200 to each of the two national winners. For the two national winners, that's $1,500 each!

Turn that spare time into cash... express your feelings on a thought provoking issue... use your computer skills... and walk away a winner!

Competition Rules

1. The first category is for young men in the 11th grade and above. The second category is for young men in the 10th grade and below.
2. Entries in this essay competition must be titled, "Cardinal Virtues…too many, too few". While the content of the essay is of primary concern, proper grammar and spelling will also be factors in the judging.
3. Each entrant must be an active DeMolay, not having reached his 21st birthday before or on the date of the competition deadline for submission and must be in good standing with his Chapter.
4. The essay must be an original work by the entrant and must be 1,000 to 1,500 words. The absolute minimum or maximum number of words must be observed.
5. Prizes will be awarded for first place entries in each DeMolay region for each category, solely at the discretion of the judging panel.
6. All entries must be typed and double-spaced. The author's name, grade, address, phone number, and chapter name must be the only items on the cover page. All pages are to be securely stapled.
7. Only one essay will be accepted from each author.
8. All essays must be received by your Executive Officer no later than February 1, 2007. Each Executive Officer will forward them to the Region Representative no later than February 15, 2007. Region Representatives will establish an impartial judging panel for the purpose of determining region winners. Region Representatives will send all essays, with winners noted, to the DeMolay Service & Leadership Center in Kansas City no later than March 5, 2007. A national judging panel will be established through the offices of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Masonic Jurisdiction. At all levels of judging, the panelists will not know the name of the author or home jurisdiction.
9. Prize winners will be informed by mail and appropriate presentations of prize checks made. The Scottish Rite and DeMolay International reserve the right to publish winning essays in appropriate publications. All essays become the property of DeMolay International.
10. Previous winners will not be considered for another prize in the same age category.

What is Scottish Rite?

Our ultimate goal, simply stated, is mankind's moral, spiritual, and intellectual development. We carry out our mission in a series of spiritual, charitable, and moral programs - one of which is the dispensing of charity without regard to race, color, or creed. The Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children in Atlanta, Georgia, was the forerunner of the vast chain of Shrine Hospitals across the nation.

Ours, therefore, is a strong voice for human dignity, justice, morality, and civic responsibility. Through our teachings, millions of men and women have discovered an opportunity to lead more rewarding lives. The examples of our actions have been as stirring and inspiring as that of our collective commitment to true human progress. Of the 2.5 million Masons in the United States, over one million of them have gone on to become Scottish Rite Masons.

The headquarters for Scottish Rite Masonry is located in the "House of the Temple" in Washington, DC. The "House of the Temple" is an awe-inspiring monumental structure and serves as the nerve center for the Scottish Rite organization. The Scottish Rite Headquarters houses the offices of all department heads, administrative branches, and staff. These include the office of the Scottish Rite Grand Secretary, Director of Education and Americanism, Chairman of Masonic Relations, and Managing Editor of the "Scottish Rite Journal" which is the Scottish Rite monthly magazine.

Further information on Scottish Rite Masonry may be acquired by writing to: The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, House of the Temple, 1733 16th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009

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Merit Bars come in 5 colors. In order, they are White, Red, Blue, Purple, & Gold.