James E. Whalley: Founder of New Hampshire DeMolay

Brother Whalley, a prominent Mason in the first half of the 20 Century was the man most responsible for bringing the Order of DeMolay into New Hampshire, and indeed into New England. As High Priest of Washington Chapter Royal Arch Masons during 1921-22, he heard about the then new organization, DeMolay, and thought it would be great for Portsmouth and New Hampshire. Brother Whalley promoted DeMolay to his Chapter and to the Masonic hierarchy, resulting in the establishment of Portsmouth Chapter with Washington Chapter RAM No. 3 as the sponsoring body. With permission from our Grand Lodge for DeMolay Chapters to use Masonic lodge rooms, the Grand Council, Order of DeMolay for Boys, (now the International Supreme Council) issued Portsmouth Chapter its Letters Temporary on February 3, 1922. This was the first Chapter to be granted Letters Temporary in New England, as “Dad” Land wrote in a letter on August 8, 1922. Brother Whalley was a member of the degree team that first worked the degrees of DeMolay in New Hampshire. New Hampshire DeMolay has therefore established this award as the highest honor that it can bestow.