RULES/SOURCES/CONTEST PROCEDURES/SPECIFICS
| CONTEST PROCEDURES |
SPECIFICS IN ALL CONTESTS |
| INDIVIDUAL PARTS SPECIFICS
| RECOGNITION PIN CEREMONY |
| CEREMONY OF LIGHT |
FLOWER TALK |
DeMOLAY DEGREE |
| FOURTH SECTION |
CHAPTER PROFICIENCY |
MAGNIFICENT SEVEN |
| INITIATORY DEGREE |
NINE O'CLOCK INTERPOLATION |
MAJORITY SERVICE |
RULES
1. Prepare the room, compete and clear the room within the Time Limit.
2. Prevent interruptions while competing.
3. Fill the Required Parts and any other Parts with Qualified Persons.
4. Clothe all Parts appropriately.
5. Comply fully and correctly with all Rules, Specifics, Contest Procedures and Evaluator's rulings.
6. Present the complete correct Required Work.
7. Fully and correctly follow all SOURCE and Specifics instructions.
8. Correctly and audibly say the words and make the sounds of the ceremony from memory, without Prompts.
9. Deliver the words with expression appropriate to ceremony and Part.
10. Interpret and present the ceremony so as to achieve the maximum good impression.
FAILURE TO DO SO WILL BE SUBJECT TO PENALTY.
SOURCES
Closed Contests: Ritual of Secret Work of the Order of DeMolay, Corrected Fourteenth Edition, 1997.
Open Contests: Monitor of Ceremonies of DeMolay International, Corrected Fifth Edition, 2006.
(http://universe.demolay.org/ceremonies)
All Contests: Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary
1. Spokesman should check for the time and place of Competitor's Briefing, which he should attend. At this briefing, changes to the competitive schedule may be announced and general questions answered. The Evaluators may be introduced and entry forms distributed.
2. Parts, Crew and Doorkeepers should arrive at the competition site approximately fifteen minutes prior to their scheduled starting time. Parts may arrive dressed or may change at this time. Competitors should remember that any disturbances may be penalized.
3. Near their scheduled starting time, the Chapter will be called by one of the Evaluators. The Spokesman should respond and inform the Evaluator who called that the Chapter is present and ready to proceed.
4. The competitor enters the competitive site together with crew and equipment. Care should be taken to ensure that no pagers, cell phones, PDAs, watches with chimes or other electronic devices are brought into the competitive site which could disrupt the competition and affect its outcome.
5. Rituals and evaluation sheets, except those being used by the Evaluation Panel, should not be brought into the competitive site as they could inadvertently affect the outcome of a competition.
6. The doors remain open until the Panel Chairman directs they be sealed. After "TIME ON" is called the Chapter may set up their equipment and ask any questions they have.
7. When the Chapter is ready to proceed, the Spokesman or designated team member will inform the Evaluators by saying "BEGIN", at which time evaluating will commence.
8. The Chapter presents the Required Work from memory remembering any Prompts will be penalized. When the Required Work has been presented and the Chapter is ready to end the contest, the Spokesman or designated team member will inform the Evaluators by saying, "STOP". The evaluating will cease and the official timing period will continue as the Chapter clears the room of their equipment and paraphernalia. NOTE: Although the words, "BEGIN" and "STOP" are preferred, competitors may substitute synonymous terms: i.e., "START" and "END".
9. When the room has been cleared of all equipment and the competitor has concluded their presentation, the Panel Chairman will end the official timing period by saying, "TIME OFF".
10. Delegations may witness all competitions possible, recalling their misconduct or harassment of a competitor will be penalized.
11. Prior to the announcement of the winners, a challenge round may be held. At this challenge round a competitors representative will be permitted to review their Chapters evaluation sheets. None of the Evaluators will be present and the standing sheets will NOT be distributed. This challenge round is intended to give competitors an opportunity to determine which Evaluator they need to speak with following the presentation of the awards.
12. At the conclusion of the competition and after the results have been announced, the competitors evaluation sheets will be returned to them. The competitor is encouraged to carefully review them and discuss any comment or notation they do not understand with the appropriate Evaluator.
13. Chapters may appeal the result of a contest by filing a verbal protest with the Official in charge of the competition, within 48 hours of the release of the Evaluation Sheets. A full written statement of the protest's basis must be mailed to that Official, postmarked not later than the day thereafter. Chapter will be notified of the ruling within 30 days.
1. Items listed in the SOURCE as required for that contest must be actual; optional items may be simulated.
2. When SOURCE implies, officers may pass between Altar and East without an expressed direction to do so.
3. All other General Instructions pertinent to the ceremony apply, except as noted in the Specifics or as counter instructed in the ceremony's text.
4. Use of music is encouraged and is at the Chapter's option.
5. A Creativity bonus to encourage Chapters to go beyond the minimum Required Work by using imagination, additional personnel, extra scenes, props, music, etc., which enhances the presentation of the ceremony, may be awarded bonus points as specified herein:
1. For large team events (Initiatory Degree, DeMolay Degree, Chapter Proficiency) each performance evaluator may award no more than 25 bonus points.
2. For small team events (Fourth Section, Recognition Pin, Nine O’clock Interpolation) each performance evaluator may award no more than 15 bonus points.
3. For individual contests (Flower Talk, Ceremony of Light, Magnificent Seven) each performance evaluator may award no more than 5 bonus points.
6. The competitor may not pantomime the lighting of candlesticks when battery operated candlesticks are provided for use.
7. In all contests the Standard Bearer, Senior Deacon, Marshal, and Chaplain may enter the walking band by either of the following methods:
1. Method one: enter the walking band directly, that is without making any turns, as currently done.
2. Method two: from the Chaplain and Marshal stations, the competitor may move XZT and from the Senior Deacon and Standard Bearer stations, the competitor may move XZV.
REQUIRED WORK:
1. Competitors will be evaluated in the ritual and performance categories ONLY.
2. There is no floor work.
3. The Speaker talks to the room at large.
4. DeMolays may not compete in any Individual Parts Contest in any part they held as a member of a competitive team. Thus, a DeMolay who was the Senior Deacon on his Chapter's Initiatory Degree team, may NOT compete in the Senior Deacon Individual Parts Contest.
5. No Competitor may enter ALL of the Initiatory Degree Individual Preceptor Contests. Competitors wishing to enter all of the Preceptor Contests should compete in the Magnificent Seven Contest.
6. A DeMolay may NOT compete in any of the Individual Parts Preceptor Contests if they compete in the Magnificent Seven Contest.
7. There are NO prompts.
8. Panel Chairperson (or his designated evaluator) will read “cues” as required.
REQUIRED PARTS: The Speaker. There are no candidates
TIME LIMIT: 10 Minutes
INITIATORY DEGREE INDIVIDUAL PARTS: Master Councilor, Senior Deacon, Marshal, First & Second Preceptor, Third & Fourth Preceptor, Fifth & Sixth Preceptor, Seventh & First Preceptor
DEMOLAY DEGREE INDIVIDUAL PARTS: Master Inquisitor, Junior Inquisitor, Jacques DeMolay, Orator
CHAPTER PROFICIENCY INDIVIDUAL PARTS: Master Councilor, Chaplain
REQUIRED WORK:
1. The Ceremony of Light, as it appears in the SOURCE, from 0205 through 0322, without additions or changes.
2. Room is set up as on Diagram One, except for stations.
1. Open Holy Bible is lying on the Altar.
2. School books are lying on Northeast corner of the Altar.
3. Candles are already lighted.
4. National Flag in a standard as indicated on Diagram One.
5. Source directions concerning room lights are not evaluated.
3. The Speaker talks to the room at large.
REQUIRED PARTS: The Speaker. There are no candidates.
TIME LIMIT: 20 Minutes
REQUIRED WORK:
1. Initiatory Degree Opening Ceremony, starting 1322 through 2419, and the DeMolay Degree Opening Ceremony, starting 2501 through 2810.
1. Room is set up as on Diagram One, except the only stations necessary are those of the Required Parts.
2. Parts are seated in respective stations at beginning of ceremony.
3. Omit actions and lines raising, vouching for and/or welcoming Masons or Senior DeMolays and the Pledge of Secrecy.
4. Omit actions and lines concerning lost words (sections enclosed in black borders on pages 17, 18 and 26).
5. "Word of the Day" is RITUAL.
6. Words and grips are collected from Standard Bearer (if used), Chaplain, Marshal (if used), Senior Steward and Junior Steward ONLY.
7. Salute to flag is that described on 2206 through 2209.
8. The official Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States is spoken by all parts except the Standard Bearer (or Part performing Standard Bearer).
9. Opening ode is omitted (section enclosed in black border on page 22).
10. Competing Chapter's name is inserted in blanks appropriate.
2. Nine o'clock Interpolation, starting 2824 through 3009. Striking of the gong is mandatory and may be performed by any Required Part..
3. Closing Ceremony, starting 3013 through 3313.
1. The closing prayer is that in the SOURCE text; The Nine o'clock Interpolation Prayer may NOT be used instead.
2. Immediately after 3313, Master Councilor raps once and Master Councilor and Junior Deacon sit down, ending ceremony.
REQUIRED PARTS:
Master Councilor, Senior Councilor, Junior Councilor, Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, Senior Steward, Junior Steward, Chaplain.
Other speaking and non-speaking characters listed are at the Chapter's option. The words and actions of the Marshal, Standard Bearer and Sentinel are required and may be performed by any Qualified Person. Chapters are encouraged to fill the additional speaking and non-speaking Parts whenever possible.
TIME LIMIT: 40 Minutes.
REQUIRED WORK:
1. DeMolay Degree, First Section from 5201 through 6217.
1. Spokesman will inform Panel Chairman either a Stage or Lodge Setup will be used and the competitor will be evaluated based on that declaration.
2. Instructions not peculiar to one setup apply, regardless of where they appear.
3. General Instructions on SOURCE pages 3, 4, 5 and 6 DO NOT apply excluding the paragraph identified as, ‘Pronunciation and Definitions’ on page 4 of the SOURCE.
4. In the Ritual Evaluation Category, competitors may use any words they choose when referring to prisoner characters who are not present; i.e., Godfrey de Goneville or Hughes de Peralde. The Orators speeches will remain as contained in the SOURCE.
2. DeMolay Degree, Third Section from 6301 through 6411.
3. Explanatory phrases which are contained in parentheses in the SOURCE are suggestions only and are not included on evaluation sheets.
REQUIRED PARTS:
1. Master Inquisitor, Senior Inquisitor, Junior Inquisitor, Senior Guard, Lord Constable, Marshal of the Commission, Jacques DeMolay, Guy of Auvergne.
2. Other speaking and non-speaking characters listed are at the Chapter's option. The words and actions of the Orator are required and may be performed by any Qualified Person. Chapters are encouraged to fill the additional speaking and non-speaking Parts whenever possible.
TIME LIMIT: 60 Minutes
REQUIRED WORK:
1. The Flower Talk, as it appears in the SOURCE, from 0207 through 0416, without additions or changes.
1. Room is set up as on Diagram One, except for stations.
1. Open Holy Bible is lying on Altar.
2. School books are lying on Northeast corner of Altar.
2. The Speaker moves to point "O" and talks to the room at large.
3. If flowers are used, they must be placed on the Altar on either side of the Holy Bible, but not on it.
2. No other directions are evaluated
REQUIRED PARTS: The Speaker. There are no candidates.
TIME LIMIT: 20 Minutes.
REQUIRED WORK:
1. The Fourth Section of the DeMolay Degree, actions and lines of the Master Councilor, Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon and Candidates ONLY starting 6416 and ending 7005, excluding the actions and lines of the Master Councilor and Senior Councilor, 6522 through 6528.
2. Room is set up as on Diagram One, except the only stations necessary are those of the Required Parts.
1. Open Holy Bible is lying on Altar.
2. School Books are lying on Northeast corner of Altar.
3. Parts are seated in their respective stations at beginning of ceremony.
3. Just prior to the obligation, Master Councilor moves to point ‘O’, faces West; Junior Deacon joins Senior Deacon on West side of Altar.
4. Senior Deacon makes all verbal responses for Candidates, including "I" and speaking name, but does NOT repeat obligation.
5. When giving the obligation, Master Councilor omits pauses for responses.
6. The competitor must designate which seats candidates are to occupy and if these seats are located on the south side of the Chapter Room, the Senior Deacon may pass between the Altar and the East when directed by the Master Councilor to conduct them to the Altar.
REQUIRED PARTS:
1. Master Councilor, Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon.
2. Candidates are imaginary. Parts pantomime Candidates existence whenever they are escorted, conducted, addressed, presented or otherwise acknowledged.
TIME LIMIT: 20 minutes.
REQUIRED WORK:
1. Initiatory Degree as it appears in the SOURCE, from 3501 through 5102.
1.. Room is set up as on Diagram One.
1. Open Holy Bible is lying near center of Altar.
2. School books are lying on Northeast corner of Altar.
3. Only stations of Required Parts are necessary.
4. A station must be provided for each additional part used.
2. Omit instructions for handling large classes.
3. Striking of the gong is mandatory and may be performed by any Required Part.
4. Senior Steward or each Candidate, if used, makes all verbal responses for Candidates, including "I" and speaking name, but does NOT repeat obligation.
5. In saying Obligation, Master Councilor omits pauses for responses.
6. After Senior Deacon and Stewards escort new brothers to seats, the Master Councilor will rap once after which the Senior Deacon and Stewards will return to their respective stations and sit down, ending the ceremony.
2. When a person is addressed by the Master Councilor by name, or an Officer by title, he shall rise immediately and face the Master Councilor. Except during prayers, all Officers (including the Master Councilor) and all other persons stand when speaking.
3. The symbolic journey, beginning 4609 through 4927, will NOT be evaluated in the direction category ONLY. After the Seventh Preceptor(7P) has concluded his speech, the Senior Deacon and Stewards will conduct candidates (if used) to the Junior Councilor (facing point "L"), at which time, evaluation in this category will resume.
4. If a competitor chooses to have one person present more than one Preceptors part during the symbolic journey, the performance evaluators will consider each Preceptors part to have been given by a different person and evaluate each separately.
REQUIRED PARTS:
1. Master Councilor, Senior Councilor, Junior Councilor, Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, Senior Steward, Junior Steward, and Marshal.
2. Candidates may be imaginary. If real, Candidates must be Qualified Persons; if imaginary, Parts pantomime Candidates' existence whenever they are escorted, conducted, addressed, presented, or otherwise acknowledged.
3. Other speaking and non-speaking characters listed are at the Chapter's option. The words of the Scribe and all seven Preceptors are required and may be performed by any qualified person. Chapters are encouraged to fill the additional speaking and non-speaking Parts whenever possible.
TIME LIMIT: 60 minutes
REQUIRED WORK:
1. The seven Preceptor parts, as they appear in the SOURCE, from 4709 through 4925, without additions or changes.
1. Room set up is optional. If set up, must be as on Diagram One, except for stations, and the following apply:
1. Open Holy Bible is lying on Altar.
2. School books are lying on Northeast corner of Altar.
2. The Speaker talks to the room at large.
REQUIRED PARTS: The Speaker. There are no candidates.
TIME LIMIT: 20 Minutes.
REQUIRED WORK:
1. The Majority Service, as it appears in the SOURCE, from 0201 through 0435, in the plural, without addition or changes.
1. Room is set up as in Diagram One, except the only stations necessary are those of the Required Parts.
1. Open Holy Bible is lying on Altar.
2. School books are lying on Northeast corner of Altar.
3. Parts are seated in respective stations at beginning of ceremony.
REQUIRED PARTS
1. Master Councilor, Senior Councilor, Junior Council, Marshal, Chaplain.
2. Recipients are imaginary. Parts pantomime Recipients' existence whenever they are escorted, conducted, addressed, presented or otherwise acknowledged.
TIME LIMIT: 20 Minutes
NINE O’CLOCK INTERPOLATION SPECIFICS
REQUIRED WORK:
1. The Nine O’clock Interpolation, as it appears in the SOURCE, from 0212 through 0309, without additions or changes.
1. Room is set up as in Diagram One, except the only stations necessary are those of the Required Parts.
1. Open Holy Bible is lying on the Altar.
2. School books are lying on Northeast corner of the Altar.
3. Parts are seated in respective stations at beginning of ceremony.
2. Gavel on Master Councilor's station.
3. Striking of the gong is mandatory and may be performed by any Required Part.
4. Candles, if used, are already lighted.
REQUIRED PARTS: Master Councilor, Chaplain and Marshal.
TIME LIMIT: 15 Minutes
RECOGNITION PIN CEREMONY SPECIFICS
REQUIRED WORK:
1. The Recognition Pin Ceremony, as it appears in the SOURCE, from 0205 through 0304, without additions or changes.
1. Room is set up as in Diagram One, except the only stations necessary are those of the Required Parts.
1. Open Holy Bible is lying on the Altar.
2. School books are lying on Northeast corner of the Altar.
3. Parts are seated in respective stations at beginning of ceremony.
2. Gavel on Master Councilor's station.
3. Candles, if used, are already lighted.
4. Competing Chapter's name is inserted in blanks appropriate.
2. Recipients are imaginary. Parts pantomime Recipients existence whenever they are escorted, conducted, addressed, presented or otherwise acknowledged.
REQUIRED PARTS: Master Councilor and Marshal.
TIME LIMIT: 15 Minutes.
REPRESENTATIVE DeMOLAY CEREMONY SPECIFICS
REQUIRED WORK:
1. The Representative DeMolay Ceremony, as it appears in the SOURCE, from 0201 through 0525, without addition or changes.
1. Room is set up as on Diagram One, except the only stations necessary are those of the Required Parts.
1. Open Holy Bible is lying on Altar.
2. School books are lying on Northeast corner of Altar.
3. Gavel is placed on Chancellor's pedestal.
4. Candles, if used, are already lighted.
5. Parts are seated in respective stations at beginning of ceremony.
2. A white flower tied with a royal purple ribbon is lying on Chancellors pedestal.
3. An R. D. lapel pin, an R.D. citation and card all lying on a separate pedestal just south of the Altar and candle 7.
4. R.D. riband is optional
5. Marshal inserts name in each blank; suggested name: "John Smith".
6. Marshal makes all verbal responses for Designates, including "I" and speaking name, but does NOT repeat obligation.
7. Marshal receives the presented items, then places them on Chancellor's pedestal just before conducting Designates to seats.
REQUIRED PARTS:
1. Chancellor, Marshal.
2. Designates are imaginary. Parts pantomime Designates existence whenever they are escorted, conducted, addressed, presented or otherwise acknowledged.
TIME LIMIT: 20 Minutes
Rookie of the Year (Obligation Contest)
REQUIRED WORK:
1. The Examination Queries and Obligations of the Initiatory and DeMolay Degrees, as they appear in the Source, from 7022 through 7321.
1. Room set up is optional. If used, as in Diagram One, except for stations.
1. Open Holy Bible is lying on the Altar.
2. School books are lying on Northeast corner of the Altar.
2. Speaker may kneel at the Altar (if used) or stand. If speaker stands, he may speak to the room at large at his discretion.
3. Speaker begins each Degrees Obligation by saying “I” and speaking his name.
2. The Evaluation Panel Chairmen or an evaluation panel member at his direction will provide the examination questions and receive all responses.
REQUIRED PARTS: The Speaker
Time Limit: 15 Minutes