In a room at Masonic Villages in Elizabethtown, a group of boys are bonding. They're learning the importance of friendship, the significance of ceremony and the benefits of community service. They're all members of DeMolay Elizabethtown, a chapter of DeMolay International.

The group is open to boys ages 12 to 21, and the chapter meets on the first and third Sundays of the month. "I like doing this because it's a brotherhood opportunity for young men to get together for service, fun events and to support charities," said Kenton Green, who is the master councilor for the chapter. As Kenton explained, one boy is chosen by his peers for this leadership role and serves a six-month term. He runs the meetings, helped by the rest of the council, which includes Todd Schwartz Jr. as senior councilor and Rusty Armstrong as junior councilor. During the meetings, the boys are guided by a roster of advisers, including Gary Schwartz, Todd's grandfather; Dave Berry; and Jesse Spence.

"The major charity we support is Children's Dyslexia Centers," said Kenton, a 15-year-old who attends Solanco High School. At a recent meeting, a group of boys worked on plans for Dodgeball for Dyslexia, a tournament that will be held on Saturday, May 13. Members of DeMolay have also volunteered at the Taste of Western Lancaster County at Elizabethtown Public Library, the Community Cupboard food bank and the Elizabethtown Fair. Upcoming fun outings for the group include bowling, a weekend cabin trip and a Barnstormers baseball game.

As Gary explained, DeMolay began in 1919 in Kansas City, Mo. The first chapter started in Pennsylvania in 1923. The organization is named for Jacques DeMolay, the last grand master of the Knights Templar, and it was started by Frank S. Land. Land and other organizers created a book that each chapter uses as the structure for meetings, and all DeMolay chapters emphasize seven core values: filial love, reverence, courtesy, comradeship, fidelity, cleanness and patriotism. Meetings feature opening and closing ceremonies, business items such as bills and budgeting and discussion of upcoming events.

"I am in this club for the privilege of service," said Kenton's brother, Holden, who is 18. "DeMolay offers a prime opportunity to do that. This is a learning opportunity to serve, to practice and improve your public speaking and to grow in your leadership skills. It's also fun to hang around other like-minded people your age."

For Todd, the organization has provided not just an opportunity to have fun, but also a time for personal growth. "DeMolay helped me open up more," said Todd, 19. "When I first joined, I was very shy and quiet, and I can say that through DeMolay, I have changed very much."

Rusty, a 15-year-old Solanco student, joined DeMolay at Kenton's urging. "I would encourage anyone who is interested to learn more," he said. "You'll learn so much from this group, you'll have a lot of fun and you'll make a lot of friends."

There are currently 40 boys in the Elizabethtown chapter of DeMolay, but about 15 regularly attend meetings. Boys attend from all over Lancaster and surrounding counties, and the group is looking for new members. For more information on DeMolay, contact Kenton at 717-333-3781 or kentonmgreen@gmail.com.