As a youth, Kendig was involved in the Order of DeMolay, serving as an officer for Lancaster Chapter in 1932 and as chairman of the 1934 Conclave of the Associated Chapters of the Order of DeMolay in Pennsylvania.

At that Conclave, he was elected state master councillor of Pennsylvania DeMolay, serving a one-year term.

During his tenure, Bare began publication of the Keystone Crusader, a newsletter for all members of DeMolay in Pennsylvania.

[1] Bare was the 31st mayor of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, from 1950 until 1958, except for an eight-month period (1950–1951) when he was called into military service in the Korean War.

During Kendig's absence, his brother Howard Bare assumed the duties of mayor.