Membership
Qualifications
Freemasons operate
many of the world's greatest charitable organizations. The best known
is the Shriners with their circuses, their colorful parades and their
work on behalf of physically challenged children and the
22
Shriners Childrens Hospitals. Less known
is that each Shriner must be a Freemason before being becoming a
Shriner.
Once accepted as
an Apprentice Mason of the Craft Lodge, each member works his way up
through three degrees. To earn each degree, a Mason must learn
certain lessons and participate in a ceremony that illustrates them.
At the third degree, he reaches Master Mason after which he may then
petition to become a Noble of the Shrine.
Masonic
Grand Lodge of California
Members of the
Shrine for North America adhere to the principles of Freemasonry
— brotherly love, relief and truth. In contrast to the more
conservative work of Freemasonry, Shriners are distinguished by an
enjoyment of life in the interest of philanthropy. Their buoyant
philosophy has been described as "pleasure without intemperance,
hospitality without rudeness and jollity without coarseness."
Why
Do Shriners Wear a Fez?
The red
fez with a black tassel,
the Shrine's most distinctive symbol, has
been handed down
through the ages. It derives its name from the place where it was first
manufactured - the holy city of Fez, Morocco. The fez was chosen as
part of the Shrine's Arabic (Near East) theme, around which
the color and pageantry of the Shrine are developed.
What
is a Shrine Mason?
Shriners, or
Shrine Masons, belong to the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of
the Mystic Shrine for North America (A.A.O.N.M.S.). The Shrine is an
international fraternity of approximately 500,000 members who belong
to Shrine Center throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and
The Republic of Panama. Founded in New York City in 1872 the
organization is composed Master Masons.
The Shrine is
best-known for its colorful parades, its distinctive red fez, and its
official philanthropy, Shriners Hospitals for Children, which is
often called "the heart and soul of the Shrine." Principles of
Freemasonry -- Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.
Members of
the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America
are members of the Masonic Order and adhere to the principles of
Freemasonry -- Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.
Freemasonry dates back hundreds of
years to when stonemasons and other craftsmen on building projects
gathered in shelter houses or lodges. Through the years these gatherings
changed in many ways until formal Masonic lodges emerged, with members
bound together not by trade, but by their own wishes to be fraternal
brothers. There is no higher degree in Freemasonry than that of Master
Mason (the Third Degree).
Shriner are
distinguished by an enjoyment of life in the interest of philanthropy.
With almost 500,000 members the organization has a buoyant philosophy
which has been expressed as "Pleasure without intemperance, hospitality
without rudeness and jollity without coarseness."
They knew they needed
an appealing theme for their new Order, so they chose the Arabic (near
East) theme. The most noticeable symbol of Shrinedom is the distinctive
red fez that all Shriners wear at official function. Shriners are men
who enjoy life. They enjoy parades, trips, circuses, dances, dinners,
sporting events and other social occasions together. Furthermore, Shriners
support what has become known as the "World's Greatest Philanthropy",
Shriners Hospitals for Children. Through fellowship and philanthropy,
Shrinedom strengthens the soul and adds inner-meaning to daily life. It
thus spreads a glow of joy through one's entire family. Men from all walks
of life and all levels of income find fun, fellowship and relaxation in
their individual Shrine Temples and its activities. There are also
regional Shrine Clubs in many communities, family picnics, dances and
scheduled trips to near and far -- just to mention a few of the activities
available. For the Noble desiring even more activity, there are various
Units that he can join, such as: Cibara Motor Corp., Drum & Bugle Corps,
Oriental Bands, Motor Patrols, Horse Patrols, and Clown units. Every
effort is made to be sure a Noble has a variety of activities from which
he may choose.
There are 191 Shrine Temples located in
the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Republic of Panama. And there
are informal Shrine Clubs located all around the world.
What is
Masonry
and
What is its
Connection to the Shrine?
In order to become
a Shriner, a man must first be a Mason. The fraternity of Freemasonry
is the oldest, largest and most widely known fraternity in the world.
It dates back hundreds of years to when stonemasons and other
craftsmen on building projects gathered in shelter houses, or lodges.
Over the years, formal Masonic lodges emerged, with members bound
together not by trade, but by their own desire to be fraternal brothers.
The basic unit of
Masonry is the Blue Lodge, where members earn the first three Masonic
degrees. There is no higher degree than that of Master Mason (the
Third Degree), but for those men who wish to further explore the
allegory and symbolism learned in the Blue Lodge, the Scottish Rite
and York Rite elaborate on the basic tenets of Freemasonry.
Becoming
a Shrine Mason
Every Shriner is
first a Mason; however, in many parts of North America, Masonry does
not solicit members. In these areas, no one is asked to join. A man
must seek admission of his own free will. A man is a fully accepted
"Blue Lodge" Mason after he has received the first three
degrees, known as Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason.
After that, he may
belong to many other organizations which have their roots in Masonry
and which have a Blue Lodge Masonry as a prerequisite. Scottish Rite,
York Rite and the Shrine.
