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Who Are The Shriners?
Shriners
belong to a brotherhood of men…dedicated to fun and fellowship…but
with a serious purpose – that of supporting what has become known
as the “World’s Greatest Philanthropy,” the 22 Shriners
Hospitals for Children composed of 18 orthopaedic hospitals, three burn
hospitals and one hospital that provides orthopaedic, burn and spinal cord
injury care. Since the first Shriners Hospital opened in 1922, these hospitals
have cured or substantially helped more than 600,000 children - all at no
cost to the parent or child.
Shriners are members of the Masonic Fraternity and adhere to the principles of Freemasonry – a belief in a Supreme Being, of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.
The Beginning
In 1870, several thousand of the 900,000 residents of Manhattan were Masons. Many of these Masons made it a point to lunch at the Knickerbockers Cottage, a restaurant at 426 Sixth Avenue. They often discussed the idea of a new fraternity for Masons in which fun and fellowship would be stressed more than ritual.
These men took their ideas and converted them into what would
become the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S.)
While there is some question about the origin of the Fraternity’s
name, it is probably more than a coincidence that its initials, rearranged,
spell out the words “A Mason.” In 1872 thirteen Masons organized
the first Shrine Temple – Mecca Temple in New York City. 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 functions.
Today there are approximately 500,000 Shriners who belong to 191 Temples,
or chapters, throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Republic
of Panama.
If you hold the Master Mason degree in Freemasonry and are a member in good standing of a Lodge recognized and in amity with the Conference of Grand Masters of North America, you can petition to become a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. A petition can be obtained from any Master Mason, or Shriner or by contacting the Hendersonville Shrine Club.
Every Shriner is a Mason – but not every Mason is a Shriner.
The Emblem
The
Crescent was adopted as the Jewel of the Order. Although any materials can
be used in forming the crescent, the most valuable are the claws of a Royal
Bengal Tiger, unified at their base in a gold setting. In the center is
the head of a sphinx, and on the back are a pyramid, an urn and a star.
Today the Shrine emblem includes a scimitar from which means the crescent
hangs, and a five pointed star beneath the head of the sphinx.
The Fez
The
red fez with the black tassel, the Shrine’s official headgear, 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-Eastern) theme, around
which the color and pageantry of the Shrine are developed.
Shriners
believe in God and that He created man to serve His purposes, among which
is service to others in His name.
We
believe that care for the less fortunate, especially children who suffer
from burns and crippling diseases, is our institutional calling.
We
are patriots, each willing to serve his country with fidelity and courage.
We cherish independence under law and freedom with responsibility.
We
honor family. We respect our parents, wives and children. We should instill
in our children the tenets of this creed and the heritage from which it
emanates.
As
individuals we pledge ourselves to integrity, virtue and nobility of character.
Our intentions will be honorable, our relations will be trustworthy and
our spirits forgiving of each other.
As
brothers we offer each other fraternal affection and respect. Together we
will support each other in adherence to this creed, so that we and our communities
will be the better because of our fraternity and its principles.
As
Shriners we look beyond ourselves to serve the needs of others, especially
children who cannot help themselves. We believe Shriners Hospitals for Children
to be the world’s greatest philanthropy, and we covenant with each
other to support its “temples of mercy” with spirit, time, talent
and means.
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