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My personal take on the Shrine

cemab4y

Premium Member
I heartily endorse the organization. I would like to give my personal "take" on the Shrine, and clear up a few misconceptions.

Anyone interested should check out their website at:

http://www.shrinershq.org

For a "Cliff's Notes" version of the "basics" of the Shrine, check out:

http://www.shrinershq.org/en/siteco...ia/ShrinersHQ/documents/Mem_ShrinerPrimer.pdf

I joined the Shrine in 1988, at Kena Shrine Center, Fairfax VA. I have participated in Shrine centers and activity in Madisonville KY, Columbus OH, Roanoke/Lynchburg VA, Kansas City MO, Memphis TN, Burlington NJ, Philadelphia PA, Norfolk VA, etc. I am not an active Shriner at this time, because I am on extended duty in Iraq. When I return to the USA in 2008, I intend to re-join the Shrine , and be very active.

-The Shrine is NOT a "rich man's club". True, there are some Shriners who are affluent, but the organization is open to all Master Masons in good standing. Dues vary from $55 to $90 per year on average, and this works out to less than 25 cents per day. The hospital assessment is $5 per year. The organization is well within reach of almost every Master Mason. A fez can be purchased for about $65.

-The Shrine does NOT take a tremendous amount of time. However, you can spend as much time as you like. If you get involved with a unit, the hours spent on fund-raisers, and performances, and rehearsals will add up. You do NOT have to join a unit right away, or at all, to be a Shriner. You should join the Shrine first, then "shop around" for an activity or unit that interests you. In my case, I did not find a unit that appealed to me, so I started an "amateur radio club" to support the Shrine center with two-way radio communications.

-The Shrine has activities for the member AND HIS LADY. This is very important. NO other masonically-related organization takes such emphasis on including the ladies in the activities. Most socials, dances, dinners,etc. are OPEN to the member and his lady. My wife was always supportive of all of my masonic activities, but never willing to participate. In Columbus OH, we joined a hillbillies club, and dressed in hillbilly hats and bib overalls. We went to "hoe-downs" out in the boondocks, and drank white lightning, and had covered-dish suppers, and danced and had really enjoyable times.

-The Shrine is NOT a masonic organization. There is no masonic ritual work, or continuation of the degrees as is found in the Blue Lodge or the York/Scottish Rites. An individual must be a Master Mason in good standing to join the Shrine, and if you drop out of the Blue Lodge, then you must leave the Shrine as well. However, the Shrine is for most members, a very important and enjoyable part of the Masonic experience.

-The Shrine hospitals are truly the "worlds greatest philanthropy" We support 22 hospitals where all treatment is provided FREE. I have helped transport children to our hospitals, and I have seen up close the terrific work that is accomplished in the hospitals. I once transported a two-year old child, who was born with spina bifida (spinal cord did not close properly). He had to have twelve operations by the time he was two years old. His father pumped gas, and had no medical insurance. I highly encourage all Masons, who are considering the Shrine, to arrange a tour of a Shriners hospital or burn center.

-The Shrine is not without problems. Membership was almost a million men, in 1990, and it has trailed off to less than 500,000 now. The average age is up above 60 and increasing. I supported the dropping of the requirement of being a KT/32d to join the Shrine. Sadly, the change did not do very much to increase the number of members.

If anyone has any specific questions about the Shrine, their hospitals, the units/clubs, or anything about the Shrine, I will be delighted to answer them, just PM me, or leave your inquiry here.


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cemab4y

Premium Member
Thanks for your comments. I am "gung-ho" for the Shrine, I cannot participate now (overseas work).
 
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Plustax

Registered User
It is my announcement and privilege to say that my son & I became Shriners of Hella Temple yesterday. I look forward for us to learn much about the Shriners fraternity.
 

Beathard

Premium Member
Thank you for the post. It was very well written. I have been a member of Ben Hur since 1990.
 

tomasball

Premium Member
I quit the Shrine when they dropped the requirement to belong to the York or Scottish Rite. It changed them from being a cooperative group to being a competing group, and turned me off forever.
 

Jacob Johnson

Registered User
I am attending the spring Ceremonial at Hella Shrine in Garland tomorrow morning. I don't the change of requirements to get into the shrine doesn't turns it in to a competing group. I feel that SR or YR are good for men who are interested in the learning and scholarship that's in masonry, and the Shrine is something that all MM's, regardless of their appetite for intellectual or esoteric light, can enjoy.
 

RTidwell

Registered User
When I went through i got to go both hot and cold... I miss hot sands. It will never be the same.

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RTidwell

Registered User
The sands were a blast. I had a feeling when we were told to stop hot that cold wouldn't last.

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Mac

Moderator
Premium Member
I joined last semester, and I definitely went through cold sands. Are they not doing cold sands any more, either? I just saw all the hubbub about changing the name of the organization from AAONMS to Shriners International, etc, but if you strip the name, ceremonies, etc, all you'll have left is a club that shares a common headgear with its forefather of the previous century.
 
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