It seems to me Arkansas Grand Lodge put the Shrine in that state over a barrel. How could they survive if the GL effectively banned it in the state?
I hope and pray that this has the opposite effect that people think it will. Because now we will get to see the results, in numbers. We'll see if they actually do gain a large influx of members. And I think there is a large chance they will not. And that will be the deciding factor in states where they are floating in the edges.
I'm equally Shriner as Mason, in my heart. My lodge is within a Shrine center. Charity is what drives me. None of the bodies in Masonry gets that done right, in my opinion, like the Shrine does. And none of the bodies are more couple friendly than the Shrine. And at the end of the day, I'm a man about charity who travels this world with my wife physically at my side as often as possible. We're a team.
So for me, if I had to choose between Blue Lodge and the Shrine - with deep sadness, I would walk away from Blue Lodge. The Shrine simply needs me more, and when you get down to it I can do more good there - make more changes, do more real things for my fellow man, and so forth. It just is what it is.
I thank God that, in Texas, the ties are very strong between Blue Lodge and the Shrine. I hope that this division can be put off. And I pray to God that we never have to make such a choice.
I fear though, as do others, that this will create a sense of inevitability among Shriners. Those egomaniacs at the Grand Lodges in the respective states who tried to meddle in Shrine politics by way of Masonic charges, it just makes me very sad. They created a snowball effect which has led us to this, and no matter what it will do for the Shrine - this will hurt Blue Lodge if it spreads. No doubt about it. There is no "plus" side for us.
And Brethren, there is no good in sitting on the sidelines watching this happen. We all ought to be at our Shrine meetings more, not less. And speaking man to man with our Divan members. Expressing our views, directly. Apathy will really, really hurt us.
Think of the children, brethren.