| WHERE THE SHRINERS BEGAN |
| WHERE THE SHRINERS BEGAN In 1870, several thousand of the 900,000 residents of Manhatten were Masons. Many of these men made it a habit to meet regularly at a special table on the second floor of Knickerbocker Cottage, a restaurant at 426 Sixth Avenue. Two of these regulars, Walter M. Fleming, M.D and William J. Florence, an actor, furthered the table conversation of a new Masonic fraternity stressing fun and fellowship over ritual. Florence, on tour in Marseilles, France, was invited to a party hosted by an Arabian diplomat. The entertainment was something in the nature of an elaborately staged musical comedy. At its conclusion, the guests became members in a secret society. The actor, having made copious notes at the initial viewing as well as at ceremonies in Algiers and Cairo, showed his material to Fleming, who agreed that this could be the vehicle for the new fraternity. Dr. Walter Millard Fleming, born in 1838, obtained his medical degree in 1862 in Albany, then went on to become a surgeon with the 13th New York Infantry Brigade of the National Guard during the Civil War. He then practiced medicine in Rochester, where he became a Mason and took some of his Scottish Rite work. In 1868 he moved to New York City, quickly becoming a leading physician. Here he finished his degrees and was coronted a 33 Degree Scottish Rite Mason on September 19, 1872. |
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| Fleming took the ideas supplied by Florence 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 coincidence that its initials, rearranged, spell " A MASON". With the help of other Knickerbocker regulars, Fleming drafted the ritual, designed the emblem and ritual costumes, formulated a salutation, and declared that members would wear a red fez. The initiation ceremonials were drafted by Fleming with the help of three Brother Masons: Charles T. McClenachan, lawyer and expert on Masonic Ritual; William Sleigh Paterson, printer, linguist and ritualist; and Albert L. Rawson, prominent scholar and Mason who provided much of the Arabic background. On September 26, 1872, in the New York City Masonic Hall, the first Shrine Temple in the United States was organized. The original thirteen Masons of the Knickerbocker Cottage lunch group were named Charter Members of the Mecca Temple. |
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| EVERY SHRINER IS A MASON |
| EVERY SHRINER IS A MASON 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). However, for those men who would like to receive additional instruction and explanation regarding the allegory and symbolism learned in the Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite or the York Rite bodies elaborate on the basic tenants. |
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| SHRINERS TODAY |
| SHRINERS TODAY Shriners are distinguished by an emjoyment of life in the interest of philanthropy. The approximately 634,000 member organization has a buoyant philosophy which has been expressed as "Pleasure without Intemperance, hospitality without rudeness and jollity without coarseness". Shriners are men who enjoy life. They enjoy trips, parades, circuses, dances, dinners, sporting events and other social occasions together. 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. For the Nobles desiring even more activity, there are various Units to be joined such as: drum & bugle corps; Oriental bands; horse or motor patrols & clown units. Every effort is made to be sure a Noble has a variety of activities from which to join. Furthermore, Shriners support what has become known as the " World's Greatest Philanthropy", Shriners Hosptals for Crippled Children. Throughout its history, the Shrine has always been involved in charitable endeavors. However in the early 1920s the organization voted to adopt its own official philanthropy, dedicated to providing free orthopaedic medical care to children in need. The very first Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children was built in Shreveport, Louisianna. The Shrine's philanthropy eventually expanded to the point that today it operates twenty two "Centres of Excellence"- 19 orthopaedic hospitals and three burn institutes where children, up to their 18th birthday, regardless of race, religion or relationship to a Shriner, receive excellent medical care... absolutely free. |
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