How are Shriners related to Masons?

littlecat123 · 07-17-2007, 06:27 PM

I keep seeing that they are a similar organization -- are they a brach of Masons or just similar?

**Jason** · 07-17-2007, 09:52 PM

Shriners started in 1870. This was after most Grand Lodges had outlawed alcohol. There was a group that met for lunch at the Knickerbocker Cottage on Sixth Avenue in New York. They wanted to have more fun as they felt most lodges because too stodgy.

It was started by Dr. Walter Fleming and a traveling actor named Billy Florience. Florence created a fun little play and Fleming liked it so much they added the concept to their meetings, with help from Charles McClenachan, William Sleigh Paterson and Albert Rawson. In 1872 they little group decalred themselves to be the charter members of the Mecca Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S. for short, which rearranged spells A MASON), and was shorted to Shriners.

Today there are close to 500,000 members with 191 Shrine centers or Chapters.

That all being said, and may have been more info then you were looking for, all Shriners are Masons, however not all Masons are Shriners. Before the year 2000, you had to become a Freemason, then after becoming Master, go through either the Scottish or York Rite, before you are allowed to join the Shrine. Today, you just have to be a Master Mason. I've known a few people who joined just to go to the Shriners.

That all being said, I think it is a great organization. The charity they support, Shriners Hospitals are amazing. For those that have not heard, there was a plane crash recently here in Fl. There was a young boy who has been burnt very badly. The Shriners flew him to Cincinnati, Ohio burn center from here in Florida. They boy will receive all medical treatments for free there. Not only that, they are paying for the family to be flown up, lodging and meals while the son receives treatment. The family will pay nothing for all of this. They can donate, if they wish, but it is not required. Their hospitals are truly a gift to those in need.

SageMother · 07-18-2007, 12:56 PM

That sort of flies in the face of the theories that alcohol consumption renders people less valuable members of any society!

mystangs · 08-05-2007, 06:33 PM

I was initiated into Shrinedom a month after I was raised. It has been alot of fun, I joined a motorized unit (driving the mini cars) and have seen what the money we raise does. On our Christmas tree lot there were two little boys running around and we were told they were burnt very bad and the Hospital helped them recover. It is true, the one thing that the hospital does not have is a Billing department!

So I will continue to take the little tabs off my soda cans to recycle for the hospital, every little but helps.

ncjwr · 09-06-2007, 08:06 AM

i had no idea shriners and masons had a connection! i thought i knew some good history facts too...thats something i have never found anywhere. you learn something new everyday...

reviewer · 09-08-2007, 08:21 PM

Do you find any conflicts with being a Shriner and a Mason? I do not know much about the Shriners, personally.

ninikins · 09-15-2007, 01:31 PM

Who or what are the shriners? I'd love to know who they are and what the differences are.

**BG_TRBL** · 09-17-2007, 12:37 PM

Generally speaking every masonic body has a specific "charity" which they support. Fund raisers if not ear-marked for another purpose are suppose to go to said charity. Blue lodge is the first step in masonry and in Pennsylvania our main charity is the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program. Knights Templar in Pennsylvania support the eye foundation. Grotto Prophets support Denistry for the Handicapped Children. Shrine or Shriners main charity is the burn hospitals (These are at absolutely no charge to the children treated) All expenses are paid for by the Shrine hospitals collectively. As Jason has stated in one of his treads, to become a member of the Shrine, One must first belong to the "Blue Lodge" then petition the other bodies including the Shrine. You can not become a member of the Shrine without being a member of Blue Lodge.
Hope this information is what you were looking for.

mollyL · 02-29-2008, 02:32 PM

My dad is a Shriner down in the Los Angeles area; he was brought into the organization in the late 1970s by a very fine gentleman named Al Greenburg who had one of the most giving and charitable hearts I've ever known. The Shriners used to bring a big circus to the city every year to raise funds for kids and we still have a great photo of our daughter riding an elephant at their circus!

ninikins · 03-12-2008, 09:09 AM

Is there any such thing as a European equivalent of the shriners?

07-17-2007, 06:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
littlecat123 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 25	How are Shriners related to Masons? I keep seeing that they are a similar organization -- are they a brach of Masons or just similar?

09-17-2007, 12:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
BG_TRBL "Laus Deo" Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: #232 Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania Posts: 298	Generally speaking every masonic body has a specific "charity" which they support. Fund raisers if not ear-marked for another purpose are suppose to go to said charity. Blue lodge is the first step in masonry and in Pennsylvania our main charity is the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program. Knights Templar in Pennsylvania support the eye foundation. Grotto Prophets support Denistry for the Handicapped Children. Shrine or Shriners main charity is the burn hospitals (These are at absolutely no charge to the children treated) All expenses are paid for by the Shrine hospitals collectively. As Jason has stated in one of his treads, to become a member of the Shrine, One must first belong to the "Blue Lodge" then petition the other bodies including the Shrine. You can not become a member of the Shrine without being a member of Blue Lodge. Hope this information is what you were looking for. __________________ P.M. LaBelle Vallee Lodge #232 P.H.P. Lafayette Chapter #167 Sir Knight (Hospitallier Commandry) Prophet (Zafar Grotto) Enlightenment is for those who can open their blinds and realize, there is more to life and understanding.

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07-17-2007, 09:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jason ex oriente lux Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 573	Shriners started in 1870. This was after most Grand Lodges had outlawed alcohol. There was a group that met for lunch at the Knickerbocker Cottage on Sixth Avenue in New York. They wanted to have more fun as they felt most lodges because too stodgy. It was started by Dr. Walter Fleming and a traveling actor named Billy Florience. Florence created a fun little play and Fleming liked it so much they added the concept to their meetings, with help from Charles McClenachan, William Sleigh Paterson and Albert Rawson. In 1872 they little group decalred themselves to be the charter members of the Mecca Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S. for short, which rearranged spells A MASON), and was shorted to Shriners. Today there are close to 500,000 members with 191 Shrine centers or Chapters. That all being said, and may have been more info then you were looking for, all Shriners are Masons, however not all Masons are Shriners. Before the year 2000, you had to become a Freemason, then after becoming Master, go through either the Scottish or York Rite, before you are allowed to join the Shrine. Today, you just have to be a Master Mason. I've known a few people who joined just to go to the Shriners. That all being said, I think it is a great organization. The charity they support, Shriners Hospitals are amazing. For those that have not heard, there was a plane crash recently here in Fl. There was a young boy who has been burnt very badly. The Shriners flew him to Cincinnati, Ohio burn center from here in Florida. They boy will receive all medical treatments for free there. Not only that, they are paying for the family to be flown up, lodging and meals while the son receives treatment. The family will pay nothing for all of this. They can donate, if they wish, but it is not required. Their hospitals are truly a gift to those in need.

07-18-2007, 12:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
SageMother Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 31	That sort of flies in the face of the theories that alcohol consumption renders people less valuable members of any society!

08-05-2007, 06:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
mystangs Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 29	I was initiated into Shrinedom a month after I was raised. It has been alot of fun, I joined a motorized unit (driving the mini cars) and have seen what the money we raise does. On our Christmas tree lot there were two little boys running around and we were told they were burnt very bad and the Hospital helped them recover. It is true, the one thing that the hospital does not have is a Billing department! So I will continue to take the little tabs off my soda cans to recycle for the hospital, every little but helps.

09-06-2007, 08:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
ncjwr Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 30	i had no idea shriners and masons had a connection! i thought i knew some good history facts too...thats something i have never found anywhere. you learn something new everyday...

09-08-2007, 08:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
reviewer Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 24	Do you find any conflicts with being a Shriner and a Mason? I do not know much about the Shriners, personally.

09-15-2007, 01:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
ninikins Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 24	Who or what are the shriners? I'd love to know who they are and what the differences are.

02-29-2008, 02:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
mollyL Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 104	My dad is a Shriner down in the Los Angeles area; he was brought into the organization in the late 1970s by a very fine gentleman named Al Greenburg who had one of the most giving and charitable hearts I've ever known. The Shriners used to bring a big circus to the city every year to raise funds for kids and we still have a great photo of our daughter riding an elephant at their circus!

03-12-2008, 09:09 AM	#10 (permalink)
ninikins Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 24	Is there any such thing as a European equivalent of the shriners?