The Shrine - My personal take on the organization

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:

Shriners - Welcome.

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

http://www.shrinershq.org/files/memb...inerPrimer.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.

Here is an interesting, but sad article on the state of the Shrine in Tacoma, Wash.

Dwindling Shriners find few to wear John Wayne’s hat | TheNewsTribune.com | Tacoma, WA

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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Additional thoughts on the Shrine

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If any young person is "put off" or offended by the "Arabian Nights" motif of the Shrine, they are better of leaving the Shrine alone. The Shrine is better off without such people, as well. The symbols are not "antiquated" ; they have only been used since the founding of the Shrine, in the 1870's. Let us examine them:

The Scimitar stands for the membership, the "backbone" of the Shrine.

The Sphinx-face stands for the governing body of the Shrine, the imperial council.

The two claws of the inverted crescent stand for the fraternity and philanthropy. Neither of the claws are identified, because one could not exist without the other.

The Star is for the thousands of Children who are helped in our hospitals every year. The Star stands front and center in the symbolism, because it is the focus and reason for our existence.

If any young person finds these symbols offensive, or "antiquated", they should not have anything to do with the Shrine. The Shrine can deal with it.

The Shrine is NOT a masonic organization, but an organization composed of men who are masons. This sounds like legal nit-picking, but it is actually very important. When Billy Florence and Walter Fleming set up the Shrine in 1870, they wanted to organize a club, which would stress fun and frivolity; which by its very definition is far removed from the serious and ancient teachings of Freemasonry.

In order to petition (apply) for the Shrine, a man must first be a Craft Mason. With this small pool of potential recruits, and the advanced age of Masons in the USA, the average age of new Shriners, is also creeping upwards.

Except for the fact that Shriners must be masons first, there is no "integration" with respect to the Scottish Rite, nor of Craft Masonry (nor of ANY other appendant and concordant body). And that is exactly how the Shrine was designed to operate. The Shrine, is an independent stand-alone organization, and has no subordination to ANY lodge, Grand Lodge, the Scottish Rite, nor of any other appendant body anywhere.

This ensures a full measure of independence for the Shrine. Our philanthropy (Hospitals for children) operate outside of the purview or oversight of any Masonic body. This is necessary, or else the lodges/Grand Lodges would take over the whole organization.

Most Grand Lodges in the USA, forbid alcoholic beverages within their subordinate lodges. The Shrine permits the moderate use of alcoholic beverages. The grand Lodges forbid gambling, even penny-ante poker games in their lodges. The Shrine has no such restrictions, and the Nobles often enjoy this pastime. The grand Lodges have tight restrictions on fund-raising, raffles, etc. The Shrine is not encumbered by these regulations, and thence can have Circuses, grapefruit sales, etc. Most masonic events are 'stag', while the Shrine has a multitude of events, dances, parties, etc. for the Noble AND his lady. No other Masonic group has more co-ed activities than the Shrine.

I cherish the Shrine. Certainly, the organization has problems. We are dealing with the problems. Even though the Shrine is far removed from the serious teachings of Craft Masonry; for many people, the Shrine is their most enjoyable part of the masonic experience. This sounds contradictory, but it really is not.

Like two flying buttresses which support a ceiling, the two opposing experiences of serious self-discovery and self-improvement of Craft masonry, and the relaxation and frivolity of the Shrine experience, work together to support a man's life and spirit. Masonry has its meetings and instructions in private, and the Shrine is an open, public organization, which has parades, and circuses, and all types of public activities.

These are the "yin and yang" of the Masonic experience. All men have a need for fun and frivolity. If the frivolity can support a marvelous philanthropy, like the Shrine hospitals, then so much the better. The Shrine touches a definite spark, in the spirit of its membership. It reaches to the "boy in the man", the need to celebrate the good things in life, the desire to be public with your joy, the fraternal bond that extends from good fellowship, dining, and the moderate use of alcoholic beverages.

The Arabian Nights theme of the Shrine, seems archaic, I agree. But this is our splendid tradition, the "anchor" of the whole organization. It hearkens to a simpler time, when men and boys found an escape, from ordinary life, to a world of shieks, and harem girls, and flying carpets, and genies, and the marvelous mysticism of the Thousand and One Nights, and
the tales of Scheherazade. This experience is not unlike today's youth fascination with the "Harry Potter" books.

There will always be a fascination, in the mind of men and boys, with mysticism and magic, and flying , whether it be on a flying carpet across the Arabian desert, or flying on a broom at the Hogwart's school. Whether Wizards or Wiziers, the same note of fascination is touched.

So, let us move on, away from a petty hang-up on symbolism, and forward to a new understanding of the joys of fellowship and fraternity. The Shrine will always be the Shrine, its renaissance is in our hands.

SO MOTE IT BE!! ES SALEIMU ALEIKUM!!

Here is an examination of the work that is done in our hospitals

A little old facts, but thought some may find it interesting.

Facts

In 2006, Shriners Hospitals approved 38,984 new patient applications,
attended to the needs of 128,578 patients and provided the following:

· 251,461 radiology procedures
· 296,859 outpatient, outreach and telemedicine visits
· 61,103 orthotic and prosthetic devices
· 24,609 surgical procedures
· 412,387 physical therapy treatments
· 181,174 occupational therapy treatments

Figures

Shriners Hospitals' total budget for 2007 is $721 million, of which
$655 million is targeted for operating expenses (including $37 million
for research) and $66 million for buildings and equipment
expenditures.

During the nearly 85-year history of the Shriners Hospitals, it has
cost approximately $8.2 billion to operate Shriners Hospitals, and
over $1.76 billion has been spent on construction and renovation.

Orthopaedic Hospitals

The 18 orthopaedic Shiners Hospitals are dedicated to providing
specialized medical and rehabilitative services to children with
congenital deformities, problems resulting from orthopaedic injuries
and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Some of the most commonly
treated disorders include clubfoot, limb deficiencies and
discrepancies, scoliosis, osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone
disease), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and problems related to spina
bifida, cerebral palsy, dwarfism and muscular dystrophy.

Burn Care

Located in Galveston, Boston, Cincinnati and Sacramento, the Shriners
burn hospitals have been leaders in burn research since opening in the
mid-1960s. Treatment is provided for severe burn injuries and related
scarring, along with physical and emotional rehabilitation. This vast
experience and knowledge has had far-reaching affects on burn
treatment techniques worldwide.

Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation

In the 1980s, Shriners Hospitals established a spinal cord injury
rehabilitation program for children. These programs, at the Chicago,
Northern California and Philadelphia hospitals, are among the few in
the United States specifically designed to treat children and
teenagers with spinal cord injuries.

Cleft Lip and Palate Repair

In 2005, the Joint Boards of Shriners Hospitals officially added cleft
lip and palate repair to the mission. The program is expanding, based
on the model of Shriners Hospital-Chicago, which has been treating
children with cleft lip and palate for more than 35 years.

It takes alot of little things, such as sterile surgery packs, to make someone's stay in the hospital comfortable. When someone gets what looks like an impossibly complicated hospital bill it is because of just that; every little thing it took to make you well.

I joined this past Saturday (ANSAR Shrine-Springfield,IL) and will join my local Shrine Club (Corn Belt Shrine) on January 5th. My father and uncle were Shriners and I am very excited about being a member.

From the East, Through the Valley and Across the Hot Sands!

I concur that the Shrine does great work that we may never fully understand the impact of.

But I guess I'm one of those that is put off by the Arabian theme of the Shrine. I have seen where the Shrine's styling causes a great deal of problems for Freemasons among non-Western cultures because they believe that we (Masons) are making fun of their culture/religion.

Again, I am not knocking the Shrine in any way. Merely giving my thoughts on the matter.

Since we are sharing opinions...

"They" need to get over it. Freemasonry historically has been a stick in their craw.

I also agree that the Arabian theme is not for me. It is not however because of my worry of offending someone else.

Those who are offended should look at the old saying: "Imitation is the highest form of flattery". The Shrine does wonderful things for children. I've seen it first hand.

I have heard numerous times that the Shrine has considered dropping the masonic affiliation as a requirement to join....IMHO, that would destroy it.

Why would the Shrine want to do that?

Thanks Jason....you beat me to the answer

I can only speak for my area, but I think one of the issues facing the shrine is how they present themselves at times. While I am interested in joining some day when my kids are older, I am completely turned off almost every time I encounter a Shriner. It has nothing to do with the Arabic stuff, its how they present themselves. For instance, last weekend I was in the mall with my wife and daughter who was sitting on my shoulders. We went to check in on Santa, which my daughter now requires we do a couple of times a week. The local shrine was there collecting money for the hospitals. Naturally I gave a couple of bucks. I was wearing my lodge sweatshirt. As soon as the Shriner saw that I was a mason he literally begged me to join. Moreover, the other shriner who was on the other side of the hallway stopped collecting money to come over and assist in it. They also begged me to come back later and work their table for them. Now, I am all for helping out, but I had my family with me. Also, the desperation in attempting to get me to join was palpable and sent the wrong message.

Something similar to this has happened to me almost every time I have encountered a shriner and revealed myself as a brother. Including a time when I was food shopping. I love all that the shrine does, and thanks to a brother who used to work as a nurse at their hospital in Boston, I have heard accounts of the literal miracles they perform. However, increasing membership will not come by harassing newer masons. This also holds true for the Scottish and York rites. They are also guilty of bombarding newly raised MM's in an attempt to get them in their rite. All it does is lead to burnout.

BroLiberty, I agree with what you posted. I was bombarded after I was raised at every lodge meeting I attended by 2 brothers for the SR, YR and Shrine, I kept telling them NO but they persisted. I finally told them that if they didn't cease I would not attend Blue Lodge any more, (I used some language that I now regret using) they quit hounding me. I joined YR and Shrine on my own after about 10 years of being a MM. My dad joined YR and Shrine after being a MM about 30 years. I enjoy Shrine but I will not hound (or tolerate any brother doing so) any MM about joining Shrine because I know how much I disliked it. If they ask, I will give them information.

I am fortunate that at my Lodge, those situations have not happened.............hmmmmmm..or maybe they are not interested in my...LOL. Na...our WM doesnt allow the brow beating to join appendant bodies. The Brothers are more than happy to assist if you ask but they do not approach anyone about joining.

The shrine obviously has to recruit brothers to survive.....Our temple had over 16000 members at one time. Now it has about 2000. We are in the process of selling our temple location to stay solvent. With that said, I believe our recruiting must be done with tact, and without a heavy hand, and we must realize the shrine isn't for everyone. We use a very "light hand", but this isn't working either, as we've recruited one new member to our area shrine club in the last year and a half. Is anyone having success growing the Shrine in your areas? We're in desperate need of ideas, without resorting to brow-beating every new mason in our area. New Blue Lodge brothers are also hard enough to come by!!

Maybe I am out of bounds, but if a Shrine org is dying, and men from the Craft Lodges are not joining, then I see that as a potentially good thing.

All of that energy and resources that might have gone to the Shrine can be redirected back where it belongs.

Their Craft Lodge.

I know this will annoy some people, but MASONRY IS YOUR HOME CRAFT (BLUE) LODGE.

For me, being a Shriner would be very nice.... Shriners Hospital is who my fire department and IAFF local raise money for.....BUT it is very expensive so at this point, I have not taken that step ...maybe in the future.

I think the cost and the time commitment are reasons why the newer brethren are not rushing to join.

But one thing I would like to point out is mdonahues post is that their shrine has 2000 members. 2000! That is over 10 times what my lodge has for membership, and I come from a bigger lodge. If you cannot sustain with that many members, then what are you going to do with 30 more?

Masonry is growing, but as has been said on these forums many many times, it will never get back to its post WWII numbers. As a result I think you are going to see the concordant bodies have to become even more regionalized than they already are, or share a building.

Honestly its the cost that's always kept me from joining in the past months. It's the first body I wanted to join after I was raised and then I looked at the costs involved.