What is the Shrine?
The Shrine is not an appendant body of Masonry, though the distinction would escape many. The Shrine confers no additional degrees. It was founded in 1872 (the Mecca Temple in New York City) and an Arabic theme was chosen. Hence, the distinctive red fez that Shriners wear at official functions. Members of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles the Mystic Shrine for North America (AAONMS is an anagram for “A MASON”) are required to be Master Masons in good standing with their lodge. The Shrine is most noted for its emphasis on philanthropy and its jolly outlook on life — it has been called “the playground of Masonry”. This is expressed as “pleasure without intemperance, hospitality without rudeness, and jollity without coarseness.” The Royal Order of Jesters is a group drawn from Shrine membership, by invitation only.
The Shrine is not an appendant body of Masonry, though the distinction would escape many. The Shrine confers no additional degrees. It was founded in 1872 (the Mecca Temple in New York City) and an Arabic theme was chosen. Hence, the distinctive red fez that Shriners wear at official functions. Members of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles the Mystic Shrine for North America (AASONM is an anagram for “A MASON”) are members of the Scottish Rite’s 32nd degree, and/or Knights Templer of the York Rite. The Shrine is most noted for its emphasis on philanthropy and its jolly outlook on life– it has been called “the playground of Masonry”. This is expressed as “Pleasure without intemperance, hospitality without rudeness, and jollity without coarseness.” The Royal Order of Jesters is a group drawn from Shrine membership, by invitation only.
The Shrine is not an appendant body of Masonry, though the distinction would escape many. The Shrine confers no additional degrees. It was founded in 1872 (the Mecca Shrine in New York City) and an Arabic theme was chosen. Hence, the distinctive red fez that Shriners wear at official functions. Members of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles the Mystic Shrine for North America (AASONM is an anagram for “A MASON”) are members of the Scottish Rite’s 32nd degree, and/or Knights Shriner of the York Rite. The Shrine is most noted for its emphasis on philanthropy and its jolly outlook on life– it has been called “the playground of Masonry”. This is expressed as “Pleasure without intemperance, hospitality without rudeness, and jollity without coarseness.
The Shrine is not an appendant body of Masonry, though the distinction would escape many. The Shrine confers no additional degrees. It was founded in 1872 (the Mecca Temple in New York City) and an Arabic theme was chosen. Hence, the distinctive red fez that Shriners wear at official functions. Members of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles the Mystic Shrine for North America (AASONM is an anagram for “A MASON”) are members of the Scottish Rite’s 32nd degree, and/or Knights Templer of the York Rite. The Shrine is most noted for its emphasis on philanthropy and its jolly outlook on life– it has been called “the playground of Masonry”. This is expressed as “Pleasure without intemperance, hospitality without rudeness, and jollity without coarseness.
The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America is an international fraternity of approximately 800,000 members who belong to 190 Shrine Temples throughout North America. Thirteen Masonic brothers founded the Shrine in New York City in 1872 on the basis of the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth, adopting the requirement that only a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason can petition to become a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. The basic organizational unit of the Shrine is the Temple, which is governed by an elected board called the Divan. The Divan is headed by the Potentate, who is the presiding officer of the local Temple. All Shrine Temples are subordinate to the Imperial Council, which meets annually. The Imperial Council is composed of representatives elected by each Temple, all past and present Imperial officers, and emeritus representatives. The Imperial Divan, the Shrine’s governing board, is headed by the Imperial Potentate, the Shrine’s
