Archive for the 'Shrine' Category
The Shriners are an appendant body to Freemasonry and are best known for the red fezzes they wear and their hospitals. The Shriners Hospitals for Children treat children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate in a family-centered environment. Patients are accepted regardless of the parents’ ability to pay. There are currently 22 non-profit Shriners hospitals across North America.
The first Shriners hospital was opened in 1922 in Shreveport, Louisiana and provided pediatric orthopedic care. At first, the hospitals were intended to help children coping with polio, but as the disease became controlled the hospitals branched out into other specialties. Being a part of this rich heritage of philanthropic work on behalf of children is something to be commemorated. Shrine rings, emblazoned with the Shriners emblem and motto, are the perfect thank you gift for members of the organization.
When I was young, my opinion of the Shriners was positive but vague. They were easy enough to recognize, usually decked out in their trademark red fez. It seemed that they were always funding and helping to run charity fundraisers. I remember that when the Shriners circus came to town it was one of the highlights of my childhood. Of course I was more interested in the exotic animals and acrobatic feats than the charity aspect.
As I got older, I recognized that members of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine were more than just friendly guys who drove around in miniature cars during parades. They have a dedication to community service work that is practically unmatched in other fraternal orders. Shrine rings give members a sense of identity and belonging. In order to join, a person must be a Mason.