Credit: https://www.shrinersinternational.org/
The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, better known simply as the Shriners, is a Masonic fraternity built on three things: fun, fellowship and philanthropy. In the Shriners’ own words:
“Shriners International is a fraternity based on fun, fellowship, and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth. With nearly 200 local chapters and thousands of clubs on six continents, Shriners are known for their fellowship, brotherhood, compassion, and generosity. The fraternity established Shriners Hospitals for Children as its official philanthropy in 1922, and continues to support it today while striving to make the world a happier, better place.”
“Shriners International helps good men become better leaders, husbands, fathers, friends, and community contributors. Brotherhood is the cultural foundation that distinguishes our fraternity from other groups and associations. When you become a Shriner, you join a network of nearly 200,000 brothers around the globe who are dedicated to helping and supporting each other personally and professionally.”
The short video below, courtesy of Shriners International, gives a quick overview of the fraternity.
The Founding of the Fraternity
Shriners International was founded in 1872 by two Master Masons: Dr Walter M. Fleming and the well-known actor William J. “Billy” Florence. As the story goes, Florence attended an Arabian-themed party in Marseilles, France, at a time when the mystique of the Near East was fashionable all over the world. Taken with the colour and pageantry, he suggested that the new fraternity adopt a Near-Eastern theme, and Dr Fleming agreed.
Tradition and Culture
That decision still shapes the fraternity today: its imagery, its dress, its activities and even its names. Shriners wear the distinctive red fez as their official headgear, local Shrine Centers carry names such as Egypt, Sahara, Morocco and Oasis, and the fraternity’s regalia features camels, pyramids, the Sphinx and other ancient Egyptian and Arabian imagery.
Our Members
Over its 150-plus years, the Shriners have counted U.S. presidents and famous actors among their members, alongside business owners and blue-collar workers: men from every walk of life. The fraternity is proud of its history, but it isn’t standing still. Each new generation brings its own interests, and Shrine Centers encourage members to shape their own experience, choosing from a long and ever-growing list of clubs and units built around their hobbies.
A Family Organization
The Shriners are a social fraternity with a strong family focus. Shrine Centers host events for spouses, children, grandchildren and the wider community, and many members and their families say they have made lifelong friends along the way. The bond of brotherhood carries Nobles, as Shriners are known, through life together: strength and compassion in hard times, fun and fellowship in good ones.
In 1922, wanting to make a real difference in the world, the Shriners founded their own charity, Shriners Hospitals for Children, now known as Shriners Children’s. A century later it is one of the largest paediatric specialty healthcare systems in the world, with locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and Shriners have the opportunity to serve it in a range of meaningful, hands-on roles.
From its founding in 1872, the Shriners were meant to be the Masonic fraternity that put fun and fellowship first, and that tradition is alive and well. As members’ interests have changed over the years, the Shriners’ idea of fun has changed with them, kept fresh by the ideas each new member brings.
In short, the Shriners are a fraternity of men who want to make an even bigger difference in the world, through brotherhood, family, fun and philanthropy.
The fraternity looks for men of good character, compassion and strong values, from every background, career, age and interest, and welcomes the different perspectives they bring. Shriners are known for their loyalty and camaraderie, and for standing by each other and their communities in times of need. With members on six continents, a Shriner can travel almost anywhere in the world and still find a friend and a brother.
For a more detailed look at the Shriners, here is American actor Richard Tyson:
Please visit the Shriner’s International website:
https://www.shrinersinternational.org/
Read on to learn more
about Shriner regalia.
A.E.A.O.N.M.S. / or / A.A.O.N.M.S. – The Shriner
Why do Shriners wear a fez?
The red fez with its black tassel is one of the fraternity’s most recognisable symbols. Named after the city of Fez in Morocco, it was chosen as the official headgear to suit the Shriners’ theme, ceremonies, pomp and pageantry.
Source:
https://www.shrinersinternational.org/en/who-we-are/history-of-the-fraternity
Symbolism and meaning:
• Every fez is personalised for its wearer, showing his chapter, any positions he holds and the clubs or units he belongs to. It is worn at all official Shriners events.
• The crescent and scimitar, the emblem on the front of the fez, are an important part of the fraternity’s theme and are representative of the characteristics embodied by the Shriners.
• The scimitar stands for the backbone of the fraternity: its members.
• The two claws are for the Shriners fraternity and its philanthropy.
• The sphinx stands for the governing body of the Shriners.
• The five-pointed star represents the thousands of children helped by philanthropy each year.
• Robur et Furor (“strength and fury” in Latin) is also adopted as a theme to accompany the emblem
Sources:
https://www.shrinersinternational.org/en/who-we-are/history-of-the-fraternity
Shriner Brethren
Divans and Nobles
What are the titles of the Divan officers?
• Potentate
• Chief Rabban
• Assistant Rabban
• High Priest & Prophet
• Oriental Guide
• Treasurer
• Recorder
• 1st Ceremonial Master
• 2nd Ceremonial Master
• Director
• Captain of the Guard
• Chaplain
• Master Of Ceremony
• Outer Guard
Source:
http://www.moussashriners-pha.com/officers
http://www.cahabashrine.org/
Potentate Officer
Chaplain Officer
Chief Rabban Officer
Assistant Rabban Officer
High Priest & Prophet Officer
Oriental Guide Officer
Treasurer Officer
Recorder Officer
Noble Regalia
Marshal Officer
1st Ceremonial Master Officer
2nd Ceremonial Master Officer
Captain of the Guard Officer
Outer Guard Officer
Orator Officer
Director Officer
Divan Officer
Past Potentate Officer
Legion Of Honor Officer
Provost Guard Officer
Meanings of Officer Names
What is a Divan?
In a Shrine Temple, the Divan is the board of directors, or executive council: the management team for both the fraternal and the business side of the Temple. Every Temple has its own Divan. Imperial by-laws set a minimum of five members, all elected by the Nobility (the members), so every Temple has at least five, and some have seven; any extra positions are usually appointed by the Potentate. Like most Masonic bodies, the Divan is a “progressive” line: each year one new officer joins, the others move up a step, and the man at the top retires as a Past Potentate. Two further elected officers, the Recorder (secretary) and the Treasurer, also sit on the Divan, but they usually stand outside the progressive line and may be re-elected to the same office year after year.
Each position carries a title drawn from the Arabic tradition, with its own duties and responsibilities. Potentates, past and present, are addressed as “Illustrious Sir”; Imperial Potentates and members of the Imperial Divan as “Imperial Sir”; and every other Shriner as “Noble”. A member who climbs the line year by year, from Outer Guard all the way to Potentate, will have had a hand in every part of his Temple’s operation by the time he reaches the top. In order of seniority, the principal officers are:
• Potentate — President or CEO of the organization
• Chief Rabban
• Assistant Rabban
• High Priest and Prophet
• Oriental Guide
• Treasurer
• Recorder
Temple Leadership
To a newcomer, the Shrine’s leadership titles can sound a little unusual, and some positions are elected while others are appointed by the sitting Potentate. Here is what they mean:
Potentate – in effect, the President of the Temple. The Nobles elect their Potentate each year.
Chief Rabban – 1st Vice-President, also elected, and usually elected Potentate the following year.
Assistant Rabban – 2nd Vice-President, elected, and usually elected Chief Rabban the following year.
High Priest and Prophet – 3rd Vice-President, elected, and usually elected Assistant Rabban the following year.
Oriental Guide – 4th Vice-President. In some Temples this officer is first appointed by the incoming Potentate and then elected by the Nobility. The Oriental Guide is usually elected High Priest and Prophet the following year.
The Potentate appoints the remaining officers: the First Ceremonial Master, Second Ceremonial Master, Marshal, Captain of the Guard, Outer Guard and Chaplain.
Two other elected officers are vital to every Temple:
Treasurer – exactly what it sounds like.
Recorder – the secretary, and a good deal more.
Together they form the Temple’s board of directors, its management team. The older name for this board is the “Divan”, and their ladies are known as the “Divan Ladies”.
Shrine Pledge of Allegiance
“I pledge allegiance to my flag, and to the country for which it stands; one nation under
God; indivisible; with liberty and justice for all.”
Shriners and their ladies show respect for every flag and every anthem. During the anthem, women place one hand over the heart; for the anthems of other nations, hands are kept respectfully at the side.
For more information or if you would like to join, please visit the following URLs:
– https://anahshriners.org/
– https://khivashrine.com/what-is-a-divan/
– https://www.oasisshriners.org/
– http://www.cahabashrine.org/
– https://aeaonms.org/
– https://grandlodgeofkentucky.org/?page_id=1256
– https://elriad.org/history-of-shriners-international/
– https://www.facebook.com/groups/2366910170080888
– https://www.marineband.marines.mil/Audio-Resources/The-Complete-Marches-of-John-Philip-Sousa/Nobles-of-the-Mystic-Shrine/
Or, go to the MASONIC LODGE LIST and select the appropriate lodge in your jurisdiction.