Shriners

Shriners are a group of men.

They like to have fun. They also work to help others.

Two men started this group long ago. They wanted to build friendship. They also wanted to do good things. The group wears red hats. They like to join big parades. They also run special hospitals for kids. These hospitals help children feel better. It is a very kind thing to do.

Helping people is important.

Shriners are a group of men who enjoy fellowship.

They also work hard to help their communities.

Two men started this group in 1872.

Walter M. Fleming and William J. Florence met in New York City. They wanted to make a group based on fun. Florence had seen shows in places like Cairo. These shows used Middle Eastern themes. Fleming used these ideas to make the group's costumes and symbols.

The group is known for its bright red fezzes. These are special hats. They also use symbols like camels and pyramids. Shriners often join big parades.

Shriners do a lot of good work. They run a network of hospitals for children. These hospitals help kids with many health needs.

Women can also help through special groups. The Daughters of the Nile support the hospitals too. Today, Shriners are all over the world. They have members in many countries.

Shriners International is a large global group for men.

They call themselves a fraternity. This means they focus on friendship and helping others. They follow ideas like brotherly love and truth. To join, a man must first be a Master Mason. This means he belongs to a group called Freemasonry. Today, the group has nearly 1.7 million members. They have over 200 chapters in nine different countries.

The group uses a very bright and colorful theme. They use symbols from the Middle East in their ceremonies. Many members wear a bright red fez on their heads. They also use pictures of camels, pyramids, and the Sphinx. Their meeting places are often called Shrine Centers. Some of these buildings use a special style called Moorish Revival. These buildings might have names like Egypt, Sahara, or Morocco. The group is led by a board called the Imperial Divan. This board has 12 officers who help lead the way.

This group started a long time ago in New York City.

Two men named Walter M. Fleming and William J. Florence created it. In 1870, they met at a place called the Knickerbocker Cottage. Florence was an actor who had traveled to places like Cairo. He saw musical shows with Middle Eastern themes. He brought his drawings and notes back to New York. Fleming used these ideas to make the group's costumes and symbols. They started the first temple, called Mecca Temple, in 1872.

The group grew very fast over many years. In 1875, there were only 43 members. By 1888, there were over 7,000 members in the United States and Canada. By the year 1900, the group had 55,000 members. Some famous men have been members, like President Harry Truman. There are also many beautiful buildings used by the group. The Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh was one famous building. It was built for Shriners and had 3,700 seats. It was even called the birthplace of network television.

Shriners are well known for their hard work in helping people. They run the Shriners Hospitals for Children. This is a network of 22 hospitals in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. These hospitals help children with many different health needs. They help kids with things like burns or bone injuries.

Women can also help through groups like the Daughters of the Nile. These women support the hospitals and help with social work. The group has changed its name and some symbols over time. They want to make sure everyone feels welcome in their community.

Shriners International is a large, global American Masonic society.

It functions as an appendant body within Freemasonry. This means it is a specific group that works alongside the broader Masonic tradition. Membership is open to men who have reached the degree of Master Mason in a Masonic rite. The organization describes itself as a fraternity focused on fellowship and fun. It also follows the Masonic principles of relief, truth, and brotherly love. Today, the group has nearly 1.7 million members. It maintains over 200 chapters across nine different countries.

The group is famous for its distinctive Middle Eastern theme.

Members often wear bright red fezzes as their official headgear. Their regalia and ceremonies use symbols like the Sphinx, pyramids, and camels. Many of their meeting locations are called Shrine Centers or Temples. These buildings often use the Moorish Revival architectural style. This style features designs inspired by the art and structures of North Africa and the Middle East. Many centers have names like Morocco, Sahara, or Oasis. The organization is governed by a board called the Imperial Divan. This board consists of 12 Imperial Officers who serve as directors.

The history of the Shriners began with an idea for fellowship. In 1870, several thousand Freemasons met at the Knickerbocker Cottage in Manhattan.

Two men, Walter M. Fleming and William J. Florence, wanted to create a group focused on fun. Florence was an actor who had traveled to Algiers and Cairo. He observed musical comedies with Middle Eastern themes during his travels. He brought notes and drawings of these ceremonies back to New York. Fleming used these ideas to create the group's official rituals and costumes.

They initiated their first eleven members in 1871. The first official Temple, Mecca Temple, was established in New York City in 1872.

Following its start, the organization grew at a very rapid pace. In 1875, the group had only 43 members. By 1878, membership reached 425 people across 13 temples. The group expanded significantly by 1888, reaching 7,210 members in 48 temples. By the year 1900, the membership had climbed to 55,000 people. By 1938, there were approximately 340,000 members in the United States alone. This growth allowed the Shriners to include many prominent citizens in their ranks. Famous members have included President Harry Truman and President Gerald Ford. Other notable members include General Douglas MacArthur and actor John Wayne.

History also includes the development of separate organizations. In 1893, John G. Jones and 13 other Prince Hall masons started a counterpart. This group was known as the Imperial Grand Council of Prince Hall Shriners. This movement provided an African American version of the Shriners. The two groups faced legal conflicts regarding traditions and regalia starting in 1919. A lawsuit from a White-only order in Texas was eventually overturned in 1929. This ruling protected the right of Prince Hall Shriners to use their own emblems and rituals. Today, the Worldwide Fraternal Shrine Family is based in Memphis, Tennessee. It includes 25,000 members across 270 shrines.

The Shriners are widely recognized for their massive philanthropic work.

Their primary charitable effort is the Shriners Hospitals for Children. In June 1920, the Imperial Council voted to create these hospitals. The network now includes 22 healthcare facilities. These hospitals are located in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. They treat children for many different conditions. These include orthopedic injuries, burns, spinal cord injuries, and birth defects like cleft lip. Women also support these causes through organizations like the Daughters of the Nile. This group was founded in 1913 and helps promote sociability and hospital support.

The organization has undergone changes to its identity over time. In 2002, following the September 11 attacks, the group faced some challenges. People sometimes mistook their Middle Eastern themes for a different religion. This led to instances of harassment and vandalism against members. In response, the group began rebranding to be more inclusive and clear. In 2010, they changed their name to Shriners International. They also removed some Middle Eastern terms from their official titles. These changes were intended to recognize their growing global membership. The group continues to focus on community service and leadership.