I was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason back in March. My state allows Master Masons to become shriners. From what I understand, they just changed that a couple of years ago. Before, you had to be a Scottish Rite mason, or Knight Templar to petition the Shrine. I had an older brother at the lodge last night tell me how he was opposed to them allowing Master Masons to become Shriners.My question is, why is it so important to be a Scottish Rite mason, or Knight templar first ? I have talked to several of my brothers who are Shriners, and they are not opposed to the rule change at all and would welcome me to the shrine with open arms.

quote:

Originally posted by gmcneill:
I was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason back in March. My state allows Master Masons to become shriners. From what I understand, they just changed that a couple of years ago. Before, you had to be a Scottish Rite mason, or Knight Templar to petition the Shrine. I had an older brother at the lodge last night tell me how he was opposed to them allowing Master Masons to become Shriners.My question is, why is it so important to be a Scottish Rite mason, or Knight templar first ? I have talked to several of my brothers who are Shriners, and they are not opposed to the rule change at all and would welcome me to the shrine with open arms.

Brother: It depends on two things, the laws, rules and regulations of the governing jurisdiction you are in and of course your intentions. I belong to just about every Masonic organization except the Shrine. The appendent bodies of Freemasonry are not a requirement to belong to. While I belong to the Scottish and York Rite, they have degrees that are related to Freemasonry. Since I am not a Shriner, I cannot speak for them, but they are more of a social organization than anything else. My counsel is learn about the Blue Lodge and it's degrees, then wait a year or so then decide on joining the Scottish Rite, York Rite or Shrine. While I know many great Masons who are Shriners, I do not have that burning desire to be a "Noble or Shriner," now or in the very near future and no one has convinced me otherwise. Anyway, if I had to make a suggestion, you should consider the York Rite degrees because it will complete your Blue Lodge experience. I suggest this only after you understand the symbolic degrees of your blue lodge first. My .02 cents of Master's wages.

Fraternally,
/s/
Terry, PM
Freemason
Hot Topics Moderator

quote:

Originally posted by gmcneill:
I was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason back in March. My state allows Master Masons to become shriners. From what I understand, they just changed that a couple of years ago. Before, you had to be a Scottish Rite mason, or Knight Templar to petition the Shrine. I had an older brother at the lodge last night tell me how he was opposed to them allowing Master Masons to become Shriners.My question is, why is it so important to be a Scottish Rite mason, or Knight templar first ? I have talked to several of my brothers who are Shriners, and they are not opposed to the rule change at all and would welcome me to the shrine with open arms.

--Let me preface my remarks, by saying that I am a "gung-ho" Shriner. The Shrine is not a Masonic organization, but it is an organization composed of men who are Masons. This is an important legal point.

From the beginning of the Shrine, until the year 2000, a man had to be a Knights Templar Mason, or a 32d degree Scottish Rite Mason, before petitioning the Shrine. Now, you can become a Master Mason on Monday, and petition the Shrine on Tuesday. Some of the more traditionalist Shriners opposed this change (I was all for it). The individual who said he was opposed to Master masons becoming Shriners, was most likely opposed to the new requirements.

I too, would welcome you into the Shrine, immediately after becoming a Master Mason. You need not fear any problems. True, some of the more traditionalist-minded Shriners may grumble a bit, but do not be concerned.

I am also a gung-ho Scottish Rite Mason. The Scottish Rite, is an important part of my Masonic experience. The lessons taught in the degrees are terrific. Our local Scottish Rite has great meetings, excellent speakers, and they serve excellent food. What's not to like?

The Shrine is a fabulous organization. We have events and socials for the member AND HIS LADY. We have dinners, dances, parties, etc. The moderate use of alcohol is permitted and encouraged. My wife and I joined a "Hillbilly Club", we wear bib overalls and hillbilly hats, and have covered dish supper parties, and drink white lightning, and dance all night. We have parades and shows.

The Shrine is not all fun and games. We sponsor a network of 22 hospitals for crippled and burned children, where all treatment is provided FREE. I have helped transport children to our hospitals. The Philadelphia Shriners spinal cord center is the finest in the world. We hae now started to perform cleft lip and palate surgery in our hospitals as well.

A burn injury is a tragedy for a child. Our centers are world-class, and we perform state-of-the-art reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. Burns injuries often cause tremendous guilt and shame to the parents. Our hospitals provide psychiatric treatment for the parents and the children. We do more than provide medical care. We rebuild lives.

All additional care is provided. We provide wheelchairs, artificial limbs, and we modify the children's homes, with ramps, and special accomodations. Transportation to the hospitals, and room/board for the parents and siblings is also provided.

Shriners hospitals have every modern scientific advance, and the medical is world-class. The only thing the hospitals do not have, is an "accounts receivable" department. NO patient is ever charged for anything. Regardless if the family has medical insurance or is wealthy, no patient is charged.

I highly encourage you to learn more about the Shrine, and if you are possessive of a favorable opinion, just ask a Noble, and obtain a petition.

Keep in mind, our official name is

Ancient
Arabic
Order
Nobles of the
Mystic
Shrine

If you take the initials of our name A A O N M S, and re-arrange them. You will see
A MASON. Every Shriner is a MASON first.

Check out this "capsule description":

http://www.shrinershq.org/files/members/pdf/Mem_ShrinerPrimer.pdf

Wait. Enjoy the lodge. Learn what you can. Become an active part of your lodge. Then, if you find that you are still wanting to become a Shriner, do it.

Remember, you have to divide your time if you are in more than one organization. If you have lodge on the same night the Shrine holds temple you are doing your lodge a dis-service by attending the Shrine.

Both are good organizations, but I would urge you to invesigate the Shrine first and continue your pursuit of light in the blue lodge. You'll know when the time is right.

I must concur with what cemab4y says. I too am a diehard for the Shrine. I am even on the Divan, or part of the heads, or, in a more Masonic term, would guess to say that I have a chair. The Shrine is a fantastic organization and without a doubt the best philanthropy out there. If you want fun and excitement, seriously look into it. See if anyone in your lodge is in the Shrine and see if they attend local Shrine Club meetings. Have them take you to a meeting. Find out all about it. I have told many they would love it and I have not been wrong yet.

On the other hand, I also concur with SigNuCoastie, and that is become an active member in your lodge as well. Try and get appointed to a chair and help with degree work. I am the Senior Deacon within my lodge and love all the work. Learn about the great light of Freemasonry and budget your time accordingly.

It has been said before and will be said again my future generations of Masons, and that is, you will only get out of Freemasonry, the Shrine, Scottish or York Rites, only what you put into it. I ask you NOT to be a card toting member only. Get active, you certainly will enjoy it.

My Brothers,
Thanks for all of your insight and advice.

Brother Terry, you're not the first to suggest to me the York Rite. I have given it a lot of considertaion and it makes perfect sense to complete the blue lodge experience first.

I do know Shriners and York Rite Masons who attend my lodge. The York Rite meets at my lodge on different nights of the month, and the town that I live in also has a Shrine club. I have easy access to both without conflict of my involvment with the Blue lodge.After talking to several people and doing some research, I am leaning more toward getting my York rite degrees 1st and putting the Shrine on hold for a couple more years. I would eventually like to become a member of both.

Hello,
I am not a member of the Shrine. I have a petition to join. I am still thinking about it.
I have seen the great work that they do. They give an award to the ROTC programs.
I have not seen a Shriner present one. I am a National Sojourner. I go to the awards at JROTC and ROTC Ceremonies.

I am a Knight Templar. I believe you should be active in your Blue Lodge, than go to York Rite for further education. Now join the Shrine, have fun and support our Childrens Hospitals.
Our Shrine Hospitals do so much good that I think ALL Masons should be Shriners.
CSM49

I have just became a York Rite Mason through our Middle Tennessee York Rite Association fall festival. I'm sure glad that I decided to go this route. I don't think that there could be anything more awesome than the Knight Templar order. The whole 2 day festival was great and well worth the time.

Congratulations on becoming a "Sir Knight". I intend to do the YR experience, when I return to the USA.

Do you plan to petition the Shrine? Al Menah Shrine Center is one of the finest in the country. My Grandmother went to a celebration at Al Menah, way back in 1922, she spoke of how wonderful it was, for many years.

My family is from Nashville, and my parents live in Bowling Green KY. I have attended lodge in Sumner and Macon counties of Tennessee.

Thanks Cemab4y. I would recommend the York Rite to anyone. It was an awesome experience and I really got a lot out of it.

I eventually will petition the Al Menah Shrine. I'm just not in any big hurry to do it. I hear the initition is a bit pricey.

I congratulate you on your decision. The initiation costs for the Shrine, are not out of line, with what you receive. Keep in mind, the initiation costs cover your first year's dues, and a Fez (A fez costs about $75). The Shrine is NOT a "rich man's club", and the overall costs and annual dues have not kept up with inflation.

The Shrine operates the hospitals with a $5 (five dollar) annual assessment on the members. This revenue goes towards buying securites and bonds, and the interest on these investments, runs the hospitals.

The hospital assessment is a tax deduction, but your annual dues is not tax-deductible.

I agree, it's well worth the price when you consider all that the Shriners do and to belong to such a great body of our fraternity. Once you're in, the dues are not that much ( $55 a year).