The Shriners

Akdar Shriners is an organization that attracts accountants, clergymen, generals, movie stars, heads of state, contractors, dentists, lawyers, truck drivers, and more.

Someone might think Shriners are “those guys who always have those parades with the wild costumes and funny little cars.” Another might think of the Shrine Circus’ and Shrine Clowns. The fellow next to him might interject “No Shriners are the guys who wear those funny hats — like flower pots — and have those big conventions.

“I don’t know about that,” a passerby might add, “but I do know my little girl was born with club feet and now they are straight. She can walk like anyone else thanks to the Shriners Hospitals for Children.” “She can walk?” questions still another. “I thought the Shriners ran those fantastic burn hospitals. I’ve read stories about them saving kids with burns on 90% of their bodies.”

All those people are right. Each has experienced an aspect of Shrinedom. What they cannot experience, unless they are Shriners, is the camaraderie, deep friendships, good fellowship and great times shared by all Shriners. What they may not know is that all Shriners share a Masonic heritage: Each is a Master Mason in the Freemasonry Fraternity.

Historically, Masons had to become members of the York or Scottish Rite bodies before becoming a Noble of the Shrine. However, at the Imperial Council Session in July of 2000, an amendment to Shrine law changed that requirement, allowing Master Masons to become Shriners directly.

There are approximately 515,000 Shriners now. They gather in Shrine Centers, or chapters, throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Republic of Panama and Europe. There are 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children — 18 orthopedic hospitals, 3 burn hospitals and 1 hospital that provides orthopedic, burn and spinal cord injury care. These hospitals have cured or substantially helped more than 650,000 children, at no cost to parent or child, since the first Shriner Hospital opened in 1922.