Claire Dawson
Shriners International, formerly known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, is a fraternity based on fun, fellowship, and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth. Shriners Hospitals for Children provide free treatment to patients under the age of eighteen, regardless of religion, race, or relationship to a Freemason. While not all Masons are Shriners, all Shriners are Masons, and Shriners hospitals are one of their significant service projects.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nature of Association | Shriners International is a fraternity based on fun, fellowship, and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth. |
| History | In 1870, a group of Masons met regularly for lunch at the Knickerbocker Cottage in New York City and discussed forming a new fraternity. In 1872, Dr. Walter Fleming and Billy Florence founded the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S.), now Shriners International. |
| Membership | Membership is open to men who have been initiated as Master Masons in a Masonic rite. Various partner organizations accept women and youth. |
| Religious Affiliation | The Shrine is not a religion or religious group. Its only religious requirement is indirect: all Shriners must be Masons, and petitioners to Freemasonry must profess a belief in a Supreme Being. |
| Charitable Works | Shriners Hospitals for Children is the charitable arm of the Shrine, with 22 hospitals in the US, Mexico, and Canada. They deal with all pediatric cases, especially orthopedic injuries, diseases, and burns. |
| Catholic Church's Stance | The Catholic Church has not formally pronounced on financially supporting Shriners hospitals. However, the Church has stated that Catholics may not become Shriners or members of Masonic societies, under pain of excommunication. |
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What You'll Learn
- Shriners Hospitals are a philanthropic endeavour of the Masons
- Shriners Hospitals were founded in 1922 to treat young victims of polio
- Shriners are a fraternity based on fun, fellowship, and Masonic principles
- Shriners are Masons, but not all Masons are Shriners
- Catholics are forbidden from joining Masonic societies, including the Shriners
Shriners Hospitals are a philanthropic endeavour of the Masons
The Shriners often participate in local parades, sometimes with elaborate units of miniature vehicles, "oriental bands" dressed in cartoonish versions of Middle Eastern attire, and floats with huge inflatable balloons. Their distinctive red hats, known as fezzes, are also a notable part of their parades. Shriners International provides unique opportunities for philanthropy, and its members have contributed significantly to the Shriners Children's healthcare system through volunteering and fundraising activities.
The relationship between the Catholic Church and Shriners Hospitals is complex. While the Church has not formally pronounced on financially supporting Shriners hospitals, it has repeatedly stated that Catholics may not become Shriners or members of Masonic societies under pain of excommunication. Freemasonry is at odds with Catholicism, and one of Masonry's historical objectives has been to destroy the Catholic Church. However, some Catholics may counter that they would only financially support Shriners hospitals to aid the Masons' care of disabled children, not to advance the mission of Masonry.
Notable American Shriners have included FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, actors Mel Blanc, John Wayne, Ernest Borgnine, and Roy Rogers, Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, General Douglas MacArthur, and Presidents Harry Truman and Gerald Ford. Shriners International has a global presence, with over 200,000 members worldwide and partner organizations that accept women and youth.
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Shriners Hospitals were founded in 1922 to treat young victims of polio
Shriners Hospitals, commonly known as Shriners Children's, is a network of non-profit children's hospitals and other paediatric medical facilities across North America. The original Shriners Children's hospital was opened in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1922. Shriners Hospitals were founded to provide specialty medical care to children, regardless of their families' ability to pay or insurance status.
In the early 1900s, polio affected thousands of people annually in the United States, especially children. The need for paediatric orthopaedic services was great, and Shriners Hospitals were founded to treat young victims of polio and to help with the effects of the disease, including conditions affecting the bones, joints, and muscles. The first patient admitted to the Shreveport hospital in 1922 was a little girl with a clubfoot who had learned to walk on the top of her foot.
Over time, Shriners Children's became one of the largest paediatric sub-specialty healthcare systems in the world, with multiple locations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The organisation broadened its scope to treat a wide range of paediatric orthopaedic conditions, including clubfoot, hip disorders, limb deficiencies, scoliosis, and more. Shriners Hospitals also began to offer services beyond orthopaedics, including burn care, craniofacial treatments, spine care, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, and sports medicine.
Shriners Hospitals are owned and operated by Shriners International, formally known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Shriners International is a fraternity based on Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth. All Shriners are Masons, and Shriners Hospitals are one of their significant philanthropic endeavours and service projects. Shriners have a long history of philanthropic work, including aiding victims of natural disasters, floods, and epidemics.
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Shriners are a fraternity based on fun, fellowship, and Masonic principles
Shriners International, also known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S.), is a fraternity based on fun, fellowship, and Masonic principles. It was founded in 1872 by Dr. Walter Fleming and Billy Florence, following discussions among a group of Masons who regularly met for lunch in New York City. They envisioned a new fraternity for Masons that would be rooted in Masonic principles while incorporating elements of fun and fellowship.
The Masonic principles that form the foundation of Shriners International include brotherly love, relief, and truth. These principles guide the organization's commitment to brotherhood, compassion, and service to others. Shriners International is composed of Master Masons, and membership is open to men who have been initiated as Master Masons in a Masonic rite.
The Shriners are known for their colourful parades, distinctive red hats called fezzes, and their dedication to philanthropy. Their charitable arm, Shriners Hospitals for Children, was established in 1922 and has since become a prominent healthcare system for children. These hospitals are located in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, providing care for pediatric cases, especially orthopedic injuries, diseases, and burns.
The Shriners Hospitals have received significant financial support, with an operating budget of $616 million in 2006. This includes funds allocated for research, construction, and renovation. The organization has spent approximately $7.6 billion on operating expenses and over $1.73 billion on construction and renovation over its history.
The Shriners' association with Freemasonry is well-established, and all Shriners are Masons. However, it is important to note that not all Masons are Shriners. Shriners International is an appendant body within Freemasonry, offering unique opportunities for fun, fellowship, and philanthropy that may not be as prevalent in other Masonic organizations.
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Shriners are Masons, but not all Masons are Shriners
Shriners International, also known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, is a fraternity based on fun, fellowship, and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth. It was founded in 1872 by a group of Masons who regularly met for lunch in New York City. Today, there are more than 200,000 Shriners worldwide.
The Shriners Hospitals for Children is the charitable arm of Shriners International. It is a network of 22 hospitals in the United States, Mexico, and Canada that provides pediatric care, especially for orthopedic injuries, diseases, and burns. The Shriners Hospitals have spent approximately $7.6 billion on operations and over $1.73 billion on construction and renovation in their 84-year history.
The Catholic Church has not formally pronounced on financially supporting Shriners Hospitals. However, the Church has stated that Catholics may not become Shriners or members of Masonic societies under pain of excommunication due to Freemasonry's problematic religious aspects and historical opposition to the Catholic Church. Despite its Arabic theme, the Shrine is not connected to Islam and is not a religious group. Its only religious requirement is that all Shriners must be Masons, and petitioners must profess a belief in a Supreme Being.
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Catholics are forbidden from joining Masonic societies, including the Shriners
The Catholic Church has long held that Catholics are forbidden from becoming members of Masonic societies, including the Shriners. This prohibition has been reaffirmed by the Vatican on several occasions, most recently in 2023. The Church's stance is based on the belief that Masonic principles are incompatible with Catholic doctrine and that Freemasonry denies revelation and objective truth. The Church also alleges that Freemasonry is inherently opposed to the Church, claiming secret knowledge and rites that are inaccessible to non-members.
Shriners International is a fraternity based on Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth. While not all Masons are Shriners, all Shriners are indeed Masons. Thus, a man must become a Master Mason before becoming a Shriner. The Shriners were founded in 1872 by a group of Masons who sought to create a new fraternity based on the fundamentals of Masonry but with added elements of fun and fellowship.
The Catholic Church's prohibition against joining Masonic societies extends to the Shriners, as they are considered a Masonic group. The Church has stated that Catholics who become Shriners or members of other Masonic societies are in a state of grave sin and may be excommunicated. This stance has been a source of confusion for some Catholics, especially after the 1983 revision of the Code of Canon Law, which removed the explicit mention of Freemasonry and the penalty of automatic excommunication.
Despite the lack of explicit mention in the 1983 Code of Canon Law, the Church has consistently maintained its ban on Catholics joining Masonic groups. The Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) has reaffirmed this position, stating that active membership in Freemasonry by Catholics is forbidden. The Church encourages Catholics to support Catholic hospitals that provide care for seriously disabled children instead of donating to Shriners Hospitals, as this would support the Church's mission in general.
In summary, Catholics are forbidden from joining Masonic societies, including the Shriners, due to the inherent incompatibility between Masonic principles and Catholic doctrine. The Church considers Freemasonry to be opposed to the Church and threatening to its teachings. While the Shriners focus on fun, fellowship, and philanthropy, their foundation is built on Masonic principles, which the Catholic Church deems unacceptable for its followers.
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Frequently asked questions
No, there is never any charge for treatment at a Shriners Hospital.
No, there is no requirement for patients to have any relationship to a Freemason. The only requirements are that patients must be under the age of 18 and treatable.
Yes, Shriners International is a fraternity based on Masonic principles. All Shriners are Masons, but not all Masons are Shriners. Shriners Hospitals are one of the Masons' big service projects.
Shriners hold parades as a way to stand out from other organisations. They are known for introducing cars, motorcycles, mini-bikes, go-karts, and tiny cars into their parades.
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