What is a Shriner?

What kind of organization attracts truck drivers, dentists, contractors, heads of state, movie stars, generals, clergymen and accountants? ( Four Presidents of the United States were Shriners.) What is the Shrine?

Someone might answer: "Oh yeah, Shriners are those guys who are always having those parades with the wild costumes and funny little cars." Another might think of Shrine circuses and Shrine clowns. The fellow next to them might interject, "No, Shriners are the guys who wear those funny hats-like flowerpots-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, and she can walk like anyone else thanks to Shriners Hospitals for Children.".

"Crippled children?" questions still another. "I thought Shriners ran those fantastic burns institutes. I've read stories about them saving kids with burns on 90 percent 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: Most are a 32" Mason through the Scottish Rite or a Knights Templar Mason through the York Rite.

There are approximately 634,000 Shriners who are members of 191 Shrine Temples throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Republic of Panama.