My father was a Mason and then a Shriner and took part in many rituals, parades and other events. Masons and Shriners are exceptional people, if you are unfamiliar with those organizations then please visit Shriners International. There you can learn their rich history. Born with clubfoot, I learned very early how the Shriners and Masons provide love and medical help for children of the world. My father was not in the Masonic Order of Freemasons at the time of my birth, and I do not know exactly when he joined. But I can say that he spoke little of what it took to join or the steps taken to become the Master Mason in the Freemasonry Fraternity, allowing him to join the Shriners. He did speak of many wonderful acts of the Masons and Shriners. He often participated in the parades and other events. Standing on a street corner, or an exit ramp collecting funds during a funds raising drive.
The Shriners, a close nit group has for many years raised money to build hospitals around the world as well as other projects. Men from all walks of life are in the Masons and Shriners. Children without the means to have the medical treatment they need are admitted into a Shriners hospital for free treatment. The first Shriners Hospital was started in 1922 in Shreveport La. Shrines sever on the board of trustees without pay. Amazingly 835,000 children have been treated at 22 hospitals.
I am really ashamed that I did not join the Masonic Lodge after all I would not be able to walk if not for that marvelous organization. There are approximately 400,000 Shriners now. In being a Mason and Shriner my father went to meetings, gaining degrees in each group took months or years. The hats or Fez has a rich history and symbolic meaning as do the tools most often seen the square and compass. Dad as he gained in levels or degrees received the right to bear rings or fezzes that were given as gifts by my family to dad for his accomplishments within the Masons and Shriners. I loved the fezzes as they were colorful, bright red with gems, beautiful stones all over.
My dad was remarkable in his profession as a machinist and most other things he tried. Building on to our home, repairing anything such as automobiles, farm equipment was easy to him. Although I cannot speak of the steps he took in becoming a Master Mason and Shriners but he was proud of each step and being a Shriner and Mason was considered by him his greatest accomplishment after his children. He took great pride in the parades, walking behind the horses with a shovel or carrying a flag. As far as I remember he never drove the cars or motorcycles as it took a lot of training and practice.
The orthopedic work being done was just not enough for the Shriners and they got into the burn treatment research as well. Shriners opened burn hospitals in 1960. In 1967 the orthopedic research budget was $20,000 today the total annual research budget is approximately 37 million. Hospitals in many cities provided by the Shriners some locations are: Canada, Mexico, Houston, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Erie, Lexington, Las Angeles, Honolulu. I was treated in Atlanta’s Shriners Hospital. Next time you see a Shriner collecting money think about all the kids they have provided medical help for and give them a donation if only a little pocket change.
