of course...
Posted on 08/25/2006 3:31:29 PM PDT by churchillbuff
[John] Wayne, arguably the No. 1 all-time cinema hero, bought into the most valuable tenets of the Shriners' fun brand of freemasonry – friendship, morality and brotherly love.
Who wouldn't want to join a fraternity with tenets like those? Apparently, a lot of us these days don't.
In 1975, the same year Universal Pictures released "Rooster Cogburn," the Shriners opened Afifi Shrine Temple next to the Scottish Rite Temple, on nearly 20 acres in Tacoma's West End.
They needed more space to accommodate a growing membership that numbered roughly 8,700 Afifi Shriners plus their circus calliope, old clown jalopies, parade floats and Oriental band equipment.
Today, the two fraternal organizations have put their remaining 10 acres and two temples up for sale. Asking price: $7.6 million.
The state's oldest Shriners organization, founded in 1889, has gotten old and irrelevant to younger generations.
(Excerpt) Read more at thenewstribune.com ...
Scottish Rite runs speech and hearing centers.
Shriners own and operate 22 hospitals in North America that provide free care – primarily orthopedic and burn treatment – for children. They raise money with a circus and an annual college football all-star game. The Afifis feature a traveling troupe of award-winning clowns.
"We don't understand why someone wouldn't want to be part of this philanthropy," Nau said.
In an upper room at the temple, you'll see old black-and-white panoramic photos featuring hundreds of Shriners gathered at woodland picnics in the late 1800s and clad in Oriental-themed uniforms at civic parades in the 1920s and 1930s.
Shriners and Scottish Rites also maintain the rituals, passwords and gradual advancement to higher and higher Masonic degrees.
Perhaps the slow, progressive nature of that advancement turns off younger generations interested in more instant gratification and quick leadership opportunities.
Before Bede could become a Shriner, for example, he first had to join the Scottish Rite and advance to what's called the 32nd degree. That rule changed, however, in 2000 when Shriners started accepted third-degree master masons as a way to make membership easier.
It hasn't attracted enough new recruits in Tacoma to hang onto the 31-year-old temple.
By my generation Shriners (and all those types of organizations) are primarily associated with old guys wearing goofy hats. I know there's a lot more to it than that but honestly I wouldn't even consider joining any of them until after I retire.
Do they accept Catholics?
How the mighty have fallen.
That is hooey! One "Reunion" class lasting a day and you go from third degree to 32nd degree Mason and becoming a Shriner is another day. It is not much trouble at all.
Fraternal organizations in general have diminished over the years and Masonry is also affected. I don't know why that is the case but it definitely is true.
YES
I like the mumbo-jumbo and secret handshake thing, but what I'm really holding out for is an offer of a really keen decoder ring for understanding life, the universe and everthing else.
All sorts of old organizations are struggling to find new members.
After the break-ups of ethnic neighborhoods, th ebuilding of sprawling suburbs, the dying out of the WWII generation which so strongly supported volunteerism and fraternity there just aren't many people interested in joining these fraternal organizations (masonic or otherwise).
If the Shriners and Masons want new younger members, maybe they should talk to younger men about who they are, what they do, etc. I don't think most people have a clue - I don't aside from what I've seen on the History channel.
All the hospital stuff for the kids - free.
Sad to see this happen.
I'm not a member but I don't think they have any restrictions on Catholics as members; I think, however, that the Church used to discourage membership in the Masons or the Shriners, which I believe is an offshoot of same.
As Vladimir998 said (just above) - I don't think people join things much anymore...churches, civic clubs, political parties.
In my neighborhood, we are all very friendly, wave, speak to each other when walking or jogging, but when we come home, we hit the open button on the garage door, drive in and settle in for the night.
Not much joining or mixing...
There's a major turnoff right there.
I have watched this trend for years. The people on the left of the political spectrum are joiners. The people on the right side of political spectrum are not. Maybe it is because of the belief in self-reliance on the right. In any case, it has allowed the left to take over many organizations...and let other wither on the vine. I don't think we, as a society, are better for it.
of course...
then you'll wait a long time, cause nobody, will ever ask you to become a Mason... you have to seek out a Mason and ASK to join. that's just the way it is.
ping the list.
Fraternal organizations in the past were a regular way for guys to get away from the chaos of wife and kids and do a good deed at the same time. There weren't that many options for guys who wanted that experience back in the day. Now there are a million other things to do instead of join a lodge. In addition,televisions and home video players, central heat/air, rear-entry garages, and probably other factors have contributed to an atomized society that doesn't join much anymore. Men in this country suffer for that loss, most without even knowing what they're missing.
Well, they really need to advertise better if they want a new crop of future poobahs. Maybe if they offered premiums like a decoder ring for a basic membership, a devine helmet of cosmic understanding for intermediate membership and an open Senate seat for the deluxe world-wide conspiracy membership.
So... Membership in fraternal organizations declining. Men hit hardest.
Is there anyone here who could shed some light on this topic?
Therefore the Church's negative judgment in regard to Masonic association remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and therefore membership in them remains forbidden. The faithful who enrol in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.
Which one do you think young people of today are most attracted? That was the impetus of the article, unless I missed something?
i would rather see every Lodge in the USA die out and close from lack of membership, than admit the likes of those that don't deserve to be there...
MR. WIGGIN: Yes, well, that's the sort of blinkered, philistine pig ignorance I've come to expect from you non-creative garbage. You sit there on your loathsome, spotty behinds squeezing blackheads, not caring a tinker's cuss for the struggling artist. You excrement! You whining, hypocritical toadies, with your colour TV sets and your Tony Jacklin golf clubs and your bleeding Masonic secret handshakes! You wouldn't let me join, would you, you blackballing bastards! Well, I wouldn't become a freemason now if you went down on your lousy, stinking knees and begged me!
CITY GENT #2: Well, we're sorry you feel like that, but we, um, did... want... a block of flats. Nice, though, the abattoir is. Huh huh.
MR. WIGGIN: Oh, p-p-p-p the abattoir.
(He dashes forward and kneels in front of them.)
That's not important, but if one of you could put in a word for me, I'd love to be a freemason. Freemasonry opens doors. I mean, um, I-- I was a bit on edge just now, but-- but if I was a mason, I'd just sit at the back and not get in anyone's way.
CITY GENT #1: Thank you.
MR. WIGGIN: I've got a second-hand apron.
CITY GENT #2: Thank you.
(Mr. Wiggin hurries to the door but stops...)
MR. WIGGIN: I nearly got in at Hendon.
CITY GENT #1: Thank you.
http://www.ibras.dk/montypython/episode17.htm#2
Online communities are a different kind of "joining" these days. Is FR a "virtual" Rotary Club?
Sorry. It was a joke.
The Masons have not historically been interested in large memberships; they do not recruit. In the past, most new members came from their association with the Masonic youth organizations: Order of Demolay for young men, and Rainbow Girls and Jobs Daughters for young ladies. US military members have also been admitted to the brotherhood in large numbers. US Masonic organizations have a much more universal membership than the European groups.
The Shriners are the most visible of the Masonic organizations with their philanthropic Shrine Circus, parade participations, and Shriners Hospitals. Thay also like to party, thus the Red Fez convention jokes.
These days, there are enough ignoramouses to go around! It's sometimes confusing to my simple mind!!!
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Apparently some Islamics dislike the Masons...that's a plus for Masons in my book.
And the Shriners by association.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3548433.stm
Daddy got his white hat the same night as Audy Murphy and Roy Rogers.
:-)
don't forget the... 
coool...
Gubmint skoolz have taught the sheeple that this type of activity is best left to the professionals, namely the gubmint. Youz can't professionalize unless you governmentize.
Yes, they do. But the Catholic church is against Catholics joining the Masons.
IMHO, muc of the resources individuals used to have...both of time and money...are gone..into taxation for programs designed to replace individual philanthropy with government panaceas....
People don't want a part of the Shriners because the expect the government to take care of it instead.
Beginning with those born in the '70s, children began to no longer just "play"; their "FREE TIME" was scheduled, games were organized, and due to things like 24 hour T.V., VCRs, DVDS, the computer, play-stations, gameboys, and the like, people are now more and more isolated from one another.
The Masons and the Shriners are organizations that require memorization and time. Fewer and fewer people are willing to give the time and effort it takes to be an active member of anything.
How many people spend hours on FR, but don't ever do a damned thing to actually DO something, other than plant a lawn sign in their yard, to promote their supposed political goals? If they can't be bothered to even stuff envelopes or man a telephone bank, when politics is supposedly SOOOOOOOOOOOOO "important" to them, then it's little wonder that they can't be bothered to do charity work and engage in social fellowship, either.
Exactly so.
The Shriners wear many different kinds of costumes., when they are in parades and/or perform. It's their way to raise money and give others a great time. Wearing a clown suit is NOT a requirement and most Shriners don't.
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