![]() May the sun of good fellowship eternally shine So here’s to the fez and those who have worn it ![]() My Old Red FezĪre woven the friendships of many a year. Each fez is custom made, and a Shriner may own more than one fez depending on his activities and memberships. Look closely at a fez, and you will also learn other important information about its wearers, such as membership in Shrine clubs, specialized roles within the organization, and much more. Members customize their fez to show their allegiance to their Temple. Today the fez is worn at Shriners’ functions, in parades, and at outings as a way of gaining exposure for the fraternity. Much like the white apron worn by Masons as a symbol of their brotherhood, the fez is worn only by Shriners as a symbol of their membership in this unique fraternity. It also serves as an outward symbol of one’s membership in the fraternity. Named after the city of Fez, Morocco, the hat represented the Arabian theme the fraternity was founded on. The fez is one of the most recognizable symbols of Shriners International and was adopted as the Shriners’ official headgear in 1872. The emblem also bears the phrase “Robur et Furor,” which means “Strength and Fury.” The Fez The five-pointed star represents the thousands of children helped by the philanthropy each year. The sphinx stands for the governing body of the Shriners. The two claws are for the Shriners fraternity and its philanthropy. The scimitar stands for the backbone of the fraternity, its members. The emblem on the front of the fez, the crescent, and scimitar, is an integral part of the fraternity’s theme and is representative of the characteristics embodied by the Shriners. Today, Shriners International is a fraternity with almost 200 temples in several countries, thousands of clubs around the world, and hundreds of thousands of members dedicated to the principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth. In the early 1900s, membership spread into Canada, Mexico, and Panama. As word got out about the fledgling organization, membership grew rapidly, spreading across the U.S. ![]() The first meeting of Mecca Shriners, the first temple (chapter) established in the United States, was held on the 26th of September, 1872. With the help of the Knickerbocker Cottage regulars, Fleming drafted the ritual, designed the emblem and costumes, formulated a salutation, and declared that members would wear the red fez. Walter Fleming, a devoted fraternity brother, built on Florence’s ideas and used his knowledge of fraternal ritual to transform the Arabian theme into the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S.). The exotic style, flavors, and music of the Arabian-themed party inspired him to suggest this as a theme for the new fraternity. Fleming and Florence took this idea seriously enough to do something about it.īilly Florence had been on tour in France and had been invited to a party given by an Arabian diplomat. The group frequently talked about starting a new fraternity for Masons, one centered on fun and fellowship, more than ritual. At an exclusive table on the second floor, a particularly fun-loving group of men met regularly. In 1870 a group of Masons frequently gathered for lunch at the Knickerbocker Cottage on Sixth Avenue in New York City. Walter Fleming and William Florence in 1872 He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for both Shriners Hospitals for Children and Shriners International.Ī similar organizational structure is followed at the local level within each Temple around the world. He spends his year in office visiting many of the Shriner temples (chapters), attending regional meetings and visiting Shriners Hospitals for Children® locations. The Imperial Potentate is both the president and chief executive officer of Shriners International and is elected for a one-year term. The highest leadership position within Shriners International is Imperial Potentate. Each of them is elected to the lowest position on the Divan and moves up one position each year, with the exception of the Imperial Treasurer and Imperial Recorder. The governing body works as a corporate Board of Directors and consists of 12 officers. The Imperial Divan is the international governing body of Shriners International. About Us | Shriners International Organizational Overview
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