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37-616: The Tripoli Shrine Temple is a Shriners temple built 1926-28 in the Concordia neighborhood of Milwaukee, Wisconsin . The building's design incorporates Moorish and Indian elements, somewhat resembling the Taj Mahal in India, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Tripoli Temple . It is not a religious building. The Tripoli Shrine was founded in 1885 by nobles from

74-536: A Middle Eastern theme and soon established Temple, although the term Temple has now been replaced by Shrine Auditorium or Shrine Center. The first Temple established was Mecca Temple, established at the New York City Masonic Hall on September 26, 1872. Fleming was the first potentate. In 1875, there were 43 Shriners in the organization. To encourage membership, the Imperial Grand Council of

111-946: A board of directors . However, Shriners International has no connection with the region nor with Islam. Previously known as Shriners North America , the fraternity adopted its current name in 2010 in recognition of its increasingly global membership; as of 2024, there are Shrine Centers in Canada (since 1888), Mexico (1907) and Panama (1918), Puerto Rico, the Philippines (2010), Germany (2011), Brazil (2015) and Bolivia (2018). Notable American Shriners include 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 Gerald Ford and Harry Truman . In 1870, there were several thousand Freemasons in Manhattan , many of whom lunched at

148-586: A Shriners van to transport sick children to Shriner hospitals. By 2011, Shriners removed much of the Middle Eastern theming, both locally and within the broader organization. This was in continued response to "the events of Sept. 11, 2001 and subsequent military conflicts." Changes included renaming the organization from "Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine" to "Shriners International;" renaming

185-494: A direct-mail company indirectly linked to Gene Bracewell, the imperial treasurer of the fraternal organization. McGonigal said he did not hire the company because of its ties to a financial company that had performed poorly in previous dealings. The committee found that Semb and Bracewell had violated the organizations' conflict of interest policy and their ethics code and recommended that Semb and Bracewell be reprimanded. The report included accusations of financial improprieties within

222-631: A lawsuit against the Oleika Shrine Temple in Lexington, Kentucky , for hazing practices to which he said he was subjected in his efforts to become a Shriner. In court, Vaughan told jurors that in June 1989, he was blindfolded and received a jolt of electricity that was applied to his bare buttocks as part of the Shriners' initiation rites. He said he was forced to walk on an electric mat that was meant to simulate

259-466: A local black order for infringement of white Shriners regalia and traditions. The white order was initially successful in quashing the black temple until the ruling was overturned in appeals in 1929, protecting the right of black Shriners to continue practicing and fundraising nationwide. The Worldwide Fraternal Shrine Family counts 35,000 members in 227 shrines, with its own women's auxiliary organizations. Their primary recipients of charitable donations are

296-547: A musical comedy. At its conclusion, the guests became members of a secret society. Florence took notes and drawings at his initial viewing and on two other occasions, once in Algiers and once in Cairo . When he returned to New York in 1870, he showed his material to Fleming. Fleming created the ritual, emblem and costumes. Florence and Fleming were initiated August 13, 1870, and they initiated 11 men on June 16, 1871. The group adopted

333-584: A network of 22 healthcare facilities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. In June 1920, the Imperial Council Session voted to establish a Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children to treat orthopedic injuries and conditions, diseases, burns, spinal cord injuries, and birth defects, such as cleft lip and palate, in children. The first hospital opened in 1922 in Shreveport, Louisiana . By the end of

370-562: A time in Portland, moved to Newark , then to Canandaigua and finally to Rochester. He graduated from Albany Medical College in 1862. He had practised before graduating and was surgeon to the 1st Cavalry Regiment in 1858, surgeon to the 13th New York Infantry Regiment in 1861, and for a time city physician for Rochester. He moved with his family to New York City in 1869. He entered active general practice and became associated with St Francis Hospital , later practicing extensively among members of

407-648: A yearly Shrine Circus as a fundraiser. Once a year, the fraternity meets for the Imperial Session in a North American city. In 2008, an investigative committee established by the joint boards of the Shriners of North America fraternity and the Shriners Hospitals for Children found that Ralph Semb, chairman of the Shriners Hospitals Board of Trustees, had unilaterally tried to fire fund-raising executive Edgar McGonigal. McGonigal had declined to hire

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444-567: Is open to men who have been initiated as Master Masons in a Masonic rite ; various partner organizations accept women and youth. Shriners are obliged to uphold the fraternity's mission and values, which include self-improvement, service and leadership to the community, and active involvement in social and philanthropic causes. Shriners International is recognizable for its Middle Eastern-inspired iconography, ceremonies, and motif: Shriners wear distinctive red fezzes as their official headgear, while fraternal regalia often features camels, pyramids,

481-523: Is related to a Shriner or Master Mason by birth or marriage. The latter organization has local branches called "Temples," and there were ten of these in 1922. Among the famous members of the Daughters of the Nile was First Lady Florence Harding , wife of Warren G. Harding . By 1938 there were about 340,000 members in the United States. That year, Life published photographs of the Shriners' rites. It described

518-672: The Alhambra . Architect Gulzar Haider was "fascinated" by its design, but criticized the "insensitive and callous misuse of another religion’s artistic vocabulary and symbolic grammar," claiming it was part of the "'oriental obsession' of the otherwise ' puritanical ' Europeans and Americans." Musicians who have performed at the Syria Mosque include Bruce Springsteen , Louis Armstrong , Bob Dylan , Pink Floyd , Jimmy Buffett , and The Beach Boys . Political event hosts included Reagan , Nixon , Truman , and Kennedy . Despite efforts to conserve

555-562: The Medinah Temple in Chicago , a fraternal order that traces its lineage to a Masonic lodge established in 1843 by early settlers of Milwaukee. This lodge later founded a dozen other lodges. Tripoli Temple was designed by architects Alfred Clas and Shepard in Moorish Revival style. Built at a cost of $ 616,999.61, it formally opened on May 14, 1928 after over two years of construction. It

592-723: The NAACP , the National Urban League , the UNCF , and various hospitals and universities. In 1911, the Syria Mosque was completed in Pittsburgh and inaugurated in 1916. This 3,700-seat performance venue, originally for Shriners, later became significant as the "birthplace of network television." An example of Exotic Revival architecture , it was never used as a mosque but featured religious Arabic iconography and inscriptions, partly based on

629-1002: The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles ; the former Mecca Temple, now called New York City Center and used primarily as a concert hall; Newark Symphony Hall ; the Landmark Theater (formerly The Mosque) in Richmond, Virginia ; the Tripoli Shrine Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin ; the Polly Rosenbaum Building (formerly the El Zaribah Shrine Auditorium) in Phoenix; the Helena Civic Center (Montana) (formerly

666-614: The "Arabic Patrol" to "The Patrol" and removing the word Syria from Syria Shriners vanity plates. Despite these changes, the Illustrious Potentate of Pittsburgh's Syria Shrine chapter stated that "pretty much all non-atheists are welcome, including Muslims." Historically, a Mason had to complete either the Scottish Rite or York Rite systems to be eligible for membership in the Shrine. In 1991, brick-mason Michael G. Vaughan filed

703-737: The Algeria Shrine Temple); Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque in Springfield, Missouri ; Murat Shrine Temple (now Old National Center ) in Indianapolis; the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia , which was jointly built between the Atlanta Shriners and movie mogul William Fox ; and the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania . The Shrine's charitable arm is the Shriners Hospitals for Children,

740-552: The Ancient Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America was created at the June 6, 1876 meeting of Mecca Temple. Fleming was elected the first imperial potentate. By 1878, there were 425 members in 13 temples in eight states, and by 1888, there were 7,210 members in 48 temples in the United States and Canada. By the Imperial Session held in Washington, D.C. in 1900, there were 55,000 members and 82 Temples. Historically,

777-643: The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has staged protests during circus performances, expressing concern over the poor treatment animals receive in the care of the companies that the Shriners lease from, such as Carson & Barnes. The Pittsburgh Shrine Circus stopped using animals in 2019, and the Moolah Shrine Circus in Missouri stopped using elephants in 2023. Walter M. Fleming Walter Millard Fleming (June 13, 1838 – September 9, 1913)

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814-514: The Knickerbocker Cottage at a special table on the second floor. There, the idea of a new fraternity for Masons, stressing fun and fellowship, was discussed. Together, Walter M. Fleming and William J. Florence established a separate fellowship to fulfill those ideals. While on tour in Marseille , Florence, an actor, was invited to a party given by an Arab diplomat. The entertainment was

851-419: The Shrine was open to only white men. In 1893, a black counterpart to the Shriners movement was initiated by John G. Jones and other Prince Hall masons , initially called The Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine of North and South America and Its Jurisdictions. Early in the group's history, there was legal conflict between the white and black orders, with a white order from Texas filing suit against

888-547: The Shriners as being the first in prestige, wealth and show among secret societies, and that Shriners organizations typically include a town's most prominent citizens. In 2002, following the September 11 attacks , the "faux-Middle Eastern practices and trappings" led Shriners to be "mistaken for a Muslim organization, leading to harassment and vandalism." This included threatening phone calls and harassment of Rhode Island Shriners (formerly known as Palestine Temple Shriners) driving

925-568: The Sphinx and other ancient Egyptian and Arabian symbols. The headquarters of local chapters, formally known as Shrine Centers, are sometimes called "Temples" or even "Mosques"; most have names such as Egypt, Sahara, Morocco, and Oasis, and many are built in the Moorish Revival style. The organization is governed by the " Imperial Divan "—referring to the traditional government councils of the Near East—composed of 12 "Imperial Officers" who serve as

962-600: The annual East–West Shrine Game , a college football all-star game. The Shriners originally hosted a golf tournament in association with singer/actor Justin Timberlake , called the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, a PGA Tour golf tournament played in Las Vegas , Nevada . The relationship between Timberlake and the Shriners ended in 2012, when the Shriners reported that Timberlake

999-524: The building as a historic landmark, the Syria Mosque was torn down in 1991. The Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America was founded in 1903 in Wheeling, West Virginia , and the Daughters of the Nile was founded in 1913 in Seattle , Washington. Both are for women only and they support the Shriners Hospitals and promote sociability. Membership in either organization is open to any woman 18 years of age and older who

1036-426: The decade 13 more hospitals were operational. Any child under the age of 18 can be admitted to the hospital if a doctor determines the child can be treated. There is no requirement for religion, race or relationship to a Shriner. Until June 2012, all care at Shriners Hospitals was provided without charge to patients and their families. At that time, because the size of their endowment had decreased due to losses in

1073-506: The hot sands of the Sahara, and that he was knocked unconscious and received other injuries during his initiation. Vaughan said the initiation left him humiliated and embarrassed, and caused him to suffer anxiety, nightmares, and a sleep disorder. After two hours of deliberation, the jury rejected the claim. Some of the earliest Shrine Centers often chose a Moorish Revival style for their Temples. Architecturally notable Shriners Temples include:

1110-499: The organization, including not reporting benefits Shriners leaders received as income and knowingly filing incorrect tax forms for the hospitals. Other Shriners came forward with additional complaints, including the mixing of charitable and noncharitable assets and the disappearance of money raised for the hospitals. Shriners International has drawn criticism from animal welfare organizations for allowing member clubs to host circuses featuring animals. Since approximately 2013, People for

1147-421: The stock market, Shriners Hospitals started billing patients' insurance companies, but continued to offer free care to children without insurance. Shriners hospitals waive all costs insurance does not cover. Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Shriners Hospitals for Children are located in these cities : *This location is an outpatient, ambulatory care center. Shriners host

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1184-576: The structure and is flanked by two smaller domes of like design. Sculptures depicting a pair of kneeling camels grace the entrance, while the interior is decorated with ceramic tile of intricate floral designs and plaster lattice work. Shriners Shriners International describes itself as a global fraternity "based on fun, fellowship, and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth". As an appendant body within Freemasonry , membership

1221-663: The theatrical profession and was one of the first physicians associated with the Actors Fund of America . He joined the National Guard in 1870 and was staff surgeon of the Third Brigade with the rank of colonel, becoming major before retiring about 1885 or 1886. He stopped practicing in April 1909 after suffering a stroke and eventually retired to his elder son's home in Mt. Vernon, N.Y. Fleming

1258-611: Was an American physician and surgeon. Fleming was the founder, with Billy Florence , of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in 1872. Fleming was born in Portland, Maine . He was the second son of Lorenzo Dow Fleming, then a clergyman and later a physician practising in Canandaigua and Rochester , and Margaretta Rich. Fleming's grandfather, brother, sister and brother-in-law were also physicians. He lived for

1295-532: Was interested in being involved with the organization only when television cameras were present. In July 2012, the PGA Tour and Shriners Hospitals for Children announced a five-year title sponsorship extension, carrying the commitment to the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open through 2017. The name was changed to The Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and is played in Las Vegas, Nevada. Many Shrine Centers also hold

1332-495: Was the first temple in Wisconsin , and was home to 13,000 Shriners in the area. The building is one of the best of examples of Moorish Revival architecture in the United States, a style that was particularly popular for synagogues and movie theaters. The Temple's design is loosely based on the Taj Mahal , with the addition of Mudéjar style polychrome stone coursing. An ornately tiled main dome that spans 30 feet in diameter crowns

1369-483: Was very active in Freemasonry . He was a member of N. Y. Lodge, No. 330; Lafayette Chapter, No. 207; Adelphic Council, No. 7; Past Eminent Commander Columbian Commandery, No. I and was made a thirty-third degree Mason in 1878. Fleming was, with Billy Florence , founder of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in 1872. He was potentate of the first temple (Mecca) for seventeen years and Imperial potentate of

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