# What do the Shriners do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 13, 2002, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-the-shriners-do/142430 "2002-12-13T04:31:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Copper\_Pin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Copper\_Pin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Copper_Pin)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-the-shriners-do/142430/1 "2002-12-13T04:31:16Z")
I drive past a Shriners temple every day on my way to work and it occurred to me that I have no idea what they do other than wear red fezzes and drive tiny cars in parades. 🙂 Seriously, I know they run a network of children’s hospitals, are they involved in other charity work? Are they a religious organization? What are the requirements to join the Shriners? ---
**Author:** ![SC\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-the-shriners-do/142430/2 "2002-12-13T04:47:29Z")
They’re the front organization for the Iluminati, the Secret Society that runs the world behind the scenes. Or was that the Masons? I always get the two mixed up. One’s a front for the Iluminati, the other’s a bunch of Satanaists. Oh and for the humor-impared: 🙂 🙂 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-the-shriners-do/142430/3 "2002-12-13T08:16:17Z")
[The Shrine of North America](http://www.shrinershq.org/index.html) > [@](#): > > The Shrine of North America is known for its colorful parades, circuses and clowns. But there is also a serious side to this international fraternity of approximately 525,000 men belonging to 191 Shrine Temples, or chapters, throughout North America. For 75 years, the Shrine has operated a network of specialized hospitals that treat children with orthopaedic problems, burns and spinal cord injuries, up to their 18th birthday, free of charge. [Membership Information](http://www.shrinershq.org/Shrine/membership.html) (Shriners must be Master [Masons](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_138.html)). ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-the-shriners-do/142430/4 "2002-12-13T14:47:56Z")
They shrine. Duh. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-the-shriners-do/142430/5 "2002-12-13T14:58:53Z")
I think some of them cam even use a [search engine](http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=shriner%5C) [Moderators notes on General Questions](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=149223) ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-the-shriners-do/142430/6 "2002-12-13T17:14:49Z")
The Shrine, like its lesser-known kin, the MOVPERs (anyone fromSaint Louis here?) is a club for Master Masons. The Shrine motto is “It is Fun to be a Shriner.” In the eraly days they were hard-drinking, hard-partying types. They got a bad rep and to improve their image they hit upon the idea of funding children’s hospitals. Now this international (OK, mostly North America) chain of hospitals will help any child who can be treated free of charge. They specialize in burned and crippled children. Their number is 800-237-5055. (Remember young mothers can be VERY grateful.) Write the number down. Anywho, the Shrine adopted an “Islamic Theme” for their costumes and cerremonies. Nowdays this seems very un-PC, but when the group was founded in the 1920s, nobody gave it a second thought. Need to know anything else?