What’s the point of Shriner membership? Is there a mission statement of some kind? When did it become a good idea to ride motorcycles in figure-eights over (crowded) parade routes?
Thanks,
bp
Shriners Hospitalsfor Children is a network of pediatric specialty hospitals, founded by the Shrine, where children under the age of 18 receive excellent medical care absolutely free of charge. There are 18 orthopaedic Shriners Hospitals, three Shriners Hospitals dedicated to treating children with severe burns, and one Shriners Hospital that provides orthopaedic, burn and spinal cord injury care. Shriners Hospitals are located throughout North America — 20 in the United States and one each in Mexico and Canada.
You could always ask the Shriners themselves.
My father and my grandfather were Shriners and they would drive their little cars in parades.
To become a Shriner, one must have Master Mason degree in Freemasonry. So, the Shriners are a form of Freemasons.
Before the parades, all the little car drivers would gather around 5 a.m. and get get drunk. These guys liked to drink.
Here’s a little more clarity. The Shrine was started as a social club made up of 32nd degree Masons. Some rather silly initiation rituals developed, centered around pseudo-arab mumbo-jumbo and comedy. A Shrine Temple is a temple in name only. Aside from an occasional opening prayer, no religion happens there. Each Temple has several units, smaller clubs of men of similar interests; guys with motorcycles, guys with antique cars, guys with banjos, guys with horses, and even guys who are hillbillies.
Unlike the basic Masonic lodges and the York Rite and Scottish Rite lodges, the Shrine allows alcohol. You can buy a drink at a Shrine Temple.