Okay, so I see these guys referenced in pop culture, and, occasionally, their own philanthropic announcements. Who are the Shriners? What do they do? Why do they do it? How does one become a Shriner? Google searches have turned up very little, mostly scraps about “fraternities” and “Knights Templar.”
Also, what’s up with the fezzes, mustaches and tiny cars? Creepy, I tell you.
Oh, some other sorta-related info can be found gere, for the curious:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=150036&highlight=shriners
They are a secret group of high-ranking Masons that use various charity organizations as a front to hide their secret control of many of the worlds governments, in conjunction with the Illuminati, The Artic Nazi’s,the Trilateral Commision, the Gray Aliens, some of the Great Old Ones, The World Zionist Conspiracy, and Amway. Note that they are opposed by the Reptaloid Aliens (of which the Queen of England is actually one of in diguse.) , the Catholic Church, The International Union of Mad Scientists, Sanrio, Majestic-12, and some other Great Old Ones, including myself. Stay away from them if you can.
Gosh, I just LIVE for the Annual Shriner Question!
The Shrine was founded in 1920-something in New York as a result of a drunken party in France. The party was done up in a North African theme and the two guys thought “Gee we should do this back at home.”
And so Mecca Shrine Number One in New York was born. Only Master Masons who are also members of the Scottish or York Rites can join. They are the fun part of Masonry. They also tended to get a little out of hand sometimes.
Throwing water balloons off the Shrine temples and going through the streets yelling “Daily Paper” while trying to sell TP were classic gags.
Anyway to clean up their image, in they began a series of hospitals for crippled children. In those days “crippled” meant “polio.”
When the Saulk Vaccine came around, the hospitals turned to the Number Two Crippler of Children, which is…
(OK how many guessed burn injuries?)
The hospitals, now about thirty of them lead the way in burn research. Still the hospitals are able to handle most childhood injuries. There is no needs, or race or religion test. Relationship to a Shriner doesn’t matter.
Treatment is free to all who are under the age of 18 and who can be helped.
Transportation to the hospitals for evaluation and treatment is also free.
Please note this number. Remember how grateful a young mother can be.
(Any other questions?)
The Knights Templars play prominently in Masonic lore. Freemasons like to play up the legend that they actually evolved from them.
The Knights Templar were a religious military order whose original mission was to keep safe the passage to the holy lands during the crusades. This would include financing operations. By the time the crusades faded away they had amassed considerable wealth, and provided a useful function as bankers and financiers. Their wealth made nobility envious, especially King Philip (the fair) of France, who also was very much in debt to the Templars. King Philip dissolved the Templars, executed its top leaders (remember Jacque DeMolay from Western Civ. 101?), and took its wealth.