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A.E.A.O.N.M.S.
- Organization Information
PRINCE HALL SHRINEDOM embraces all of the basic
fundamental concepts of the Masonic Order, but is more colorful, with a
broader spectrum of visibility by the manner in which it dispenses
charity in the community, and the care for its own.
John George Jones, the founder, is said to have been introduced to the
ritualistic mysteries of the Order by one Ali Rofelt Pasha, Deputy and
representative from the Grand Council of Arabia, during the World's
Colombian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.
Shrinedom, because of its pageantry, has on occasions been referred to
as the "Display" House in Masonry, causing men to sometimes join the
prerequisite Houses solely with the intent on becoming a Shriner.
There are 224 Constituent Temples throughout the Imperial Domain (the
World), with a membership of over 25,000 - and growing.
Shrinedom is thought of as a Fraternal, Social, and Charitable
Organization: FRATERNAL in the sense of using passwords and symbols to
remind the members to ever strive for inner self-improvement; SOCIAL
from the standpoint of the enjoyment of good times within its own ranks;
and CHARITABLE for its unselfish giving of goods and services on both
the local and national level.
Heading the list of recipients is the NAACP, the Legal Defense Fund, the
Urban League, and United Negro College Fund, along with Annual Grants to
several institutions of higher learning and hospitals throughout the
land, for medical and other research projects.
Substantial grants are awarded to colleges annually to supplement the
education of economically deprived youth, along with a program of
financial aid to fight drugs, crime and delinquency. There is also a
national scholarship grant program for young ladies between the ages of
17 and 24 to attend colleges and universities of their choice. They also
strongly endorse the Assault on Illiteracy (AOIP), amid an engagement in
development programs with Third World Countries.
The Shrine Organization is 108 years old and takes great pride in its
Auxiliary, which is composed of wives, sisters, mothers and daughters of
the membership - officially styled, the Imperial Court Daughters of
Isis.
They are 90 years old and mirror, in some respect, the activities of the
parent body. Both share offices in the organization's Headquarters
Building located in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Shrine is headed by the Imperial Potentate, and the Daughters by the
Imperial Commandress. The red Fez is worn by the men and the white Fez
by the women, both of whom are community oriented - and definitely on
the move!
The Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles
Mystic Shrine of North and South America and Its Jurisdictions, Inc.
has a long and colorful history. The order was established as an
Imperial Council of Prince Hall Shriners on June 3, 1893, in
Chicago, Illinois, by 13 Prince Hall Masons under the leadership of
John George Jones. They met in the Apollo Hall on State Street where
Palestine Temple was organized. On June l0, 1893, Jones and his
associates organized the Imperial Grand Council of Prince Hall
Shriners. Jones, who was an attorney, immediately went about
organizing Prince Hall Shrine Temples in Los Angeles, California,
Washington D.C., Jacksonville, Florida, Indianapolis, Indiana,
Baltimore, Maryland, Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri, New York
City, New York, Cleveland, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
Providence, Rhode Island, Alexandria and Richmond, Virginia. In
September of 1889, Isaac L.W. Holland, the Illustrious Potentate of
Pyramid Temple in Philadelphia, sent out a call to members of Prince
Hall Shrine Temples within the nation to meet with him for the
purpose of reorganizing the Imperial Grand Council. On December 12,
1900, a meeting was held in Philadelphia with officers and members
attending from Temples in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and from
Alexandria, Virginia, At this meeting the Imperial Council was
reorganized and the order adopted a new name: Imperial Council of
the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine of North and
South America and its Jurisdiction, Incorporated.
The first annual session of the newly organized Imperial Council was
held on September 25, 1901, in Newark, New Jersey, it was here that
a Constitution was formally adopted, establishing the fraternity as
it is today, and designating the Imperial Council as a charitable,
benevolent, fraternal. and social organization, dedicated to the
welfare and extension of Prince Hall Freemasonry, and decreeing that
membership in the order be confined to regular freemasons who were
members of lodges descended from African Lodge #459 (African Lodge
#459 established on September 29, 1784, was formally African Lodge
#l formed on July 3, 1776; Massachusetts).
The Worldwide Fraternal Shrine Family has a membership of
approximately 35,000 in some 227 Shrine Temples and 200 Courts, its
women's auxiliary, the Daughters of Isis, throughout the Continental
United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, England, Spain, Hawaii,
Japan, Korea, Guam, Thailand, Panama, and the Bahamas. The Ancient
Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine is primarily a
benevolent, charitable and fraternal organization, Its membership is
dedicated to the principle of fostering civic, economic and
educational development programs throughout the world.
The Fraternal Order has fostered the following programs:
- Annual grants of thousands of dollars
to the Prince Hall Shrine Health and Medical Research
Foundation.
- Annual grants to several institutions
of higher learning and to hospitals throughout the United States
for Medical research.
- A National Scholarship Grand Program
for young ladies between the ages of 17-24 to attend college and
universities of their choice,
- Annual Educational Grants for
economically deprived youths.
- A program of financial aid to youth in
their fight against drugs, crimes, and delinquency.
- Annual grants to the N.A.A.C.P., the
Legal Defense Fund, and the United Negro College Fund.
- Support summer camps for youth,
- Voter education and registration
drives.
- Establishment of and maintaining
dialogue with White House officials, Congress men, and national
leaders on various issues affecting African-Americans and others
WE PLEDGE OURSELVES,
as citizens, to conduct ourselves with due propriety, conforming
to our established laws, in cooperation with our nation and its
authorized officials.
WE PLEDGE OURSELVES,
to maintain exacting high standards in our respective community
life, that "DEMOCRACY" may become a living reality.
WE PLEDGE OURSELVES,
to the promotion, along with other thoughtful citizens, of
modern and practical legislation enacted by any government
agency, that will redound to the benefit of our "AMERICAN" way
of life.
WE PLEDGE OURSELVES,
to support duly constituted authority for the elimination of
anti-social conditions, wherever found to exist, that we and all
other people may enjoy a rich, round and full life.
WE PLEDGE OURSELVES,
to morally support and encourage every social agency, that has
for its purpose the maintenance of the highest ideals of the
people of the nation.
WE PLEDGE OURSELVES,
to cooperate fully in disseminating "TRUTH", among the people of
the earth, to the end that "DEMOCRACY" shall prevail forever,
and the peace of every nation be preserved.
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