Posted on 08/25/2006 3:31:29 PM PDT by churchillbuff
[John] Wayne, arguably the No. 1 all-time cinema hero, bought into the most valuable tenets of the Shriners' fun brand of freemasonry – friendship, morality and brotherly love.
Who wouldn't want to join a fraternity with tenets like those? Apparently, a lot of us these days don't.
In 1975, the same year Universal Pictures released "Rooster Cogburn," the Shriners opened Afifi Shrine Temple next to the Scottish Rite Temple, on nearly 20 acres in Tacoma's West End.
They needed more space to accommodate a growing membership that numbered roughly 8,700 Afifi Shriners plus their circus calliope, old clown jalopies, parade floats and Oriental band equipment.
Today, the two fraternal organizations have put their remaining 10 acres and two temples up for sale. Asking price: $7.6 million.
The state's oldest Shriners organization, founded in 1889, has gotten old and irrelevant to younger generations.
(Excerpt) Read more at thenewstribune.com ...
Well, they really need to advertise better if they want a new crop of future poobahs. Maybe if they offered premiums like a decoder ring for a basic membership, a devine helmet of cosmic understanding for intermediate membership and an open Senate seat for the deluxe world-wide conspiracy membership.
So... Membership in fraternal organizations declining. Men hit hardest.
Is there anyone here who could shed some light on this topic?
Therefore the Church's negative judgment in regard to Masonic association remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and therefore membership in them remains forbidden. The faithful who enrol in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.
Which one do you think young people of today are most attracted? That was the impetus of the article, unless I missed something?
i would rather see every Lodge in the USA die out and close from lack of membership, than admit the likes of those that don't deserve to be there...
MR. WIGGIN: Yes, well, that's the sort of blinkered, philistine pig ignorance I've come to expect from you non-creative garbage. You sit there on your loathsome, spotty behinds squeezing blackheads, not caring a tinker's cuss for the struggling artist. You excrement! You whining, hypocritical toadies, with your colour TV sets and your Tony Jacklin golf clubs and your bleeding Masonic secret handshakes! You wouldn't let me join, would you, you blackballing bastards! Well, I wouldn't become a freemason now if you went down on your lousy, stinking knees and begged me!
CITY GENT #2: Well, we're sorry you feel like that, but we, um, did... want... a block of flats. Nice, though, the abattoir is. Huh huh.
MR. WIGGIN: Oh, p-p-p-p the abattoir.
(He dashes forward and kneels in front of them.)
That's not important, but if one of you could put in a word for me, I'd love to be a freemason. Freemasonry opens doors. I mean, um, I-- I was a bit on edge just now, but-- but if I was a mason, I'd just sit at the back and not get in anyone's way.
CITY GENT #1: Thank you.
MR. WIGGIN: I've got a second-hand apron.
CITY GENT #2: Thank you.
(Mr. Wiggin hurries to the door but stops...)
MR. WIGGIN: I nearly got in at Hendon.
CITY GENT #1: Thank you.
http://www.ibras.dk/montypython/episode17.htm#2
Online communities are a different kind of "joining" these days. Is FR a "virtual" Rotary Club?
Sorry. It was a joke.
The Masons have not historically been interested in large memberships; they do not recruit. In the past, most new members came from their association with the Masonic youth organizations: Order of Demolay for young men, and Rainbow Girls and Jobs Daughters for young ladies. US military members have also been admitted to the brotherhood in large numbers. US Masonic organizations have a much more universal membership than the European groups.
The Shriners are the most visible of the Masonic organizations with their philanthropic Shrine Circus, parade participations, and Shriners Hospitals. Thay also like to party, thus the Red Fez convention jokes.
These days, there are enough ignoramouses to go around! It's sometimes confusing to my simple mind!!!
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Apparently some Islamics dislike the Masons...that's a plus for Masons in my book.
And the Shriners by association.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3548433.stm
Daddy got his white hat the same night as Audy Murphy and Roy Rogers.
:-)
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