Dwindling Shriners find few to wear John Wayne's hat (Shriners irrelevant to young generation?)

Tacoma News Tribune ^ | Aug 16 06 | News Tribune

[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.

[discostu]

I wouldn't say that, I spend lots of time with people in person in real social contact. But I've never really been much of a joiner, never joined an amateur sports league, never joined a fraternal organization, only joined 1 club in school and that only happened because I got cornered by a girl I was interested in. I think my generation isn't into structured social events, we prefer to just hang around together over some drinks, we don't need (and don't want) a lodge number to find friends.

[Redleg Duke]

Many religions, RC and Protestant, fear any organization that might interfere with their control. Masons are encouraged and expected to be active in their own church, as Masonry is not a religion, nor has it ever been one.

[Redleg Duke]

Another of our mottos is that Masonry makes good men better.

There are other, religious organizations that save souls and rehabilitate others.

[oldtimer]

In 1956, one out of twelve men were Masons in the US.

The history of Freemasonry counts 14 U S Presidents - Bob Dole would have been #15.

Our dollar has a Masonic symbol - the triangle with the all seeing eye. This is an example on what Freemasonry has contributed to our Country.

It is believed that Freemasonry followed the Knights Templar, as the roots of Freemasonry are in Scotland - hence the Scottish Rite.

Read Rudyard Kipling's The Mother Lodge, and you will see what it is all about.

[Tiny]

I just finished "Born in Blood" by John J. Robinson. He writes about the connections between the Knights Templar and the Freemasons. I thought it was a great read, even if someone was not interested in the Masons, his history of the middle ages was worth the time.

[uglybiker]

It is believed that Freemasonry followed the Knights Templar, as the roots of Freemasonry are in Scotland - hence the Scottish Rite.

Some of y'all might be interested in a new book coming out. The author is W. Bro. Robert L D Cooper, Curator of the Grand Lodge of Scotland Museum and Library.

The Rosslyn Hoax?
http://www.rosslynhoax.com/

Interview with the author:
http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/rosslyn_freemasonry.html#interview

[Chode]

thx...

[Eastbound]

Thanks for the link!

[nopardons]

Yes, I remember and so I see. :-)

[nopardons]

Then don't join.

But, whether you realize it or not, you just proved my points.

[nopardons]

bttt

[MeanWestTexan]

"It is believed that Freemasonry followed the Knights Templar, as the roots of Freemasonry are in Scotland - hence the Scottish Rite."

Actually, the York Rite is from Scotland and the Scottish Rite is from France. (I think this was done to intentionally confuse people. LOL)

But, yes, the York Rite did originate with the Knight's Templar when the KT fleet fled to Scotland from France that fateful Friday the 13th.

[linda_22003]

So Rotary, Kiwanis, Shriners, and other such fraternal organizations are hotbeds of liberalism? :)

[discostu]

Considering your point was nothing but a slam against my generation, a slam that doesn't apply to me or many others in the generation, no your point wasn't made.

I never said anything bad about the Shriners, just told how it is often seen. Given that Shriners quoted in the article talk about how the average age is 75 and they have very few people under 45 they would seem to agree with half of what I said.

[goldfinch]

That is what I get for trying to keep my answer short. The premise of the original article was that the old fraternal organizations were not attracting young members. The reason, IMO, is that liberals are not interested in joining charitable organizations because they consider charity something the government should dole out and that today's conservatives, who tend to believe in charitable giving, are not 'joiners'. The WWII generation were 'joiners' regardless of their political outlooks. Hope that clears things up.

[linda_22003]

I know people all across the political spectrum, and none of them belong to these organizations whatever their political leanings. I really think it's a generational thing; I don't know anyone around my age (50 or younger) who belong to these groups. Their volunteer/community work is focused in their neighborhoods and their churches.

[blackie]

Thanks Brother!