tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post916039209708709705..comments2024-03-26T12:05:58.591-04:00Comments on Freemasons For Dummies: Shriners Statue in Connecticut VandalizedChristopher Hodapphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04201859873755654395noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-13519415339170450792020-11-05T10:18:47.447-05:002020-11-05T10:18:47.447-05:00Brother Johnson is right about our role as steward...Brother Johnson is right about our role as stewards of ancient rituals in the case of blue lodges, but the Shrine is a late Victorian invention of convivial New Yorkers and a survivor of an era that also gave us the Bagmen of Baghdad and Patriarchs Militant. It has no antiquity. I am a Shriner but today it does not confer prestige to the general public. Bro. Paul Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06435030965629467739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-25832248924053945452020-11-02T04:48:00.192-05:002020-11-02T04:48:00.192-05:00Brother Rich may be correct, but I tend to view Fr...Brother Rich may be correct, but I tend to view Freemasonry as a Stewardship of sorts regarding certain things, especially ancient symbolism. <br /><br />Symbolism is either adopted or (in the case of criminal organizations), it is hijacked.(my opinion)<br /><br />Men become Shriners for a possible five reasons:<br /><br />1. To have fun.<br /><br />2. To socialize. <br /><br />3. To be part of a NOBLE charity.<br /><br />4. For the percieved prestige.<br /><br />5. And for the mystique. <br /><br />Initial mentality and experience determines if a man is motivated by one or more of the reasons listed above for becoming a Shriner. <br /><br />The Scimitar, the Crescent, the Star, the Sphinx, and Arab motifs, have been a part of the Shrine (both mainstream and Prince Hall) since their very beginnings, and the adopted ancient symbols of the Shrine emblem is definitely Pre-Islamic. Sort of like the Cross predates what is known today, by probably most folks, as Christianity. <br /><br />Years ago, a Prince Hall Shriner, and good role model, told me he would laugh if we changed the name of our Shrine meeting places to "Center" in place of the word, "Temple", in order to appease a misguided or uneducated public opinion. We did, and we both had a good laugh. <br /><br />But I have noticed Prince Hall Shriners still use the word "Temple", publicly. Good for them.<br /><br />Thomas Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16496528868148315705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-62986829477396232462020-11-01T15:22:09.165-05:002020-11-01T15:22:09.165-05:00Even Shrine circuses have become controversial bec...Even Shrine circuses have become controversial because of the long time cruel use of caged wild animals. And the conventions and parades strike some of a new generation as absurd and juvdenile. Like the Craft itself the leadership has not appreciated the frightening immensity of the sociological challenges. On top of all of this, the ultra expensive updating of buildings to meet the virus onslaught is going to overwhelm many lodges and mosques. In such crises, a really literate imaginative intelligent leadership has been needed, but we are very rapidly going the way of the Owls, Pythians, and Order of the Iron Safe...despite our vastly more significant past. For example, we right now need now to fully embrace hybrid solutions using limited f2f along with virtual. And the Shrine ritual should take on motifs about helping the medically challenged and ditch the camels. A ritual about what the Shrine now means or should mean.Bro. Paul Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06435030965629467739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-66084137574561865242020-10-31T15:25:48.736-04:002020-10-31T15:25:48.736-04:00Unfortunately and sadly, the Arab motifs of the Sh...Unfortunately and sadly, the Arab motifs of the Shrine are now identified with Arab terrorism. Every beheading or knifing has a bad effect on the excellent advertisements for good works. Like Aunt Jemimas and Uncle Ben, the advertising icons have become liabilities. The sculptures, crescents, Arab temple names and such become more and more a problem, as does the link with a declining Masonic membership. The fez, sometimes allegedly red after being dipped in the infidel Christian's blood, is not helpful in 2020.<br /><br /><br />Bro. Paul Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06435030965629467739noreply@blogger.com