Founded in in New York City, it is headquartered in Tampa, Florida , and has over chapters across nine countries, with a global membership of nearly 1. Shriners International describes itself as a global fraternity "based on fun, fellowship, and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth". Shriners International is recognizable for its Middle Eastern-inspired iconography, ceremonies, and motif: Shriners wear distinctive red fezzes as their official headgear, while fraternal regalia often features camels, pyramids, the Sphinx and other ancient Egyptian and Arabian symbols.
The headquarters of local chapters, formally known as Shrine Centers, are sometimes called "Temples" or even "Mosques"; [ 6 ] most have names such as Egypt, Sahara, Morocco, and Oasis, and many are built in the Moorish Revival style. The organization is governed by the " Imperial Divan "βreferring to the traditional government councils of the Near Eastβcomposed of 12 "Imperial Officers" who serve as a board of directors. However, Shriners International has no connection with the region nor with Islam.
Previously known as Shriners North America , the fraternity adopted its current name in in recognition of its increasingly global membership; as of , there are Shrine Centers in Canada since , Mexico and Panama , Puerto Rico, the Philippines , Germany , Brazil and Bolivia In , there were several thousand Freemasons in Manhattan , many of whom lunched at the Knickerbocker Cottage at a special table on the second floor.
There, the idea of a new fraternity for Masons, stressing fun and fellowship, was discussed. Together, Walter M. Fleming and William J. Florence established a separate fellowship to fulfill those ideals. While on tour in Marseille , Florence, an actor, was invited to a party given by an Arab diplomat. The entertainment was a musical comedy. At its conclusion, the guests became members of a secret society.
Florence took notes and drawings at his initial viewing and on two other occasions, once in Algiers and once in Cairo. When he returned to New York in , he showed his material to Fleming. Fleming created the ritual, emblem and costumes. Florence and Fleming were initiated August 13, , and they initiated 11 men on June 16, The group adopted a Middle Eastern theme and soon established Temple, although the term Temple has now been replaced by Shrine Auditorium or Shrine Center.
