Masonic Bodies
SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL
Shriners Make a Difference By Victoria Beck Senior Editor and Writer Shriners Hospitals for Children and Shriners International The Shriners fraternity, Shriners International, is a Masonic organization based on service to others, fun, and fellowship whose members are dedicated to the principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth. What began in 1872 with 13 members is now a worldwide organization with 198 temples and thousands of clubs throughout the world. Shriners can be found on six continents.
Moolah Shriners, St. Louis, Missouri
The Shriners fraternity founded Shriners Hospitals for Children® as its official philanthropy, opening its first facility in 1922 in Shreveport, Louisiana. Since then, Shriners Hospitals for Children has grown into one of the finest pediatric specialty health care systems in the world. Thanks to the dedication and hard work of members of the Shriners International fraternity, this unique, compassionate health care system is now a multi-facility system stretching across three countries, and offering pediatric specialty care for orthopedic conditions, burn injuries, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate, regardless of the families’ ability to pay for services. Over time, Shriners Hospitals for Children has provided hope and healing to more than 1.4 million children. There is a Shriners Hospital in St. Louis.
Moolah Shriners was chartered in 1886 and was the 26th temple established. Moolah Shriners had its inception in East St. Louis, Illinois. Ten nobles of Medinah Shriners in Chicago, Illinois, met weekly to dine at the Stockyard Hotel and decided to form a Shriners temple in St. Louis. In the early years, Moolah Shriners’ meetings were held at a variety of locations in the city. In 1912, Potentate Walter Ashton assisted by his officers, acted toward building a home for Moolah Shriners. Groundbreaking took place Sept. 11, 1912, at midnight with a ceremony illuminated by colored lighted torches. The cornerstone laying was at midnight, Oct. 21, 1913, and Moolah held its first meeting in the new building on March 18, 1914, with dedicatory ceremonies held on April 25, 1914, and a class of 133 novices.
Shriners are not only dedicated to their philanthropy; they also enjoy fun and fellowship. Each of the Shriners temples has many units and clubs for members that offer a variety of experiences and activities, including musical performing and parading, leisure activities and recreation, social events and more. Members can also “Build Your Own Experience” - create a club, and ask fellow members to join in. There are four Shrine Temples in Missouri.
In 1988, Moolah sold this building and moved to a West County location on Fee Fee Road. The facility features a ballroom that can accommodate over 500 guests and an Oasis (dining room) that can seat 250. Other meeting and social gathering rooms are available for its 17 units, including Noble Lodge 684 as well as a gymnasium and soccer field for sports activities used by DeMolay and Job’s Daughters. There are 10 clubs in Moolah’s area. »
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The Freemason
