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In the Past several weeks, there have been articles written about Masons and "how they have no part of the Christian church, and how they have Osiris as an example." It's all very funny when you think about it, for I'm quite sure that "good Christian" that wrote one of the articles, is an expert on Freemasonry, and practices brotherly love and affection in his daily Christian duties. However, he should know that brotherly love extends to all creatures of the Maker and not just those that he thinks are his kind of folks!
As this article is written, we are in a state of war with Lybia, an Arab nation that has been accused of and partly admitted to, training terrorists. This article is about Shriners, Masons that have taken on the Arabic flavor in their dress and ritualism, history and philosophy. However, the Masonic Arab is not the same as the actual Arab, or one of the Moslem faith on the whole. This article is about Prince Hall Shriners and Daughters of Isis, their history, philosophy, and acts of kindness that extend to all mankind, regardless of religious or political persuasion.
Underneath the fez of the Shriners and Daughters, there are brothers and sisters of the Prince Hall Masonic Family, people that have traversed the "hot burning sands" of ritualism while learning how to travel the rough roads of actual life. While using the term Shriner, we include the Daughters of Isis, who form such an integral part of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Because of them, we enjoy Masonic freedom and liberty as Prince Hall Masons today. That can be extended to all fraternities that have White counterparts, for it was the Shriners that won the test of legality in 1929 before the U.S. Supreme Court. Now, the Shriners have to win another "case," this time, before the narrow minded people of various religious utterances. Mind you, I did not say religious persuasion, because man may be persuaded by unreligious things as well as religious.
The Biblical history of Shrinedom is rooted in the account of Ishmael and Hagar after they were put out of the camp of Abraham. Legendary history tells us that prior to that a stone was taken from the camp by Abraham and Ishmael and carried to what is now present day, Mecca. There the stone was used as a shrine or altar to offer up sacrifices to God. This stone later became known as the cornerstone of the Kaaba, the most sacred stone in Islam.
We are not here to debate the authenticity of the legend, and it may be true, but to offer a beginning point to bring the Shriners of the Masonic Family into focus. Historically, the Shriner came from a group of vigilantes called the Assassins, a derivative from "Al Hashan" the leader of the vigilantes. This group was formed to protect the pilgrims that journeyed to Mecca to worship at the Kaaba, when marauders would have taken their possessions and/or their lives. The vigilantes' sword was the scimitar, so sharp that when held with edge up, the softest silk would part upon touching the blade. Justice was not only swift for the would-be-robbers and murderers, but merciless and sharp. Soon, the caravans travel in reasonable safety.
A native of the desert, it was only a matter of everyday living, that the Arab would learn about the ancients, the gods of old, gods and goddesses that supposedly walked the earth of what was Upper and Lower Egypt, Osiris and Isis especially. The ancient Arab worshipped these idols, sometimes never knowing why, just as we do a lot of things in our Churches and in our Lodges, without knowing "why." It is a matter of everyday living. When Mohammed came on the scene, after his revelation of Mt. Hira, and after his victory at Mecca, he ran all idolators out of Mecca and established Islam, or submission. His cleansing of the temples in Mecca, in a sense, parallels Jesus' cleansing of Solomon's Temple some hundreds of years before.
The modern day Shriner is an emblem of unity, the unifying of two houses, the joining of the resulting religions of Abraham's sons, Ishmael and Isaac.
Under every fez is a brother or sister of the Prince Hall Masonic Family. Sometimes, their actions are taken as the actions of all Prince Hall Masonry. Therefore, it is incumbent upon each and every member to make sure that their actions are conducive to the Spirit of Prince Hall Masonry.
As in Part 1, we use the term Shriner to signify the Noble and the Daughter of Isis, at least until a division is necessary. In the Prince Hall Masonic Family, we should stress the 'family' atmosphere as much as possible. That way, there will be no misunderstanding for in the family unit you have father, mother, children, the three (3) making one family. As the fez is a symbol of several things, but more especially the unfinished pyramid, the family represents the joining of two houses as we will see that the Shriner does the same thing.
A man cannot be a Shriner unless he is a 32nd degree Mason or a Knights Templar Mason, representing the highest ideals of Freemasonry. Too often, Masonic members have used the Lodge, the Consistory and Commandery for the selfish reason of wanting to "just work in the Shrine degree." It is a pity, for the fez is representative of the unfinished pyramid of Pythagoras' time, a "spiritual temple not made with human hands, but eternal in the heavens." The house of Ishmael and the house of Isaac are destined to be joined under the fez, in the hearts of the wearers. The ideals of the three (3) major religions of the western world, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, are found in the perfect pyramid. Unless the three "do agree, in peace and love and unity," there will be no spiritual temple built here on earth.
The Shriner represents a higher level of tolerance, a level of deepest understanding of man and God, the two points of the compasses and the crescent. Those points are found in the Master's degree, the 32nd degree, Knights Templarism, so why not in the house that brings it all into focus with such clarity. Symbolism is the art of Freemasonry, and the Shriner, when putting on the fez, is putting on the capstone of Masonic accomplishment. His fez is incomplete, as exemplified by the flat top, as man's temple is complete, waiting for the resurrection from the dead. One can best understand this by observing the pyramids on a dollar bill, and when doing so, the Shriner, if adept, is thrown back to the Master Mason's degree. Here he observed the flap of the apron with its All-seeing Eye, and now, under the fez, he is!
On the fez is a symbol of Osiris, the mythical god of Egypt, encased in the scimitar and crescent, the two emblems of Mohammed. Osiris is not worshipped, but his likeness represents the hidden parts of Freemasonry, lying in the state for the unveiling of the adepts, the Houir among us. Like in the times of Socrates, man sometimes gets carried away with the emblems and symbols, rather than the messages they hope to convey. The fez is scarlet, emblematical of the Scarlet cord, woven into a fabric, "without seam." Between the points of the crescent, stands the Star, the Masonic Star of Fellowship, the religious star of Hope, the Eastern Star of the Message. A name of Arabic nature is on the fez along with a temple number, identifying the group the Shriner belongs to. If the Shriner is an officer, his title may be seen. If an Imperial, or national officer, pyramids are seen at the bottom, viz: one pyramid, potentate; two pyramids, appointed officer; three pyramids, elected officer; four pyramids, Imperial Potentate. Sometimes, the Deputy Imperial Potentate may wear four pyramids and the Imperial Potentate will wear five pyramids.
The pyramid is proven by the Square, as all Masonic symbols are. Therefore, the Master Mason, when advancing through the Masonic degrees, never leaves the working tools of all the preceding degrees, and his actions are still "on the square." The tassel is the cabletow of Masonry, reminding man of the ties that he has with his passions, that he is still to seek to subdue them, even more so now. By wearing the fez, the Master Mason shows the world what a Mason is, or should be. Too often, the image of Freemasonry is not to be seen in a positive nature when the actions of ignoble Shriners are at play. Alekium es Salaam!
The Shriners - Playhouse, Big House, or No House? There are questions abounding about the authenticity of the Shriners, their degrees, their history, their philosophy, etc. To look at the Shriners in any other manner than through Masonic eyes, is to attempt to study Freemasonry on the whole without the Holy Bible, and/or other religious books of the world. I have no compunctions about linking the Shrine degree with say the Master Mason's degree or the 32nd degree, for the study of Freemasonry is just that in a sense, a study of man's relationship with his god as seen through the relationship of man.
In this light, the adept Mason looks for Freemasonry in everything he sees, hears, touches, knowing in the heart that there is a lesson, a Masonic lesson in everything. The adept Mason finds ample reason in his Masonic pursuits, for lifting the veils even further in his quest for light, more light, and further light. If he is to be denied this quest, this glorious quest, because of the limitations put upon him by mortal man, he will never know the complete beauty of this thing called Freemasonry. The Arab is just as important as the Jew, the Gentile, the Braham, the Hindu, when viewed as a part of the whole of mankind.
Because of his love for the fraternity, the adept Mason then, will not be hampered by the limitations put upon him by mortal man, but will find Freemasonry in the hot arid sands of Arabia, as well as in the snow-capped mountains of Tibet, for Freemasonry is where you find it and you only find what you look for in our Fraternity. When I see the scarlet color of the fez, I see the Son of God walking up the hill leading to Golgotha; when I see no seam, I think of the robe thrown about His shoulders so degradingly; when I see the unfinished pyramid-shape of the fez, I think of how man, like the legend of Hiram Abif, will soon be cut down in the prime of life, when I see the scimitar, I think of how futile it is for man to attempt to dispense Justice, for "he that lives by the sword shall die by the sword." All these things, I see, and I understand better. All of these things I understand, and I am renewed in my faith in God and gain more love for my fellowman.
An adept Mason sees Freemasonry in his everyday living as no other can do, unless there dwells in him the fire that renews; to understand the crescent that is not a moon, but survival; he can understand the star as the Star of Fellowship that dwells in all pure and contrite hearts. The adept Mason sees all this and learns from the seeing. An adept Mason hears all sound from a Masonic standpoint, for music soothes the savage beast and man is a savage. The music of the Spheres are there for the listening, waiting on the individual to open his ears and heart. The adept Mason hears the truth when it is presented, for his spirit is right and lets him know that all is in peace and harmony. Utopian, yes, but attainable, maybe.
The Shriners are the plaques released from Pandora's box, if left unchecked, just as man is, without rules and regulations. It is called a Playhouse because of the obvious frivolity that is ever present around Shriners. It is called the Big House because of all the jewels worn, for one Shriner can wear as many jewels as a slate of elected Grand Lodge officers. Unchecked, the jewels could go to his head and cause him to do ignoble things as some do. High sounding titles are everywhere and fanciful titles coupled with ignoble principles add up to shame on the whole fraternity. It is no wonder that a Masonic connection, supposedly the highest one, is required for membership in this August body. Think of what it would be like if there were no Masonic qualifications necessary for membership!
Yet, beneath the fez is a Prince Hall Mason, and when the hoopla and excitement of the parades and the partaking of the camel's milk is all over, the Shriner folds his tent of Arab-likeness, ties his camel to a date palm and silently becomes a Master Mason again.
In relating to Freemasonry, it is necessary to relate to people and people's actions. It is not enough to know the signs, words, and grips; you must know the reason for the modes of recognition in the first place, and the application of the lessons learned in the second place. The former is the theory, for we do not know if the reasons learned are true and go forth on our faith which is a spiritual knowledge; the second is the hardest, applying the lessons of morality, intellect, and spirituality in our contacts with our fellowman. So it is with the Prince Hall Mason, so it is with the Prince Hall Shriner.
One cannot allow petty differences, especially religious differences, to interfere with the relationship between friends. In the Shrine Temple, frivolity is the cement that causes friends to be able to laugh at life, at themselves, especially in times of distress. The downhearted member that steps through the door of the temple, finds the peace through fun that is lacking in his life at that particular time, and the cooliing waters of friendship are found at the oasis of his friendships with those of like minds and personalities. Attitudes are adjusted as the members proceed to "let their hair down," all under the guise of practicing Masonic ritualism, Arab-style. The various religious thoughts are all directed toward the center of the temple where the Bible is next to the Koran, silent and peaceful, the way men should be.
The serious Shriner buys books on the subject of Masonry, while the non-serious Shriner buys baubles and such, to look good. The former allows his mind to fly with the Hourii, while the latter seeks fame through his jewels and regalia. The later learns of camel's milk and parades and such, while the former learns why Mohammed wore white most of the time, but also favored red, yellow, and green. Today, the serious Shriner finds esoteric and exoteric meanings in these tidbits, matches them with what he has learned in the preceding degrees and becomes a more informed Mason in the process. It is good to be a Shriner!
Numbers abound in the Shriner's quest for more light, just as he found them in the first three degrees. There are a number of relationships with numbers, to be found in the Shrine degree if the Shriner would just let his mind flow with the tide of understanding.
Through Hiram, beauty came to the Temple through Mt. Hira, came the revelation of Mohammed.
The Middle Chamber of the Temple was reached by 3,5, and 7 steps. Mohammed's wife was fifteen years older than he, financed his ministry, and became his first disciple (3 plus 5 plus 7 equals 15).
We studied five orders of architecture in the Temple. Mohammed instituted five pillars of Islam; Declaration of Faith, Prayers, Fasting, Zakat (giving to charity 2.55 of your net savings), Pilgrimage to Mecca.
We learned that Moses was forty years old when he saw the burning bush and received the charge to "tell Pharoah." Mohammed was forty when Gabriel appeared unto him.
There are many more parallels if we but look upon them as having Masonic worth instead of being hampered by the limits of some Masonic writings. Man's mind is somewhat limitless, when used for right and justice. It is only when one's mind is used for the detriment of mankind that we find limitations put upon us.