Shriners AAONMS

Shriners AAONMS (Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine) is an American Masonic society founded in New York by Walter Millard Fleming and William J. Florence in 1872. Florence suggested its Middle Eastern inspired iconography for their ceremonies and motifs, after attending an Arabian-themed party in Marseille, France. Shriners wear distinctive red fezzes, and fraternal paraphernalia features camels, pyramids, and other Egyptian and Arabic references. Membership is open to men who have been initiated as master masons. The global fraternity counts around 200,000 members in shrine centers in Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Lebanon, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, and Philippines, Shriners are involved in philanthropy through charity on Shriners Hospitals for Children, a network of 22 healthcare facilities in the US, Canada, and Mexico. 

Some partner organizations are Scottish Rite, York Rite, Grottoes of North America, Daughters of the Nile, Ladie’s Oriental Shrine of North America, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, among others. Until the mid-20th century, Shriners restricted membership to white men. As such, Black Masons established a counterpart of the AAONMS: the AEAONMS (Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine). After the 9/11 attacks, Shriners were mistaken by some as a Muslim organization, leading to harassment and vandalism and causing the Shriners to remove and change much of their Middle Eastern themed iconography. Eventually, the organization officially changed its name to Shriners International in 2011. Famous Shriners include Mel Blanc (the voice of Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, and other cartoons of Looney Toones), John Wayne, General Douglas MacArthur, and presidents Gerald Ford and Harry Truman.