Freemasons in Wilmington - The Shriners

For this week's edition of Freemasons in Wilmington we will talk about one of the appendant bodies or affiliate groups associated with Masons, Shriners.  A few quick facts, first all Shriners are Freemasons but not all Freemasons are Shriners.  Second, Massachusetts is home not one but two Shrine Temples, one in Springfield and the other here in Wilmington - The Aleppo Shrine on Fordham Road.  Third and most important, Shriners support a 22-hospital pediatric healthcare system throughout North America which provides free care to children, under the age of 18, with orthopaedic problems or burn injuries.   Massachusetts is fortunate to have two such hospitals, The Shriners Hospital for Children in Boston and the Shriners Hospital for Children in Springfield.  The Shriners Hospital in Boston provides comprehensive care to children with burn injuries, cleft lip and palate and orthopaedic conditions.  The Shriners Hospital in Springfield provides care to children with a host of orthopaedic and neuromusculoskeletal and diseases, as well as cleft lip and palate.  All of this care is provided absolutely free, regardless of the family's financial situation.  Funding for the hospitals is completely raised by Shriners thru individual donations, canning at local supermarkets, collecting pull tabs and performing in parades.  Here in Wilmington, the Aleppo Shriners participate in the annual Memorial Day parade for free, as a thank you the Town of Wilmington for its support of Shriners. 

Being a part of the Shrine allows Freemasons to have some fun outside the traditional lodge structure and raise money for a great cause at the same time. For more information about the Shriners and its hospitals please visit www.alepposhriners.com. 

If this sounds interesting to you, and you are a man, at least 18 years of age and you have a religous belief, then visit Friendship Lodge and fill out an application.  Find out for yourself how much fun and gratifying being a Shriner really is.

Next time, we will talk another appendant body of Freemasonry, The Scottish Rite and its Learning Centers for Children.