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improve all men who obey its precepts.

A man must have a good reputation before he can be selected as a Mason, and after all, a Shriner is nothing but a Mason.

It is a well-known fact, to Masons at least, that in every clime, among all colors, casts, and creeds, a Mason may be found, consequently, a Mason's charity is bounded by shoreless seas and a never-setting sun.

The lapse of time, the envy of men and the ruthless hand of ignorance are trying to destroy the cream of all worthwhile organizations, including Shrinedom.

Even the Temple of Solomon, so spacious and magnificent, and constructed by so many celebrated artists, escaped not the unsparing ravages of barbarous force. Let us remember that while the Temple of Solomon was destroyed, also material structures perish, while spiritual values—such as those lessons inculcated in the several Masonic degrees—will forever.

Our fraternity, Shrinedom, is no transient hobby. It has numbered among its members the wisest and best men of the ages.

To be a member of such a fraternity is indeed a privilege and an honor, because the men who make up the organization have worked and labored up through the Consistory and Commandery, which are among the highest degrees in Masonry, and as a result, it takes its place among other fraternal organizations as well as in the world at large.

There are two characteristics prevalent in the maintenance of Shrinedom: first, Trust in God—for masons must be trusted to keep faith—and one who has no belief in deity is not to be trusted because he has no anchor to hold him steady in the times of storm, hence, sound Masonic character would exclude the atheist.

Secondly, trust in one's fellowman, for one's faith in his fellowman must endure, whenever possible, good counsel, abolish error, and aid reformation, because one is a poor Mason when he fails to offer the friendly rebuke where it is needed with just as much admiration as he gives the means of praise and commendation.

So, the God of Masonry and the Prophet of the Mohammedans find common ground for discussion when they remember that when Hagar and her outcast son, Ishmael, were perishing of thirst in the desert, and Angel revealed to them a spring of pure water near the site of the ancient tabernacle. This is today know as the ?Well Zem Zem, now sacred in the eyes of the Faithful.

In this temple was later placed the ancient Kaaba stone which was given the builders of the tabernacle by the Angel Gabriel. Each may survive without the other (Masonry and Shrinedom but, through the ages they, though different, yet find a common ground of behaviour in that one da they work as devoted craftsmen and the next day, during periods of refreshment, they play in the ancient sands of the Nomads of old.

In conclusion Brethern, we are living in a world in whch the strings of selfishness, irreverence, and intolerance need to be torn off the violin of life. It there be only one string left on life's harp, let it be that of service. Therefore, we should think the best, expect the best, then trust God for the rest; and in so doing, Shrinedom will find itself paramount to other Fraternal organizations. (A SELECTED PIECE) AUTHOR UNKNOWN.

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[[caption]]PIP Booker T. Alexander, for whom the BTW PH Shrine Talent and Scholarship pageant is named, awards one of the top award to a recent winner at the Imperial Council session. held in St. Louis, Mo. August of 1984.[[/caption]] 

Qualifications For Membership In The Shrine 

The qualifications for membership in the Shrine, being either a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason or a Knight Templar in good standing, assure an association of men of the highest type and caliber—men who have been subjected to the rigorous test of all the degrees of Masonry, principal among which are character, respect of the laws of the country and the city, integrity, right living, and all that goes to make up good citizenship. 

Masonry everywhere stands for the best that can be found, and the qualifications are more strict as one advances to the higher degrees. A Noble of the Mystic Shrine, therefore, is an elect of the elect, and those who have become votaries of the Temple may be assumed as a class to represent the highest citizenship of the community in which they reside. Its members are not chosen because of their wealth and standing—rank and title are unknown in Masonry. Its membership is not sought, Masons are a voluntary association of men, who, seeing the good work that Masonry has done and is doing, are glad to petition for association with it. 

It is from such a qualification, therefore, that the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine are drawn, and in rising to the degree of a Sovereign Prince of the Royal Secret or to the Order of the Temple their lives and actions are subjected to the closest scrutiny of those having responsibility for the high class of the Order, and the selection of members of the Order of the Mystic Shrine comes only from among that select body of men whose private life and whose conduct during their advancement in Masonry have been known to the Nobles to whom they petition for association. 

It may be assumed, therefore, that the title "Noble" is one not to be regarded lightly, but to be guarded zealously. 

Every Noble is a God-fearing man. Except he believe in God, he could not have become a Freemason. 

The Noble Order stands for much—it stands for all that is good, for all that is honest, for all that is charitable, and for the better living of all God-fearing men, be they Jew, Christian, or Mohammedan. 

The ritual is known in Arabia as "The Pillar of Society," which is an honorary title given only to persons of very great distinction in the service of truth, justice, and mercy, and the support of learning and culture, and was by courtesy attached to this work as originally written by the Persian poet, the renowned Alnasafi el Hafix. 

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Transcription Notes:
Edited: instructions are not to truncate words, first word on this page completed using previous page Replaced n-dashes with m-dashes, corrected many transcribing typos