About Birak Shrine Club

Birak Shrine Club

The Fergus Falls Area Shrine Club was organized on January 8, 1955 at the River Inn Hotel in Fergus Falls, MN, with four members of the Zuhrah Shrine Divan present. There was a total of 105 charter members, representing Fergus Falls and the surrounding communities. In 1963, the name of the Club was changed to the Birak Shrine Club, as the membership was made up of Nobles from such a wide area.

The Club has four stated meetings and many fun social events during the year held at various locations throughout Ottertail County. Birak Shrine Club supports the Shriners Hospitals for Children and other local groups as well. We also hold our own Shrine Circus in July of each year at the Ottertail County Fairgrounds Hockey Arena in Fergus Falls. Birak Shrine Club is affiliated with Zuhrah Shrine Temple in Minneapolis, but our members belong to several of the other 191 Shrine Temples in North America.

The Birak Kar Kor, formed in 1985, is our parade unit, to which many of our Nobles belong. We perform with our mini Indy 500 cars in area parades, spreading the word about the Shrine, Shriners and Shriners Hospitals for Children. The Kar Kor motto is "We Ride So They Can Walk"

The Birak Shrine Auxiliary has been organized for almost 50 years. The Auxiliary's mission is to support the welfare of the children in the Twin Cities Shriners Hospital. To procure materials for their many projects for the children, they work at the Birak Shrine Circus, conduct other fund raising events and also accept donations.

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"How Do I Become A Shriner ?"

Contact a Shriner you know or one of the Nobles on the Officers & Directors page.
Ask him about submitting your petition for membership in the Shrine.
He will be more than happy to assist you in any way!

Members of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America are members of the Masonic Order and adhere to the principles of Freemasonry — Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.

Freemasonry is the oldest, largest, and most widely known fraternal organization in the world. It dates back hundreds of years to when stonemasons and other craftsmen on building projects gathered in shelter houses or lodges. Through the years these gatherings changed in many ways until formal Masonic lodges emerged, with members bound together not by trade, but by their own wishes to be fraternal brothers.

Shriners are distinguished by an enjoyment of life in the interest of philanthropy. The approximately 500,000 member organization has a buoyant philosophy which has been expressed as "Pleasure without intemperance, hospitality without rudeness and jollity without coarseness."

Shriners are men who enjoy life. They enjoy parades, trips, circuses, dances, dinners, sporting events and other social occasions together. Furthermore, Shriners support what has become known as the "World's Greatest Philanthropy", Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Through fellowship and philanthropy, Shrinedom strengthens the soul and adds inner meaning to daily life. It thus spreads a glow of joy through one's entire family.

Men from all walks of life and all levels of income find fun, fellowship and relaxation in their local Shrine Temple and its activities. There are also regional Shrine Clubs in many communities. Family picnics, dances, parties and scheduled trips to near and far are just a few of the activities available.

For the Shriner desiring even more activity, there are various Units that he can join, such as drum & bugle corps, Oriental bands, motor corps, horse patrols, and clown units. Every effort is made to ensure that a Noble has a variety of activities from which he may choose.

Membership Requirements

If you hold the Master Mason degree in Freemasonry, you qualify and are invited to join the Shrine. A man receives the three degrees known as the Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason Degrees in the Masonic Lodge, often known as the Symbolic Lodge, Blue Lodge or Craft Lodge. In Freemasonry, there is no higher degree than that of Master Mason (the Third Degree).

In many parts of North America, Masonry does not solicit members. In these areas, no one is asked to join, and a man must seek admission of his own free will; he must ask. In some areas, Masons are permitted to solicit new members. In all cases, a man interested in becoming a Mason, if he has not been asked, should consult a friend whom he believes to be a Freemason to secure his good counsel and recommendation concerning this important undertaking.

For men who would like to receive additional instruction and explanation regarding the allegory and symbolism learned in the Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite or the York Rite bodies elaborate on the basic tenets of Freemasonry.

The Shrine of North America is a fraternity that grew out of Freemasonry over a century ago. Because of this, the Shrine is dedicated to Masonic principles. The Shrine Fraternity provides Masonic brothers a means to widen the fellowship first enjoyed in the Blue Lodge. It also offers men, their wives and their families an opportunity to meet new friends who have similar interests, tastes and feelings.

For more information on becoming a Mason, contact a Mason you know
or any of the Brethren on the Officers & Contacts page,
or phone the MN Grand Lodge at 651-222-6051.

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The Shriners Creed

Shriners believe in God and that He created man to serve His purposes,
among which is service to others in His name.

We believe that care for the less fortunate,
especially children who suffer from burns and crippling diseases,
is our institutional calling.

We are patriots, each willing to serve his country with fidelity and courage.
We cherish independence under law and freedom with responsibility.

We honor family. We respect our parents, wives and children.
We should instill in our children the tenets of this creed,
and the heritage from which it emanates.

As individuals we pledge ourselves to integrity, virtue and nobility of character.
Our intentions will be honorable, our relations will be trustworthy
and our spirits forgiving of each other.

As brothers we offer each other fraternal affection and respect.
Together we will support each other in adherence to this creed,
so that we and our communities will be the better
because of our fraternity and its principles.

As Shriners we look beyond ourselves to serve the needs of others,
especially children who cannot help themselves.
We believe Shriners Hospitals to be the "World's Greatest Philanthropy",
and we covenant with each other to support its "temples of mercy"
with spirit, time, talent and means.

The Shriners Fez
One of the most widely recognized symbols in all of Shrinedom is the red fez.
The Shrine fez, adopted by the Shrine's founders in 1872, has become synonymous
with all that is good and noble in our great fraternity and its support of the
"World's Greatest Philanthropy", Shriners Hospitals for Children.

That distinctive hat with the black tassel is what people recognize when they see Shriners on parade. It's the red fez that tells people that they are watching not just any parade, but a Shriners parade!

Because the Shrine's identity and community recognition and support are vitally important to the fraternity's very existence, Nobles must remember that the fez helps to strengthen the public's recognition of the Shrine and its association with Shriners Hospitals. The benefits of this association are far reaching and can assist the fraternity in areas such as fund raising, patient recruitment and membership.

Wearing your fez is a simple and effective means of gaining valuable exposure for your fraternity and your philanthropy. Donning your fez could mean the difference between a potential donor making a gift to Shriners Hospitals, or to another charity. It could mean that a young man might take the time to find out how he can become a Shriner, or it could even mean that a child's parents, after seeing your fez and the good work behind it, may learn about Shriners Hospitals and how our hospitals can help their child.

The next time you attend a Shrine function, and you reach for a baseball cap or some other type of hat, stop and think of the children who may miss an opportunity for treatment at one of our world-renowned Shriners Hospitals, or the donation that Shriners Hospitals might not receive, or even the potential member who might never know the benefits of Shrine membership.

When you wear your fez, don't forget about the protocol associated with this important symbol. The fez is not a display case or bulletin board. Temple Officers, members of Shrine Clubs and Units and appointees of the Imperial Potentate and Potentate may have their title embroidered in gold or silver or in rhinestone jewels on one line beneath the emblem, and not more than two pins or clasps may be used to secure the tassel. No other pins or adornments of any kind are permitted to be worn on the fez.

The Shrine has a long and honorable past with much to be proud of, and the Shrine fez is an important part of our history. Remember to wear your fez and make that distinctive symbol of Shrinedom a part of the future.

Wearing your fez will help gain valuable exposure for the Shrine's philanthropy, Shriners Hospitals for Children. Perhaps a child's parents, after seeing your fez, may approach you asking for help for their child...you never know!

The Shrine fez, proudly worn at Shrine functions, will help strengthen the public's recognition of our great fraternity, and perhaps entice other men to inquire about membership.

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