Shrine History
In 1870 a number of Masons meet regularly at the Knickerbocker Cottage, a restaurant in Manhattan for lunch. An idea was brewing to form a new fraternity in which fun and fellowship would be stressed instead of ritual. From this beginning the current Shriners of North America evolved. Two Masons, Billy Florence (an actor) & Walter M. Fleming (a medical doctor) were the key figures in getting the Shrine started.
By the 1920's the Shrine was unstoppable, spreading to Canada, Honolulu, Mexico City, and the Republic of Panama. During this same time there was growing member support for establishing an official Shrine charity. From this came the idea of a Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children. The cornerstone was laid by June of 1922.
The hospitals have since changed their name to Shriners Hospitals for Children to reflect the widening scope of their service to children and their research program.
Today the system consists of 22 hospitals providing care for orthopedics, burns, and research. Recently an additional program has been added to meet the needs of children with cleft palate disfigurements.
Friend of the Shriners Donates Teddy Bears Charlotte Griffin (center photo) donated 20 teddy bears to children at the Minot Shriners 2007 Annual Children's Party at the Masonic Building December 8. Charlotte's husband had given her a Wal-mart or KMart teddy bear each year from 1980 - 2000 before he passed away. She wanted to give the teddy bears to some very special children-- those that had received treatment at the Shriners Hospitals. To see more photos from the Christmas Party, click here or on Album 2007 in the box at the bottom of this page.
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Minot Shrine Club's Merrymen Clowns Win Honors at the MidWinter Meeting in Springfield Missouri Ken Gillespie Dizzy and Chuck Wathen Buddy competed in the highest category Clown Extraordinary because they each won top three places in the last International Shrine Clown Association (ISCA) Competition at Calgary Alberta , Canada . This means they had to go against North Americas' greatest ISCA Clowns (winners against winners) in the competition at Springfield . The top five will have to stay in the Clown Extraordinary category for the next ISCA Competition. Ken won top five status, 2nd place in the one man skit, and top 10 in the two man skit. Chuck was successful in placing in the top ten in the one man and the two man skit. Not only do these two Nobles bring credit to the Minot Shrine Club and Kem Temple by their efforts and accomplishments in the ISCA, but also in their service as presidents of the Minot Shrine Club (Ken) and the Minot Merrymen (Chuck). |
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Minot Shrine Club Member Becomes Potentate David E. Witter, Minot, ND was elected and installed as the 95th Potentate of KEM Temple on Saturday, January 13, 2007. As KEM Potentate and highest elected officer, he will direct the activities of Shriners in the northern half of North Dakota and northern half of Minnesota.
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Red Nose Awards Three Members of the Minot Shrine Club's Merrymen unit were presented the prestigious Red Nose award at the Kem Temple Annual Meeting on January 13, 2007. Ken Gillespie, Chuck Waltham, and Orren Anderson received the International Shrine Clown Association's symbol of appreciation for their generosity of effort and purpose. To achieve the award each performed over 150 hours in clown makeup at Shrine parades, circuses, and other functions and raised contributions that far exceeded the $150 requirement for donations for the Shriners Hospital Burns Research. Stanford Morris Ootz President of the International Shrine Clowns of America presented an award of appreciation to the Minot Merrymen for their efforts in raising over $1500 for the Shrine Burns Hospitals research. This money is donated to the Sneaker Fund when Shrine clowns perform. Merryman Unit Receives Award Minot Shrine Clubs' Merrymen Unit was select from all the units of Kem Temple to be awarded the Honor Unit of 2006. This highly coveted award is given to the Unit that by their accomplishments, have brought great credit to Kem Temple and the Shriners organization. The award was presented by the Potentate at Kem Temple 's Annual Meeting.
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New Minot Shrine Club's Jim Clifford was appointed to the Kem temple Divan by Illustrious Potentate Dave Witter. |
Potentate Appoints Aides Minot Shrine Clubs' Tony Prough and Robbie Robertson have been selected to be Potentate's aides by Kem Temples Illustrious Potentate David E Witter. Their job will be to help the Potentate accomplish the good work of his office for the coming year. |
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Samsar Award Chuck Waltham, President of the Minot Shrine Club's Merrymen Unit was given the Kem Temple SAMSAR medallion and ribbon by Illustrious Potentate Tom Moe for distinguishing himself within his Temple, his Shrine unit, and his community. The award was given at the KEM Temple Annual Meeting, January 13, 2007. |
Minot Shrine Club's Ken Gillespie will serve as the new Kem Temple Representative. One of his duties will be to create and coordinate Shrine Hospital screening clinics in northern North Dakota and northeastern Minnesota. Ken will continue to serve as hospital representative for the Minot Shrine Club. |
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