The Shriners

The references to the Shriners are lost on me (here in the UK). In at least 2 episodes, mention is made of the Shriners, and then 3 or 4 old guys in hats come by on motorized buggies. Can someone please explain this to me?

AFAIK, Shriners are high level Freemasons (I wonder how many hit points you get as you go up levels...)

They do alot of charitable work, and wear those funny hats.

Ian Warford wrote:

I was not aware they were afilliated with the Freemasons, but AFAIK: They are a group of old men who do charitable work in communities (they're usually rich guys) and wear the fez's. In parades (including the Indy 500 parade here) they ride around in little cars. As far as Freemasons go, you will not speak of them again. Seriously, they are a secret "brotherhood" that most people don't know about, so speculation runs rampant. That's what the whole "Stonecutters" episode was a parody of.

"Greg Bair" wrote in message news:[email]...

least

me?

of.

Smithers' Germs: "Freemasons run the country!" Burns: "Ugh!"

Dr Music P.S. Parking was ample.

Steve Howarth wrote:

    Being from the U.S. does nothing to help one understand Shriners. As far as
I can tell, they are clueless old geezers who wear funny hats and drive tiny
cars.
    But serisously... Shriners are members of the Freemasons, a lodge which used
to be the most prestigious, exclusive, and secretive of organizations, but which
nowadays is just a typical lodge/club where middle-to-old-aged men hang out,
drink, and try to pretend that it still means something to be a Mason.
    -megafrim

least

me?

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out,

Freemasons run the country!

"Steve Howarth" wrote in message news:9v5qcg$7ds$[email]...

least

Thanks for the replies. I can see the bit about them being some sort of brotherhood who do charitable things, but I still don't understand the buggies/tiny cars. Mighty strange!

Not that I have any first hand knowledge, but...... the Shriners are not "technically" a part of the Freemasons you do however have to be a Mason to become a Shriner. After you are initiated into the Shrine you are to pick an affiliation in which you will participate in when doing various charitable events which used to include many fundraisers to help in the maintenance of Children's Hospitals but now only seems to be limited to appearing in various parades throughout the country and selling candy bars. Some of the different categories are the Clown Corps, the Hillbilly Corps, the Car Corps (the miniature cars about which this thread was started) and others. If anyone is familiar with the old Shriners Circus that used to travel around the country you would see these different groups perform during the intermissions from the main acts. Anyway hope that helped and boy am I glad to be out of the shadows!

Marge: "Homer, what are you doing down there?" Homer: "I'm washing my fat guy hat"

SEF/MMF wrote:

Isn't Fred Flinstone their mascott/logo or something? Sincerely, Little Girl

Internet King wrote:

NO! NO! NO! You're confusing them with the Royal Order of Water Buffalo.

(BTW, what's the diff between a water buffalo and a regular one?)

The water buffalo is the prehistoric ancestor to the regular one?

Kevin Madden wrote:

naw, that's the bison you're thinking about.

Greg Bair wrote:

Regular buffalos come dehydrated, and you have to add your own water.

--megafrim

Then I saw "baby powder," and I thought, "What a country!!"

Greg Bair wrote:

I know that, what I was refering to was they're log of the sword. I've seen it on RV Campers with a Fred Flinstone sticker on it. Sincerely, Little Girl

"Internet King" wrote in message news:[email]...

however

the

when

to

be

selling

thread

Circus

groups

helped

seen it on

Fred Flintstone also appeared in PSA's on behalf of the Shriners and their hospital in Montreal that specializes in burns. In addition, the late, great Mel Blanc was a Shriner, and his son produced a burn awareness film starring the Looney Tunes characters, and Mel did the voices.

Dr Music P.S. Parking was ample.

Well, no one understands why they drive around in little tiny cars at parades and wear funny hats but they do and that's the only thing most people know about them.

Kevin

And they also run charitable hospitals.

yeah, but that's not funny

And another thing! When people come up to me and say "Hey, Little Buddy" then hit me over the head with their hats, that's not funny! That hurts! Stop laughing at me!

• mirilidium

Drunk and full of pie, mirilidium wrote:

So, you played the umbrella for 35 years? Heh heh heh. That's not funny.

Katijaikat wrote:

    I think I'll stick to the ones run by medical professionals.
    -megafrim