Greetings my Brothers!

This is Eric Morabito, “The Walking Man,” checking back in on Fez Friday.

Kosair Shrine Temple

In 2018 I had to travel to Louisville, KY, for work. I opted to drive down to stop at some Shrine Centers and the Lexington Shriners Hospital along the way. On one of my morning walks in Louisville, I came across a Silent Messenger statue that I thought was for the Kosair Shrine but turned out to be for the Kosair Charities, a division of the Kosair Shriners. I visited the Kosair Shrine that evening and was given a grand tour, and I also learned a little about the Kosair Charities.

In 1923, the Kosair Shrine Temple formed Kosair Charities Committee, Inc. and purchased six acres of land on Eastern Parkway for a hospital where children could receive quality healthcare. Kosair Charities owned the hospital. In 1926, the hospital opened, and on May 11, the first ten patients were admitted. It multiplied in the 30s, adding a new wing, and 40s-50s when polio was a top treatment priority. In the late 1970s, the Kosair Charities Committee began to collaborate with the Children’s Hospital, part of Norton Infirmary, under the advisement of University of Louisville pediatric physicians. This resulted in the consolidation and merger of Kosair Crippled Children Hospital and the Children’s Hospital, effective May 1, 1981.

Now a granting organization, Kosair Charities was able to broaden its scope of support, begin providing instrumental grants and individual help to families through the Kosair Kids Financial Assistance Program. Today, Kosair Charities is the largest charity for children in Kentucky and Southern Indiana history. For nearly 100 years, Kosair Charities has helped children reach their potential while overcoming their obstacles.

Greetings my Brothers!

This is Eric Morabito, “The Walking Man,” checking back in on Fez Friday.

MuratTemple

The Murat Temple was chartered on June 4, 1884, and was the 17th Shrine Temple. Right from the start, the Indianapolis Shrine was noteworthy. While we don’t know why the name was chosen, the name was the first not to have Arabic origin. The founders chose the name of the son of an innkeeper in France who left theological studies at the outbreak of the French Revolution. His name was Joachim Murat (Mur-ah), and he became a general serving Napoleon in Italy and Egypt. He was proclaimed the king of Naples in 1808. Murat was executed by a firing squad after a failed attempt to regain control of Naples.

Murat’s tradition of service to humankind began in 1887. Yellow fever raced through Jacksonville, FL, and Murat nobles sent $100 to Morocco Temple to fight the deadly fever. In 1890, Murat sent monetary help to Kosair Temple in Louisville, KY, for flood relief. Murat also sent aid to the Johnstown, PA, flood victims. At the same time, the strong relationship Murat has with the Indianapolis Fire Department began by supporting the Indianapolis Fireman’s Fund. In 1983, Murat reached its highest membership, more than 23,000 nobles; parades and parading units were in grand and complete form; the Murat Shrine Circus was enjoying increasing attendance, theatre parties and travelogues were well-attended, and social events in the 70 Units and Clubs associated with Murat Temple were ubiquitous. There are rumors that the Murat temple is haunted. Several years ago, they were so persistent that a group of experts in the paranormal stayed all night in the temple to check those many reports. Footsteps, lights, conversations, and strange noises all had been reported. The most enduring moment revolves around the portrait of Potentate Jacoby. He has been seen several times with a tear in his eye. What possible meaning could this have? Some say he cries for the day the temple leased the theater and Egyptian Room. But that helped refurbish the grand old building and keep it alive even if it meant giving something up. Is it possible Jake cries for all of us Shriners on this day 125 years later? Does he know the challenges we face to find new members? Does he worry for the Children’s Hospitals? Let’s think of Jacoby’s tears as those of joy for all the good Murat has done and will do. The long line of men in their red Fezzes who have gone before are counting on us and the nobles yet to come. Jacoby is smiling through his tears of happiness. He knows Murat marches on in the grand parade of the Shrine.

Greetings my Brothers!

This is Eric Morabito, “The Walking Man,” checking back in on Fez Friday.

Islam Temple

Islam Temple is known as the “Mother Temple of the West.” A petition was presented to the Imperial Council in 1883 to open a Temple in San Francisco and the State of California. Islam Temple was duly constituted on March 6th, 1883. The jurisdiction of six (6) other California Shrine Temples, Aahmes, Al Bahr, Al Malaikah, Ben Ali, El Bekal, and Tehran Temples, was carved out of Islam Temple’s original territory.

Today, the Islam Temple jurisdiction includes Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties. Islam Temple of San Francisco received its dispensation from Illustrious Walter M. Fleming, First Imperial Potentate of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of North America, in 1883. At that time, the Mystic Shrine was but an infant of seven years, it having been organized in New York City in 1876. But the news of its success in the East sped across the continent, where a tiny group of Knights Templar and Scottish Rite Masons in San Francisco received it with enthusiastic acclaim. In the early 1880’s San Francisco was emerging from its pioneer mining camp clothes and assuming the leadership of commercial affairs that it has since retained on the Pacific Coast. Masonic Lodges were springing up throughout the city and throughout the adjoining towns. Islam Temple, however, was the only Shrine Temple in this entire section, and Masons journeyed from all over Northern California to traverse the burning Sands within its shelter. Islam Temple grew steadily until 1922, when the membership totaled approximately 10,000. Likewise, it was one of the wealthiest Temples in the United States, although many more prominent Temples were established. In 1918, Islam Temple moved from temporary quarters on Powell Street to the magnificent Mosque at 650 Geary Street, built at approximately $150,000. The land and building belonged to Islam Temple and were free of all indebtedness. Islam Temple appropriated $100,000 for the entertainment of the Imperial Council. The festivities marveled 250,000 visitors and set a new mark for achievements of this kind. The Mosque at 650 Geary Street served as Islam Temple’s home until 1972 when the Temple moved to 1651 19th Avenue.

Today, the Islam Temple jurisdiction includes Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties. Islam Temple of San Francisco received its dispensation from Illustrious Walter M. Fleming, First Imperial Potentate of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of North America, in 1883. At that time, the Mystic Shrine was but an infant of seven years, it having been organized in New York City in 1876. But the news of its success in the East sped across the continent, where a tiny group of Knights Templar and Scottish Rite Masons in San Francisco received it with enthusiastic acclaim. In the early 1880’s San Francisco was emerging from its pioneer mining camp clothes and assuming the leadership of commercial affairs that it has since retained on the Pacific Coast. Masonic Lodges were springing up throughout the city and throughout the adjoining towns. Islam Temple, however, was the only Shrine Temple in this entire section, and Masons journeyed from all over Northern California to traverse the burning Sands within its shelter. Islam Temple grew steadily until 1922, when the membership totaled approximately 10,000. Likewise, it was one of the wealthiest Temples in the United States, although many more prominent Temples were established. In 1918, Islam Temple moved from temporary quarters on Powell Street to the magnificent Mosque at 650 Geary Street, built at approximately $150,000. The land and building belonged to Islam Temple and were free of all indebtedness. Islam Temple appropriated $100,000 for the entertainment of the Imperial Council. The festivities marveled 250,000 visitors and set a new mark for achievements of this kind. The Mosque at 650 Geary Street served as Islam Temple’s home until 1972 when the Temple moved to 1651 19th Avenue.

Islam Temple moved into its new home in July 1994, and because of plans to lease out a portion of the building until the mortgage is paid off, the new address is 1925 Elkhorn Court, the side entrance to the building. The new home is being used for many business and social functions by the Divan, Units, and Clubs. Islam Temple changed its name to Asiya Shriners in 2002. Asiya Shriners are committed to family, engaged in ongoing personal growth, and dedicated to providing care for children and families in need.