How Shriners International Fills a Void in the Life of the Modern Man

Sometimes, it’s difficult to explain the company we keep. Do we spend time with others out of convenience? Is it a transactional relationship? Or the pursuit of social standing?

The same can’t be said about the early Masons who decided to form Shriners International more than 150 years ago. These 13 men, who regularly gathered at the Knickerbocker Cottage in New York City, sought to establish a new kind of fraternity strongly based in Freemasonry but a little less formal – and a lot more fun.

That’s why, led by Mason and actor Billy Florence, who had attended a party given by an Arabian diplomat in Europe, they leaned into exotic themes that still pervade today. These elements lent an air of mystery and novelty to the new group that delighted members (and piqued public interest) of what was originally dubbed the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, with its first official meeting in 1871.

These early Shriners were seeking something in their life that they couldn’t find elsewhere – fun and fellowship – and they took it upon themselves to fill that void. Clearly, other men have felt the same, as the organization is nearly 154 years old and going strong, with roughly 170,000 members worldwide.

But times have changed. Since then, technology has altered the world as we know it, with cars, televisions, computers and cell phones transforming the way we live and communicate. You can spend time with friends without even leaving home. Some might question whether, a century and a half later, a fraternal organization like Shriners International has a place in the life of the modern man.

We spoke to two Shriners – one of the organization's top executives as well as a newer member from New York – for their thoughts on the topic, from why they joined to their personal experiences in the group to their thoughts on Shriners International's place in the 21st century.

So, is Shriners International still relevant? You’ll find their answers are a resounding “yes.” And then some.

A Tale of Two Shriners

Today, John C. Piland, J.D., CAE, might be executive vice president and chief operating officer of Shriners International, but he vividly remembers the first time he saw a Shriner in person, as a kid in his small hometown. “I'm on a curb in Robinson, Illinois, sitting there with my mom, and these guys in these funny hats are driving these little dune buggy-like things really fast and close,” he said. “I said to my mom, ‘Who are those folks?’ And my mom says, ‘John, those are the Shriners, and they help children.’”

His family attended Shriner-hosted community barbecues, and Piland would play against their baseball team, so, while he didn’t know much about the organization itself, he knew that Shriners were well-respected men in the community.

So, Piland began his Masonic journey as early as he could, right after turning 21 and still in college. “My top line signer said, ‘I want you to go all the way.’ And I said, ‘What do you mean?’ He said, ‘To be a Shriner,’ which, in his mind, was the highest level. At that time, one could not even petition to be a Shriner without having advanced Masonic knowledge beyond that of a Master Mason. He said, ‘It’ll make a better man of you.’ That’s all he said.”

Although he didn’t know the full journey ahead of him, “I knew the men who were Masons and Shriners, and I knew them to be really great men and the kind of man that I wanted to become.” Within five years, in 1988, he joined Ansar Shriners, in Springfield, Illinois.

Meanwhile, Scott Schwartz, potentate of Kalurah Shriners in Binghamton, New York, has had a different journey. The teacher of 20 years was still relatively new to the upstate New York area when a student’s parent invited him to an event hosted by the Kalurah Shriners. “I really enjoyed the company and the people there, so I asked about joining,” he said. “They told me that I needed to be a Freemason before I could be a Shriner, so I asked about joining a lodge.”

At the time, Schwartz knew nothing about the organization besides Shriners Children’s TV commercials. “I knew they were helping children,” he said. He wanted to be part of it and went through the requisite steps. Schwartz became a Shriner in 2018, rising to potentate in January 2025.

Changed for Good

Piland immediately felt a difference between Masons and Shriners when he joined the latter. “The thing that struck me most was the Masonic degrees that I had been involved with were formal. It was inspiring. It was ritualistic. I wore a suit and tie to all the meetings and all the events.” But the Shrine temple [chapter] was far more casual, he said. “People were laughing, cutting up, joking around. It was a different atmosphere.”

But, most importantly, Piland wanted to learn from his fellow Shriners how to be a man of integrity. “I wanted, as a young man, to model myself after these other people who were older and more established in the community. There's an idea of being accepted by that group, being mentored by that group, building relationships and having them explain to me, ‘Here's the way we conduct ourselves. Here's how we do things.’ And that was probably the biggest driver of my Masonic journey.”

Does Piland believe he’s a better person today thanks to becoming a Shriner? “Absolutely. I'll say that about my entire Masonic journey. All the involvement I've had with Masonry from such an early age has helped me learn lessons that help set guideposts with regard to certain principles in life.”

Piland also relishes the circle of friends he has formed through Shriners International – one that has expanded exponentially over the years – and Schwartz said that the social aspect of the group was appealing to him, too. “I was still relatively new to the area, so I found friendship and camaraderie that I had been missing.” Soon after becoming a Shriner, he was appointed to the Divan, which he credits for helping him learn new organizational and leadership skills.

No Man Is an Island

Both Schwartz and Piland agree that people today have become too isolated thanks to factors like remote work, neighborhoods full of strangers and technology that allows communication without speaking or meeting face-to-face.

As a high school teacher, Schwartz sees the development of young men every day and how socialization has changed dramatically. “A lot of us are on these ‘private islands,’” Schwartz said. “I think being active in the Shrine gives us the opportunity to be among peers and their families who make us better and add value to our lives. It gives us a purpose and a sense of belonging.” Piland agreed, using a different analogy: “We are not made to be lone wolves. We are in a herd. We operate better in a herd.”

Piland believes that Shriners International offers deep connections that cannot be forged online. “Sure, lots of folks are texting and posting online, but that is not the basis of the kind of relationships that Masonry, and particularly the Shrine, can provide,” he said. As an example, he references Shriners who participate in groups together, like the motor corps, necessitating regular get-togethers for practicing and performing. Shriners International has dozens of clubs and units catering to endless hobbies and interests, from brewing, camping and golfing to photography, gaming and fishing. (If a club doesn’t exist, an interested Shriner is encouraged to form it, with the full support of his chapter.)

And these activities aren’t just for fun. “You build bonds that go beyond just merely communicating. There needs to be a more personal, a deeper connection, which we can offer,” Piland said. “The bonds that we are able to build is what so many young men desperately want and are desperately crying for.”

Another advantage is that, while Shriners themselves must be male, their spouses and children are encouraged to participate in chapter events, Piland said. “Our families are part of the Shrine. We want to make sure that our fun and fellowship is family-friendly.” In an age when each member of the family seems to have their own schedule, it’s rare to find a time and place for the entire family unit to get together and spend quality time. “Now, you've got this great big family that is literally right there for you,” Piland said.

Words of Wisdom

For those contemplating starting their Masonic journey or joining Shriners International, our nobles have some compelling arguments. “You’re going to get out of it what you put into it and more,” Schwartz said. “Being part of a group whose purpose is to help children while having fun is pretty awesome!” If you attend regular events and visit different Shrine centers, he said, “you’re going to meet brothers from all over the place and see how much you have in common with them and how important the work we do really is.”

He also encourages joining the Divan to get a taste of leadership. “Then you can travel to Imperial training sessions and rub elbows with nobles from all over the world,” he said. “It’s really motivating and gets the creative juices flowing.”

Piland again recalled being a young man eager to join the organization, and he knows he wouldn’t be the person he is today without Shriners International. “There are so many men I’ve met from all over the world who are men of character and compassion. They look beyond themselves. We have the brotherhood, and we also have a strong desire to be lights within our communities,” he said. “You'll miss out on the blessings your life could be if you don't meet these special men.”