A prominent group of Araba Shriners have been sampling the delights of a Bermuda vacation, with extra hospitality laid on by the Bermuda Shrine Club. The Shriners cruised here from their base in Fort Myers, Florida, headed by their Potentate Melvin Stiles and his wife Nadine.

They were greeted and feted by a delegation led by the president of the local Shrine Club, Beldwin Smith, and his wife Velda.

The social highlight of the visit was a fabulous reception, replete with entertainment by a Gombey troupe hosted by Premier Ewart Brown at Camden, his official residence. The Premier was at his genial best hosting the local and visiting Shriners and their ladies. Being a physician, he was fully aware of the philanthropic services of Shriners to the medical field.

The Araba Shriners, like the Bermuda Shriners, are part of and dedicated to 'The Shrine of North America'. The latter is an organisation which is totally committed to helping children of all races and creeds overcome the hurt and sufferance from burns and orthopaedic problems.

It was 25 years ago when Bermuda became affiliated with Mecca Temple in New York, becoming part of the international fraternity that is most noted for the Shriners Hospitals, 22 of which provide expert no-cost care to children under age 18.

Children from Bermuda recommended by the local Shrine Club are among the 800,000 who today are able to lead better, fuller lives at absolutely no charge to themselves or parents or guardians for their hospital and medical care, according to Beldwin Smith. There is never a charge to the family of the victim, ever, he added.

Information provided by Mr. Smith sheds light on the history of the organisation. The Shrine, or more properly the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobels of the Mystic Order of the Shrine (AAONMS), was founded in New York City in 1872 by two very affluent actors, Billy F. Clorence and Walter Fleming.

Their idea was to create a society that would provide a fun outlet. That explains why the Shriners hold their massive fun parades, stretching for miles and taking up to five or more hours to pass a given point during their conventions. Cities in North America bid fiercely to host such lucrative conventions.

The two founders were 32nd degree masons, and they envisioned the organisation as an extension elaborating on the basic tenets of Freemasonry. Though the Shrine is not itself a secret society, it still retains much of the mysticism and secrecy of its origins.

Charity was a part of the Shrine almost from its beginning, but over the century or more Shriners kept looking for something of an even greater purpose. In 1920 the organisation voted to adopt its own official philanthropy, dedicated to providing free orthopaedic medical care to children in need.

The first Shiners Hospital was built in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1922. There is never a charge to a patient, parent or any third party for any service or treatment received at any of the hospitals. The Shrine's philanthropy now consists of 22 'Centres of Excellence' including three Shriners Burn Institutes.

The Bermuda Shrine Club's headquarters are at Masonic Temple, Khyber Pass, Warwick. Its founding president was Noble Calvin Ming, followed by Nobles Vincent Ratteray and Boyd Smith.

Our photos show Premier Ewart Brown as he entertained Potentate Melvin Styles of the Araba Shriners from Florida and president Beldwin Smith of the Bermuda Shrine Club, along with Mrs. Tammy Bean and past president Vincent Ratteray. Other local and visiting Shriners are seen above. The Potentate's wife Nadine is seen below with Nobles Charles Bascome and Edward Stovell on the left, who is credited with exciting the Araba Shriners to tour Bermuda when he and wife Tina attended last year's Imperial Shrine Convention in Florida. Bottom, the Potentate is with Mecca Shriner Marshall Minors and his wife and daughter.