. It's the only "secret" association I know of that has large buildings with names and symbols proudly displayed and whose members wear distinguishing rings and other jewelry and give large sums of money to hospitals like the Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children, the Shrine Burn Hospital in Galveston, scholarships and other worthy causes. There are numerous books in the libraries and even Barnes and Noble that claim to reveal the secrets.Shriners are simply an offshoot of the Masonic Lodge. In order to join the Shriners you be a Mason first. The same thing with the Scottish Rite.
Masons are not supposed to solicit members, all members are supposed to ask to join.
