Are Shriners Freemasons? How Shriners International Relates to Masonry

Yes. Shriners are Freemasons. More precisely, Shriners International requires a man to be a Master Mason before he can become a Shriner. But the reverse is not true: most Freemasons are not automatically Shriners, and joining the Shrine is optional.

That simple relationship is surprisingly easy to miss. The public often recognizes the red fez, parades and Shriners Children’s far more readily than the Masonic prerequisite behind the organization. A public r/freemasonry discussion about joining the Shrine even included members noting that friends and family sometimes knew someone was a Shriner without realizing that also meant he was a Mason.

If you want the broader map of related organizations first, see Masonic Appendant Bodies Explained.

What is Shriners International?

Shriners International is a fraternal organization built around fellowship, service and philanthropy, with Master Mason membership as a prerequisite. Its public history traces the organization to a group of Masons who met in New York City in 1870 and wanted to create a fraternity that combined Masonic principles with more emphasis on fun and fellowship. Dr. Walter Fleming and actor Billy Florence developed the organization that was formally founded in 1872.

The name and imagery have changed in presentation over time, but the Masonic connection remains explicit. Shriners International currently states: while not all Masons are Shriners, all Shriners are Masons.

Do you have to be a Master Mason to become a Shriner?

Yes. Shriners International’s current public membership information says a man must reach the level of Master Mason before becoming a Shriner.

That means someone who is interested in the Shrine but has not yet joined Freemasonry does not start with a Shrine application. The first step is the Craft Lodge. Our guides How to Become a Freemason and How to Find a Masonic Lodge Near You explain that process separately.

Is being a Shriner a higher Masonic degree?

No. This is the most important misconception to clear up.

The three Craft degrees—Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason—belong to the lodge degree system. Shrine membership is not a “fourth degree,” and it should not be presented as a promotion above the Master Mason degree.

A man may become a Master Mason and never join the Shrine. Another Mason may choose Scottish Rite, York Rite, Shrine, several organizations, or none of them. These choices reflect interests and commitments rather than a universal hierarchy.

For the underlying degree structure, read Degrees of Freemasonry Explained.

What do Shriners do?

Shriners are widely known for three overlapping parts of their public identity:

• Fellowship: local Shrine groups organize social events and activities.
• Community visibility: parades, units, clubs and public events have long been part of Shrine culture.
• Philanthropy: Shriners are closely associated with Shriners Children’s and fundraising in support of pediatric care.

Individual experiences vary by local chapter and club. Some members are drawn to the social side; others care most about hospital support, community service, music units, motor units or leadership.

Why are Shriners sometimes called a Masonic Shrine?

Searchers use phrases such as masonic shrine, Shrine Mason and Shriner Mason because the organization developed from Freemasonry and requires Masonic membership. Historically, local Shrine organizations have also been known as temples; current Shriners International materials frequently use “chapters” for local organizations.

The useful takeaway is not the label but the relationship: the Shrine belongs to the wider Masonic family, yet it has its own organizational identity, culture and mission.

Do you need to join Scottish Rite or York Rite before becoming a Shriner?

Under Shriners International’s current public eligibility description, the key prerequisite is being a Master Mason. Someone researching older Masonic material may encounter former requirements involving Scottish Rite or Knights Templar membership, but those should not be assumed to be the current rule.

For a modern applicant, the correct source is the current official Shriners International membership information and the relevant local chapter.

Are Shriners and Freemasons the same organization?

Not exactly. A Shriner is a Freemason who has chosen to join an additional fraternity with a Masonic membership prerequisite. Freemasonry itself is much broader and is organized through lodges and Grand Lodges. Shriners International has its own governance and activities.

That is why both of these sentences are true:

• Every Shriner in Shriners International is a Mason.
• Not every Mason is a Shriner.

What about Prince Hall Shriners?

People often encounter different organizations using Shrine or Shriner terminology and assume they are all one corporate body. They are not. Prince Hall-affiliated Shrine organizations have a separate institutional history and governance from Shriners International.

If you are checking a particular fez, temple name, membership card or family record, identify the exact organization rather than treating the word “Shriner” as enough to establish affiliation. For the broader history of Prince Hall Masonry, see What Is Prince Hall Freemasonry?

Frequently asked questions

Can someone be a Shriner without being a Freemason?

Not in Shriners International. Its current rules require Master Mason status.

Are Shriners 32nd degree Masons?

Not necessarily. Shrine membership and Scottish Rite degree status are different things. Current Shriners International eligibility does not mean every Shriner is a 32° Scottish Rite Mason.

Are Shriners part of the York Rite?

No. Shriners International is distinct from the York Rite. A Mason may choose to participate in both, but one is not simply a stage of the other.

Why do Shriners wear a fez?

The fez is part of the organization’s long-standing ceremonial and public visual identity. It identifies Shrine membership but does not indicate a Craft Lodge degree above Master Mason.

Does a Shriner item prove someone was a Mason?

A well-documented Shriners International membership item is meaningful evidence because Master Mason status is a prerequisite, but family-history research should still verify the person, chapter and records rather than relying on an object alone.

Specific product match: For someone who is actually a Shriner, see the Shriners Masons Auto Car Emblem. The Shrine identity is more specific than general Master Mason membership.

Sources and further reading

• Shriners International — Our Connection with Freemasonry
• Shriners International — Partner Organizations

If you are researching Masonic symbols on an inherited object or choosing a symbolic gift, browse our Masonic Coins collection. A design can carry fraternity symbolism and family meaning, but the object should be interpreted alongside records and context—not as a substitute for them.