Al Kaly Shrine Fez

Protocol for Official Visits

 Shriners Hospitals for Children

To assist Club and Unit officers, the following Shriner Protocol is furnished for OFFICIAL VISITS ONLY:

  1. The Club or Unit officers will be seated at the head table. If the Potentate is present, he should be seated on the president’s right. When ladies are present, the Potentate’s lady is seated at the president’s left, and the president’s lady is seated at the Potentate’s right. Nobles and their ladies are seated as couples; alternately at the right and left, next divan member in descending order will be at the head table. Example: Chief Rabban, Assistant Rabban, etc.
  2. Invocation – with respect to those of faiths other than the Christian faith, let us be mindful of the times when the Invocation is given to all Shriner’s functions by employing the basics of Masonic fraternity (fez is placed over the heart).
  3. The Shriner’s’ Pledge of Allegiance – make sure that the flag is in the proper place and that the noble selected to lead knows and gives the Shiners’ pledge (use hand salute). At Shiners’ functions, the four national flags should be displayed in the position of honor at the Potentate’s or speaker’s right as he faces the audience. It does not matter whether the flags are behind, alongside, or in the front of the speaker, on a raised platform. They should always be to his right. Another important point: The flag of the country displayed should be on the speaker’s extreme right.
  1. A BRIEF word of welcome by the unit/club president.
  2. Dinner
  3. After dinner, gain the attention of the assembly before proceeding to the next item on the agenda. Use the gavel with authority. It is embarrassing to a speaker, whether it is the Potentate, a member of the divan, president or noble, to be denied those few moments of respectful silence.
Introductions:
  1. The president introduces his officers and ladies, if present (not forgetting his own lady).
  2. The president will introduce the Potentate, who will introduce the Divan and their ladies.
  3. Business, if required – be brief.
  4. The president will ask the Potentate for remarks. The Potentate is always the last to speak.
  5. The Potentate will ask for the closing prayer and dismiss.
  6. Entertainment or dance
Other items to remember:
  1. The Potentate and divan, Chief Aide, aides, ambassadors, hospital representatives and past Potentates should be invited by individual invitation, giving the place, time of social hour, time of dinner, and the price. Members and guest invitations are at the discretion of the Unit/Club.
  2. The Potentate or any member of the divan will be glad to assist anyone with questions concerning protocol.
  3. The Potentate, the divan, Chief Aide, aides, ambassadors, hospital representatives, and past Potentates should be invited to each club or unit for an official visit. The Potentate, the Recorder, and their ladies have always been guests of the club or unit. However, if more than one visit is made during the year, they expect to pay their way unless otherwise notified. The divan expects to pay their own way for all functions.
  4. Official visits are normally the unit/club’s one big event of the year. They should be designed to be a fun time for all the nobility and ladies; therefore, diversification from the traditional meeting is encouraged. When scheduling the event please try to keep the cost reasonable. High-cost events may discourage some nobles from attending. The shrine fez is to be worn at official visits and it is recommended that it be worn at all shrine club/unit meetings. Removal of the fez at an official visit is at the discretion of the Potentate.

Shriner’s Parade Protocol

For parades at the annual imperial session, or at any parade where shrine temples participate, no one shall be permitted to participate, except members of the Shrine, uniformed bodies, and male servants accompanying temples. No females or impersonators of females shall be permitted to participle in parades.

The appearance in street parades of novices or nobles in costume, dress or any other attire calculated to bring reproach upon the A.A.O.N.M.S. is prohibited.

The uniformed organizations of any temple may appear on the street or in a public place only with the approval of the Potentate holding control over such organizations. His approval should be given in response to a written request previously made by the organization in advance of the activity. Under no circumstances are members of the organization to receive any type of compensation for such an appearance or participation.

It is a violation of shrine nobles to use firecrackers, guns, torpedoes, electric canes, electric devices of any kind, snake or other reptiles, squirt guns, or any objectionable devices of any kind at shrine meetings or events. Any type of physical contact with spectators (such as a “High-five”) is prohibited. The use of sirens that are hand held or on Shriner’s cars or vehicles, or in the hands of nobles, is prohibited by the laws of the city and state and such use by shrine units in parades, etc. is strictly forbidden by the Imperial Council.

Shrine club, uniformed unit and shrine temple officers are charged with the responsibility to see that the laws of the Imperial Council are adhered to in every respect.

The fez must be worn with the emblem directly centered on the head. It may not be crushed or worn. One fez pin is permitted to hold the tassel in place. Other ornamentation is prohibited.

During the prayer the fez should be removed and held in the right hand over the heart.

The Salute
The military salute is used when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and during the playing or singing of the National Anthem. If uncovered, come to attention, and face the flag. Any veteran (retired or previously active duty) may use a military hand salute. This is purely optional.

Shrine Pledge of Allegiance
“I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the Country for which it stands; one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Saluting the Flag
A noble wearing his fez will execute a right-hand salute when The Colors are within six paces of him; he will not remove his fez. After The Colors have passed, he should drop his right hand. In case the same Colors pass the same point again, as frequently happens in a Ceremonial procession or in display drills. The Colors need not be saluted again. The same applies to street parades.

The Salaam
A noble addressing the Potentate while he is presiding in the East should always give the Salaam. The Salaam is always given by the Potentate and members of his divan when receiving the Imperial Potentate, Imperial Officers, and Past Imperial Potentates. The Imperial Potentate as well as the Imperial Officers and Past Imperial Potentates do not Salaam in return but give the Sign of the Order.