Joining The Old National Trail Shrine Club, or in fact any Shrine Club, is a long hard road taking great effort and time to complete the requirements and initiations. We do not make it easy because we want only Good Men Who Want To Be Better and will take an active role in helping their community and children. We do not want men who want a fast and easy ride just to use our Fraternity as stepping stone in helping their career or personal ambitions.

Step 1 - Become A Master Mason

The first step in joining the Old National Trail Shrine Club is becoming a Master Mason.

In order to become a Shriner, a man must first be a Mason. The fraternity of Freemasonry is the oldest, largest and most widely known fraternity in the world. It dates back hundreds of years to the time when stonemasons and other craftsmen gathered in shelter houses or lodges. Over the years, formal Masonic lodges emerged, with members bound together not by trade, but by their own desire to be fraternal brothers.

The basic unit of Masonry is the Blue Lodge, where members earn the first three Masonic Degrees known as the Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason. There is no higher degree than that of Master Mason (the Third Degree). For more information about joining the Freemasons, visit our area's Blue Lodge, Temperance Lodge No. 16, website.

After he becomes a Master Mason, he can belong to many other organizations which have their roots in Masonry and which have Blue Lodge Masonry as a prerequisite. Only when a man has achieved the status of Master Mason can he petition to become a Noble of the Shrine of North America.

Step 2 - Become a Noble of the Shrine of North America

The Shrine of North America is a fraternity that grew out of Freemasonry over a century ago. Because of this, the Shrine is dedicated to Masonic principles. The Shrine Fraternity provides Masonic brothers a means to widen the fellowship first enjoyed in the Blue Lodge. It also offers men, their wives and their families an opportunity to meet new friends who have similar interests, tastes and feelings.

The Shrine of North America has 191 Shrine Temples (Shrine Centers) located throughout North America. The Old National Shrine Club is a Charter of Ainad Shriners Shrine Center located in East St. Louis, IL. New candidates wanting to join our Club apply to the Ainad Shriners and go through the shrine initiation process through them.

To obtain a membership application, ask a Shriner who belongs to Old National Trail Shrine Club or contact the Ainad Shrine Center. Fill out the application and present it to a an Old National Trail Shrine Club member to submit to our Secretary to send to the Ainad Shrine Center.

You will then be eligible to attend either the Spring or Fall Ceremonials to be initiated into the Temple.

Step 3 - Join The Old National Trail Shrine Club

Now you are eligible to join our club. Either contact our Secretary or come to our club house to recieve a membership card.

Even though you are not required to attend meetings, we do encourage you to take an active part in the Shrine attending meetings as often as you can and take an active role in fund-raising and other committees. We also stress upon our members not to forget where they came from and take an active role in their Blue Lodge in initiating new members into Freemasonry. Remember, you can not be a Shriner without first being a Mason and without the Blue Lodge, there will be no Shriners!