1923 Shriner Annual Outing Announcement and Decorative Print
DESCRIPTION
This dual-sided broadside produced by the Boston-based Aleppo Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Shriners) combines a formal event notice with a highly imaginative decorative reverse. The recto serves as the primary announcement, while the verso provides a vivid and theatrical counterpart that reflects the organization’s ceremonial culture.
Annual Outing and Fraternal Life
The text-heavy recto announces the chapter’s 1923 annual “Stag Party” at Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, detailing a full day of activities for members, including a clambake, band concerts, field and water sports, and a baseball game between the Patrol and Degree Staff. A second featured outing invites members to Fenway Park for a Cleveland vs. Red Sox game, noted as complimentary through Red Sox management, with the clear directive to “WEAR YOUR FEZ.” Additional notices outline travel arrangements, pricing, and the scheduling of a meeting for the election of candidates, illustrating the structured yet social nature of Shriner life and the importance of organized fellowship within the temple.
In contrast, the verso presents a richly colored and densely animated scene of exaggerated initiation rituals set within a fantastical desert landscape. Fez- and robe-clad figures preside over a series of elaborate, humorous ordeals involving mechanical devices, animals, and theatrical punishments, all rendered with a sense of spectacle and absurdity. Elements such as the smiling crescent moon and personalized depictions of Aleppo Temple leadership reinforce the group’s internal symbolism and identity, while the exaggerated imagery references the playful yet ritualized nature of Shriner initiations.
About the Shriners
The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, founded in 1872, is a Masonic-affiliated fraternal organization known for its elaborate rituals, Middle Eastern-inspired imagery, and strong emphasis on fellowship and philanthropy, most notably through its network of Shriners Hospitals. Local chapters, or “temples,” such as the Aleppo Temple in Boston, served as centers of social activity and ceremonial life, producing materials like this broadside that capture both the culture and public presence of the order in the early 20th century.
CONDITION
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