Desert Of North Carolina
History

PRINCE HALL SHRINEDOM embraces all the basic fundamental concepts of the Masonic Order, but is more colorful, with a broader spectrum of visibility by how it dispenses charity in the community, and the care for its own.

With the wonderful colors highlighted in their annual parade, along with the units, clowns, and Temples from across the domain, Shrinedom has on occasion been referred to as the “Display” organization, with connections to Prince Hall Freemasonry. 
 

There are 19 Constituent Temples and 19 Constituent Courts throughout the Desert of North Carolina, with a membership of over 1,500 and growing. The Desert of North Carolina is home to the Past Imperial Potentate, Noble Thomas F. Poag, Sethos Temple No. 170, Past Imperial Potentate, Noble William T. Pratt, Kindah Temple No. 62, Past Imperial Potentate, Noble Caesar R. Blake Jr. Rameses Temple No. 51, Past Imperial Commandress, Daughter Gloria Brown Ramsey, Abdallah Court No. 166 and Past Imperial Commandress, Daughter Alicia Chisholm Kindah Court No. 43, also our most recent elected Imperial Elected Officers; Honoary Past Imperial Potentate, D. Antoine Lilly, Sr., Zafa Temple No. 176, Imperial Outer Guard, Past Commandress Daughter Jasmine L. Young, Imperial Treasurer, Khalif Court No. 90 and Past Commandress Daughter Tiffany Latham, Imperial Grievance and Appeals (3yr), Kabala Court No. 67.

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Shrinedom is thought of as a Fraternal, Social, and Charitable Organization: 

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• FRATERNAL in the sense of using passwords and symbols to remind the members to strive for inner self-improvement.  

• SOCIAL from the standpoint of the enjoyment of good times within its ranks; and  

• CHARITABLE for its unselfish giving of goods and services on both the local and national levels.

We provide substantial annual grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities to supplement the education of economically disadvantaged youth, along with a financial aid program to combat drug use, crime, and delinquency. There is also a state scholarship grant program for young men and women ages 17 to 24 to attend colleges and universities of their choice.

The Shrine Organization is over 128 years old. It takes great pride in its Affiliate, which comprises the wives, sisters, mothers, and daughters of the membership, officially styled the Daughters of the Imperial. They are over 111 years old and mirror, in some respect, the activities of the parent body. Both share offices in the organization’s Headquarters Building, located in Memphis, Tennessee.

 

The Shrine is led by the Imperial Potentate and the Imperial Court by the Imperial Commandress. The red Fez is worn by men, and the white Fez by women, both of whom are community-oriented and on the move.