A Message from The Potentate

 

Building A Man....Helping A Child

To become the 104th Potentate of The Aladdin Shrine

is truly a great honor. There is no one person who can

do this job alone. I can not begin to express my thanks

to the countless individuals who have been willing and

pleased to help with this endeavor. Most especially, I

want to thank my wife, Carol, who has been with me

at my side with words of encouragement and help

from the beginning. Carol and I have made friends

and developed relationships during this journey which

we will have forever.

My theme for this year is “Building a Man … Helping

a Child”. I believe strongly in the Masonic principles

that are laid down in the charges and lectures of our

degree work. I believe that all our members should

feel the same. The Shrine was first formed as a fraternal

organization where masons could have fun. It is my

hope that we will have fun and enjoy good fellowship

for this year and the coming years. But, we can only

have fun and enjoy fellowship if we remind ourselves

and each other of our great tenets, Brotherly Love,

Relief, and Truth. I ask that you stand by the plumb,

act upon the square, and proceed on the level. If we

follow this plan, and help one another along, reminding

each other of these virtues, we will continue to be the

great organization that we are; thus, helping to build

a better man.

 

The care we as Shriners provide in our hospitals for

children is second to none. Anyone who has visited our

hospitals and has seen the patient care and research

therein has no choice but to agree with this statement.

If you have never been to one of our hospitals, I suggest

you make a visit. It will change your heart.

Over 800,000 children have been helped at no cost to

the child or parents including food, housing, care, and

transportation. Our hospitals have research facilities

and treatments that exist nowhere else. It has been

said in the Divan that the help to our children and

parents is not only free, it is priceless. As a member

of Aladdin Shrine you are a part of one of the greatest

philanthropies in the world. I need not remind you

that “no man stands so tall as when he stoops to help

a child”.

Membership in our organization is of the uppermost

importance. If we don’t have the members, we will

not have the hospitals. I encourage all of you to find

a new member. Visit your Blue Lodge on a regular

basis. Let them know you are a Shriner. Educate your

lodge about our programs, and encourage your lodge

members to join the Shrine. Everyone’s help is needed

in this effort.

Let’s have a good year. Let’s build men and help

children, and above all let’s have fun.

 

Fraternally,

 Wm E. (Bill) Estell, Potentate