Weddings? Meetings? We offer a variety of unique spaces for small and large groups.
Origin of Moolah® Shrine
Strange as it may seem, Moolah® Shrine actually had its inception in
East St. Louis, Illinois. Ten Nobles of Medinah Temple from Chicago, Illinois,
met weekly to dine at the Stockyard Hotel and decided to form another
Shrine Temple for St. Louis. They applied for a charter, which was issued on
April 23, 1886, and became the 28th Shrine Temple so recognized in Shrinedom.
The ten Nobles who signed the petition were:
William H Mayo
W.H. Mead
John T. Nixon
E. B. Overstreet
John J. Baulch
Alman B. Thompson
Elihu T. Crandall
William Walsh
Robert D. Hunter
and Horace W. Hibbard.
Moolah History
A Proud Tradition Since 1886
Moolah Shrine was chartered on April 23, 1886, becoming the 28th Shrine Temple established.
During its early years, Moolah held meetings at several locations throughout St. Louis. From June 20 through December 16, 1894, meetings were held at Freemasons Hall at 17th and Chestnut Streets. On January 20, 1897, Moolah held its first meeting at Tuscan Hall, located at 28th Street and Washington Avenue.
Building a Home for Moolah
In 1912, Potentate Walter Ashton, with the assistance of his officers, began taking steps toward establishing a permanent home for Moolah Temple.
On April 12, 1912, Past Potentate Herman Mauch presented a resolution calling for the appointment of a building committee. Plans soon followed to form a corporation, purchase real estate, and construct a Temple that Moolah could call home.
Many years later, in 1988, Moolah sold its facilities on Lindell Boulevard and moved west to its location on Fee Fee Road in St. Louis County.
Moolah on the Imperial Stage
Throughout its long history, Moolah has had the distinction of producing three Imperial Potentates:
Henry Niedringhaus
Harvey Beffa
Douglas Maxwell
Their leadership represents an important part of Moolah’s contribution to the history and growth of Shriners International.
Notable Members of Moolah
Over the years, Moolah’s membership has included business leaders, public officials, athletes, entertainers, and individuals who have made their own unique mark on history.
Harry Kiener — Former Olympian and prominent steel company executive.
James Kendall — Recognized as the first Shriners Hospitals patient to later become a Shriner himself.
Rogers Hornsby — Baseball Hall of Famer and one of the greatest hitters in Major League Baseball history. His Moolah fez is on display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Robert Conradi — Moolah Potentate and the first and only Shriner to stand atop the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.
Henry Kiel — Former Mayor of St. Louis whose name became closely associated with the Kiel Opera House.
Gene McNary — Former St. Louis County Executive.
Ronald Krueger Sr. — President and Chairman of Wehrenberg Theatres.
Arthur Kerchoff — President of Pevely Dairy.
Vic Take — Nationally known cartoonist.
A Legacy That Continues
Since 1886, generations of Moolah Shriners have carried forward a tradition built on fellowship, leadership, service, and philanthropy.
From prominent civic and business leaders to athletes, entertainers, and everyday Shriners dedicated to helping others, Moolah’s history is filled with remarkable people and memorable moments.
More than 140 years after receiving its charter, Moolah continues to honor its history while building the next chapter of its legacy.
SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL
NOBLES
In 1870 a group of Masons gathered frequently for lunch at the Knickerbocker Cottage on Sixth Avenue in New York City. At a special table on the second floor a particularly fun-loving group of men met regularly. Among the regulars were Walter M. Fleming, M.D. and William J. “Billy” Florence, an actor. The group frequently talked about starting a new fraternity for Masons – one centered on fun and fellowship, more than ritual. Fleming and Florence took this idea seriously enough to do something about it.
Billy Florence had been on tour in France, and had been invited to a party given by an Arabian diplomat. The exotic style, flavors and music of the Arabian-themed party inspired him to suggest this as a theme for the new fraternity. Walter Fleming, a devoted fraternity brother, built on Fleming’s ideas and used his knowledge of fraternal ritual to transform the Arabian theme into the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S.).
KNICKERBOCKER COTTAGE
With the help of the Knickerbocker Cottage regulars, Fleming drafted the ritual, designed the emblem and costumes, formulated a salutation and declared that members would wear the red fez.
With the help of the Knickerbocker Cottage regulars, Fleming drafted the ritual, designed the emblem and costumes, formulated a salutation, and declared that members would wear the red fez. grew rapidly, spreading across the U.S. In the early 1900s, membership spread into Canada, Mexico, and Panama. Today, Shriners International is a fraternity with nearly 200 temples in several countries, thousands of clubs around the world, and hundreds of thousands of members dedicated to the principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth.,