1

The Syria Sojourners Blue Lodge Presentation was developed by

Noble Barry J. Lipson as an "Unofficial" Shrine Presentation for Blue Lodge
Masons, to be performed at the request of the Worshipful Master in the Blue
Lodge Meeting Room, to acquaint Blue Lodge Masons at their Home Lodge
with Shrine-type Ritual and interest them in joining the Shrine.
2


























































3


















































Presented at the April 2008 Stated Meeting of Brashear Lodge No. 743

Sojourners found at: http://www.pagrandlodge.org/district47/743/743%20DL-Pre%202010/index.htm

Home page: http://www.pagrandlodge.org/district47/743/


4





The Syria Sojourners Blue Lodge Presentation was developed by Noble Barry J. Lipson as an
"Unofficial" Shrine Presentation for Blue Lodge Masons, to be performed at the request of the
Worshipful Master in the Blue Lodge Meeting Room, to acquaint Blue Lodge Masons at their Home
Lodge with Shrine-type Ritual and interest them in joining the Shrine.


Cast:
Director
Narrator
Oriental Guide [in Colorful Dessert Garb]
Ceremonial Master [in Colorful Dessert Garb]
1 or 2 Neophytes [Recruited Lodge members in White Robes]
Head Sojourner [in Ragged Robe]
1 or 2 Fellow Sojourners [Recruited Lodge members in Ragged Robes]

Props:
Sand Colored Cloth [sufficient quantity to cover: alter to turn it into sand dune, parts of Lodge floor,
treacherous (covered pillows) terrain and hidden/buried Sojourners seated on chairs]

Recorded Introduction and Music [as noted below]

Opens with recorded Arabian Nights Background Music

Preface [Live Or On Tape]: My brothers, travel with us back to the magical and mystical times of the
Arabian Nights. Let your mental taste buds enjoy a tantalizing teasing taste of the wonders and delights
you may expect when you, a Master Mason, join us as Syria Shriners in the lush and lively Oasis of
Pittsburgh. Only Master Masons may be Shriners.

Shriners are dedicated to fun and fellowship, --- and feasting also, but with a very serious purpose. That is
why we are known as The Worlds Greatest Philanthropy, with 22 Hospitals for Crippled and Burned
Children that are absolutely free to all children needing their services.

But to truly understand us come back for a moment to our beginnings, to see what we are and what we are
not. First, there is no relationship between the Shriners and Islam, or the Nation of Syria, except that, like
all other Master Masons, Masonic brothers who happen to be of the Islamic faith, and Masonic Brothers
who happen to be citizen of Syria, may join the Shrine. The Shriners were founded in 1872 by a group of
thirteen worthy Master Masons who envisioned a place within Masonry which stressed fun and
fellowship more than ritual. At that time the Mideast was a far off mysterious place, with little contact
with the West, thoughts of which elicited exotic visions of the Arabian Nights, with its valorous heroes,
limitless adventures, flying carpets, magical lamps and wish-granting Genies. When our historical brethren
created this branch of Masonic goodwill, they seized upon this sense of awe, adventure and wonder
engendered by such thoughts of distant exotic Arabia, to interest other brethren in tasting the smorgasbord
of delights the Shrine could offer, and still offers today. They named the first Shrine Mecca, and as
5
additional Shrines were founded in other Oases other Arabian names were chosen such as Arabia,
Crescent, Egypt, Isis, Kismet, Osiris, Pyramid and Sphinx, to name just a few. In 1877, we in the Oasis of
Pittsburgh chose the name Syria.

As you know, neither Masonry generally, nor the Shrine, is a religion. As you proceed on your Masonic
journey, you will be witness to Masons from many walks of life and many lands with differing concepts of
the Deity. In Masonry and in the Shrine all are valid and we favor no particular concept or religion.
Instead, we look beyond the barriers of language, ethnicity, and differing concepts of Grand Architect of
the Universe, and we focus on the uniting universal principles of Masonic Brotherhood.

If you have not already guessed, the covering on your lodge floor is supposed to represent sand, and the
piles dunes. Let your mind help us here. We wanted to make this more realistic for you, but your hall
association would not let us bring in twelve tons of real sand.

Sit back now and let your minds travel to the far off desert as an important Masonic lesson, in full
costume, unfolds.

Narrator [Live Or On Tape]: So! You have rescued a weary traveler and his injured son from the endless
godforsaken ocean of sand. Though you have agreed to share with them your dwindling supply of water --
precious, sweet, wet water -- none to be wasted, none to be squandered -- somehow you felt elated from
having performed such noble deeds of self-sacrifice. Surely, you could not let a little child or his devoted
father, suffer. But you are still in the midst of a most perilous journey, traversing the deep, desolate
devastated Desert! Far from the comforts of sheltering palms and bubbling springs with their dreamed of
limitless supplies of cool, clear, water [Chanters on tape: Cool, clear water].

Both a most unforgettable and frightening experience. A scorched, shadeless, waterless wasteland of fiery
days and frigid nights, interspersed with awesome sights of amazing beauty, where you are constantly
walking through a roaring furnace, blinded by the blazing sun, with every dry choking breath a struggle.
Yet you know the worst may still be ahead, the unthinkable and unimaginable wild winds of stinging
stabbing stilettos of silicon, the dreaded storms of sand, which could engulf you at any moment.

But let us not obsess on such negative things; let us dwell upon the comradery of developing friendships,
growing brotherhood and shared humor; upon the gratification of a job well done; and upon the satisfaction
derived from selflessly helping others. Think of your future arrival at the Well of Zem Zem, as we join the
advance scout party from the Illustrious Potentates Caravan, consisting of the Oriental Guide, the
Ceremonial Master and several neophyte brothers who are acting as servants in this their first trek across
the Hot Sands, and their dreams of all that awaiting cool, clear water [Chanters on tape: Cool, clear
water].

Background Music changes to lighthearted travel music

With OG, CM and Neophytes entering [exhibiting wit, humor and camaraderie in the face of adversity
as they the cross the desert].

CM: You neophytes have it so easy! On our last trek through the Hot Sands water was so scarce that we
had to scurry after scarab beetles to deprive them of their natural internal stores of hard won water. -- Then
out of nowhere the fierce furious winds buried us, beetles and all.

6
OG: Wasnt that the trek where you shamelessly boasted you single handedly dug out all survivors, and in
the process unearthed an ancient urn?

CM: Indeed, yes. It was truth not boast. Water gone, after rescuing Aazad and Ziad, I continued my
digging to hopefully find the others. While doing so I uncovered a securely sealed vessel. Desperately
desiring to consume the potable libation we hoped it still contained, all of us simultaneously grabbed it
roughly, breaking the seal, and lo and behold, a Genie appeared!

OG: And are you now going to tell us that this most grateful Genie granted you three wishes?

CM: Well, one wish each, and they had to be for our own benefit. Aazad, without a thought, wished to be
home with kith and kin. I deliberated for a moment and wished to be whisked to the Holy City for libations
----- and for liberators for my still buried brothers.

OG: And, dont tell me, Ziad being overcome with loneliness, wished you both would immediately
return!!!

ALL: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

OG: [Raising both arms to audience] Dont be shy my brothers, you may all freely laugh with us.

Laughter finally stops, music fades and goes silent

CM: Why is it so silent? ------ Look! What is that? [Pointing off stage]

OG: Oh my G-d, Oh my G-d, the dreaded stinging storms of sand will soon be upon us.

Growing Sandstorm sounds erupt on the scene [As OG, CM, etc, stumble through Sandstorm].

Sound of quickly rising storm noise -- then as it reaches a crescendo:

OG: Save yourselves, take Cover!!! [They quickly take shelter around the covered alter or under sand
colored cloth].

Narrator [Live Or On Tape]: As IS the nature of desert sandstorms, first utter silence, and then in the
blink of a camels eye the full fury falls full-blast upon you. Darkness encompasses you. The howling
harassing storm demons endlessly pound upon you. For a full half cycle of the shrouded Suns passage
through the darkened sky, these unending demonic attacks, wild wracking winds, and stinging stilettos of
silicon stabbing and slashing away unrelentingly, continues. All seems lost. Then as quickly as it had
come, -- [slight pause] -- IT IS GONE! [abrupt end to sound track] --- leaving in its wake only wrack
and ruin.

[OG, CM, etc, removes cloth/get up].

CM: Is everyone safe --- and unharmed?

ALL: Yes/I think so/yah.

7
OG: Then let us continue, --- this way.

Low somber music begins [Short trek, then OG, CM, etc, come upon treacherous terrain -- Sojourners
covered by sand colored cloth].

CM: Watch your step my Brothers, the terrain is becoming treacherous.

[OG trips]

OG: What is this, not another three-wish Genies Jug?

[Then senses movement]

OG: No, it moves! --- Dig quickly with your hands here, but be careful it may be a wild beast!

[They dig out Sojourners -- removing sand colored cloth].

Low music gladdens

OG: There are three, they are human, and they live! Let us help them! [The OG, CM and
neophyte(s) each raise one rescued sojourner acting happy, shaking hands and slapping backs].

HS: Oh Noble Sirs, we are deeply in your debt. We are brothers from this realms Masonic Lodge, deep in
the desert on important Lodge business. We were overwhelmed by an unexpectedly fierce sandstorm in
which we lost everything, and would have perished but for your helping hands.

OG: We know of your worthy Lodge and like you are obligated by oath and respect for human life to
extend our helping hands to you, our brothers. We ourselves are also on important Masonic business; we
are the lead team for our Shrines caravan on pilgrimage to the Holy City.

HS: We thank you again, and find that we must respectfully request your further assistance to enable us to
return to our Lodge and report on the outcome of our important work, by your sharing with us, your
Brothers, your cool, clear, water [Chanters on tape: Cool, clear water].

Low music becomes more somber.

CM: Noble Oriental Guide, are you sure we have enough water to spare? We have barely enough for
ourselves, and we are already sharing this meager supply with those we previously rescued from the desert,
the old man and his injured child.

OG: Of course we will make do, gathering scarabs if we must. [To neophytes and CM] Wont you all
consent to this?

Exclamatory music [As Neophytes cry:]

All: [Looking at each other] We will! Save them, save our Brothers!

8
HS: Oh, bless you one and all, Noble Sirs and brothers! --- [Hesitating] Perchance, are we eligible to join
your pilgrimages and your Shrine?

Lighthearted travel music returns

OG: You and your Lodge Brothers, one and all, are most welcome to become Nobles of the Mystic Shrine
and join us at the Well of Zem Zem to share with all Nobles its cool, clear, water [Chanting on tape: Cool,
clear water].

Epilogue [In person]: Thank you for your time and attention. We hope you have a better understanding of
the Shrine and your place in it. If you want Petitions or more information, they will be available in the
outer area. By petitioning now you can shortly be counted with Buzz Aldrin, Ernest Borgnine, Clark
Gable, Douglas MacArthur, Arnold Palmer, Will and Roy Rogers, Red Skelton, John Wayne; and U.S.
Presidents including Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and Gerald R. Ford, among many other
noted Noble Americans who are Shriners. But let us not forget those illustrious and patriotic Noble
Shriners and Masonic Musicians all, Irving Berlin who gifted us with our unofficial National Anthem
"God Bless America;" George M. Cohan, a "real live nephew of [our] Uncle Sam's," who penned
"You're a Grand Old Flag;" and John Philip Sousa who gave us such inspiring marches as "Stars and
Stripes Forever," "Semper Fidelis" and "Nobles of the Mystic Shrine" (which is even now playing in
the background).

I am happy to inform you that in the Shrine you will not only be "well-watered" and "well-feasted" (though
not on scarabs), but you will also have that "grand old" feeling of being part of an organization that puts
helping children first. Yes my Brothers, all of you can be Nobles of the "Worlds Greatest Phun-thropy!"

Copyright 2007-2010 by Barry J. Lipson / (Version 11)