Royal Order of Jesters
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This article may rely too heavily on sources with too close a tie to the subject to be verifiable and neutral. Please help improve it by replacing them with more appropriate citations to reliable, independent, third-party sources. (June 2011) |
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The Royal Order of Jesters is a fraternal organization affiliated with Freemasonry and the Shriners.
[edit] Formation
The original meeting resulting in the formation was held on February 20, 1911, by Shriners in the Captain’s office of the S.S. Wilhelmina on a pilgrimage to Aloha Temple, Hawaii. Noble A.M. Ellison of San Francisco, California, was responsible and the original cast included a Director and thirteen members. It was organized June 25, 1917, at an informal meeting.[1]
[edit] About the organization
Jesters are made from members of the Shrine in good standing. Membership is by invitation only, not application. It is a fun "degree", with absolutely no serious intent. The motto, "Mirth is King", is enough to give voice to the purpose of the organization. The Royal Order of Jesters feel that there are times, after their hard work and dedication to family and mankind, everyone should remember to laugh and appreciate the good work they have done.[2].
The order is very anti-publicity. For example, a website made by one of its members was removed after intervention of the National Court of the Order. The primary reason behind this was the desire of the Board to minimize the public exposure or public access to Jester information.[citation needed]
[edit] Controversy
Several members of the organization in Western New York were charged with providing prostitutes for Jesters functions and transporting them across state lines. Retired State Supreme Court Justice Ronald Tills was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment in August 2009. Previously sentenced was former police captain John Trowbridge (two years probation) and Till's law clerk Michael Stebick (4 months home confinement).[3] The charges were limited to these members of the Buffalo chapter, and a Jesters spokesman stated that this conduct was confined to that chapter.
[edit] Membership
Local "courts" are limited to thirteen initiates yearly. Initiation, by invitation and unanimous ballot, is limited to members in good standing of the Shrine and Masonic Lodge.
[edit] Museum
The Royal Order of Jesters own a museum in Indiana, where they display items relating to the group and some items related to William Shakespeare and other historical people who focused on humor in their works.
[edit] References
- ^ Jesters History"Royal Order of Jesters: Mirth is King". http://www.iroj.org/. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
- ^ Royal Order of Jesters"Royal Order of Jesters: Mirth is King". http://www.iroj.org/. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
- ^ Fairbanks, Phil; Herbeck, Dan (08 Aug 2009). "Ex-Justice Tills given prison term in sex case: Federal judge calls women real victims". Buffalo News (Buffalo, N.Y.): p. B.1.
