Hope this explains to some degree about the Fez and it's color.
Ben Steen, India, OK


Some religious intolerants, in attempting to show even more 'evils of
Freemasonry', point to the red fez worn by North American Masons who are
members of the Shrine. Because of their choice of headgear, Shriners are
supposedly 'worshipping Satan'.

Where does this charge originate? Anti-Masons have fabricated a story that
in the 8th century, Muslim hoards overran the city of Fez in Morocco and
butchered 50,000 Christians - and that the streets ran red with blood. The
claim further states that the murderers dipped their caps in the blood to
honor Allah and that the blood-stained caps were called 'fezzes' and became
idols dedicated to Satan.

The facts, however, are far different - and come from four different
perspectives:

The Shrine was founded in 1872 in New York City. It arose from a luncheon
group which included a physician and an actor and from which a huge,
philanthropic group grew. The history of the Shrine became somewhat clouded
in its early years as some attempted to ascribe actual connections of the
organization to places such as Mecca and elsewhere in the Middle East while
others recognized it much as it was: an organization founded for the purpose
of 'having fun' which adopted fanciful theatrics from a little-known part of
the world. (1) With a name such as "Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the
Mystic Shrine" as well as some past controversy about origin and a history
of 'fun' which in some cases perhaps bordered on rowdiness, the Shrine is in
a unique position for charges which would present it in an evil light.

Historically, there is no basis in fact for the charge. The city of Fez was
founded by an invader, Sultan Idris I. Idris, who won a war against resident
pagans at the very end of the eighth century. All of the conquered were
converted to Islam and if there were any Christians, history does not record
this. The cap itself wasn't begun until after the second sultan, Idris II,
expanded the town to the other side of the river as he attempted to
encourage local craft industries. It is important to remember that the dyes
of that time were not particularly bright colors but the Moroccans had
several good dyes whose formulas were secret. One of these was a bright red
and was used in the manufacture of that brilliant red cap which was named
after the city of its manufacture, Fez.

Blood, particularly in the hot Middle East, dries particularly fast. The
concept of 'running blood' almost defies imagination. Further, any material
(particularly the felt type of material used in the fez) when dripped in
blood would turn a deep, dark color of red bordering on the brown. With the
prevalence of flies and other insects, does it make sense that anyone would
dip a piece of headgear so essential to protect oneself from the elements
into a fluid which would subject them to all sorts of pestilence - and ruin
a piece of clothing vitally necessary? The simple facts obviate the
foolishness of this story.

The jealousy surrounding the wonderful Shriners' charities lead some to
revel in the opportunity to present those who perform such good works in an
evil light. Rather than build something up, they attempt to make themselves
look large by diminishing others.


Many love to repeat again and again this horrid claim. We've yet to see any
of them produce proof of their charge. The claims about the fez are simply
more lies in the arsenal of the anti-Mason.

Shrine-Masons wear their fez proudly knowing that it represents a century of
good works and fun.



1. Referring to Mackey's Revised Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, for example,
it is somewhat easy to overlook the fact that some of the descriptions about
the history of the Shrine are preceded by the comment that "...it is
difficult to say with precision how much or how little confidence should be
placed in the any claims made for an exclusively foreign origin of the
institution."