By Kyla Hurt
Tony Moore began his journey to become a Shriner in 2010. He first became a mason, or freemason — now, all Shriners are masons, but not all masons are Shriners.
Moore became a Master Mason in late 2010. According to ansarshrine.com, “Members of the Masonic lodges are required to learn about their fraternity and earn a series of Masonic degrees. When a member has completed the third and final degree, he becomes a Master Mason and is then eligible to become a Shriner.” In January 2011, Moore became a Shriner and then president of Rasna Shrine in 2012. He says, “From there, I was actively involved.”
Most recently, Moore received a new honor. Moore was elected to the position of Ansar High Priest and Prophet for 2022. Moore explains, “Basically, it’s like a 7-year line. They voted on it in the December [2021] meeting.” In generic terms, to be a part of the leadership in the Shrine, it is a process of nomination, election and then the vote is put on the floor. The natural succession would be Assistant Rabban in 2023, Chief Rabban in 2024 and then Potentate (the highest in the temple level) in 2025.
Ansar Shrine, the temple based in Springfield, has somewhere around 2,300-2,400 members and within their coverage area, there are about 40 clubs or units. One such club under the umbrella of Ansar Shrine is Rasna Shrine, to which Moore specifically belongs.
The Shriners fraternity is based on fun, fellowship and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth. Essentially, it’s the idea of promoting fun, fellowship and philanthropy. Ansar was chartered on July 13, 1915. Check out more about them locally at AnsarShrine.com.
The Ansar Shrine page states, “Shriners International is a fraternity based on fun, fellowship and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth with nearly 200 temples (chapters) in several countries and thousands of clubs around the world. Our fraternity is open to men of integrity from all walks of life. Shriners International also supports Shriners Hospitals for Children, a health system of 22 locations.”
It is at the Shriners Hospital for
Children-St. Louis where Moore first really learned a bit about the Shriners. He and his wife, Dana, spent time there over multiple years with their son, James “Brock” Moore. Brock Moore was treated at Shriners from age 5-21. He was in a wheelchair for several years until he was able to be transitioned to casts (after surgeries) and braces, which he wore until roughly age 10, still using a wheelchair as needed for longer distances. Tony and Dana Moore’s twins were preemies around the time that they started care for Brock.
Following is the first-hand account of James “Brock” Moore as reprinted courtesy of Shriner Magazine, produced by Shriners International Headquarters:
WHEN I WAS FIVE, I noticed pain in my hip, had trouble running and began to limp. My pediatrician thought I would be ok, but an orthopedic surgeon wanted to do two or three surgical procedures, putting plates and screws throughout my hip joint.
My parents wanted a third opinion. A family friend suggested the Shriners Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Even though I was seen within a month, by the time I got there my gait was off and one leg was shorter than the other. On that first visit, we met a man who would forever change my life. Dr. Perry Schoenecker was, at the time, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and chief of surgery at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Shriners Children’s St. Louis.
He gave my parents the true diagnosis of Legg-Calve Perthes disease, a condition that cuts off the blood flow to the femoral heads that sit in your pelvic sockets. It causes excruciating pain. Both of my hips were affected.
Dr. Schoenecker wanted to pursue a different treatment involving casting and bracing. After an initial surgery, I had three years of casting, followed by wearing fiberglass braces that could be taken off for one hour each day. It was extremely hard for me – so hard that my parents had to put a padlock on the braces so I couldn’t take them off. I wore the braces for another two years. When I was 10, I finally got to take the braces off for good, and I was able to put some weight on my legs with assistance from crutches and start physical therapy.
On August 5, 2012, my family and I went to Shriners Children’s for the last time. I was 21.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in exercise science at Eastern Illinois University, I began the process of becoming a Mason, and in early spring of 2016 I became a member of Ansar Shriners in Springfield, Illinois.
If it wasn’t for Dr. Schoenecker and all the doctors and physical therapists at Shriners Children’s, chances are I wouldn’t be walking today. I owe them everything.
Moore says, “I told my wife that I need to give back [after all their Shriners dealings]. It’s in my heart.”
When his son, now age 29, became a Shriner nearly 6 years ago, Moore couldn’t have been prouder that his son was also inspired to give back: “It’s the ‘don’t ever give up’ kind of feels. He would call kids that were having a hard time … you think your kids have the worst problems in the world, but then you walk in there [Shriners Hospital for Children-St. Louis].” Moore talks about a 5- or 6-year-old little girl that he met; she had one foot literally turned 180 degrees around. He witnessed how she was treated and excelled, truly what amazing help and medical work the people at the Shriners.
“It’s all about helping one kid. We don’t want to have any kids fall through the cracks as far as treatments available,” explains Moore.
Moore is also the current chairperson of off-premises screenings for Ansar Shrine. He shares, “It’s just getting public
knowledge out to people to get an evaluation of their child … so we can get the paperwork in to St Louis … it just saves them a step from going down there ahead of time. It’s neat to be able to help kids … parents that are reaching out for help or not knowing which way to go … we’ll get you there [to the appropriate care and to the Shriners Hospital] … if you can’t get there, we’ll find a way for you to get there. No cost to you, no nothing.”
Moore adds, “ It’s humbling. It’s just another way where, again, we want to get it as less stressful for the patient and parent as it can possibly be. We’ll get you wherever you need to be … those in need can be at any income level … no one is turned away for financial reasons … care is covered for any walk of life.” This is especially amazing as Moore notes that it costs $34 a second to keep the hospitals running. Think about that.
The Rasna Shrine Club sponsors clinics such as Ansar Shrine “Screening Clinic for Children with Bone, Muscle or Joint Problems.” One such free clinic was recently held in White Hall. If you missed the clinic and need information about future options, contact Tony Moore at 217-720-9484.
Overall, “Shriners International is a fraternity based on fun, fellowship and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth with nearly 200 temples (chapters) in several countries and thousands of clubs around the world. For more information, please visit shrinternational.org,” according to the Ansar Shriners Facebook page.
Moore continues, explaining that to have become a mason is to live the idea of making good men better. “Making Good Men Better” is an accessible and succinct devotional for masons/Freemasons. It’s somewhat of a slogan or way of life. Moore chose Shriners, whose slogan is “The most amazing care anywhere.”
Moore repeats, “It’s all about helping kids.” He emphasizes that a lot more people need to know exactly what they are doing.
Some ways to support the area Shriners include Queen of Hearts events every Friday at Martin Lanes in Roodhouse; Queen of Hearts every Thursday evening at Floyd’s 104 in Meredosia; watching for news of events on their Facebook; attending the Ansar Shrine Circus in Springfield, which will be held November 11, 12 and 13 of this year; purchasing real Vidalia onions from the upcoming fundraiser; and more.
Moore himself will be set up in the parking lot of Edward Jones at 1853 S. Main St. in Jacksonville on Saturday, May 7, tentatively from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and then again on Sunday. The cost is $10.00 for 10 pounds and bags can be preordered through Moore.
Moore mentions the joy and feedback he’s received from riding in the Tin Lizzy parade cars as well. “It’s amazing. There are people coming up to you [during parades] and sharing their stories.”
He ends, “It is truly amazing what [Shriners] can do for children in need … until you’ve been there and seen the care, it’s hard to comprehend. I’m simply humbled with this experience.”
Congratulations on leading as Ansar High Priest and Prophet, Tony Moore.
Moore and his wife, Dana, live in Jacksonville. They have four children: Brock (29), twins Cady and Connor (24), and Madison (22).
