Rajah News - June 2022

Looking to add to the holdings of the
organization, at the annual business meeting of
Rajah Temple on January 19, 1967, the members
assembled authorized the purchase Willow Glen
Park on Penn Avenue (Route 422) in Sinking
The year of 2022 is very significant in the
history of Shriners International, Shriners
Children’s Hospitals and Rajah Shrine. This
is the second article in this series that will
be published this year in an effort to bring
you a history of one of the greatest fraternal
organizations that exists today.
In the first article we looked at the
history of The Shrine of North America,
Ancient Order of Nobles of North America –
(A.A.O.N.M.S.) now, Shriners International.
In this, the second article, we will look at the history of Rajah Shrine from our founding in 1892 to the present, including the
acquisition The year and of relocation 2022 is very to our significant new home in in Blandon, the history PA. of Shriners International, Shriners Children’s
Hospitals As has been and recorded, Rajah Rajah Shrine. Shrine This had is its the beginnings Second in article 1892. On in August this series 24th, of that will year, the be Lu published Lu Club of this Reading was
dissolved year in and effort all of its to records bring and you members a history became of one part of the new greatest Rajah Temple. fraternal The organizations favorable action followed that exists at the Imperial
Session in Omaha, Nebraska on August 15, 1893, when permission was granted, a new charter issued and Rajah Shrine became
today.
a member of the Shrine of North America, thus becoming the 63rd Shrine Temple operating under the auspices of the national
governing
In the first
body.
article we looked at the history of The Shrine of North America, Ancient Order of
Nobles Upon establishment of North America of the new – shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S.) body in Reading, now, PA, Shriners the founding International.
fathers entered into an agreement to purchase the
former St. Matthew Lutheran Church at Pear and Franklin Streets in downtown Reading. Each of the 12 obligated new members
provided In this, the necessary second funds article to purchase we will the look property at the for history $6,000, with of Rajah repayment Shrine made from several our years founding later. in 1892
to the present, including the acquisition and relocation The second to our home new of home Rajah in Temple Blandon, was purchased PA. in 1917. The
former Academy of Music, one of Reading’s largest theaters, at 136
As has been recorded, Rajah Shrine had its beginnings North Sixth in 1892, Street and as on was August home to 24th, Rajah of Shriners that year, until the year
the Lu Lu Club of Reading was dissolved and all 2000, of when its records the local and Shrine members headquarters became was moved part to of a the 50-acre site
new Rajah Temple. The favorable action followed
near Blandon,
at the Imperial
PA.
Session in Omaha, Nebraska
on August 15, 1893, when permission was granted, Upon a new taking charter possession issued of the and property Rajah Shrine
downtown Reading,
steps were immediately taken by Potentate George F. Eisenbrown
became a member of the Shrine of North America, thus becoming the 63 rd Shrine Temple
and fellow officers to reconstruct and modernize the big four-story
operating under the auspices of the national governing
building,
body.
including a finished basement, meeting rooms and a
performance theatre for its members and for public engagements.
Upon establishment of the new shrine body in Reading, PA, the founding fathers entered into an
Following the move to the new temple, the building at Franklin and
agreement to purchase the former St. Matthew Lutheran Church at Pear and Franklin Streets in
Pearl Streets was sold for $36,000.
downtown Reading. Each of the 12 obligated new members provided the necessary funds to
In the many yeas that Rajah
purchase the Second property Temple for $6,000, circa 1917 with repayment made several years later.
Shriners occupied the building in
Reading, hundreds of thousands of
The dollars second were home spent of on Rajah the building Temple to maintain was purchased the in 1917.
The
structural
former
integrity,
Academy
including
of Music,
construction
one of
to
Reading’s
meet
largest
all of the safety requirements for the convenience
theaters, at 136 North Sixth Street and was home to Rajah
and welfare of the many thousands of visitors
Shriners that entered until the the building, year 2000, costing when more than the local a half Shrine
headquarters million dollars. was moved to a 50-acre site near Blandon, PA,
Second Temple circa 1917
The Temple as it looked in 1967
RAJAH SHRINE
The Story of a Tradition
Building for the Future
By Greg Lewis, PP
Ill. Sir George F.
Eisenbrown
Spring at a cost of $47,500.00. The park consisted of 21 acres and included a
picnic area, several smaller buildings, a skating rink and a secluded area that was
used by the Rajah Gun Club. From 1963 until the 2000, the Pote’s Picnic was held
annually on the first Wednesday in August at the Willow Glen Park before being
moved to the East End Gun Club in Exeter Township. It has now been held at the
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