FISHBOWL CLASSIC INC.
Some Interesting Facts
About Fish Bowl and Princes Hall Shriners
For over 61 years the Shriners of Arabia Temple # 12 based in
Portsmouth,
VA has sponsored the Fish Bowl Classic. This historic African American Football Classic has fostered fellowship among the Shrine Temples attracting fans and guests from all over the country and raising funds for the philanthropic efforts in the Hampton Roads area including The American Heart Association and The Renal and Sickle Cell Baby Units of the Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters. Historically, fans of the Fish Bowl from "out-of-town" stayed in private homes. The spirit of the ensuing fellowship continues to endure.
Being a Shriner is the ultimate achievement in Masonry. A Shriner becomes a Mason first, and then advances through various degrees. The highest degree for a Mason is 33.
African Americans have been Masons since 1775. Prince Hall, An American Revolution hero and 14 other African Americans were initiated into Masonry in
Boston,
Massachusetts by Army Lodge No. 144 of the Irish Constitution. African Lodge No.1 was organized a year later.
The Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine (A.E.A.O.N.M.S.) was established as an Imperial Council of Prince Hall Shriners in
Chicago in 1893. Arabia Temple No. 12 was "set aside" in 1902 as a constituent of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine of North and
South America.
Today, this worldwide Fraternal Shrine family has a membership of approximately 50,000 in 226 Shrine temples and in its auxiliary-Daughters of Isis with 204 Courts located throughout the continental
United States,
Canada,
Germany,
Italy,
England,
Spain,
Hawaii,
Japan,
Korea,
Guam,
Thailand,
Panama and the
Bahamas. The largest concentration of temples is in
North Carolina and
Virginia.
