The Islands of the Fraternal Order of Moai

We get this question a lot. A whole lot.

I suppose it was foreseeable, the fez is not only a fine example of fashionable headgear, but it also has a huge amount of kitsch appeal to some, is fun to wear, etc.

And some people collect them... and ours are rather rare.

But no, you may not buy one from us. I am afraid it does not and cannot work that way.

..and joining the Order does not secure you a fez either. You are not handed one when you pass initiation.

Only certain Moai (The Honui) are called upon to wear the fez, and they are very proud of that honor. This is important to note, as you may find yourself at an event where there are Moai in fezzes. There are likely a great number of Moai at the event who are not Honui yet. So looking for Fellows of the Moai Order by looking for the fez is only going to get you access to a limited number of our wonderful people. You might be surprised at who you know that is a Fellow.

No, I cannot tell you anything more about the Honui or why they are fezzed.



The next question we get is:

Is it real?

Yes, it is authentic, made of wool felt, leather headband, the whole nine yards. Produced by the wonderful folks at D. Turin, who also make the Shriner's fezzes by the same spec.


Hopefully this answers these common questions.



Aloha,


Ahu

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Where, suddenly staining the blues, delirious 
and slow rhythms under the glowing red of day, 
stronger than alcohol, vaster than our lyrics, 
ferment the red bitters of love! 

I know heavens pierced by lightning, the waterspouts
and undertows and currents: I know night, 
Dawn rising like a nation of doves, 
and I've seen, sometimes, what men only dreamed they saw! 

It is something to aspire to attain! But, if someone wants to sport a "recreational" fez prior to attaiing a FOM fez, they might want to access Fez-o-rama to find that perfect personalized fez:

http://www.fez-o-rama.com/

Jason (aka Fezmonger) is a great guy and he makes some fun fezes. Nonetheless, they pale in comparrison to the fez of the Honui.

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True, friend, but believe me when I say, a fez earned is much much sweeter than a fez bought.

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Auf Bier vertrauen wir!
http://www.fnharsh.com

Reverently noted, BigD. I have to "earn" FOM membership first!

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Hear, hear! Plain, authentic Moroccan fezzes are out there too, if you look. I cringe when people who have never "crossed the hot sands" don Shriner fezzes. I'd never dream of wearing a Honui fez before being honored with that title. They both stand for something.

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considered buying a shriner fez I found at a local antique mall. The gentleman who ran the place wanted 15 bucks. I didn't buy it. How he arbitrarily gave it a 15 dollar price value on it, I don't know. The place looked like a hoarders paradise and not a price on anything. Anyway... I'll keep my fez head virgin until I earn one I suppose (fingers crossed).

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$15 is a good price if the fez is in decent shape - but I wouldn't wear a fraternal fez I didn't earn...

Stick around - take a shot!

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Auf Bier vertrauen wir!
http://www.fnharsh.com

Big D... it wasn't worth it. I agree... if it wasn't earned it wasn't worth wearing. Probably came out of some dead Shriner's estate sale anyway.

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...and no one wants to mess with a Zombie Shriner.

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Sometimes it's dark and stormy in my porthole.

Namaste-ake.

>racks shotgun shell into chamber<

Wanna bet, amigo?

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Auf Bier vertrauen wir!
http://www.fnharsh.com

Zombie Shriner driving a mini car.... great visual. Artists... get to work on this one!

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That would make an awesome t-shirt or print.

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A toast to Roger

How about a Zombie Shriner WEARING a mini car?

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"Zimbabwe's Shona people believe mermaids are fearsome enchantresses capable of wreaking vengeance on wrongdoers." -- HARARE, Zimbabwe

I have several fezzes that I have bought from Fez-o-rama. However, this fez seems more like an accomplishment than a product. Because of that, I would love the chance to earn it. Don't get me wrong. I'll still wear my fezzes, but the chance to earn a FOM fez would be a very high honor for me.

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"You're not going crazy. You're going sane in a crazy world!" - The Tick

I get the feeling you are trying to say you wanna join the FOM!?!?!?

You may want to find the thread How Can I Become a Fellow Moai?
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5937

It is super helpful and guides you along the steps.

Yes, I do. And yes I have. My main problem is I have a hard time communicating on forums. It's just something for me to get used to.

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"You're not going crazy. You're going sane in a crazy world!" - The Tick

That is one thing that I have learned in life, anything in life that's worth having is worth earning! I someday hope to earn a fezzes! But........
first things first, I have to become a member first.

Values of Shriners fezzes vary widely because the fezzes themselves do, so fifteen bucks is probably pretty reasonable, unless it had all kinds of bullion and such on it. Frankly, I think shrine fezzes have leaned over to the tacky side with rhinestones and such.

I'd probably underscore that it's generally best not to wear any fraternal bling you didn't earn, but there are generally held exceptions. Square & compass, typically nope. Unless you've got your father or grandfather's ring or something. Familial ties can be important, but stick it in your pocket or on a string around your neck. Wear it if you follow in his footsteps and join.

A shrine fez? meeeh. The shrine does great, charitable work. I'd hate to be wearing one for fun, and then some kid comes up to me on crutches and thanks me for helping him walk again. Awkward. But the Shrine exists for fun and good times, mostly, so I'd have no issue wearing one as a piece of retro-hipsterism in appropriate venues.

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If you need me, I'll be at the bar.

I agree. I might save a fez from the trash heap but I would not wear it.

-Rev

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To taua na Moai!

As a Shriner I would suggest, perhaps plead, not to wear a Shriner fez in public. As with the FOM fez a Shriner has to uphold a certain persona and pledge to certain ideals. The AAOMS sets guidelines as to when to wear a fez and the local Divan makes the call as to wearing or not wearing.

Therefore having a non-member running around in a flea market/ebay bought fez "for fun" and acting not according to our virtues gives the organization a bad name. We are fun loving and fun seeking don't get me wrong, but we also get internally chastised if we do wrong. A non-member would never get that consul. We are proud of our work (raising money for FREE care at our Hospitals) and we are happy when things we do make people happy like driving the mini-cars, dressing as clowns, riding Harleys, riding coolers, playing instruments, and other things you see in parades. We accept the "drunken Shriner" moniker but play it down saying it is from the olden days.

I do own fezzes from other Shrines because of what they mean to me. I have a Fez from Hawaii Shrine they are known as Aloha and that one is displayed on my wall. I have one from Medinah from the circus committee only because they don't have a circus anymore.

Oh and the rhinestone fezzes are preferred among members because, believe me, when you are an initiate at a large shrine on a stage looking into a crowd you see all those rhinestones flickering and it just reinforces the scope of what you are becoming. The other type are usually worn by officers who are on stage.

So in closing, we don't need a bunch characters "acting" like us because they bought a fez and did not earn it.

Keep it classy FOM.

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My heart is full but my glass is empty

Word!!!!

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Sometimes it's dark and stormy in my porthole.

Namaste-ake.

I have a large fez collection, but they’re all from Fez-o-Rama, save one. An ex knew of my collection and brought me a beautiful Shrine fez she found at an antique store. I never wore it, but also probably missed an opportunity to educate when I didn’t tell her why. It has a nice place on my shelf, because it’s a reminder of someone who did what they thought was a kind, loving thing.

-CP




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KahunaCP (1/4 of the 4 Kahunas)
Baltimore-ish, MD