Shriners International in P...

The sign you're looking at marks the **Abou Saad Shrine Center**, a local chapter of the **Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine**, commonly known as **Shriners International**. This fraternal organization is an offshoot of Freemasonry, dedicating itself to philanthropy, particularly through its network of Shriners Hospitals for Children, which provide specialized medical care regardless of a family's ability to pay.

The Shriners, easily recognizable by their distinctive red fezzes, combine Masonic principles with an "Ancient Arabic" theme, reflecting a 19th-century fascination with Orientalism. While they draw inspiration from Middle Eastern aesthetics and titles like "Potentate" and "Imperial Divan," the organization itself is entirely Western in origin, founded in New York City in 1870. The "Shrine Center" is their meeting hall, often hosting social events and fundraising activities. "Edificio 13" simply means building 13.

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