Exploring an Abandoned Temple - Ancient Order of the Mystic Shrine - YouTube

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Right now we're in the basement of an abandoned temple

As we entered, the exact purpose of the building and its history were unknown to us

but it would soon be revealed as we explored We're only just in the basement and it's still like

already really ornate

It seems like there's stuff in here, too. It's not just cleared out

These were filters for when a bunch of people smoked in here, it would filter out the smoke

It's literally called a smoke eater

These are marble staircases.... that's what these

Oh stained glass even

[inaudible]

Wow, this is a fantastic building though. This is just the lobby

Even the radiator is detailed, that's awesome

"A Memory of Nobles"

Recorder office to record meetings I guess

So yeah, what do you know about this place? I don't know any of that. I just know it looks cool as fuck

Let's go in here, we might find some clues as to what this was

Is this Hebrew, Bryan?

No- It's not Hebrew? That's Arabic

Oh yeah, it says "ancient Arabic order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine"

So this literally all just sounds like cult like gibberish

I mean I have no idea what this place was and if it was like actually called like [?] or something the

Freemasons or whatever? But listen to this, it just sounds like gibberish

"The Edict of 13th July last prohibiting the communication of the order except under emerging conditions

Which should alone warrant the issue of

Dispensation for such purpose has aroused the officers of subordinate bodies to the importance of the ritual and accessories

Until now there is not to my knowledge any temple in this jurisdiction

Which is not fully equipped and in condition to render the ceremonial as prescribed by the statutes." That's the first paragraph in this book

I'm sure if I went on it would go even crazier

So now we've learned that this temple belonged to an organization called the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine or

"Shriners" for short it's a Masonic body

that's been around since the late 1800s and was once seen as one of the most prestigious

Organizations to be a part of This receipt is literally dated

1912

Look at some of the calligraphy like on this piece of paper right here

This bathroom is pretty creepy looking

Just a bunch of trophies

They added the drop ceiling over these windows that go up way more

Hate it when places that just add drop ceiling and cover up shit like that

Let's go up a floor to see if there's more offices. Alright, I'm gonna go up the other side of you

Well 'guess there's not more offices This is the main attraction

Wow look at that stained glass That's unbelievable

It's got the crescent moon symbol right in the middle and repeated many times actually around the edge

Despite the presence of Arabic in the name of the

organization, the Arabian architecture, and the crescent moon symbols throughout, the temple actually had nothing to do with Islam

In fact, the Shriners were founded by New York City elites

The middle-eastern decor was simply part of a theme they adopted after attending

exclusive parties held by Iranian diplomats

It's a pretty textbook case of cultural appropriation, but it certainly resulted in the construction of beautiful and distinctive buildings such as this one

So the floor up would just be like

the projector and stuff

There's a lot of seating in here

Shit there's still clothes in here...wow

It's like what they would wear if they were gonna start...

Their ceremonial garb

This place is- there's a lot left

Wow

Backstage area They had a dressing room

More Christmas decorations... a full Christmas tree

in those arches there are speakers

They probably would have had actual musical instruments back here back in the day like a piano or an organ or something and

Then in modern times they just replaced them with speakers

We can go up there on those stairs

I know, it's a catwalk or something

Want to go up on the catwalk?

There's a ladder to the roof

We can go up this ladder and go up above the stage area

Walking up here does not seem too safe, so we probably won't

Oh, now it got really dim

What's with these weird paper mache horses

These big old stage lights

Holy cow the echo is insane right here

[various clicking noises as an example]

Bryan you have to experience this, this is literally nuts

Get in the dead center though, it's craziest in the dead center

Wow, that's actually pretty crazy

[Michael purposefully makes the floor squeak by moving his legs]

Sounds like laser beams [squeaking continues]

Oh! I'd bet we can do the whispering corner in here

You go in that corner

You go in that corner. I go in that corner, and then we whisper up and we'll be able to hear each other

Let's try it

[whispering] Alright, Bryan, can you hear me?

Oh my god, I can [general snickering and celebration]

I can hear you like you're right next to me

I know, this is crazy

Oh my god. It sounds like you're right next to me. I know what the...

Psst, psst! Look behind you

What? [more giggling ensues]

Yeah, so there'd be lighting and projectors up here probably those lights we saw in there

What's up there, the Attic?

No... Well, I mean yes, but even better

Even better than the Attic

Be super careful

It's pretty incredible

Let's go through this convenient hole in the curtain. I don't know probably just goes to the stage

An exit into backstage

There's still a backdrop up

These are all dimmer switches if only there was power in here

a lot of curtain and lighting adjustments here

These were all their lockers

These were double door lockers

It's a big roll of toilet paper more than double this is also their locker in here

That might be the oldest looking microwave. I've ever seen

All right

This is definitely way cooler than I thought it would be

Yeah

There's a shit ton of stuff left inside look at this

Perfect some are broken, but

Most of them are intact tons of them in here... teacups

it's unreal

The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine is still alive and well today although

They are now officially known as Shriners International

You may be familiar with them from their network of hospitals called the Shriners Hospital for Children

where they provide treatment to any child in need at little to no cost

As for the temple itself it may see a new future

the community appears very

Interested in preserving the structure and sometime after the filming of our video the building was surveyed to determine the cost of restoration

If you haven't heard we have a handful of prints available on our shop website

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