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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to
3congratulate the Ainad Shriners of East St. Louis on the
4occasion of Ainad Temple serving as its headquarters for the
5past 100 years; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The Ainad Shriners broke ground on Ainad Temple
7on June 3, 1922; the structure was designed with a Moorish
8theme by renowned architect William B. Ittner of St. Louis and
9Ainad Noble Albert B. Frankel of East St. Louis; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Ainad Temple was erected not only as the
11headquarters for Ainad Shriners throughout all of Southern
12Illinois but also in response to a growing need in the region
13for a public venue for conventions, sporting events, and
14social events within the community; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Ainad Temple was dedicated on October 26, 1923,
16with a ceremony and parade that gathered thousands in
17attendance, including Ainad members, Masonic affiliated
18bodies, their families, elected officials, and community
19leaders, and the day was celebrated as a holiday within the
20City of East St. Louis; and
 
21    WHEREAS, In its 100-year history, Ainad Temple has hosted

 

 

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1a variety of activities, including conventions, band
2performances and concerts, charitable and fundraising events,
3banquets, bond rallies, competitions, beauty contests, dances,
4car shows, expositions, funerals, governmental agency and
5military events, political and union rallies, circuses, home
6shows, minstrels, religious events, TV and radio shows, movie
7showings, sporting events, vaccinations, and many fraternal
8events; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Ainad Temple remains the headquarters for Ainad
10Shriners today, with the organization's jurisdiction including
11the majority of Southern Illinois south of Springfield and
12boasting over 3,260 members, the largest membership of the
13five temples located within Illinois and the fourth largest of
14the 201 temples located around the world; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Ainad Temple continues to serve as an anchor for
16the community and the neighborhood due to the facility
17remaining one of the few structures in the downtown area of
18East St. Louis to be in good condition and well maintained; the
19facility is regularly leased to local organizations for
20various events and activities in addition to continuing to
21serve the needs of the Ainad Shriners; and
 
22    WHEREAS,The Ainad Shriners will celebrate the 100th
23anniversary of Ainad Temple with a rededication ceremony and a

 

 

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1celebration onsite on September 30, 2023; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the
4Ainad Shriners of East St. Louis on Ainad Temple serving as its
5headquarters for the past 100 years, and we wish the
6organization continued success in the next century; and be it
7further
 
8    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9presented to the Ainad Shriners as an expression of our esteem
10and respect.