About Jerusalem Temple No. 4

The Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine of North and South America and Its Jurisdictions, Inc. has a long and colorful history. Noble John George Jones, the founder, was introduced to the ritualistic mysteries of the Order during the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Within days, Noble Jones — along with 13 other Prince Hall Masons — organized Palestine Temple in the Apollo Hall on State Street, establishing the Imperial Grand Council of Prince Hall Shriners on June 10, 1893. Jones then traveled across the United States, setting up Prince Hall Shrine Temples in cities including Baltimore, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, New York City, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and many others.

In 1899, after internal challenges threatened the organization, Noble Isaac L. W. Holland of Pyramid Temple in Philadelphia called members nationwide to reorganize. On December 12, 1900, a meeting was held in Philadelphia with officers from Pyramid Temple, Sahara Temple, and Magnus Temple, where the Imperial Council was reorganized and adopted its current name. On September 25, 1901, the newly organized Imperial Council held its first annual session in Newark, New Jersey, formally adopting a Constitution and establishing the fraternity as a charitable, benevolent, fraternal, and social organization dedicated to the welfare and extension of Prince Hall Freemasonry. A defining moment came between 1919 and 1929, when the A.E.A.O.N.M.S. successfully defended its right to exist through a series of lawsuits that culminated in a unanimous United States Supreme Court victory on June 3, 1929 — a triumph commemorated every year with a "Jubilee Day" celebration across the Domain.

In 1910, the Imperial Court — an Auxiliary to the A.E.A.O.N.M.S. — was established for the mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters of male members. Today, the A.E.A.O.N.M.S. and Imperial Court together count over 25,000 members throughout the Continental United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, England, Spain, Hawaii, Japan, Korea, Guam, Thailand, Panama, and the Bahamas. The A.E.A.O.N.M.S. is a benevolent, charitable, and fraternal organization dedicated to fostering civic, economic, and educational development worldwide — supporting annual grants for medical research with the American Diabetes Association, financial support for HBCUs, the Imperial Council Book Bag Program, student aid and scholarships, annual grants to the NAACP and UNCF, youth summer camps, voter education and registration drives, and ongoing dialogue with national leaders on issues affecting African Americans.