SANDY FROST

Online Investigative Journalist, Author, Publisher

Articles Posted: 87 Links Seeded: 255

Member Since: 6/2006 Last Seen: 2/08/2012

Royal Order of Jester (ROJ) Resource & Poll

Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:33 AM EDT

us-news, prostitution, shriners, royal-order-of-jesters, child-sex-tourism, ralph-semb, tills, trowbridge, stebick, shriner-hospitals-closing

By Sandy Frost

Live Poll

Should the Senate Finance Committee hold hearings to investigate issues of nonprofit compliance issues using the Royal Order of Jesters as a test case?

Editor's Note:
This resource was created as a public service for those wanting to know more about the Shriners' secret sub-group, the Royal Order of Jesters. The intention is to provide more information in advance of the April 29 UTMB v Shriners hearing in Galveston, Texas and the May 6 and 7 sentencings of those two Jesters caught by the FBI in a human trafficking sting out of Buffalo, NY.
Thank you,
Sandy Frost
Starbucks, WA

The buzz at this year's Shriner Fourth of July convention is going to be how their endowment lost $3 billion in less than a year, on top of losing $1 million a day since 2001, as everyone was blindsided by the news that the joint boards are considering closing six of their hospitals "because of the economy."

If anyone asks Shriner leaders "Where did all the money go?" they will be hushed up or threatened or told to leave or brought up on "charges" before an internal kangaroo court or sued for defamation or otherwise retaliated against.

There is a bigger problem, however, that the Shriners should address. It is one that leaders will never acknowledge and one that members will never be allowed to discuss and that is the Shriners secret sub-group, the Royal Order of Jesters and their prostitution/sex crime scandals.

Though the Jesters are holding their annual meeting at the same time as the Shriners convention in San Antonio, they will be persona non grata and swept under the rug.

Why?

Because the majority those who control the Shriners joint boards are also Jesters. Why would they implicate themselves and invite more scrutiny when the media is already asking about hospital closures? What if anyone factored mismanagement, corruption and a lack of ethics into the "blame the economy" equation to hypothesize a corporate model that either allowed or facilitated these staggering losses?

So what does the Shriner/Jester family tree look like?

The Shriners and the Royal Order of Jesters are appendant groups of Freemasonry. One must first be a Master Mason before being able to join sub-groups like the Scottish Rite, Knights Templar and the Shriners. However, one must first be an invited Shriner before joining the Royal Order of Jesters, a self-described "luxury organization for only those who can qualify and who can afford it."

There are about 23,500 Jesters organized into "courts" that correspond to the 191 Shriner temples located across North America.

Below is a list of Jester related articles, beginning with "Jesters Exposed," the first article ever written about the ROJ.

It was published on February 15, 2008 and was mostly about nonprofit tax technicalities and how the nonprofit group's leaders ordered that the internet be scrubbed of ROJ information to "minimize to the extent possible, our public exposure or its access to Jesters information" because it had been alleged that their weekend meetings were nothing more than prostitution parties where they drank and played high stakes poker at taxpayer expense.

A few days after that, I learned about how 19 Jesters were named on a witness list for the defense in a defamation action between two fishing tour operators who took groups to fish the Amazon in Brazil. "'Jesters' To Testify about Illegal Drugs, Child Prostitution?" was published about three weeks later, on March 6, 2008, and reported how these Jesters were expected to testify about "their first hand knowledge of prostitution, minor prostitution, use of illegal drugs and/or the alleged illegal entry of one of the tour operators into Indian reservations by the plaintiff and his customers."

Three days later, on March 9, 2008, The Buffalo News reported "Former Judge Tills resigns amid FBI prostitution investigation."

Reporters Dan Herbeck and Aaron Besecker wrote:

"A retired State Supreme Court justice resigned his post as a hearing officer as federal agents investigate his alleged role in taking a local massage parlor worker across state lines for purposes of prostitution. FBI and U.S. Border Patrol agents are investigating allegations that retired Judge Ronald H. Tills, his former law clerk and a retired police captain took the female massage parlor employee in a motor home to a gathering of members of a nationwide group called the Royal Order of Jesters."

Turns out the judge, his law clerk and the retired police captain got caught in a FBI human trafficking sting and pleaded guilty to taking, or conspiring to take, illegal alien prostitutes to Jester parties in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Florida as well as a national meeting held in Ontario, Canada. The law clerk was sentenced last December to four months home confinement, fined $5,000, ordered to 250 hours of community service and put on two years probation.

The former judge and retired police captain are scheduled to be sentenced May 6 and 7 for violating the Mann Act.

Below is a chronological list of Jester articles, with links to those documents being described including Jester tax returns that show how they spent nearly $600,000 on one of their weekend parties, a revised constitution that shows the interdependence between the Shriners and Jesters, a list of meetings, ceremonies like "The Book of the Play," depositions and plea agreements.

http://sandyfrost.newsvine.com/_news/2008/02/15/1304754-jesters-exposed”">Jesters Exposed Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:35 PM EST

This is the first article ever written about the Shriner secret sub-group, the Royal Order of Jesters or ROJ. It reports:

• ROJ 2005 tax returns AKA the 990s show that the Jesters fraternal brought in over $1.3 million dollars with assets totaling over $1.8 million dollars.

• ROJ 2005 tax returns show that Jesters charitable brought in over $420,000 with assets totaling $835,000, for a combined worth of about $2.65 million dollars and that charitable contributions went toward building their new $1.2 million 5,000 square foot HQ/museum in Indianapolis, Indiana.

• In 2006, ROJ executive director Alex Rogers, who is also an attorney and past potentate, submitted an application for property tax exemption to the Marion County Assessor that was initially denied because tax authorities were not convinced that the Jesters qualified as a charity, based on the museum claims, under Indiana law.

• Rogers appealed the decision and convinced the Indiana Tax Assessment Board of Appeals that the Jesters are an appendant body of Masonry. Both parties entered into a Settlement Agreement in January, 2007 that stipulated a 100% fraternal tax exemption for the year 2005, otherwise the Jesters would have had to cough up about $12,000 in property taxes.

• Two ROJ executive directors appear to be practicing law out of Jester HQ in Indiana and Texas. IRS nonprofit laws state that no one shall benefit personally from a nonprofit group.

• “Royal Stage Manager” Dennis Schueler sent a letter to Jester webmaster Frank Baillie, informing him that the Jesters had “directed the abolition of all Jester-related bulletin boards and internet sites. The primary reason behind such action was the desire of the Board to minimize to the extent possible, our public exposure or its access to Jesters information.”

• ROJ functions have always been listed on the Imperial Council’s annual session agenda.

• Shriners’ corporate communications director, Alicia Aargiz-Lyons failed to respond to phone messages and emailed questions about the Royal Order of Jesters.

"Jesters" To Testify about Illegal Drugs, Child Prostitution?
Thu Mar 6, 2008 1:35 PM EST

This article is about how 19 Jesters were named on a witness list for the defense in a federal defamation lawsuit and associated court documents. It reports:

• Federal court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division regarding a defamation lawsuit between two fishing tour operators, Richard Schair and Phillip Marsteller, includes a defense witness list that names 19 witnesses who are members of the ROJ and are expected to testify about fishing trips to Brazil and “their first hand knowledge of prostitution, minor prostitution, use of illegal drugs and/or entry into Indian reservations by Schair (plaintiff) and/or his customers.”

• The ROJ was investigated by the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas in 2005 after they received a complaint alleging Jester parties revolved around sex with prostitutes, illegal gambling and alcohol. It ended with no “prosecutions.”

• The Wichita Jester Court #24 reported to the IRS that they spent $122,102 in 2006 for the exempt purpose of “recreation, entertainment and companionship.”

• The Long Beach Jester Court #161 reported to the IRS that they spent $82,543 in 2006 as “benefits paid to members.”

• Five girls gave statements to Brazilian federal police officers last year as they were investigating “minor Indian and other girls living near the rivers in the region of the Municipality of Autazes/AM who became victims of sexual exploitation by North American foreign tourists.”

• These depositions described how the girls were, at the time of the alleged minor prostitution, aged 13, 14, 16.

• One of the 16 year olds stated that her 14 year old sister was also recruited.

• All the girls state they were lured onto the fishing boat by someone named "Richard."

• These depositions describe the crime otherwise known as “child sex tourism.”

Judge Central Figure in FBI Probe, the S.O.B.I.B. and the Jesters' Half Million Dollar Weekend Parties
Sat Apr 12, 2008 1:30 PM PDT

This article describes how Shriner/Jester and former New York Supreme Court Judge Tills has become the focus of the FBI’s investigation, exposes a clandestine Jester sub-group called the S.O.B.I.B. and details shocking data found on Jester tax returns. It reports:

• Tills is listed as a member of an inside Jesters group called the "S.O.B.I.B." The acronym allegedly stands for something like "Secret Order of Brother/s in Blood."

• Ralph Semb, chairman of the board of trustees for the Shriners Hospitals for Children, is both a Jester and a member of the S.O.B.I.B.

• The International Royal Order of Jesters, Inc. and the National Court of the Royal Order of Jesters fail to list the S.O.B.I.B. on line 80b of their 2003, 2004 and 2005 tax returns. Line 80a asks "Is the organization related (other than by association with a statewide or nationwide organization) through common membership, governing bodies, trustees, officers, etc., to any other exempt or non exempt organizations?" Line 80b asks “If 'Yes,' enter the name of the organization."

• The Jesters further fail to correctly answer questions about their exempt purpose.

• Tax returns report that in 2003, the Jesters' weekend ritual “The Book of the Play” (BOP) expenses were $226,268, with income of $400,548. In 2004, they spent $545,806 on the BOP, with income of $584,661. In 2005, they spent $307,345 with income of $454,783.

• Three years of ROJ tax returns report that director's expense as $31,116, $24,778 and $31,865 respectively, though these expenses are not reported in Part II.

• Three years of ROJ tax returns list $0 for Program Services.

• Three years of ROJ tax returns report gross receipts of $1,208,146, $1,394,551 and $1,310, 539.

• A Thursday, December 20, 2007 request for the ROJ 2006 990 and Form 1023 remains unanswered. (The Form 1023 is a group's application for tax exempt status. IRS regulations state that the organization must provide the requested document/s within 30 days from the date it received the request.)

Brazilian Fishing Trip Depositions: "Masons" Pictured Having Sex with Teen Prostitutes?
Sun May 25, 2008 3:55 PM PDT

This is the second article requiring an “Adult Warning.” What began as a defamation lawsuit between two fishing tour operators has led to the possibility that “Masons” participated in child sex tourism and minor prostitution. It reports:

· Two fishing guides, previously employed by the plaintiff, were deposed by the Brazilian federal police to describe what they witnessed as part of their same investigation into the international crime of “child sex tourism.”

· These guides spent three days in Miami with attorneys from both sides, interpreters, a videographer and both parties as they testified about what they witnessed in pictures of “Masons” allegedly having sex with teen prostitutes on “Wet-a-Line” fishing boats, some underage.

· Brazilian teens lured into prostitution told fishing tour guides that they had “sex of all kinds” with those on “Wet-A-Line” tours.

· Tour guides described going by fishing boats as the girls engaged in oral sex with the fishermen.

· Tour guides identified groups of American men who went on these tours year after year to party, drink, watch strip contests, have sex and take drugs.

· Tour guides said that girls as young as 9, 13, and 14 were used as prostitutes on the fishing boats.

· Tour guides identified those who returned each year as “Masons.”

· “Masons” were pictured with two underage prostitutes at a party on the fishing boat.

· The “Masons” asked for girls over 13.

Child Sex Tourism: Brazilian Teens Testify About Being Lured into Minor Prostitution for American Tourists
Mon Jun 2, 2008 5:58 PM EDT

This is the third of three articles related to how 19 Jesters were called as to testify for the defense in a federal lawsuit about their alleged firsthand knowledge of minor prostitution while fishing trips to Brazil. It reports:

· Child sex tourism is in the news.

· Five girl’s depositions were taken by the Brazilian Federal Police that allege how same man named

· “Richard” went to the same village every year, luring girls to help him with housekeeping and cooking on his boat.

· Upon arriving at the boat, the girls discover they were to drink whiskey and have sex with the fishermen.

· The girls report that they are victims of sexual abuse perpetuated by a group of North American tourists.

· One 13 year old reported that was left pregnant.

· These Indian families live way below poverty.

· “Richard” failed to pay the girls what was promised.

Jester Confesses to Wife He Organized Prostitutes
Mon Aug 25, 2008 4:10 PM EDT

This is an interview with a wife who discovered that as her husband became more and more involved with the Jesters, he was getting prostitutes to Jester functions. It reports:

· The ROJ is a strictly stag, luxury organization for no purpose other than to “spread mirth.”

· Wives are allowed at only two events a year.

· The husband said that the Jesters have a “pool” of girls.

· Certain Jesters request their favorite girls.

· Each court's director assigns the job of inviting the girls.

· The Jesters have a doctor who checks the girls “papers.”

· Every court has a member who organizes the girls for their BOP.

· The U.S. Attorney's office describes the Royal Order of Jesters as organization that “maintained chapters throughout the United States, including in Western New York, and it was the custom of these chapters to host periodic meetings, usually on weekends, for their members. At most of these meetings, some members of the organization would be tasked to arrange for the presence of women at the meetings, for the specific purpose of utilizing the women to engage in sexual intercourse and other sexual activity with the organization's members in exchange for money."

Judge Tills Pleads Guilty, Admits Coordinating Prostitutes with Jester National Representatives
Thu Sep 11, 2008 10:14 PM EDT

This article is based on a Department of Justice press release that reports “Terrance P. Flynn, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York, announced today that RONALD H. TILLS, 73, a former State Supreme Court Judge from Hamburg, New York, pleaded guilty to Information charging him with knowingly transporting a female in interstate commerce with the intent that the female engage in prostitution (Mann Act).” It reports:

• The 9/11 terrorist attack did not deter Judge Tills from getting prostitutes to a weekend Jester party because air traffic was delayed or suspended.

• Judge Tills arranged for the transportation of prostitutes from the Buffalo airport to the Jesters’ national meeting then being held in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

• Tills agreed with representatives of the Jesters’ National Court that members of the Buffalo Court #22 would get the women from the Buffalo airport to the hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, where the national Jesters meeting was being held.

• Judge Tills paid one of these prostitutes to engage in sexual acts with him at a massage parlor.

• Tills and Trowbridge knowingly transported a different illegal alien from New York to a Jester meeting in Pennsylvania to engage in sexual intercourse and other sexual activity

• Judge Tills arranged for a woman from Buffalo to attend a Jester party in Florida to engage in sexual intercourse and other sexual activity and be paid for it.

• Judge Tills arranged for several women from New York, Ohio and Texas to attend a Jester meeting in Brantford, Ontario, Canada to engage in sexual intercourse and other sexual activity and be paid for it.

• Judge Tills held high offices in the Masonic Grand Lodge of New York and the Ismailia Shriners.

• ROJ bylaws show that they are closely related to the Shriners, with national events being held together as well as ROJ courts dependent on where Shriner temples are located.

Jester Prostitution Updates, Stebick Sentenced
Sun Dec 7, 2008 7:11 PM EST

This is the last story of the year and the headline sums it up. It reports:

· Michael Stebick, 61 was put on probation for two years, ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and directed to provide 250 hours of community service.

· According to sentencing Judge Skretny, the victim in the case was put up in a hotel by the Jesters, with a sign stating '$70-an-hour' posted outside her room.

· Pictures show Jesters fishing, drinking and cuddling with Brazilian girls.

· John Trowbridge’s sentencing November 4 date was been again rescheduled for May 6, 2009.

· The owner of the “massage parlors,” Len Wah Chong, was sentenced on November 19 to six years in federal prison for enslaving as many as 11 illegal alien prostitutes. She pleaded guilty early last April to "Sex Trafficking of Persons by Force, Fraud and Coercion." She forfeited two properties, $70K in cash and jewelry seized and now must pay $350,000 in restitution to those she kept as sex slaves.

· The Richard W. Schair and Wet-a-Line Tours LLC v Phillip Marsteller and Amazon Tours, Inc. defamation lawsuit was settled out of court on Friday, December, 5.

· Defendant Marsteller was honored on Monday, September 15, 2008 at a ceremony held at the Church Center of the UN. He, on behalf of his Peacock Bass fishing business Amazon Tours, Inc., took a public stand against child sex tourism by signing "The Code" AKA Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism. The event was sponsored by ECPAT, which stands for "End Child Prostitution Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes."

· On Wednesday, December 3, 2008, Imperial Potentate Douglas Maxwell, Chairman of the SHC Board of Trustees Ralph Semb and Corporate Director of Public Relations Alicia Aargiz-Lyons were emailed the following questions "What is your reaction to the latest news articles about those members of the Royal Order of Jesters pleading guilty in Buffalo to violating the Mann Act?” and “Those Jesters allegedly involved with child sex tourism?" To date, no response.

Results: The plaintiff in the defamation lawsuit between two fishing tour operators settled out of court with the defendant.

Tills' Sentencing Rescheduled in Jester Prostitution Case
Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:17 PM PST

This article reports that:

· Judge Tills’ sentencing was rescheduled from January 12, 2009 to May 7, 2009.

· Questions about these matters repeatedly phoned and emailed to the Masonic Grand Lodge of New York remain unanswered.

· On Wednesday, December 3, 2008, Imperial Potentate Douglas Maxwell, Chairman of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Board of Trustees and member of the Royal Order of Jesters, Ralph Semb and Corporate Director of Public Relations Alicia Aargiz-Lyons were asked “What is your reaction to the latest news articles about those members of the Royal Order of Jesters pleading guilty in Buffalo to violating the Mann Act?" To date, all three have failed to respond.

The Shriners & "Management by Mirth"
Sat Mar 14, 2009 5:31 PM PDT

This editorial points out that the majority of those on the Shriners joint boards are also members of the Royal Order of Jesters and reports:

· Eleven out of twelve on the SHC board of trustees are Jesters.

· Nine out of fourteen of those listed on the 2006 fraternal tax return are Jesters.

· By the end of 2008, four key executives had "resigned" because they opposed recontracting with a fundraiser as not being in the hospital's best interests and may have personally benefitted some board members.

· With the hospital's executive vice president, director of corporate development, controller and senior attorney gone, those Jesters in charge were free to run things without much, if any, corporate oversight.

· The corporate model of "Management by Mirth" could prove fatal because it's based on undisclosed conflicts of interest. It's based on deception because the Shriners have hidden this affiliation with the Royal Order of Jesters from the IRS by not listing them as an affiliated group on their tax returns.

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Public Discussion (32)

Scott (Scoop) Butki

psst, sandy, don't forget that crucial first post/comment on your articles so others can see it. That's why I posted my dumb question on your other one too.

you're making me an enabler:)

2 votes

#1 - Sun May 3, 2009 12:08 AM EDT

Sandy Frost

Huh? Are you talking about kicking off the tracking?

I guess I just learned about that as I wrote it!

And you never post a dumb question or anything else!

Look at the big brains on you!

Thanks,

Sandy

1 vote

#1.1 - Mon May 4, 2009 2:04 PM EDT

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Yes i'm talking about kicking off the tracking.

The way I explain it to new members is it's like putting out an album or movie without any promotion and then wondering why nobody is coming or buying.

#1.2 - Tue May 5, 2009 10:38 AM EDT

Sue-715551

we all know where that money went, wild parties, wild women and booze; lol I voted yes;

1 vote

#2 - Sun May 3, 2009 12:12 AM EDT

Uncle Nick

ditto... this is really a shame!

3 votes

#2.1 - Sun May 3, 2009 1:01 AM EDT

Sandy Frost

Dear Sue-715551 and Uncle Nick,

Thank you for your comments.

To me, it's about the "Jester mindset" and the possible adverse impact that this could have on Shriner management since it's dominant and common to both boards decision makers. It's about ethics, or the lack there of, as the Jester mindset seems to be partially focused on things that are unethical and/or illegal.

Remember, this was the focus of that internal committee investigation into alleged unethical behavior with conflict of interest by Ralph Semb, CEO of Shriners hospitals and Gene Bracewell, Imperial treasurer as they lobbied to recontract with that fundraiser who kept $43 million out of $47 million raised on behalf of the burned and crippled children.

Thanks again for your comments,

Sandy

1 vote

#2.2 - Mon May 4, 2009 2:20 PM EDT

Dr Know

The ROJ is a select group of the select. The members are mostly invitees from the Scottish Rite. The members of the Scottish Rite are selected from the Blue Lodges of the Masonic Order. The ROJ prides itself in "controlling" all the Blue Lodges and The Scottish Rite Temples.

The general members have no power to stop them. If one notes the occupation of those charged, one will notice that anyone opposing the actions of the ROJ is confronting judges and lawyers who have an immense advantage in any action, civil OR criminal.

As presented by Sandy in the past, the "East-West Shrine Football Game" that is supposedly a charitable event to raise money for the Shriner's Hospitals for Children (SHC) has been in the red in recent years. It actually no longer qualifies AS a charitable event any longer. One has to wonder just how much money raised under the guise of helping crippled children over the years has been syphoned off during all the years it has been in existence.

4 votes

#3 - Sun May 3, 2009 12:38 AM EDT

Sandy Frost

Dear Dr. Know,

Wow. You really do know! I'd not heard about the ROJ/Scottish Rite connection.

And what about that "East West" game? It is no longer listed w/the IRS as a charity so I guess that's why they never sent me their tax returns after three requests.

My question is if the Shriners have been losing $1 million a day from their endowment and lost $3 billion in under a year, why did Shriner leadership not use these high profile media events to raise money to save their hospitals, Galveston in particular?

This wasn't mentioned during the Justin Timberlake Shriners PGA golf tournament either.

There seems to be a disconnect somewhere.

Thanks again,

Sandy

2 votes

#3.1 - Mon May 4, 2009 3:00 PM EDT

Alex Talmont

Point of interest, the Scottish Rite invites all freemasons in good standing in.Prior to this article and ones like it, I hadn't heard of the ROJ, I am Blue Lodge and York Rite. It is incorrect to state that anyone outside of a Blue Lodge 'controls' the lodge, but then Grand Lodge does have authority. And I don't know of any ROJ in Grand, but do know of Shriners. But then they have no authority as Shriners over Grand Lodge for Blue Lodges...

Thanks.

[yes Sandy I am well aware of a good Flaming headed my way, flame on.]

3 votes

#3.2 - Tue May 12, 2009 10:28 PM EDT

Sandy Frost

Talmont,

No flame. But maybe you haven't read much of my work here as the Jesters have been kept secret from everyone, Shriners and Masons included. I didn't say they controlled the lodge but from my analysis of the joint boards, it appears that the controlling majority on both Shriner fraternal and charitable boards are also members of the ROJ, which could cloud their loyalties and/or distract them from running the hospitals ethically.

I think it's best described as "mismanagement."

There are many ROJ who are in the top echelons of Masonry including the Grand Lodge. Judge Tills was part of the NYGL until he got caught and quit. Many Jesters are past potentates and are members of other Masonic groups that certainly would frown on this. The Jesters describe themselves as a "little known Masonic order."

I know this all might be a shock to you, especially the Jester sex trafficking and child sex tourism stuff, but I've also linked to pertinent documents to verify what I've described

Unfortunately, oversight by law enforcement is no way to run a nonprofit group and it appears that the FBI will be cleaning house.

Thanks for your comments,

Sandy

2 votes

#3.3 - Tue May 12, 2009 10:56 PM EDT

Alex Talmont

I have to ask, which state? You see the controlling body of one Shrine does not effect the body of another. And limiting their control to Shrines make the link most probable, I was responding to Dr. Knows expounding of who controls what. Beyond that, I don't not wish to re-post my post from the other board :D. But in that area, the are of police involvements.... I point to the cyberangels and the SafetyEd groups and the work of the volunteer LisaLisa in busting the priests and then being offered a job by federal agents, before losing her life... meaning sometimes it takes concerned citizens to act and act with risk to allow the proper authorities to act with impunity...

Thanks for the articles, btw, exposing those who need a good caning.

1 vote

#3.4 - Tue May 12, 2009 11:38 PM EDT

Sandy Frost

Dear Alex,

I think it's up to the IRS if they want to allow nonprofit status for groups who don't conform to the highest standards of transparency, disclosure and accountability. The most disturbing thing I've found in this Shriner invesitation is the retaliation with which leaders go after those who question them.

Do you see that? The retaliation?

I just don't get it. Why would anyone want to belong to a group where they swear to protect each other and even lie except in the cases of murder and tyranny. Other than that, anything goes and that is according to Masonic obligations. If you break them, they will cut you in half and burn your intestines and scatter you to the wind or something like that. The Shriners will pierce your eyeball w/a three bladed knife and flay your feet and send you out to walk the burning sands. I dunno what the Jesters do but there seems to be a serious breakdown of order here as these fraternal bonds reached a breaking point so these three Jesters got caught and here we are.

Thanks again for your thoughtful replies.

Sandy

#3.5 - Wed May 13, 2009 1:13 AM EDT

Alex Talmont

Treason, not tyranny ... just a small correction.

I don't lie for anyone, and no one can make me. i don't know what the penalties are for the Shrine, I do for Blue Lodge ... for Blue Lodge the most sever penalty is: expulsion... we are law abiding [dispute those who would abuse it], there is nothing else.

Additionally, why would I stand by someone who simply joined the same Fraternity?

Why do HR departments look more closely at a candidate who was an Eagle Scout? Why do Skull and Bones hire Skull and Bones? Why do Knights of Columbus members hire KoC members?

It is a network and a link of shared common goals. That is why Freemasons will be angered when a story like this comes out, we are betrayed. We are tarnished. We are dismayed...

We stand behind the law, we weep for the families of those in the wrong, and I am SURE the Shriners if not the Blue Lodge of those men will make amends. But here is the thing, F&AM and AF&AM and similar had in the past gone through GREAT lengths to give to the community with out making a big deal of it, with out recognition ... [CHIP, BBQs {local school support, local homeless support, etc}, etc...]

I would have you talk to Grand Lodge and ask for a schedule or contact information for each Lodge Secretary to get a schedule of all they do for the community... see if they don't do more or try to make amends in some manner ... you might be surprised, they will be surprised in the interest.... But beyond that:

I offer my apology for any mistake that may have been that would have, did have, and might STILL exist in enabling this to happen. It never should have happened.

I will promise you this, I will begin a project in my Lodge and community to make a mends for these actions, without making a big PR deal over it, but an apology on this level will require an amends that will take more then a day to organize... I will let you know how it turns out, how much resistence or ease was met with, and what type of out come we had. It is all I can do, even if I were a member of my Grand Lodge, there would be NOTHING I could do to touch, commment on, or admonish those involved o r'in charge' in their state. There is no world, or national governing body. [Maybe for Jesters, and possibly for Shrine, but not for Blue Lodge].

I am sorry.

1 vote

#3.6 - Wed May 13, 2009 5:08 PM EDT

Sandy Frost

So, Alex, any progress yet?

You wrote "I am SURE the Shriners if not the Blue Lodge of those men will make amends."

I don't think so. I've heard of nothing yet. The emails I have sent to groups like the Grand Lodge of New York and the Shriners remain unanswered,. In fact, if you google "Louis Juers," you'll find that he's a Jester, per his name on tax returns, as well as an officer and/or leader in other Masonic groups.

You might want to catch up w/my latest as I document the Jester majority on Shriner boards and the influence of yet another secret group, the S.O.B.I.B.

Thanks,

Sandy

1 vote

#3.7 - Thu Mar 4, 2010 2:16 PM EST

Dr Know

I went to the website for the East-West Shrine game. It has been moved to Florida. At the bottom in small type it says "proceeds from this game" go to SHC. It does NOT state 'profits' or what percentage of the "proceeds" goes to the charity.

4 votes

#4 - Sun May 3, 2009 2:09 PM EDT

Sandy Frost

Dr. Know,

So, what do you think of the former cop being sentenced to two years probation and fined $10K for violating the Mann Act when it appears that he was assisting human trafficking and slavery?

And what do you think about Brazilian authorities indicting the guy who took those 19 Jesters fishing allegedly for organizing a prostitution network and child sex tourism?

What do you think is going to happen if there are more indictments and a connection can be made from those boys in Brazil to Jesters HQ in Indianapolis?

Thanks,

Sandy

2 votes

#4.1 - Tue May 12, 2009 10:59 PM EDT

Murphy Stoffelis

To all the conspiracy theorists out there, this must be great fodder. And to the “investigative” reporter, it seems that you need to do some more home work before you start linking unconnected organizations together. First off, let me clearly state that I find the actions of these individuals abhorrent, illegal and immoral. With only a cocktail napkin map of these organizations structure you then go on to condemn a whole fraternity. These irresponsible accusations are the equivalent of using a shot gun to kill a magpie amongst a flight of doves and then exclaiming, “they are all bad birds”. This is yellow journalism to say the least. And then to pretend that you don’t understand that the charities budgets and the private organizations budgets are completely separate is astounding. The clown that stated that Masonic organizations charities are dictated from one branch to the other is hysterical, but more fodder to feed the same shotgun. To readers of this site, didn’t occur strange that all of these so called stories do not have actual external links? Isn’t it suspect to say the least that all of these articles are circular unto themselves? FYI, the Shriner’s Hospitals are run with “yields” from endowment funds, not money from the social organizations, these funds are not “commingled” as one may see from IRS records. By the way, how has your 401K, Stocks, Bonds etc. been performing lately? (Probably as poor as the endowment funds, want to run some charity hospitals)?

Does anyone here want to guess how much it costs per day to run these hospitals?

Maybe “you”, investigative reporter might want to find out why UTMB reneged on the $1.00 per year lease the Shine Hospital had and then wanted to force these hospitals to accept insurance money, tax money and then dictate how to run the charity. It ended up that more than $40 million dollars had to wasted to build a new hospital that could have gone to children’s care. If I may humbly suggest that you demand answers to those issues than trying to paint a whole fraternity as a bunch of criminals. I realize you will edit this comment out as it does not fit your agenda, but please read these comments carefully.

1 vote

#5 - Sun May 17, 2009 8:09 PM EDT

Sandy Frost

Murphy,

Thank you for your comments.

My reading audience is made up of those concerned with nonprofit accountability, disclosure and transparency as well as human trafficking, sex slavery, prostitution, child sex tourism and, potentially, pedophilia, common to certain nonprofit fraternal and charitable organizations. It just so happens that these groups descend from Freemasonry. I don’t care who “they” are but I have nine years experience investigating nonprofit corruption.

Then there are the issues of elder exploitation and abuse by certain Shriner leadership not to mention misogynistic tendencies made manifest by the past year’s ROJ prostitution scandals. Then there are those two Shriner leaders who wanted to recontract with a fundraiser who pocketed $43 million out of $47 million raised to help the burned and crippled children.

These are the types of things that I’ve investigated the past three years after picking up where the Orlando Sentinel left off over twenty years ago.

Tax returns indicate that the Shriner joint boards appear to be controlled by those who are also members of the Royal Order of Jesters, if they’ve not recently “resigned” to create alibis or reduce their liability, criminal or otherwise. There are certain such leaders who appear to exploit their brothers by perpetuating and spinning the image of happy old guys working hard to help the kids.

These hardworking Shriners are Grandfathers whose role it is to train up the younger men and boys in how to provide for and protect the tribe as well as show them how to treat women. These Shriners are not only dedicating their golden years to the fraternity but also their experience as retired professionals and honored military veterans. As a Navy vet myself, it troubles me that those who risked their lives for our freedom, secured by our founding fathers, many Masonic, are so dishonored, so disregarded and so disrespected..

These hardworking Shriners include those who are viscously retaliated against just for asking questions like “Where does all the money go?” and “Why are your taxes so messed up?”

Too bad you’ve not read much of my work because I’ve made it quite clear that there are good men who have been kept in the dark about the Shriners’ dirty little secret, the Royal Order of Jesters. There are good Shriners too but they seem powerless to police their own and clean things up since it seems that their elections are merely ceremonial. That’s why I maintain that oversight by law enforcement is no way to run nonprofit groups. The FBI is investigating the Royal Order of Jesters, those invited Shriners who must first be Master Masons, for not only interstate prostitution, but also for sex trafficking and the sexual exploitation of minors and international travel for those purposes.

So why would I remove your comments when I’d rather put them in the “doesn’t know how to read before bashing and needs to buy my book” category?

I have no idea who you are or why you think anyone else who reads your comments will think to themselves “Oh, yeah, I so believe this guy who appears from nowhere. He really told her!.” when it looks like you created an account and posted comments the same day in a hurry to trash me and my work before doing your homework.

Typical, yet sad.

Let me help you.

My three years of work includes links to documents such as tax returns, depositions, complaints (including UTMB v Shriners), FBI applications for arrest warrants, “secret” rites and rituals, FBI press releases, plea agreements, courtroom transcripts, witness lists, calendars and more. This helps readers understand what I’m describing by giving them the opportunity to read the source documents so they can make up their own minds about that which I’m reporting. Then there are 231 links to outside news sources, available in the “Latest Seeds” section on the right column under my bio.

Thanks again for your comments.

Like we say, “Keep coming back.”

I don’t want you to miss out on my upcoming international radio interview about the Royal Order of Jesters.

Sandy

PS. The articles loop back because this is the world's most extensive and definitive source of public information on the ROJ.

#6 - Tue May 19, 2009 7:36 PM EDT

weeziesmom

Sandy, I posted my comments about my experiences with the ROJ. . .is this forum still active? This is a scary organization, Have you had any threats on your life for your investigations since starting this forum?

1 vote

#6.1 - Fri Sep 25, 2009 2:34 PM EDT

Sandy Frost

Dear Weeziesmom,

Thank you for your comments.

Since I started investigating the Shriners in April, 2006, I have been named in a defamation lawsuit filed against two whistleblowers as a secondary party of interest. I have been similarly targeted by a guy who filed a defamation complaint against Newsvine to censor articles that report that he was indicted by the Brazilian federal police for using underage prostitutes to attract clients to his fishing business.

The Shriner's lawsuit was also a thinly veiled attempt to gain access to otherwise protected information. They wanted all correspondence between me and the whistleblowers to see if they were feeding me information or were writing my articles for me. What an insult.

These guys are used to getting their way because they think they're above the law but there are laws that also protect journalists and what we do.

I won't comment about being threatened.

The comment sections after some of these articles have been like hand to hand combat as defenders and critics and "sock puppets" came after me for daring to expose things like corruption, tax fraud, medical research hit by warning letters from the FDA and Office of Human Research Protection, retaliation and misuse of chartiable donation.

The @!$%# really started hitting the fan after I wrote the first ever article about the Royal Order of Jesters. I guess this is why the Shriners sued the whistleblowers, to try and intimidate me into stopping. All it did was make me wonder what it was that they were so desperate to hide.

I think what I've uncovered about the Royal Order of Jesters is one of the most under-reported stories of the year, especially since it now includes the fact that a North American has been indicted by the Brazilian federal police for using underage prostitutes to attract clients, like Jesters.

I think that it is just a matter of time before this hits the mainstream media or MSM.

Thanks again,

Sandy

#6.2 - Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:12 AM EDT

weeziesmom

I know first hand of the ROJ. My ex-husband was a member and when I became suspicious of his involvement, I was theatened, my childrens lives were threatened and other strange things began happening to us. This was in the mid 1980's when no one really knew what the ROJ was. I had to get an attorney to get them to leave us alone and I threatened to turn over my documentation to the local Newspaper. We were so frightened that we finally moved out of state. I was surprised to find this Site. No one used to know about them and people used to act like I was nuts when I spoke about the disgusting order. I called them the Royal order of Jerks and threatened to contact all of their wives unless they stopped their threats and stalking of my family. Yes, it is really true, all of it. And thank God someone has been able to finally expose them.

#7 - Fri Sep 25, 2009 2:00 AM EDT

Sandy Frost

Adult disclaimer. Adult content. If you don't wanna be offended, don't read it.

Dear Weeziesmom,

Here is an interview with a wife who found out that her husband was the guy who got prostitutes for Jester weekends.

I wanna find out what these guys did back in the '80s.

Jester disco parties.

OMFG!

Ewwww!!!

No wonder they wanted to kill you!

A Jester hospitality room on a hotel floor with hookers in some of the rooms, protected by off duty sherriffs, full of sweaty old guys thinking they're the coolest in their polyester leisure suits while drunkenly trying to dance like John Travolta to Donna Summer singing "Bad Girls"while others are wildly cheering on prostitutes in the middle of a blow job contest while rubbing themselves.

Is that about right?

No wonder these guys aspire to the titles "Potentate" or "Thrice Potent."

Then they write off their travel and other Jester expenses as expenses and/or charitable contributions on their personal tax returns, while Jester National shows the courts how to itemize these " program services" in an "other expenses" section of their 990, because someone somehow convinced the IRS that speading the gospel of mirth and merriment is a tax exempt purpose.

Do you still have your documents?

Please email me at sandyleefrost@yahoo.com

Be warned that you will go through a rough screening to establish that you are who you claim to be.

Many have emailed me, claiming to know where the bodies are buried and tried to gain my trust as potential sources.

They throw little hissy fits and call me names after I tell them that information flows one way only, from them to me, and that they need to prove who they say they are and/or provide docoments not otherwise available.

If you want me to protect your identity, it has to be this way.

Thanks again,

Sandy

#7.1 - Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:05 PM EDT

squid-1472661

Dear Sandy

Mr Alex Talmont

#8 - Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:31 AM EST

squid-1472661

Dear Sandy

Mr Talmont is either not a Mason or does not realize the oath he took that is the whole idea behind the Brotherhood is to stand for your brother always and murder also can be kept quite if it is for the right reason.

#9 - Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:35 AM EST

NoblesirknightbrotherJohn

Sandy,

These guys must be going to a different Shrine then AINAD. A good friend is the Potentate and I know asside from him being a very good Christian man, his wife would drop him in the doorway when he came home if she thought for a minute that there was anything of this nature going on. As a Templar (York Rite) and Mason, I can attest there's nothing of this sort there either. I believe you are writing about a very small group of people acting on their own and using the guise of ROJ to sponsor these events. I'm not ROJ. I'm not well endowed enough to participate in philanthropy at that level, but I'm sure having known a few, that you write about a perversion and not the norm.

I appreciate you bringing the malice to light, but do not blame or tarnish the overall objective of the organizations for the actions of a few. For the record, it takes over $15M daily to operate the Shriners hospitals. Those funds come primarily from endowments, not from the public. Go visit the new or the old hospital in St. Louis. We don't take insurance, we don't ask for anything. We don't like to advertise except to get help to those that need it. Check out the Templar Eye Foundation. Look at the York Rites Childrens Homes. The works of good should see more light than the sensationalism of a few jerks that should have been Elks. I wonder how many hookers the BPOE or the Moose Lodge calls in. Never mind our own legislators and the rest of the politicians we elect based on professed values. We are talking about a fraternal organization that donates a lot of time, money and love out of personal pockets for the most part, so please afford the good guys some monicer of respect before you trounce the reputation of the whole organization.

Thanks for posting my comments.

1 vote

#10 - Tue Feb 23, 2010 4:36 PM EST

Sandy Frost

Noblesirkinghtbrother John,

Thank you for your comments!

If you could please help me, I'd like to do a little digging.

Can you verify that your potentate is Ray A. Rohr?

Your is Assistant Rabban Bill Hill?

Your Oriental Guide is Richard "Rick" Sieben?

Your treasurer is Steven Kibler?

Your First Ceremonial Master is Bill Reidelberger?

Thanks,

Sandy

#11 - Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:38 AM EST

Sandy Frost

Noblesirknightbrother John,

If you go to Guidestar.org and search for "Royal Order of Jesters IL" and choose the returns from O'Fallon, you'll be able to look for the Officers and Directors of the Royal Order of Jesters court #86. Then you'll find your Potentate, Ray Rohr, listed on each of the three years available. The other guys mentioned above are also Jesters.

Hundreds of thousands of you are kept in the dark and are blatently used and lied to as your leaders perpetuate the illusion of operating the hospitals for free while they hide behind the burned and crippled children so they can party with prostitutes at tax payer expense.

If you read more of my work, you'll find where a U.S. Attorney describes the Jesters as having a guy in nearly every court who finds the hookers for their weekend parties.

Your Potentate and the others, the majority of your Divan, belong to a group under investigation by the FBI for child sex tourism.

And from what I've found, there is nothing that you or the others who have been so cruelly deceived can do about it. If you go to law enforcement, chances are that he will protect his brothers and make sure things are swept under the rug.

One Jester is the a representative to the U.S. Sentencing Commission as the head of the same in his own state. And he's the state's representative to a huge law enforcement data base so he has the ability to keep track of things going on all over the country.

You are the Shriner that I have been writing for. I write so that the Shriners can get back to helping the kids instead of being hijacked by those more interested in helping themselves.

Thanks,

Sandy

P.S. Your hospitals are going to start taking insurance very soon. Here's a paper written in advance of this by the same doctor described in my latest article here.

#12 - Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:13 AM EST

Agri-Fuel

When we develop moral codes and/or guidelines that are contrary to our very nature it's an obvious invitation to controversy or worse. It's no secret to any realistic thinker that man regardless of his station on this plane is a sexual creature, be he priest or pervert. It is the highest aspiration he has of the entire spectrum of physical rewards, everything he does is ultimately intended to facilitate that single act to the degree he deems personally sufficient. There are a class of men who will transcend the temporary satisfaction of the sex act, but their numbers are vanishingly small and constitute a subject other than the mundane, and of no consequence here. Under the system of "civility" presently favored by western society there can be no resolution to the disparate notions of what is carnally normal. Any such attempts serve only to drive the least popular convictions underground, never into extinction; where they then represent the "darker" aspects of the subject, dark because they must be hidden from the majority. The protection of the young is a near universal instinct among all animal species, it is therefore natural and specifically implies retributive actions against any who ignore it's warnings, and the betrayal of innocence is arguably the deepest evil that can be committed in this life, the penalty for which is probably terrible and needs no illustrative comments from this writer. However, the consensual act of coitus is likewise natural whether or not there is a transference of anything of value other than the act itself, and the denial of that fact is itself unnatural and wrong. Efforts to control natural sexuality whether they be based on community standards, religious dogma, political convenience, personal jealousies, cultural prejudices, or any of myriad excuses will fail. The sooner (if ever) we accept this simple fact the sooner society will become more peaceful. Nature cannot be successfully second guessed, nor can it be changed by generations of personal restraint or other learned behavior. If there is a class of woman (and there is of course) who would take advantage of mans unquenchable need for sex, whether it be for profit, personal power, or just pleasure there should be no laws restricting it beyond the prevention of violence. I'm not attempting a discourse on human nature, it requires none. It does require an open mind though, and I fear therein lies the problem. Too many want to enforce their own desires on others, which is the reason for the divergence into different cultures, and when we try to force a melding of those cultures we're trying to mix oil and water. Mans sexuality is programmed into his nature at a level far beyond our understanding let alone our ability to change it. We're only just now beginning to come back to the realization that we're not a product of accidental chemical evolution (see Stephen Hawkings thoughts on that) (or Einstein) (or Jung) (or etc etc) so it follows that our designers were perhaps eons ahead of us, and yes it has appeared to many of us that they perhaps designed man as a penis with a dimly thinking ambulatory support system attached to it. In any event I can find no fault with those who can find ways of indulging their most satisfying passion so long as it harms no one.

#13 - Mon Mar 1, 2010 12:20 AM EST

Sandy Frost

Dear Agri-Fuel,

Thank you for your comment.

Sure, sexuality plays a part in all of this, I suppose, however these behaviors appear to predatory and possibly, pedophilliac. The corruption I've been investigating the past four years could be nothing more than addictions, whether political or sexual or a vicious combination thereof.

My focus has been, for the past four years, on nonprofit transparency, disclosure and accountability. I have written before that I don't care if anyone wants to get snot slinging drunk or gamble their asses off or whore around. That's just a weekend in Vegas and, as you say, who cares as no one gets hurt?

Nor am I targeting anyone based on fraternal membership. I have nine years experience investigating nonprofit groups regardless of affiliation. It just so happens that these guys are Master Masons who are also Shriners who are also members of the Royal Order of Jesters. They could be members of the Order of Purple Parrots or Wearers of the Furry Bunny Slippers or any other nonprofit group.

The problem here is that some of these corrupt Shriner leaders, and I guess to further extrapolate, these Master Masons, have figured out how to hijack the nonprofit system so they can party with prostitutes at tax payer expense. And these prostitutes, according to court documents, include illegal alien sex slaves and, by association and allegation, underage Brazilian Indian girls who were illegally lured into prostitution off their reservations and forced to have sex with North American tourists.

They have been victimized, hurt and forever ruined, at a cost subsidized by American taxpayers.

Thanks again for your comments,

Sandy

#14 - Mon Mar 1, 2010 3:26 PM EST

Cliff61

This post goes out to Alex Talmount who I commend for his/her standing up for the brotherhood of the ROJ. But one thing that wasn't mentioned, and that was what ranking does Alex hold in that hierarchy of membership? Freemasonry, like all the other orders is a conglomerate of secret societies sworn to secrecy by any means. How do I know this? Well, I have friends who are masons, and I have more acquaintences who are affiliated with other groups like the wasps, the daughters of the eastern star, and the watchtower society. The lower level members, I call them the "worker-bees", have not a clue as to what the rank and file of the societies actually do because they are not privy to the information because they are not above the "3rd" level of masonry! I have a very good friend down near waco texas, and another down in harlingen that told me some pretty hairy tales of the masons and jestors. My friend in waco, her own father use to prostitute her out with other members of the society and allowed her to be programmed just like that woman "Kathy O'Brien" was back in the 70's! Then my other friend, the jestors tried to recruit her back in 2003 while she and some of her friends were in Nawlins during Mardi Gras!

Now I have studied masonry for over 20+ years, and all those I met that were what I call "In the KNow", told me what happened when one wanted out, and a simple "expulsion" like you said was not an option my friend! I worked with a man back in the coal mines of west virginia who was a very, very high-ranking mason, and he told me that just one of the things done was the cutting out of the tongue of any former member who talked about the lodge they were a member of, and he went further to tell me that that was all he could say abou that because if he said any more, he might have to have me killed for fear I might repeat what he had told me! The reason he would have to have me killed is because they would kill him for he was a much higher level then a 3rd degree mason!

One more thing to mention here also before you probably try to debunk me on what I have said so far. My own uncle was a mason and got out because of what he had seen, and if you even mentioned the word "freemasonry" around him, you could see the beads of sweat break out on his forehead and he would start shaking outta control in a total fearsome panic attack! He reained this way until he died, and when he died, there were some masons at his awake making sure it was his body in the casket, and once his body and identity were id'd by these 3 people, they left!

So don't even bother trying to smooth anything over withme my friend, because I see through your clouded veil!

1 vote

#15 - Thu Mar 4, 2010 8:14 AM EST

Rev. Reggie Jackson

The sick thing about this is that you have organizations that love seeing children molested and raped and sodomized!! For they are the children of Satan and they will be in the lowest parts of hell very soon. As they will also enforce the coming Mark of the Beast Chip that will be put in everybodies forehead or hand!! For this chip will eventually steal your soul and make you the antichrist zombie slaves!!

And those of us who oppose their zombie making Mark of the Beast chip will be killed and martyred!! But don't worry!! We will be greatly rewarded on the Great Judgment Day while Satans children who murdered and committed great acts of genocides and debaucheries will be in the lowest part of hell with their daddy lucifer!! And all who have the beast chip in their foreheads or hands will be in great agonies also!

Therefore, serve Jesus so that you will live like a god or goddess when Jesus returns and conquers these monsters and give us the renovated and beautified Earth!!

#16 - Thu Mar 4, 2010 9:59 AM EST

Sandy Frost

Dear Rev. Reggie Jackson,

Thank you for your comments.

I've come up with my own word for what is going to happen to those who've committed crimes while hiding behind burned and crippled children.

"Karmageddon."

Thanks again,

Sandy

SANDY FROST

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