‘Years ago when Masonry peaked, people would say they do all that spooky stuff, but they don’t.’

The Tripoli Shrine Center is a fraternity with more than 309,000 members from 195 Shrine Centers in the United States, Canada, Germany, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. Bruce Nelson is a member of the Tripoli Shrine Center and a Freemason who ran the circus for more than two decades. Members of the Tripoli Shriners must hold the title of Master Mason in Freemasonry.

Damian Gonzalez: How long have you been a member of the Tripoli Shrine Center for, and how has the experience been like for you?

Bruce Nelson: It’s been a very good experience. I’ve been a Mason and Shriner for 45 years now. I’m 81 now.

Damian Gonzalez: Could you elaborate more on what it’s like being a Mason?

Bruce Nelson: If you would run into other Masons, they would treat you the same as they would want to be treated. I emphasize that always on the level. If I’m going to take you someplace or if I’m going to sell you something it’s not going to be like, “Oh boy, this guy stuck me with a real dosser.” You get to the point where you feel a sense of community because what you do and people notice. You don’t want people going, “Oh, he’s a Mason” or “Jesus, this guy is a real crook.” We’re all on the same level as Masons, and the same thing with people that you would treat who are not Masons.

Damian Gonzalez: Why do you think Masons sometimes get a bad reputation?

Bruce Nelson: Years ago when Masonry peaked, people would say they do all that spooky stuff, but they don’t. There’s nothing to hide. Masons were stigmatized, people would say, “Oh, those devil worshippers,” because there was always stigma of that type of thing and you hear jokes like, “Did they ride the goat?” Once you’re into the fraternity you get to know stuff. Why we do this, why we do that, the handshakes, that sort of thing, and there’s a reason for that. When you’re at the Shrine Center, it’s fun and frivolity. “Ah you bum. Yeah, yeah, this guy.” Whereas in the lodge room, where Freemasons gather to conduct business, perform rituals, etcetera, it’s real quiet and religious, or what whatever your religion is. If you would want to join, you would be made a brother and would have to take a pledge and put your hand on the Bible and swear to God, or whoever your God is. That’s why the lodge room is very simple, very quiet, very religious. Compared to (the Shrine Center), it’s a riot.

Damian Gonzalez: Could you tell me more about your hat? Did you get to design it yourself?

Bruce Nelson: You earn it. They were made in the city of Fez and each pin, you earn it. Since I was a clown, I got a clown pin. Most fez are not this elaborate. You earn it. I ran the circus for 21 years, so it was presented to me.

Damian Gonzalez: How was running a circus for 21 years?

Bruce Nelson: Fun. My partner – he’s dead now – but he was the money man. I was the entertainment man. I booked all the acts. He and I used to fight like cats and dogs but walk out the door: Peace. It was issues, not personality. He would say, “I’m not paying that kind of money for that act.” I would say, “It’s a good act,” and he would say, “The hell, I’m not doing it.” We’d fight like crazy, but the door would be closed. Walk out the door though and we would go out for a drink. When a producer would come around the circus, you would have to watch your back, cause this guy would’ve stabbed you in the back because he’s working for more money than you are.

Damian Gonzalez: What brings you the most joy about being a member of the Tripoli Shrine Center?

Bruce Nelson: Social stuff; everybody’s the same. I can joke with you and you can joke with me. It’s no big deal. Nothing’s personal. It’s issues, not personalities, and it’s the same thing here. We got some real duds that are members here. “Oh, I don’t want to volunteer. I don’t want to do this.” Then why are you a member? Our charity raises a lot of money for the Shriner’s hospital. We got 22 of them. Closest one is in Chicago. You see stuff that just turns your heart off. There’s a Cincinnati burn hospital; you don’t even want to go there. You see all these kids burnt. It’s rough.

Damian Gonzalez: What’s a piece of advice you would give your younger self?

Bruce Nelson: Join earlier, because you miss a whole lot. I was about 28 when I joined. I got divorced, and it was a good thing mentally for me — not the divorce but to get involved in Masonry. A very good friend of mine, who happens to be a dynamic magician, said, “Why don’t you come with me, and we will go to the lodge?”