The Imperial Court, is an auxiliary of female family
members of Prince Hall Shriners, and was formally organized at the annual
session of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, held
in Detroit, Michigan, on August 24, 1910.
The establishment of the Imperial Court was a result of a meeting held in 1909,
when women representing the auxiliary of female members of Prince Hall Shriners from Maryland, Rhode Island and
Washington, DC, met with a committee of Prince Hall Shriners and requested the
formation and recognition of an organization for their women relatives.
The purpose of the Imperial Court, is to unite the relatives
of all members of the A.E.A.O.N.M.S. into one common bond of friendship, to
practice charity and benevolence, and to inculcate honor and integrity as
symbolized in the legend of the Egyptian queen.
The Imperial Court, a charitable and benevolent organization,
stresses the development of powerful leaders, encourages health awareness among
youth and adults, provides services to help disabled and senior citizens,
provides for effective networking among its members and other organizations,
recognizes and celebrates the historic and current achievement of African
American women, exerts positive influence and utilizes the tool of role modeling
for youth, teenage mothers, high school and college students, and disseminates
information for educational opportunities and career planning to youth and young
adults.
Specific program thrusts include education and scholarship, health, mentoring
our youth and senior citizens, book bags and school supplies for adopted
schools, and the Youth. In addition to volunteer activities,
financial donations are made annually to College Fund/UNCF, scholarships, Health
and Medical Research, American Cancer Society, Mental Retardation, NAACP,
National Foundation (Birth Defects), HIV/AIDS Awareness and other civic and
special interests.
This organization of 12 courts at its inception has grown to almost 209 courts
located in the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, Germany, Italy and Japan.
