The primary purpose of DARAJA is to promote good fellowship, sociability, and fraternalism among its members and to form a solid cooperative body of Nobles upon which the Illustrious Potentate can call and depend upon to perform service on behalf of the Temple. The secondary purpose of DARAJA is to be a uniformed motorcycle riding parade unit.

Daraja's First President - Brother John Russel

The original idea for DARAJA came from Bill Flory. In 1963 Bill was President of the Temple Guard and John Russell was the Secretary. Bill and John discussed the idea of starting a bicycle unit and decided that it would be a lot of fun. It took a lot of work and required a certain number of members before the Divan would consider such a unit. Finally in 1965 Ill. Sir Charles T. Gore gave the OK to move ahead and Daraja was chartered by 13 nobles of El Jebel. The first President was John Russel and Bill Flory became the first Secretary/Treasurer. Both John and Bill dropped out of the Temple Guard to form Daraja. The word DARAJA came from Noble Kamise Shellby who was of Arabic descent and called prayers during ceremonials. The word daraja in the Arabic language means "bicycle or motorcyle."

The unit originally rode 3 speed "English Moulton" bicycles and met at South High School's parking lot to practice all the "slick" maneuvers. All the children were invited and they would come and ride while the unit practiced. After practice the unit would cross the street and go for a ride in Washington Park. The first parade the unit participated in was in Salt Lake City. Potentate Gore arranged a trip to Salt Lake City for El Jebel to participate in a parade. However there were only three Daraja members who were able to go; John Russell, Jerry Bates, and Joe Cabral. The bikes were packed in a railroad car along with the Jeep Patrol. After arriving in Salt Lake City, the unit went down to the rail yard, got the bikes, and rode through Salt Lake back to the hotel. During the parade confetti on the parade route caught in the sprocket of one of the bikes and popped off the chain. After repairing the bike, the unit started down the street to demonstrate those "slick" maneuvers that had been worked out to perfection. However, the unit immediately got lost in the maneuver and the crowd didn't have any idea they were lost and gave them a great big hand.

The original bikes were white and the unit had them chrome platted to look better. The unit wanted some good looking Shrine emblems as decorations on the back bag of the bikes. Nothing could e found unit Jim Wright came up with some spectacular Coffin emblems. After five years of riding bicycles which were recolored almost yearly, in 1970, a vote was taken to change to the new Honda CT70 motorcycle that is being used at the present time. The bike was equiped with the usual Shrine parapheralia and has stayed that way to this day.

Early Daraja Members

Early Daraja Members

The project started with an idea from broher Kent Davis . Bill Bowman came up with a sample of the cane. Brother Bob Briscoe made 100 cane blanks which the cane committee sanded, dipped them in a rain gutter to be stained, and hung them in brother Art Teti's garage on coat hangers to dry.

The cane committee consisted of: Jerry Bolduc; Lew Boles; Bill Bowman; Bob Briscoe; Kent Davis; Ernie Edwards; George Frohlick; Glen Kettelhut; Bill Knox; Doug Mayotte; Art Teti; & Dick Wilson.

The next step was the adding of the two white marbles - because of course this was to be a "two ball cane" - and attaching an advertizing label for Daraja. The first 100 canes were produced by brother Bob Brisco in 1979. Bob also made 20 more canes made of walnut which served as a material fund raiser. The first canes did not have a cap, masonic emblems, or a crutch tip. Bill & Norma Knox's garage became the headquarters for the manufacturing of canes. Bill was the shop foreman and many of the members of Daraja participated. Silver caps with Masonic emblems were added in 1982. The addition of gold caps were suggested by brother James Wright for the Imperial session of 1983.

Since the first canes were made in 1979, there have been over 900 canes produced and represent a significant fund raising project for Daraja. If you would like to order a cane please contact one of the Daraja officers. The idea of presenting a cane to each new member of your lodge would be an excellent way to introduce a new brother to Masonary.