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Right now we're in the basement of an abandoned temple
As we entered, the exact purpose of the building and its history were unknown to us
but it would soon be revealed as we explored
We're only just in the basement and it's still like
already really ornate
It seems like there's stuff in here, too. It's not just cleared out
These were filters for when a bunch of people smoked in here, it would filter out the smoke
It's literally called a smoke eater
These are marble staircases....
that's what these
Oh stained glass even
[inaudible]
Wow, this is a fantastic building though.
This is just the lobby
Even the radiator is detailed, that's awesome
"A Memory of Nobles"
Recorder office to record meetings I guess
So yeah, what do you know about this place? I don't know any of that. I just know it looks cool as fuck
Let's go in here, we might find some
clues as to what this was
Is this Hebrew, Bryan?
No- 
It's not Hebrew? 
That's Arabic
Oh yeah, it says "ancient Arabic order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine"
So this literally all just sounds like cult like gibberish
I mean I have no idea what this place was and if it was like actually called like [?] or something the
Freemasons or whatever? 
But listen to this, it just sounds like gibberish
"The Edict of 13th July last prohibiting the communication of the order except under emerging conditions
Which should alone warrant the issue of
Dispensation for such purpose has aroused the officers of subordinate bodies to the importance of the ritual and accessories
Until now there is not to my knowledge any temple in this jurisdiction
Which is not fully equipped and in condition to render the ceremonial as prescribed by the statutes." 
That's the first paragraph in this book
I'm sure if I went on it would go even crazier
So now we've learned that this temple belonged to an organization called the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine or
"Shriners" for short it's a Masonic body
that's been around since the late 1800s and was once seen as one of the most prestigious
Organizations to be a part of 
This receipt is literally dated
1912
Look at some of the calligraphy like on this piece of paper right here
This bathroom is pretty creepy looking
Just a bunch of trophies
They added the drop ceiling over these windows that go up way more
Hate it when places that just add drop ceiling and cover up shit like that
Let's go up a floor to see if there's more offices. 
Alright, I'm gonna go up the other side of you
Well 'guess there's not more offices
This is the main attraction
Wow look at that stained glass 
That's unbelievable
It's got the crescent moon symbol right in the middle and repeated many times actually around the edge
Despite the presence of Arabic in the name of the
organization, the Arabian architecture, and the crescent moon symbols throughout, the temple actually had nothing to do with Islam
In fact, the Shriners were founded by New York City elites
The middle-eastern decor was simply part of a theme they adopted after attending
exclusive parties held by Iranian diplomats
It's a pretty textbook case of cultural appropriation, but it certainly resulted in the construction of beautiful and distinctive buildings such as this one
So the floor up would just be like
the projector and stuff
There's a lot of seating in here
Shit there's still clothes in here...wow
It's like what they would wear if they were gonna start...
Their ceremonial garb
This place is- 
there's a lot left
Wow
Backstage area
They had a dressing room
More Christmas decorations... a full Christmas tree
in those arches there are speakers
They probably would have had actual musical instruments back here back in the day like a piano or an organ or something and
Then in modern times they just replaced them with speakers
We can go up there on those stairs
I know, it's a catwalk or something
Want to go up on the catwalk?
There's a ladder to the roof
We can go up this ladder and go up above the stage area
Walking up here does not seem too safe, so we probably won't
Oh, now it got really dim
What's with these weird paper mache horses
These big old stage lights
Holy cow the echo is insane right here
[various clicking noises as an example]
Bryan you have to experience this, this is literally nuts
Get in the dead center though, it's craziest in the dead center
Wow, that's actually pretty crazy
[Michael purposefully makes the floor squeak by moving his legs]
Sounds like laser beams
[squeaking continues]
Oh! I'd bet we can do the whispering corner in here
You go in that corner
You go in that corner. I go in that corner, and then we whisper up and we'll be able to hear each other
Let's try it
[whispering]
Alright, Bryan, can you hear me?
Oh my god, I can
[general snickering and celebration]
I can hear you like you're right next to me
I know, this is crazy
Oh my god. It sounds like you're right next to me.
 I know what the...
Psst, psst! Look behind you
What?
[more giggling ensues]
Yeah, so there'd be lighting and projectors up here probably those lights we saw in there
What's up there, the Attic?
No...
Well, I mean yes, but even better
Even better than the Attic
Be super careful
It's pretty incredible
Let's go through this convenient hole in the curtain.
 I don't know probably just goes to the stage
An exit
into backstage
There's still a backdrop up
These are all dimmer switches 
if only there was power in here
a lot of curtain and lighting adjustments here
These were all their lockers
These were double door lockers
It's a big roll of toilet paper more than double this is also their locker in here
That might be the oldest looking microwave. I've ever seen
All right
This is definitely way cooler than I thought it would be
Yeah
There's a shit ton of stuff left inside
look at this
Perfect 
some are broken, but
Most of them are intact 
tons of them in here... teacups
it's unreal
The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine is still alive and well today although
They are now officially known as Shriners International
You may be familiar with them from their network of hospitals called the Shriners Hospital for Children
where they provide treatment to any child in need at little to no cost
As for the temple itself it may see a new future
the community appears very
Interested in preserving the structure and sometime after the filming of our video the building was surveyed to determine the cost of restoration
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