Irem Shrine is located in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. It was the 71st Shrine Temple chartered by Imperial Council, this took place at Nantasket, Massachusetts during the Imperial Session of 1895.

Irem began with 54 charter members and as of 1995 had 8600 nobles.

Prior to the founding of Irem, eligible Masons had to travel to LuLu in Philadelphia, Pa or Rajah in Reading, Pa.

Why "Irem" ?  According to legend, Irem was the most beautiful of all earthly paradises . It was constructed for Sheddad, the King of Ad, but as soon as it was completed it was struck with the lightning wand of the Death Angel and was never visible to the eye of man.

The first Potentate of Irem was J. Ridgeway Wright, the first ceremonial took place on December 19, 1895 with 47 members crossing the Hot Sands. By October 18, 1905, the 10th Anniversary Ceremonial, Irem became the 11th largest Temple with 1750 nobles.

On September 21, 1907 Potentate Frank Deitrick broke ground for the Irem Mosque. As the mosque was being raised so was its cost - from $ 100,000 to $ 230,000. The dedication of the Mosque took place on December 15-16, 1908.

In 1920 , Irem's Silver Jubilee , Potentate E. Foster Heller took office and said that his theme was " 1000 New Members in 1920 " , members brought him 1058 new members , the largest single membership year in the history of Irem .

In 1920 the idea of purchasing a country club was first conceived by Noble Leo W. Long, he outlined a plan for the formation of an Irem Temple Country Club, which was to be worked out in a way that it would not in any way fiscally involve the temple, but would provide a place where any member of the Order in good standing would be welcome and properly entertained at a moderate expense. Around the same time, the Derr Estate located in Dallas Township was placed on the market for sale, Long took an option on the property as well as the adjoining Watkins Farm for the price of $ 53,500.

On December 20, 1922 at the Annual Meeting of The Temple, it was announced that all transfers and financial arrangements for the Temple to acquire the Country Club had been completed. Meanwhile work continued at the Club and a golf course was constructed, an option was taken on the 45 acre Honeywell Farm (later purchased for $ 30,000) for the purpose of constructing a shooting gallery. The first large temple event to take place at the Club was an outdoor Ceremonial on August 1, 1923, 85 novices crossed the Hot Sands.

1923 marked the end of the tenure of one of the greatest Potentates in Irem's history. During his four years as Potentate, Heller increased the membership to 6084 nobles.

March 14, 1924 the pavilion was built at a cost of $ 40,235, two months later the locker house for the golfers was built at the cost of $75,270.  

The formal opening of the Pavilion took place on May 23, 1925 at which time the Uniform Units put on a show in the afternoon, followed by dancing in the evening.

June 21, 1921 the first family picnic was held as part of a Ceremonial.

In 1926 Irem, for the first time, sponsored three children for treatment at the Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia.

July 1927 was the first time that Irem made a donation to the Hospital in Philadelphia, the donation in the amount of $ 1600 was made by Potentate Merritt.

In August of 1927 Irem held a picnic for crippled children in our jurisdiction, 500 crippled children attended.

1931 brought the remodeling of the Mosque.

Membership had its ups and downs over the years but in 1993 Irem added 122 new members and sponsored 13 children for treatment at the Philadelphia Shriners Hospital.