OMAR GROTTO WELCOMES YOU
The newest Grotto in the Realm!
ABOUT
Welcome to Omar Grotto and our website! Omar Grotto was re-instituted as part of National Grotto Day 2019.
“What is a Grotto?” Here are the basics…
The Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm, whose subordinate bodies are called “Grottoes,” is an organization for Master Masons. While not connected with Masonry proper, its membership is restricted absolutely and exclusively to Master Masons in good standing. Although it is primarily an organization for good wholesome fun and frolic, it also has its serious side. Its slogan is “Good Fellowship.”
Grotto is a social organization Master Masons and all such are welcome to our Enchanted Realm. It encourages renewed interest in the Blue Lodge with its activities and attendance. While it is not, and makes no claim to be a part of Symbolic Craft Masonry, we ever bear in mind that our membership is composed entirely of Master Masons.
HISTORY OF THE GROTTO
Where did it start? For some years prior to 1889, several members of Hamilton Lodge N0. 120, F.& A.M., at Hamilton, New York, sought relaxation from the sterner duties of life by holding occasional informal meetings for fun and good fellowship. The chief spirit in the fun was LeRoy Fairchild, and in the summer of 1889, he and a devoted band of followers discovered the Enchanted Realm in which, upon entering with song and laughter, they and their successors found a rich heritage. The first meeting of this organization was held on the 10th day of September, 1889. It was decided at this meeting that the membership of the organization should be confined to Master Masons in good standing.
It seemed to be the height of their ambition to perpetrate jokes upon each other. After a meeting of Cyrus Chapter No. 50, Royal Arch Masons, held in the fall of 1886, seventeen members planned for conferring the Royal Arch Degree. This evolved into monthly meetings. There were many tales of jokes and hijinks played on each other. They did not hold their meetings at the Lodge, but rather more informal locations. There were minutes kept and changing locations were marked by a lighted red railroad lantern.
OMAR GROTTO
Instituted March 2019
Omar Grotto, M.O.V.P.E.R. was reinstituted in 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts at The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts on National Grotto Day by Grand Monarch Rev. Matthew J. Wissell. Omar began meeting at Amity-Mosaic Lodge in Danvers, Massachusetts. The name Omar, comes from the previous Omar Grotto, formerly of Watertown, Mass. Omar Grotto had an illustrious history, including a Grand Monarch, Edwin H. Dyer, in 1930.
“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see” - Mark Twain
The Grottoes of North America Humanitarian Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that brings “Special Smiles” to children with special needs by providing them much-needed dental care.
The program helps cover the cost of dental treatment and anesthesia costs, whether done in a hospital setting or dental office. We do not cover the hospital costs.
CONTACT OMAR GROTTO
Amity-Mosaic Lodge
30 High & Park Street
Danvers, MA 01923
LOCAL GROTTOES
OFFICERS
Monarch - Peter Hamilton Nee
Chief Justice - Michael C. Perez
Master of Ceremonies - John Laffy
Treasurer - Donald Robert Denning, Jr.
Secretary - Rev. Matthew Wissell, Past Grand Monarch
Venerable Prophet - David Stentiford
Orator - TBA
Captain of the Guard - John Laffy
Marshal - D. Steven Knight, Jr.
Sentinel - Jeffrey Arnold
Chaplain - Geoffrey Kromer
Immediate Past Monarch - Robert S. Edmunds