What is a Grotto?

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 ABACA Grotto was established on June 29, 1933 by The Supreme Council at Chicago, Illinois by empowering Esteemed Prophet Edward Herman Cann to become its first Monarch. 

There were 125 founding members, who helped The Fredericksburg Rescue Squad purchase its first vehicle called the “Green Hornet”.

For many years, one of our great fundraisers has been running the concession stand at the Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair. Funds are raised for our Dr. Smiles program, cerebral palsy, cancer research, dentistry for the handicapped, and other charitable causes.

We welcome all Master Masons to join us and have fun!  Grotto is the place you want to be if you've had enough formality already and want to relax and enjoy good fellowship with your brothers.

The man who comes to the Grotto had his Masonic origin in a Blue Lodge, where he was taught to reverence the name of GOD, and to pray for guidance. He came on through the Degrees where his knowledge of the dignity of Masonry was expanded, and the GROTTO was provided for him as a place where he might join with his Brothers in letting human instincts for fun, pleasure, and amusement have its way.

The Grotto was not and is not given to Masons as a place for exercising practices that would not be tolerated in the Masonic Bodies, or which are taboo among gentlemen. The Grotto stands for all of Masonry and for wholesomeness in life. It stands for letting in the sunshine on discouragement, grief, and woe, it would substitute hope for despair at all times.

Without the formalities that attend the Degrees in Masonry, it brings members in close fraternal touch, and it breeds confidence between wearers of the FEZ. The Grotto has always been made up of men in every community, men whom you are glad to know, men who travel by preference on the sunny side of the street, and who play a fair game all the time. They hit the ball hard in business and pleasure, but they know when the brakes should be applied. They sow in kindness, to reap in FRIENDSHIP and GOOD FELLOWSHIP. The Grotto is the playground for Master Masons. When playtime is over there, we go back to the world as MASONS, charged to maintain a "Good Report" among our fellows.

Membership in the GROTTO gives us the right to wear its emblem and to participate in its good works as well as its pleasures. It gives us an opportunity to know the finest fellows on earth, and we should guard well this privilege.

The Enchanted Lantern is a symbol from when the Grottoes first organized in 1890. Lanterns were lit and put out for where the meetings would be held. Today, we symbolically use a Red Lantern to pass around and collect contributions at each meeting for our charitable causes. We give with our whole hearts at Grotto!

-- SEE OUR ABACA GROTTO SCHEDULE OF EVENTS HERE --

Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4's address —where ABACA Grotto meets— is 803 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 [link to map]. 

ABACA Grotto meetings are held in Lodge No. 4's primary lodge room on the first Sunday of each month at 7:30 PM, often preceded by a casual dinner and libations across the street at J. Brian's Irish Pub & Taproom [link here] at 5:30 PM.

ABACA Grotto is based in George Washington's Mother Lodge No. 4 [link here] where he was made a Freemason on November 4, 1752. Stated Lodge No. 4 meetings are normally the second Friday of each month at 7:30 PM preceded normally by dinner at 6:30 PM.

Lodge No. 4's building is also home to Edward H. Cann Daylight Lodge No. 1752 [link here] which meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 11:00 AM, normally followed by a lunch cooked in the lodge's own galley.

Also located here is The George Washington Research Lodge No. 1732 [link here], whose quarterly meetings are the first Saturday of March, June, August, and December at 11:00 AM.

If you are new to Virginia and wish to start your masonic journey of information gathering to become a mason, or simply find a lodge near you, there's no better source than The Grand Lodge of Virginia in Richmond, VA [link here].

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To join ABACA Grotto you must be a Freemason and be a Master Mason in good standing to be sponsored by a current ABACA Prophet.

If you would like to learn more, contact ABACA Grotto [link here] and/or join us for one of our fellowship activities and let's get to know each other.

ABACA Grotto members hail from many of the Blue Lodges surrounding the Fredericksburg Region—we are not Blue Lodge specific—we welcome all Master Masons to join.

ABACA Grotto's phone number is (540) 799-7789. Please text and/or leave a detailed message.

 The founder of the Grottoes of North America was LeRoy Fairchild. In the summer of 1889 a group of Master Masons, members of Hamilton Lodge #120 at Hamilton, New York, met to organize and hold informal meetings. What this group was seeking was fun and good fellowship. At their meeting on September 10, 1889, they decided to honor the founder by calling it the “Fairchild Deviltry Committee.” It was decided that this organization be confined to Master Masons in good standing.

The idea of the Order proved to be attractive and many distinguished Masons joined. The Order could no longer be confined to any one locality and in response to imperative request other groups were formed. On June 13, 1890 the Fairchild Deviltry Committee duly established and formed the Supreme Council, Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm.

Its purpose mainly was to add in greater measure to the Masonic fraternal spirit the charm of radiant cheerfulness and to maintain within the fraternity an impetus of royal good fellowship, wherein joyous companionship and helpful sympathy shall mingle graciously and become the distinguishing characteristics of the Order. The late LeRoy Fairchild, who is revered by all Prophets of the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm as the founder of the Order, was an earnest, devoted Mason and an enthusiastic believer in the helpful influence of mirth. He loved his Brethren with an ardor of a true Mason and man, and always sought to bring joy to their hearts by the cultivation of sunny cheerfulness and indulgence in healthy merriment and joyful laughter. He believed with all his heart that the beneficial influence of Masonry would be far greater if along with the inculcation of sublime moral lessons, opportunities were afforded for the cultivation of a greater spirit of cheerfulness and good fellowship amongst the members than was possible in the Blue Lodge.

A little fill’ now and then is the best tonic and the man who occasionally unbends is the man who lasts and gets the most out of life. The Enchanted Realm holds an inexhaustible store of the sunshine which warms with the glow of generous sympathy, dispels the gloom of fret and worry and gives a brighter outlook and kindlier feeling, while it strengthens the fiber for real serious work and so brings true blessings and beautifies the fellowship of the Prophets.

The Grotto is the playhouse of the craft – the place where world-worn men can get together, forget their cares, and be, as it were, boys again. For within the portals of the Grotto, the stiffness and formality which keeps men apart melts away and they come into closer and truer relationship because of the breaking down of these barriers. In this way the Order is doing a noble job and is a powerful help in the cause of fraternity, for it supplements the work of the regular Masonic bodies with a spirit of cheer which lends a charm and grace to the severity of the more serious work.

It is a social organization for the Master Mason and all such are welcome to join our Enchanted Realm. It encourages renewed interest in the Blue Lodge Field . . . 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.

The ritual is original and unique. The spectacular ceremonial requires a cast of thirty or more and offers unlimited opportunities in stage activities and stunt performance. Its proper rendition requires a large stage, elaborate costumes and stage settings. It is mysterious, startling and spectacular with the Persian atmosphere.

While pervaded with a spirit of wholesome fun, it teaches a serious lesson which lingers with the initiate, instilling in him a spirit of optimism, a kindly feeling for his brother man and an impression of Good Fellowship which is something devoutly to be desired.

Membership provides the opportunity to meet with your fellow Prophets – many of whom are professional, business, and civic leaders – and to make lasting friendships. Being a member entitles you to share in great humanitarian projects like Cerebral Palsy Research and Dentistry for the Handicapped. Every Master Mason, because he is eligible to become a member of the Grotto, is urged to join in the humanitarian work which the Grotto so fervently sponsors.

With membership comes the right to wear the Black Grotto Fez and the Grotto Pin, identifying yourself as a member of the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm – also known as the Grottoes of North America – the greatest fraternal order a Master Mason can join. With this fez and pin and your paid up membership card you are welcome to visit any of the Grottoes throughout the United States and Canada.

The Mokanna head is an illustration of an ancient Persion character in our initiation ritual. For a few years the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm had no official emblem to wear. Word got around that the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets were permitted to wear an emblem that set them apart from others and a black Fez head covering was selected with a Mokanna Head in the center, giving the name of the Grotto. Naturally, this attracted attention. The minutes of a February 26, 1903 stated meeting of Azim Grotto, Bronx, New York states: "Prophet Charles E. Lansing, Past Potent Monarch, after some preliminary remarks, descriptive thereto, presented to those present, a drawing in color of a headgear appropriate for the Order. The same was received with favor and by motion, regularly made and seconded and carried, it was unanimously decided to adopt and wear them on serious and other appropriate occasions." In the minutes of October 29, 1903, it is recorded: "The Potent Monarch reported that the Fez worn by our members was, at the Annual Session of the Supreme Council held at Hamilton, New York on October 20, adopted as the official headgear for all Prophets of the Realm."

The Enchanted Lantern is a symbol from when the Grottoes first organized in 1890. Lanterns were lit and put out for where the meetings would be held.

When you join the Grotto you immediately become a member of the Greatest Fraternity that Friendship ever Built. Among Grotto members are many Grand Masters and Past Grand Masters, Governors and Ex-Governors of the various states, numerous other Government officials and civic leaders. Among these are four past Presidents of the United States, Warren G. Harding, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and Gerald Ford who have been proud members of the Grotto. 

In the early 2000’s the Secretary of UBAR Grotto, Prophet Seth Anthony, PM, performed some research into the history of the Grotto as a personal project. He wrote a short paper on the subject that was quickly stashed away and forgotten, because, well, who needs facts!

He rediscovered the file for the paper in 2013 and now we share it here with you. It’s not a complete history by any means, but it does serve as a brief and quality introduction to the history of our organization. Enjoy!

If you are reading this article, then you obviously have an interest in the Grotto and the Enchanted Realm that it has created. Members of this organization have a love and zeal for the group that remains unparalleled in other Masonic bodies. Yet, very few of the members have a good understanding of the early days of the organization. Little research is available on some of the simplest questions, such as “Who were the founders? How did the Grotto get its start? What were the early days like?” For this paper, we’ve collected information from several resources in an attempt to create for you an image of what our fraternity looked like in those formative years.

The members Hamilton Lodge No. 120, Free and Accepted Masons, of Hamilton, NY, were planning a Royal Arch Degree that would be held under the auspices of Cyrus Chapter No. 50, Royal Arch Masons. The group found that they got along splendidly and continued to meet, even after the degree had been conferred. Soon, the men began playing friendly pranks on each other, which only heightened their fellowship. With this kind of jollity taking hold, it wasn’t long before other nearby Brothers wished to join the group which, by that time, had taken on the name of “The Fairchild Deviltry Committee,” in honor of the ringleader, Bro. Leroy Fairchild, who was a local merchant and business man.

With interest growing, the members decided that it was time formalize the group and scheduled a meeting for September 10, 1889. Seventeen men showed up for this first official gathering, which resulted in the election of Brother Fairchild as leader of the group. The office he assumed was dubbed “King Devil,” in honor of the moniker the brotherhood had earned. Brother Sidney D. Smith was elected Secretary on the same day and the basics began to take shape. They immediately decided to limit membership to Master Masons for obvious reasons. It was also voted that Brothers R.R. Riddell and H.P. Tompkins would be the first candidates for the Order and an initiation date was set. However, there existed one problem. What would the initiation ceremony look like?

Students of fraternal history will note that the Grotto took shape during the first “Golden Age of Fraternalism.” During this time there were hundreds of fraternal groups in the United States and a significant portion of the country’s population belonged to at least one of them. The men knew that they’d have to have a ritual and ceremony unlike any other, as well as one that encompassed the ideals and values the group believed in. With this in mind, Brother George Beal and Brother Adon Smith worked together to create a ritual for the order. This work was brought before a ritual committee which was pleased with the result. This version of the ceremony would be used to initiate Riddell and Tompkins as the first new members.

Immediately upon joining, Riddell knew that he could assist in improving the ritual. He was appointed to a ritual committee consisting of himself, LeRoy Fairchild, George Beal, Adon Smith, and William West. The first revision was undertaken with earnest. Riddell would bring his sense of showmanship to the ritual, adding in many flashy and fanciful Persian portions. Beal, on the other hand, had more interest in classical mythology and wanted those elements incorporated into the work. A compromise was found that incorporated Beal’s desires, but also included the theatrical elements proposed by Riddell, not to mention the devilish motif that was still intact from the early days. From then on, only Beal would have any real say in changes to the ritual, which remains his legacy to this day. In 1917, Beal would be officially lauded by the Supreme Council for his work, cementing his place in Grotto history.

Come May of 1890, interest in the group had spread at a rapid pace and it was realized that methods for widening the membership of the Order was needed. This marks the early formation of what is today known as the Supreme Council. It was on May 28 that the Fairchild Deviltry Committee met and formally adopted new provisions for governance, better enabling them to expand the organization. The final preparations were made and on June 13, 1890, the men met and took the name “The Mystic Order of the Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm.” The name was chosen based on the story that had been laid out in the ritual and it was thought to be suitably mysterious and grandiose for the time period. LeRoy Fairchild presided at this meeting, with Sidney Smith acting as Secretary. The group was comprised of fourteen men, hailing from several different areas that were interested in forming the first local Grottos.

They adopted a Constitution and set of Statues to form the Supreme Council, after which elections were held based upon the rules outlined therein. The following were elected (all of whom are from Hamilton, NY, unless otherwise noted:)

• Grand Monarch – Thomas L. James
• Deputy Grand Monarch – LeRoy Fairchild
• Grand Chief Justice – George H. Raymond of New York City, NY
• Grand Master of Ceremonies – J. C. Terry of St. Paul, MN
• Grand Treasurer – William M. West
• Grand Secretary – Sidney D. Smith
• Grand Keeper of the Archives – Oren Root of Clinton, NY
• Grand Orator – James B. Murray of Auburn, NY
• Venerable Grand Prophet – Name Unknown
• Trustees – U. C. Van Vleck; Adon N. Smith; D. B. West

The Grand Monarch then made appointments as permitted by the Constitution. These consisted of the following (again, all from Hamilton, NY, unless otherwise noted):

• Grand Captain of the Guard – Thomas H. Beal
• Grand Alchemist – J. F. Gregory
• Standard Bearer – Samuel J. Todd of New Orleans, LA
• Grand Marshal – John Cunningham of Utica, NY
• Grand Steward – J. W. Clark
• Deputy Grand Chief Justice – B. J. Stimson
• Deputy Grand Master of Ceremonies – George Beal

It is interesting to note that all but one of the original elected Grand Officer positions have survived to this day, with Grand Keeper of the Archives being the notable exception. However, the Appointed Grand Officer positions have changed significantly through the years. Today, the Grand Marshal and the Grand Captain of the Guard are elected positions in the Supreme Council line, which leads to being elected Grand Monarch. The two Appointed Grand Office positions that exist today were not even part of the original list – those being Grand Sentinel and Grand Chaplain.

The officers were installed by the Grand Chief Justice, which then empowered them to create subordinate bodies. They immediately granted a dispensation to Druid Grotto No. 1 of Hamilton, NY (which would change its name to Mokanna Grotto No. 1 before its chartering.) Other business to be brought before the new Supreme Council included the approval of an obligation, written by Brother W.C. Eaton, and the appointment of officers to oversee committees. The group adjourned to observe the dinner hour, reconvening the next day (July 14, 1890.) The men approved the seal and badge of the order, as well as the official head covering, which was to be a turban. Originally, the color of the turban was limited by the Supreme Council, but by the end of 1890, a local Grotto could choose any color for their turbans as long as the entire Grotto used the same color; all veils were required to be silver. Veils of purple were reserved for members of the Supreme Council.

The Supreme Council meeting of June 11, 1891, would prove to be the true launching point of the organization. On this day a report was made of the granting of a dispensation for the second Grotto to be formed – Khorassan Grotto No. 2, of Ilion, NY. Later that year dispensations were also granted to Lalla Rookh Grotto No. 3 of Rochester, NY, and Zeba Grotto No. 4 of Rome, NY. On June 9, 1892, Khorassan Grotto No. 2 was officially chartered, making it the second operational Grotto in the Enchanted Realm. 

In 1893, the Supreme Council held its first meeting outside of Hamilton, NY. They would meet in New York City, which proved to be an easier travel destination for members outside of the Hamilton area. On June 27, 1893, the Supreme Council issued another charter and its first large batch of dispensations. It formally chartered Mirzola Grotto No. 5 at Amsterdam, NY, and provided dispensations to three other Grottoes – Hiawatha Grotto No. 6 of Anoka, MN (the first Grotto located outside of New York); Azim Grotto No. 7 of New York City; and Shiras Grotto No. 8 of Antwerp, NY.

At the meeting of the Supreme Council of June 14, 1894, the body issued final charters to Hiawatha No. 6, Azim No. 7, and Shiras No. 8, along with Zelica No. 9 (of Kinderhoook, NY), which had been granted a dispensation in between meetings. It was also at this meeting that Brother Thomas L. James relinquished the title of Grand Monarch, being replaced by Brother Adon Smith, who would serve until 1899. Smith would die one year later, at the age of 65, on June 13, 1900 – ten years to the day of the forming of the Enchanted Realm and the institution of the modern Supreme Council.

From 1902 on, the Supreme Council would elect and transition power to officers on a yearly basis. In total, 113 men have been hailed with the title of Grand Monarch to date, each of them leaving a legacy on the Realm. However, if it weren’t for the early and dedicated efforts of Brother LeRoy Fairchild and his close friends, there would be no Grotto today.

Little of Bro. Fairchild’s Masonic record is readily available, but it is known that he was born in New York in 1847, making him 39 years old when the “deviltry” began. Sadly, Bro. Fairchild would not live to see the grandeur of the Enchanted Realm that he helped to create, as he would pass away at the age of 51 in 1897.

The other key player during all of the formative years was Brother Sidney D. Smith, who would remain Grand Secretary until June of 1924, serving more than 30 years in that position. Alas, as with the other founders, his post Grotto life was to be short, as he passed away on November 12, 1924.

At your next meeting, why not offer up a prayer or a toast in honor of those men who gave us the organization we have today? We’re sure that they are smiling down upon us and their legacy.

Sources:

1. Hutchinson, Kenneth. “History of the Grottoes of North America, MOVPER.” The Grottoes of North America. The Grottoes of North America, December, 2011. Web. 24 Jan 2012.
2. Mackey, Albert. Mackey’s Revised Encyclopedia of Freemasonry. 8. 1. Chicago, IL: The Masonic History Company, 1912. 426-428. Print.
3. Stevens, Albert. The Cycolpaedia of Fraternities. 2. New York: E. B. Treat and Company, 1907. Print.
4. Supreme Council of North America, MOVPER. Officers of the Supreme Council. Gahanna, OH: The Grottoes of North America, 2011. Print.
5. UBAR Grotto website: ubargrotto.com, 2013