Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm ‘Grotto’
Orders history
this order is a social organization for Master Masons, and as such, all Master Masons are welcome to join. It encourages renewed interest in the Blue Lodges, though it makes no claim to be a part of Symbolic Craft Masonry. “Grotto” is the common name for the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm, which was founded in 1890 in Hamilton, New York, as a “fun” organization for Master Masons. There were 39,000 members in 1994.
The Fairchild Deviltry Committee, to give it its original name of 1889 or 1890, became the “Supreme Council of the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm” on June 13, 1890. It has generally been known as the Grotto ever since, after the name adopted for the lodges.
The ritual is a standard Islamic-parody model, allegedly derived from a secret manuscript discovered in a vault in Teheran, but nevertheless revised in 1940. Like the Shriners, the Grotto is a reaction to dry, pseudoscholastic freemasonry. It is commonly known as the Blue Lodge Shrine because any Master Mason in good standing in his own blue lodge may join; that is, membership is not restricted to those with higher degrees.
The Fairchild Deviltry Committee, to give it its original name of 1889 or 1890, became the “Supreme Council of the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm” on June 13, 1890. It has generally been known as the Grotto ever since, after the name adopted for the lodges.
The ritual is a standard Islamic-parody model, allegedly derived from a secret manuscript discovered in a vault in Teheran, but nevertheless revised in 1940. Like the Shriners, the Grotto is a reaction to dry, pseudoscholastic freemasonry. It is commonly known as the Blue Lodge Shrine because any Master Mason in good standing in his own blue lodge may join; that is, membership is not restricted to those with higher degrees.