Zafar Grotto |
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Zafar Grotto |
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| Grotto History |
Monarch Melvin ClickTo |
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| Zafar History | |||
| Zafar Officers | |||
| Zafar Events | |||
| Humanitarian Foundation |
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381 E Second Ave |
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The Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm, whose subordinate bodies are the Grottoes, is an organization by and for Master Masons. While in no way 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, and in contact with our fellowman, this principle is exemplified to a marked degreeFor 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
have 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.
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Zafar Grotto HistoryThe first meeting of what was called Grotto, was held at the 40 & 8 Club on May 20, 1951. The second meeting was held the latter part of June 1951, with 9 Masons present & Ray Vater of Cashmere Grotto present. A series of meetings were held to talk about the Grotto and in all meetings, there was a strong desire to form a Grotto in Williamsport, Pa.A meeting was held on October 7, 1951, with 19 Masons present. Also present were; Ray Vater, Frank Cady, B.J. Bjorvand, Ed Wallace, Wolgast, Beecher and several other Cashmere members. At this meeting it was decided to appoint temporary Officers. Those chosen at this meeting were; G.Stanford Moon - Chairman, Ralph Kaufman – Secretary, Del Hamlin – Treasurer. Thus, Zafar Grotto was off the ground floor and ready to proceed.On November 6,1951, the appointed Officers directed that a meeting be called once a month. There were 30 prospective members attending this meeting. Arnold Hood was appointed Secretary and Charles O. Tompkins as Treasurer. The Treasury had $185.00 from applications received.December 15, 1951, a cold wintry night, the group for Grotto met at the 40 & 8 Club, with 40 members present. Otto Hildebuant and Mr. Owens from the Supreme Council and 11 members from Cashmere Grotto, Elmira, N.Y., were also present. The Supreme Council Officers advised the group that 50 members were needed to be instituted and 100 members to be chartered.A January 8, 1952 meeting was held at the 40 & 8 Club with PM Ray Vater, 8 Cashmere Officers, and 44 fully paid petitioned members present. Our group promised to have the required members by February, 1952. A motion was made by Kitchen and seconded by Gehron, that February 5, 1952 be set up as Institution Date.A February 5, 1952 meeting had 75 members signing the Registration Book. Grand Secretary Otto Hildebrandt, assisted by Deputy Secretary Thomas Owens, instituted a Grotto in Williamsport to be named Zafar Grotto. The name ZAFAR was suggested by G.Stanford Moon and approved by the members present. Grand Secretary Otto Hildebrandt, by special dispensation, appointed a slate of temporary officers for 1951. Monarch - G. Stanford Moon, Chief Justice - William Wood, Master of Ceremonies - H. Larue Thompson, Treasurer - Charles O. Tompkins, and Secretary - Arnold E. Hood. It was explained that 100 members were needed to be chartered and that we should not get discouraged as it might take a year or more to achieve.On this date, Galen E. Allen, Daniel I. Eddinger, Arnold E. Hood, H. Frank Kitchen, G. Stanford Moon, & Charles O. Tompkins, are considered our founders. On June 6, 1987, a plaque was presented and hung in the Rafaz Club area for all to see.On May 17, 1952, Zafar Grotto held its first Ceremonial at the Elks Auditorium. The Ritual and Revelers were put on by the Cashmere Grotto. A street Parade was held, headed by the Cashmere Band.In June, 1952, Zafar Grotto Revelers were formed, with Donald Dunlap elected it’s first Master.July 1952, Our first Picnic was held at Highland Park.September 30, 1952, Zafar held it’s first Stag Midget Turkey Party. Frank Kitchen was Chairman and $728.40 was taken in as profit.First trip out of town was on October 29, 1952, having two bus loads of people to attend Cashmere’s Fall Ceremonial at Elmira, NY. By now the members of Zafar were beginning to understand Grotto.November 5-11, 1952, It was seen, that a building of our own was needed. A motion by James Maneval, Lawrence Fry, Monarch Moon, Arnold Hood, and Charles Fitzgerald was made to enter into a plan to own our own building. A Building Fund was started with a $5.00 donation from Harris Gould and another donation of $25.00 from the Zafar Revelers. Monarch Moon appointed Enos White as chairman of the Building Fund, with but $30.00 in the treasury. A penny was later found on the floor, making the total for the fund $30.01. Chairman White promised by the summer’s recess, June of 1953, he would have $1000.00.On November 18, 1952, with 187 members signing the Charter, PM Ray Vater as Special Deputy of the Grand Monarch, assisted by PM Vockner, Zafar, was presented its Charter from the Supreme Council. A Banquet and Dance was held at Turner’s Club, with 267 Members, Wives and members of visiting Grottos present. The evening was most successful and enjoyed by all. Monarch Moon thanked our Mother Grotto ( Cashmere ) for their patience, long hours, miles of travel, and their fine leadership in guiding Zafar to it’s Charter Night. |
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2003 ZAFAR GROTTOELECTED &
APPOINTED OFFICERS
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Monarch
H. Melvin Paulhamus 368-3281
melpaulhamus@suscom.net
Chief Justice
Benjamin H. Beal 320-0893 lioneben3@suscom.net
Master
of Ceremony
Charles L. Sober 322-5463
reboslliv@aol.com
Venerable Prophet
David J. Barnes 323-8150
djbarnes1@yahoo.com
Marshal:
Dave Miller 322-1576
Captain of Guard
Tony Caschera 326-2547
Sentinel
Jerry A. Shoemaker 322-9977
dormanpro@aol.com
Financial
Secretary
G. Robert Hofer, 546-5652
Record
Secretary
John J. Shilling PM, 323-1477
shilling@micro-link.net
Treasurer
Paul L. Dapp, PM 323-2180 pdapp@csrlink.net
1 Year Trustee
John J. Shilling PM, 323-1477
shilling@micro-link.net
2 Year Trustee
Robert I. Pardoe PM 547-6002 ripard@micro-link.net
3 Year Trustee
Johnny G. Hinds, PM 323-7421 hinds@primus-tech.com
Chaplain
Robert W. Harer, PM 323-0761
Gr.
Chamb.
Robert R. Dorman 473-8991
Orator
Wilmont R. Raymond PM 748-0150
wraymond@kcnet.org
Enchanted Lanterns
Junior R. Markel, PM 322-2580 jr1sharp1@suscom.net
Past Monarch Association
Johnny G. Hinds, PM 323-7421
hinds@primus-tech.com
Dr. of Smiles
Jesse F. Sholes, PM 326-1049
- e mail jfsholes@chilitech.net
Humanitarian
Jesse F. Sholes, PM 326-1049
Publicity
Jesse F. Sholes, PM 326-1049
Gift, Wills & Bequeaths
David T. DeWalt, PM 547-1157
Membership
Dr. Don Bergerstock, PM 323-3927
dberg@chilitech.net
Tooth Program
Jesse F. Sholes, PM 326-1049
- e mail jfsholes@chilitech.net
Booster Club
G. Robert Hofer 546-5652
Youth
Coordinator
Johnny G. Hinds 323-7421 hinds@primus-tech.com
Sick Committee
Elmer Hewitt 546-7582
Keeper
of Harem
Robert W. Harer, PM - 323-0761
Suspensions
John J. Shilling PM, 323-1477
shilling@micro-link.net
Retirees
Howard J. Lamade Jr. 322-5093
Rafaz Club
Glenn R. Tompkins 322-7974
lodge106@suscom.net
String Band
James Lundy 435-2466
Grottoettes
Monnie Seawald 368-1931
Handicap
Equipment
Glen F. Getchen 435-2466
Jewelry Cabinet
John J. Shilling PM, 323-1477
shilling@micro-link.net
Expressions
Benjamin H. Beal 320-0893 lioneben3@suscom.net
Monarch's Aides
William H. Sober, Sr., PM 322-5463 reboslliv@aol.com
MONARCH’S AIDES
Brian L.
Bair 322-4035
James Sennett 326-9034
Clyde E. Waltz 327-8784
Tom McNutt 326-5067
Louis J. Gusbar 368-8568
Benjamin
Renn Jr. 546-3563
Raymond A. Rhine 322-5180
Harry Strailey
First Wednesday.................Rafaz Club, Inc....................7:00 PM
Second Monday......................Grottoettes........................7:30 PM
Second Friday.......................Retirees...........................12:00 Noon
First Sunday.........................String Band...........................7:00 PM
Fourth Monday.....................Zafar Grotto...........................8:00 PM
In June 1949, at its Supreme Council Session,
the delegates adopted a resolution to establish a national charitable
program, which was to be named the
Humanitarian Foundation. In 1951, their first project was "Aid for the
Cerebral Palsy Child". In 1953 they adopted the Enchanted Lantern to
represent contributions made.
For each $50.00 tax deductible donation, a certificate, receipt and
emblem are issued. From 1953 to 1970 the main thrust of the charitable
trust was the Cerebral Palsy Child. Grotto members became involved with
their local United Cerebral Palsy chapters and in 1957, the first annual
$25,000 contribution was made to United Cerebral Palsy research.
across North America and again, reorganized and
expanded their scope, by adopting the Dentistry for the Handicapped
Child. In 1969 they met and agreed the Grotto would establish a dental
clinic for the handicapped at Illinois Masonic Medical Center.
