‘Azim is ready for 2025’

    

Monarch Mike Sikos

Azim’s Monarch for the ensuing year was elected and installed last Friday, in a friendly sort of way, with his retinue of officers in a very moving ceremony at Masonic Hall. (The Magpie Mason could not be there, but I have to believe it was a very moving ceremony.)

Azim, The Handsomest Grotto in the Realm, has a robust schedule for 2025. From the publicity:

2025 Officers

Monarch Mike Sikos

Chief Justice Joseph Lee McMillen

Master of Ceremonies Pablo Reyna

Venerable Prophet Jason Cohen, Esq.

Treasurer Steven J. Baker, Esq.

Secretary Zachary N. Ostrow

Trustee (2022-25) William Neri, Esq.

Trustee (2025-26) Daniel Hogan

Trustee (2025-27) Brian Donlon

Doctor of Smiles Devashish Agarwal

Membership Chairman Victor Mann

Enchanted Lantern Chairman Z. Ostrow

Marshal Victor Marshall

Captain of the Guard Eric Larios

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, January 21

Social at Hill Country Barbecue

Friday, February 7

Grotto Day prep meeting (Masonic Hall)

Friday, March 7

Grotto Day Ceremonial (Masonic Hall)

Saturday, April 12

Social at The Blind Pig

Tuesday, May 27

Social at Haven Rooftop

Saturday, June 7

Barbecue (location TBD)

September (date TBD)

Cigar Night at Club Macanudo

October (date TBD)

Oktoberfest (location TBD)

November (date TBD)

Fall Ceremonial (Masonic Hall)

December (date TBD)

Annual Summoned Meeting and Elections/Installation of Officers

Say, anyone hear from Zelica in Florida about the raffle?

Anyway, congratulations to Past Monarch Brian Donlon. I wish I could have gotten out more to support the Lucky 7 gatherings. My New Year’s resolution is “More Grotto!”

     

     

‘This Saturday in the Enchanted Realm’

    

This just in: Azim’s Fall Ceremonial is Saturday afternoon! The Prophets of the Black Fez will fez more Prophets in a ceremony so moving that—I don’t even think the English language has the vocabulary to convey how moving it is.

This will be from noon to four o’clock in the French Ionic Room in Masonic Hall.

It’s just one man’s opinion, but I believe a Master Mason, beyond the lodge, needs only Royal Arch and Grotto. And a research lodge. And maybe Cryptic. But that’s it!

Due to a bizarre scheduling conflict, I cannot be there, so the Chaplain’s duties will require someone else’s attention.

Lunch will be served. As always, it’s BYOB. Hmmm…what else, what else?

Oh yeah! If you haven’t petitioned for membership yet, there’s still time. Click here.

     

‘New year, new Grotto’

    

Azim Grotto, “The Handsomest Grotto in the Realm,” has new officers and a new schedule of social events for 2024.

Monarch Brian

Officers were elected three weeks ago, at which time Brian Donlon was cajoled into the Monarch’s chair. Congratulations! He has the support of a veritable dream team of Mystic Prophets in the officer stations.

But the bigger news is the Lucky 7 Club, a yearlong schedule of social gatherings around New York City on the seventh of each month. Why seven? Azim is the seventh Grotto to have been chartered, which happened way back in 1893.

As today is January 7, this first Lucky 7 event will take place from noon to four o’clock at Down the Hatch on West Fourth Street (between Sixth and Seventh) in the Village. The details:

Bottomless Brunch Menu

Noon to four

$35 per person

All drafts and mimosas

with eight wings or french toast sticks

w/sausage links and choice

of waffle fries, tots or onion rings

Standard Menu

Noon to Close

$6 shots of Tullamore Dew Green Tea

and Tullamore Dew

$5 all cans and bottles

(High Noon excluded) 

Monarch Brian, he say:

In an attempt to make Grottoing fun again, we are going to make it more convenient as well. This year we will be starting the Lucky 7’s Club. A movable feast of Grotto, if you will. On the seventh of every month, we will meet at a different dive bar or event space throughout the five boroughs, regardless of what day it lands on or who can attend. Whether it’s two Prophets or twenty in attendance, the idea is to bring Grotto closer to each of our homes throughout the boroughs and make it as convenient as possible to come and hang out more often—if within the length of your leather whip… I mean cabletow.

The very first Lucky 7’s Club meeting will be January 7, and as many of you know, the day before, our very own Past Monarch Anthony Ruffini will be installed as Potentate of Mecca Shriners. Many of us will be in attendance and it will be a very beautiful ceremony followed by a lot of celebrating. So the theme of our very first “Club meeting” will be recovery.

We will meet at Down the Hatch in Greenwhich Village for bottomless brunch. I’m sure many of you know the area is known for college/dive bars, and Down the Hatch is no exception. So bring your fez (or don’t) and come join Azim.

Sadly, the Magpie Mason will be unavailable for this one, but I promise to be a Seventh Day Eventist in the future. (Actually, I think I know this place, but in my day it had a different name.) Enjoy, Prophets! Brunch is the most important meal between breakfast and lunch!

    

‘Azim and Shamaliu team up’

   

The Mystic Prophets in formation at Masonic Hall today. That’s the Shamaliu Prophets attired in Grotto black and red. I think we Aziminians need to reinvigorate our sartorial traditions! Grand Monarch Victor, front and center, in a superb sport jacket.

It was the High Holy Days Edition of Azim Grotto Ceremonials today, as the Prophets gathered at Masonic Hall to impart lessons in Sympathy and Good Fellowship upon Pilgrim Neophytes from New Jersey.

Some of the Shamaliu contingent
with Monarch Dave in front.

The Mystic Prophets of the newly chartered Shamaliu Grotto (I forgot to ask those guys what the name means) (I’m told it is the Arabic word meaning “northern”), which meets in the Shriner building in Morris County, outnumbered us! Some were actual candidates, receiving their fezzes as new Prophets, but most already had their black headgear, but had not been through the Ceremonial initiation. All that is corrected now, and I imagine the Shamaliu Prophets will tackle their own ritual work henceforth.

Shamaliu Monarch Dave gets a few pointers
on regalia from Azim Monarch Eric.

Theirs is the second Grotto during this revival of MOVPER in the Garden State. The first, Simba, was launched two years ago, but already is said to be near death. (Sorry, but I predicted that. The lodges in Jersey basically are Grottoes, so I don’t know what novelty MOVPER offers the Masons there. Plus they already have the Shrine, the Sciots, Tall Cedars, and Scottish Rite, and all are moribund.) But Shamaliu appears to be in good hands, and I certainly wish them the best, as we Prophets impart Sympathy and Good Fellowship in a Brotherly Way.

Dignitaries on hand included (Azim’s own) Grand Monarch Victor Mann, who generously steered me toward his Soho tailor for bespoke suits and jackets; and District Deputy Frank Sforza, who always looks like he was born with that million-dollar-suit thing mastered.

John Roberts, PM

Victor once again had the honor of fezzing the new Prophets; Frank returned to the stage to dazzle us anew with his ritual prowess. And Past Monarch John Roberts was back. The Maestro, I call him. No, not ironically!

Other Grottoes were represented today, including Monker in Norwalk, which sent a few Prophets, including Monarch Ray Roche. I haven’t seen him since he was installed MEGHP of the Royal Arch Grand Chapter of New York seven years ago! I think a few Tri Po Bed Prophets were with us too.

We were told Azim has one more event upcoming, either next month or in November, before the elections and installation of officers at year end. And the Empire State Grotto Association has a meeting next month at Niagara Falls. Cheers to Monarch Eric on an eventful 2023.

Today, at least, the G in the Jacobean Room stands for Grotto!

     

‘Prophet motive?’

    

New York City’s Azim Grotto, the local band of the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm, will host its next Ceremonial September 23.

Abebooks

First Edition, Fourth Printing, 1923.

Yep, I know what you’re thinking: “Hey, that’s the hundredth anniversary of the publication of Bro. Khalil Gibran’s momentous The Prophet!” And you’re right! It indeed was September 23, 1923 when Alfred A. Knopf released the perennial international best seller. It may be Azim’s choice of that date is entirely coincidental, but it’s still pretty cool.

What is certain is the Ceremonial will be a salute to Past Monarch Victor Mann, who presided over Azim in 2013 and now happens to rule the entire Enchanted Realm of Grottoes International, having been installed as Grand Monarch last month at Supreme Council in Pittsburgh. So, when you see me, I may slip a petition for membership into your pocket.

     

‘Grotto puts Mann in charge’

    

MOVPER photo

Grottoes International, the recently renamed empire of fezzed Freemasons, has concluded its 133rd Supreme Council Session—this time at Pittsburgh—and our new Grand Monarch is Azim Grotto’s own Victor Mann!

He was Azim’s Monarch a decade ago and, such is his dedication to Sympathy and Good Fellowship, he rocketed up the top ranks to be installed Saturday as Grand Monarch of the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm. If you’re not familiar, “The Order of Veiled Prophets, while proclaiming the loyalty of its members to Masonry, makes no pretense of being a Masonic Order, nor does it claim to confer a Masonic degree,” according to Supreme Council. “Its membership is exclusively Masonic and its purpose is to supply the element of play, such a way that work and play will be blended without marring the solid beauty of Masonry.”

In other Azim news, our own Dominic Falcone has been installed Grand Sentinel. Bravo!

Bill Thomas selfie

This session was hosted in the Iron City because it’s the hometown of last year’s Grand Monarch, Michael Tomascin. So, you wonder, will the 2024 annual meeting take place in New York City?

No. You crazy? No one can afford to meet here, and it’s dangerous.

The Prophets instead will gather in the Big Easy, Victor’s original hometown, for our 134th Supreme Council Session during the first week of June. The Magpie Mason has every intention of being there. I’ve always wanted to visit New Orleans.

In the meantime, and on the local scene, Azim Grotto is planning a ceremonial for this fall. Details are being worked out. Also, the Empire State Grotto Association will get together October 19-22 at Niagara Falls (“slowly I turned…”).

Victor is from Independent Royal Arch Lodge 2. Very often that’s the mother lodge of Great Chiefs of Knight Masonry, so now it has another claim to fame. Congratulations, Victor!

     

‘New York City Grotto Day’

    

Some Grottoes exhibit wisdom. Some possess strength.

Azim emphasizes beauty! ‘The Handsomest Grotto in the Realm.’

 

Today was the big day for the Mystic Prophets in New York City. The Grotto has gone international, and what used to be National Grotto Day has been promoted to International Grotto Month!

But Azim’s ceremonial at Masonic Hall happened earlier today. Big, big class of candidates. I didn’t catch the number, but it started with 3. Thirty? Three hundred? Who can say? The important thing is Sympathy and Good Fellowship abounded.

Home of the Mokanna.

And, frankly, it was more enjoyable than the previous four or five ceremonials I’ve attended. For example, during the drama, no music was played so it actually was possible to hear what was being said. And Frank, our District Deputy, absolutely killed it in his role. If there were acting awards for Grotto ritual work, Frank would clean up.

Victor’s stylish fez case.

And it was great to see Isaac again. Victor, the Deputy Grand Monarch of Supreme Council, of course was there, and he presented the new Prophets their fezzes. He will be installed Grand Monarch in April of next year in New Orleans, which just has to be the best city for Grotto mayhem. (I think I’m going! I’ve always wanted to visit the birthplace of jazz.)

The altar.

In personal news, I think I might have become the official spiritual leader of Azim. I’ve been the chaplain in the past, I think, four ceremonials. Today, for the first time, I served as chaplain for the meeting itself. Very simple, as rituals go.

We were told to expect an Azim event in May. Details to come, and I’ll share them here when I hear.

     

‘Be an Azim pinball prophet’

    

Azim is starting the year right. On Friday the 27th, the Prophets will gather at the nearby Barcade for drinks and the Iron Maiden Pinball Tournament.

Be the Azim Arcade Pinball Champion of the World!

Get there at seven o’clock. Wear your fez (duh) and your “Azimian best.”

Barcade is located at 148 West 24th Street (between Sixth and Seventh) in Manhattan.

     

‘Azim elections and a month of Grotto goodness’

    

UPDATE: Azim will initiate new Prophets on Saturday, March 25 in the Jacobean Room. No hour announced yet, but last time we kind of got started at around noon.

With my schedule last weekend (see post below), I regretfully had to miss Azim’s elections and installation of officers, which the prophets held on City Island, which, I think, is upstate somewhere. Our leaders (Brethren, let us pray, etc.) as we enter our 130th year are:

Monarch Eric Z.

Chief Justice Brian D.

Venerable Prophet Joe M.

Treasurer Victor(!)

Secretary William N.

Congratulations, everybody! The photos are on the Faceypage.

In other news, National Grotto Day is no more. It’s now International Grotto Month! The graphic above explains it all. I’ll let you know when Azim sets a date.

     

‘Every business meeting should be like Azim’

    

Azim, the Grotto’s capital of handsomeness, has called a business and social meeting in two weeks on the Coney Island boardwalk. It’s an open event. Stop by!

Ruby’s

Legendary Ruby’s Bar & Grill will have to anticipate the onslaught of Mystic Prophets August 6. Don’t ask me what’s on the meeting agenda, but I’d guess it’ll be tackled in a few minutes.

Every business meeting should be like that, and every Grotto would be smart to be like Azim.

Attire: “your Azimian best.” Start: high twelve.

     

‘National Grotto Day 2022’

    

Another National Grotto Day is done, and Azim in New York City is ten Prophets richer, having put that many through the ceremonial at Masonic Hall this afternoon.

It was a subdued effort, with several dozen in attendance egging on the Pilgrim Neophytes through a short form ritual, but the story of Sympathy and Good Fellowship shone through. And the booze began flowing just before noon, so we had that going for us.

Our Prepared Candidate, the exemplar who made the ritual journeys on behalf of the group, was none other than Alex, a New Jersey Mason who works professionally as an actor—and what a fortuitous choice that was! I guess he does a lot of improv work, because he was uncannily brilliant.

Note to self: Buy a costume befitting a religious leader. (I’m Chaplain for the ritual, and today I was surprised to become Chaplain for Azim’s meeting as well, so I better step up my wardrobe game.)

The Prophet in black here traveled from Michigan (whatever that is) to make these presentations.

     

‘Azim elections: 12,000 ballots found!’

     

Azim, “The Most Handsome Grotto in the Realm,” held its annual elections…and Andrew Cuomo is our new Monarch!

No, no, that’s wrong! The results, with 117 percent of the ballots now counted, are:

Monarch William Neri

Chief Justice Eric Zaremski

Master of Ceremonies Brian Donlon

Venerable Prophet Mike Sikos

Treasurer Victor Mann

Secretary Joe McMillen

and

Trustee Anthony Ruffini

The Installation of Officers is scheduled for Friday, December 3 at 7 p.m. at City Island Masonic Temple in the Bronx. A mere ten bucks covers your dinner (don’t ask me how, but that’s what they say).

     

‘New Grotto for Long Island’

     

I regret not having a credit for this one.

They say Long Island isn’t an island at all but is a peninsula. Nevertheless, a Grotto is an Enchanted Realm, and Rockville Centre will gain one this month.

On Saturday the 30th, at the Valley, Prophets from all over will gather to launch Lier Grotto of the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm.

Formal attire. 6:30 p.m.

Hearty congratulations to all making this happen!

It’s a busy month for the Prophets.

Next Wednesday, Azim Grotto will host another cigar night, this time in partnership with Cornerstone Lodge 178. This will be at Pacificana in Brooklyn.

There’ll be a quick business meeting, but the eating, drinking, and smoking will proceed without delay. $50 per person. It’s a “brother bring a friend night.”

Six o’clock. 55th & 8th.

Meanwhile, right now actually, the Empire State Grotto Association is meeting in Buffalo. Our Grand Monarch is coming. Elections of new officers.

It’s too far for me. I’m headed a hundred miles north of the city as it is for the Cryptic Festival tomorrow.

     

‘Never gonna do it without the fez on’

Today, I finally make a point to sit down and watch D.W. Young’s documentary from last year The Booksellers. A few minutes in, a dealer of, what he calls, esoteric books is on camera. Didn’t catch his name.

     

Another National Grotto Day is in the books. At Azim, sixteen new Prophets received the mysteries of the Order in what was a fairly well attended ceremony, all things considered. I was genuinely moved by the atrociousness of the occasion.

I’ll have to update this edition of The Magpie Mason with photos when they become available later. We were enjoined from photographing, but an official photographer was on hand, and our Facebook page will have the evidence soon.

UPDATE:

Okay, okay. I’ll volunteer to be the photographer next time.

One additional great moment came when a lifetime achievement award was presented to Prophet Leon Weinstein in thanks especially for his keeping Azim alive years ago when all seemed lost. Then in 2010, this Grotto was revived by the arrival of a new generation, so the boos and hollers of Sympathy and Good Fellowship shall reverberate throughout Masonic Hall for future Veiled Prophets.

I had the chance to attend one of the Zoom conferences hosted during the winter in preparation for today’s nationwide event, and one of the facts I took away from the conversation is the awe in which Azim is regarded across the Enchanted Realm. Grottoes throughout the country are looking to New York City to learn how it’s done. Of course you’d expect that in any case, but it’s nice to hear.

   

‘National Grotto Day is near!’

     

National Grotto Day is approaching, but there is still time for you—well, maybe not you—to join Azim, the Most Handsome Grotto in the Realm!

The Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm is one of the many Masonic groups founded in the State of New York. Sure its primary activities run along the lines of seeing how many guys in gorilla suits can fit inside McSorley’s, but there also is a sincere humanitarian effort at the cause of it all. I personally recommend Grotto membership, seeing it as the perfect complement to the enlightening work of the Lodge and the numinous quality of the Chapter.

We’re doing it at Masonic Hall in Manhattan on Saturday the 27th. Yours truly will be the Chaplain in the life-changing ceremony. 

Click here for the petition. Fill it out (especially the felony part) and send it here. 

     

‘Grotto Day: an opportunity to howl’

     

Azim Grotto

After a period of quiescence for the summer, Azim Grotto No. 7, Veiled Prophets, will again be in active eruption next Saturday night, Sept. 26. Potent Monarch J. Harris Balston says in his notice to the prophets:

“You need a good laugh, you need an opportunity to howl, you need a change of scene, so don’t let any ordinary circumstance prevent your being present on Saturday evening, Sept. 26. There are a few real smooth things in this world that you have not seen yet, and in order that your eyes may behold and your ears hear, some of those things will on this occasion be revealed to you. There will be novel surprises, for the same old committee on ‘ways and means’ has been devising a lot of ‘warm ones’ for the candidates.”

The Masonic Standard

September 19, 1903

Not to be squelched a second time by the pandemic, the Veiled Prophets of Azim Grotto 7 will initiate a group of, ah, initiates next month at Masonic Hall.

Yours truly, on account of my spiritual powers, y’understand, will serve as the chaplain for the life-changing ceremony.

The graphic above has the particulars. Send an email to that gmail for your petition for membership, but do it today!

(For the record, I have no idea what “warm ones” refers to.)

     

‘Azim 7 officers elected’

     

Azim Grotto No. 7, the handsome Veiled Prophets in New York City, elected its officers two weeks ago at Kinahan’s, where the following were chosen to lead for 2021:

Monarch A. Ruffini

Chief Justice B. Neri

Master of Ceremonies E. Zaremski

Venerable Prophet B. Donlon

Secretary A. Haight

Sorry to say I couldn’t be there, but attendance was capped at ten, and I thought it better to leave room for relevant Prophets. But I’m very much looking forward to a new year of, as one Grotto history book puts it, “weird ceremonies” and “red letter days!”
     

‘Azim’s January social at The Campbell’

     

And speaking of bars and drinking (see both most recent posts below), Azim “Home of the Mokanna” Grotto will gather for its January social at a place I have wanted to visit for a long time. (I drive everywhere, so I don’t use train stations.)

Inside Grand Central Terminal, in what had been the offices of Roaring Twenties financier John Campbell, is The Campbell—a pretty swank bar.

Wikipedia says between the days of Campbell’s office and The Campbell Bar, the space was used as a jail by the MTA, which might explain Azim’s affinity for the joint.

Enjoy these photos borrowed from all kinds of websites, and resolve to become an Azim Mystic Prophet on Saturday, March 21—National Grotto Day.

Courtesy New York Times

Courtesy 6sqft.com

Courtesy thrillist.com

Courtesy acuteinflections.com

     

‘Do you Grotto?’

I do, at least as of five months ago, and come Saturday, you can too.

Living vicariously through Isaac’s entertaining Facebook updates for several years was satisfying to a certain extent, but I had to join Azim Grotto No. 7 in New York City in March to experience it firsthand. It’s my one frivolity in Freemasonry, and if you are able to get to Masonic Hall, then I recommend joining this hilarious band of…uh, Prophets.

The actual name is Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm, so you know instinctively that it’s levity. The Grotto is yet another fraternity in the Masonic family tree that was founded in the State of New York—it’s hard to count them all—and Azim 7 is the place to be in New York City. The embryonic Grotto was hatched at Hamilton Lodge 120, where the first meeting was held September 10, 1889. The Supreme Council was formed only nine months later, and the lovable band of brothers attired in allegedly Persian garb (today a proper and dignified fez suffices) was on its way.

A hundred years ago, the Grand Lodge of North Dakota (wherever that is) made it an offense for a Master Mason to join the Grotto. The Grand Master of Indiana forbade Grottos to meet in Masonic lodge rooms. The Grand Master of Louisiana ruled the Grotto to be viewed in the same regard as the Knights of Columbus, the Druids, Odd Fellows, and other non-Masonic fraternities. Yeah, well who is laughing now?

On Friday, Grand Monarch Michael G. Hosler and his Lady Jan will pay a social call on us in Manhattan at a location only three minutes away from the Nat Sherman Townhouse—that’s a hint to the hosts—because…

The next day, Saturday the 31st, the Grand Monarch, accompanied by Deputy Grand Monarch Tali Atala, will pay a visit to Azim at Masonic Hall for our Ceremonial—that is the unforgettable induction of members—and a private tour of the majestic building.

Tour at 4 p.m. Social hour at five o’clock. Azim business meeting at six. The Ceremonial at 7 p.m. (which is not to say the business meeting will run an hour!). In the Jacobean Room on eight.

I’d say it is okay to arrive Saturday and complete a petition then and there, because that’s what I did in March on National Grotto Day. Things are pretty informal, as you might guess. Do it. When has this blog ever steered you wrong?