Cinema Grotto welcomes you!

Posted by cinemagrotto on November 27, 2012
Posted in: Announcements. Leave a comment

What is a Grotto? By definition, it is a cave surrounded by water. But, this is not the Grotto your geography teacher told you about. Instead, we are a group of Master Masons that meet on the level for the purpose of fellowship. It’s really as simple as that.

Cinema Grotto has been going strong since 1945. Even after over 70-years as an established Masonic organization, Cinema Grotto has continued to welcome Master Masons on a monthly basis.

Our meetings are held on the 3rd Friday of every month. At 7:30 pm on these nights, you can find us at our home away from home, Old West Masonic Lodge in Newhall, California.

Please feel free to take a stroll through our website, and check out our upcoming events. If you wish to join our band of fellowship attend any of our events, click on the Contact tab and let us know!

The Monarch’s Message – May 2019

Posted by cinemagrotto on May 15, 2019
Posted in: Monarch's Message. Leave a comment 
Prophets,

It’s the Merry Month of May and I hope our Merry Band of Prophets had a great day celebrating the Mothers of our lives on Mother’s Day!

We had a great time at our April meeting followed by dinner at Dario’s Mexican Restaurant as we listened to the sultry sounds of Friday Night Karaoke drifting in from the bar area. In this ever changing world, we can take solace in knowing that every Rose still has it’s Thorn and a Wayward Son still needs to Carry on!

Please make every effort to attend our May meeting on Friday, May 17th. Shenanigans and Tomfoolery will be in abundance!

I leave you with the 12 Commandments of Grotto as found on the National Grotto Website.

Take some time to contemplate how we can incorporate more of these ideas into our Grotto and bring your thoughts to the Stated Meeting.

 The Twelve Commandments of the Grotto
  1. To draw the Master Masons of different Lodges into close and more friendly relations.
  2. To create and maintain a spirit of fraternity among us.
  3. To discount jealousy, enmity and ill feeling.
  4. To teach us that we are not only members of one Blue Lodge, but belong to the fraternity at large.
  5. That there are good Masons outside of our Blue Lodge and they are worthy friends and companions.
  6. To build up and strengthen the character and individuality of the Mason and to teach, recognize and develop the principles of Masonry outside the Lodge room.
  7. To teach that a Mason is not judged by his actual appearance or worldly wealth.
  8. The Grotto meets all Masons on the level, not figuratively but literally, and teaches that Masons are brothers on the street as well as in the Lodge room.
  9. That Masonry must not be used as a means of advancing the material interest of any man. 
  10. To get out of the rut into which we too often fall.
  11. To forget our cares, for there is good in all of us.
  12. The GROTTO is a social organization for Master Masons.
Yours in Fellowship,

Donald

Monarch

The Monarch’s Message – April 2019

Posted by cinemagrotto on April 3, 2019
Posted in: Monarch's Message. Leave a comment 
My fellow prophets,

March was a great Month to be a Prophet at Cinema Grotto!

Our March Social was at the Reseda Lodge Pancake Fundraiser for Masonic Youth Orders. It was an honor to cook pancakes for the Brethren and we appreciate all who came out and feasted upon all the Breakfasty Goodness!
Next up, we had our March Madness Meeting of the Grotto where many laughs were had and memories made as we enjoyed a visit from our Supreme Council District Deputy Bobby Thompson followed by G O O D F E L L O W S H I P at Toppers Pizza!
To round the month off, we celebrated National Grotto Day by bringing Five new Prophets into the Enchanted Realm and eating many, many delicious meatballs! Thank you to Captain of the Guard Ira Mazer for cooking up his delicious Memphis Style Barbecue Meatballs. They were great! 

A Huge Thank You to our Master of Ceremonies Joel Castro for organizing and directing our Conferral Cast so that we could bring in the candidates in the most Enchanted Way Possible! 

Lastly, Thank you to Venerable Prophet David Henne for creating the PowerPoint slide show that outlines the rich history of Cinema Grotto! The three of you truly made National Grotto a memorable and special day in the Realm.
A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to Past Monarch Michael Schneider for receiving the Grand Monarch’s Excellence Award for 2018-2019!!! You did so much for our Grotto during your year and your award is well deserved!
It’s a great time to wear the Fez of Black! For our April Social, we’ll be returning to Golden Road Brewery for TRIVIA NIGHT (info to be announced soon on our Facebook page). Hope to see you there!

Be sure to make it to our April Stated Meeting. There’s sure to be shenanigans and good fun!! I hope to see all of our newest Prophets there.

Yours in Goodfellowship,

Donald

Monarch

UPDATE: Memorial Service for Mrs. Cynthia Cunningham (02/17/2019)

Posted by cinemagrotto on February 8, 2019
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Prophets,

After hearing of the passing of our dear friend and supporter of the Grotto, Cynthia Cunningham, the Prophets of Cinema Grotto passed the Fez at our January meeting in order to collect donations in Cynthia and Past Monarch Jim Cunningham’s memory. We raised $250 and purchased five Enchanted Lanterns in their names to be presented to David Cunningham.

I am very proud to be a member of our Grotto and to see our Prophet’s practicing Sympathy and honoring those who have supported us so fervently.

The memorial service for Cynthia Cunningham will be Sunday, February 17th at 3 PM at Old West Lodge.

It is very important that we make every effort to attend the service, Prophets. 

When we practice Sympathy and Good Fellowship, we embody what the M.O.V.P.E.R is all about.

Yours in Good Fellowship,

Donald

SAVE THE DATE – Ceremonial & National Grotto Day (March 23, 2019)

Posted by cinemagrotto on January 30, 2019
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Greetings Brethren,

On Saturday, March 23, 2019, Grottoes across the country will be celebrating National Grotto Day. You didn’t really think Cinema would be left out of the fun, right?

A full day of fun and fellowships will be held at Old West Masonic Lodge on March 23rd, including a full-form ceremonial.

In the meantime, start inviting your brothers to National Grotto Day at Cinema Grotto where they can also be made Prophets of the Enchanted Realm!

*Please email me (dgipson@cinemagrotto.com) with your RSVP so we can plan accordingly for a day of Good Fellowship* 

Hope to hear from you soon!

Fun and Fellowship,

Donald Gipson

Cinema Grotto Monarch

Thank you, Mrs. Cynthia Cunningham

Posted by cinemagrotto on January 10, 2019
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Prophets,

So often in the Grotto we advocate Good Fellowship, but we must not forget the other action to which our attention is called – Sympathy.

A dear, dear friend of the Enchanted Realm, Mrs. Cynthia Cunningham – wife of Past Monarch Jim Cunningham – passed away on January 5, 2019. She was a huge supporter of Cinema Grotto and helped us in so many ways over the years.

I’d like to start a new tradition at Cinema Grotto. When a Prophet or his Lady goes to the Celestial Lodge above, I would encourage us to purchase an Enchanted Lantern in their name to honor them.

* At our Stated Meeting on Jan. 18th, we will pass the Fez around for donations toward an Enchanted Lantern in Cynthia Cunningham’s name. If possible, I’d like to purchase one in Past Monarch Jim Cunningham’s name as well.

At that time, we will open the floor for anybody who would like to share happy memories of the Cunningham’s.

We are blessed at Cinema Grotto to have men and women like the Cunningham’s who have come before us and paved the way for Sympathy and Good Fellowship.

Yours in fellowship,

Donald

Monarch of Cinema Grotto