ESGA
Early History
In the fall of 1926 William E. Sembach, PM of Keder Khan Grotto, issued
an invitation to all Grottos of N.Y. S. to attend a meeting at the Onondaga Hotel in Syracuse on November 24, 1926. The purpose was to form an
association of Grottos throughout the state. It was attended by representatives of eleven Grottos and several Supreme Council
Officers.
Harvey N. Smith, PM of Keder Khan was made President. Harry B. Lockwood,
PM of Balbec Grotto was 1st Vice President; Ray Pront of Iran Grotto,
2nd Vice Pres. ; George C. Miller of Whango Grotto, Secretary; Charles
M. Colton PGM of Lalla Rookh Grotto as Treasurer.
The next meeting was held on April 30, 1927 at the newly built Colgate
Inn in Hamilton N.Y. It replaced
the Park Inn at the comer of Madison and Payne Streets. Mokanna Grotto, being host extended a hearty welcome to the 36 Prophets
in attendance.
It included a group photo of 32 Prophets taken at the side of the National
Bank of Hamilton, opposite the Inn. It was also designated
as Founders Day and the group traveled to Woodlawn Cemetery on Lebanon Street
to pay respects to the Grotto Founders.
At this meeting the President named the appointed officers and Committees
and the Constitution and By‑laws were adopted. Otto H. Volker, PM was elected to succeed Treasurer Charles M Colton
PGM, who refused reelection for business reasons.
The first Annual Meeting was held in Elmira
on September 10, 1927, with Cashmere Grotto as host. Thus to this very day the ESGA has a Spring Meeting and a Fall Convention.
Which have always been well attended. There are officers, or special meetings when needed, or called for.
During the years the ESGA enlarged its member Grottos to include Grottos
in Pennsylvania and Canada.
At the Annual Meetings there were Group Competitions with trophies awarded which many Grottos must still have in their possession.
A dissatisfied member destroyed many of the records of the ESGA early
history, which is gone forever.
Special Note: If any Grotto or Prophet has anything of interest to add
to this brief account it would be greatly appreciated
