Oren Root Jr.

Oren Root Jr. (May 18, 1838 – August 27, 1907) was an American college president, professor, and minister. He was president of Pritchett College and professor at Hamilton College and the University of Missouri. He was a founder of the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm, often called "The Grotto", an appendant body in Freemasonry.

Early life Root was born in Syracuse, New York on May 18, 1838. He studied first at the Clinton Grammar School. Root was also co-editor of The Columbian Speaker. He was grand high priest of the Royal Arch Masons of Missouri in 1868, grand commander of the Knights Templar of Missouri in 1871, and chaplain of the Grand Lodge F&AM of New York State from 1891 to 1892, and in 1905.

Root lived in a house on College Hill near Clinton, New York, next door to the summer home of his brother, Elihu Root, who was United States Secretary of State. He died from cirrhosis of the liver at his home on August 27, 1907. He had been sick for a year.