EL JAALA Grotto # 56 – 4th Tuesdays @ Mont Clare Masonic Temple 6910 w Grand ave Chicago, IL 60707
The Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm, whose subordinate bodies are the Grottoes, is an organization by and for Master Masons.
There are currently about 146 Grottoes in North America, with close to 15,000 Prophets, as members are called. While in no way connected with masonry proper, its membership is restricted absolutely and exclusively to Master Masons in good standing.
Its slogan is GOOD FELLOWSHIP, and in contact with our fellow man, this principle is exemplified to a marked degree. Although it is an organization of fun and frolic, the Grotto does have a serious side when it comes to its time philanthropic activities.
EL JAALA, which means “the prize” in Turkish, was founded in 1948 in Chicago, IL. Over the last 60+ years, many famous area masons have helped build EL JAALA to what it is today. Figures include Cook County Sheriff Richard Elrod, philanthropist W. Clement Stone, Robert Giesel, H. Wayne Lillard, N. Tracy Walker, and Illinois Masonic Medical Center Chairman Charles Gambill. In January of 1999, Clifford Chapman became the first EL JAALA prophet to be installed as Potentate of Chicago’s Medinah Shrine. Prophet Charles H. Sullins was installed as Grand Master of Illinois in October of 2002. In the early 1990s, El JAALA moved to northwest suburban Des Plaines. Just recently as of 2020, we have moved back to Chicago !
When you join EL JAALA, you become a member in one of the greatest fraternal groups that friendship has built. You become a living part of a great fraternal philanthropy…putting smiles on the faces of special needs children. The Grotto is a social organization for Master Masons only, we NEED you and WANT you to HELP us HELP others!