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History of Prince Hall Affiliated
Masonry
Prince Hall, our founder, was one
of our great Americans, a Worthy Grand Master associated with our first
Grand Lodge and its expansion. His name is carried and borne by our
Masonic organizations in the United States, and thousands of Masons, who
regard themselves as descendants from the Grand Lodge of England from
which he received his authority more than two centuries ago. We in America
celebrated in 1976 the two hundredth anniversary of our Declaration of
Independence. This is also the two hundred and first (201st) anniversary
of the founding of Prince Hall Masonry. It is a monument to Prince Hall’s
life, career and leadership.
A significant event in Masonry on March 6, 1775, Prince Hall and fourteen
other men were initiated in Masonry through Warrant No. 459, which is
still in our possession. John Batt, who was of the 38th Foot Regiment of
the British Army having enlisted in 1759 and learning of the American
cause to re-enlisted in its Army. The enlistees were Prince hall, Cyrus
Johnston, Bueston Slinger, Prince Rees, John Canton, Peter Freeman,
Benjamin Tiler, Duff Ruform, Thomas Santerson, Prince Rayden, Cato Speain,
Boston Smith, Peter Best, Forten Horward, and Richard Titley. The writer
has this record. A Permit was issued for these Masons to meet as African
Lodge No. 1, and they became the first Black Masons in the United States.
Prince Hall enlisted and served as a soldier in the 2nd and 6th Regiments
of Massachusetts. In this connection, George W Williams, historian, wrote
in 1884, "that he saw hard service we know by the record of the two
regiments he served in, always distinguished for steadiness and valor.
Prince Hall was not only a good soldier, he was a statesman."
As the years passed, Prince Hall decided to approach England again, the
war being over in 1783. On March 2, 1784, he wrote a letter to William
Moody, Worshipful Master of Brotherly Love Lodge No. 55 in London,
England, stating that the African Lodge had been in operation for eight
years and they had only "a Permit to walk on St. John’s Day and to bury
their dead in manner and form" and he thought it "best to send to the
Fountains from whence he received the Light for a Warrant." This Warrant
or Charter was prepared but was not sent. Three years passed then the cost
of it had not been received in London. It seems that Prince Hall had sent
it but it had not been delivered. Finally, he was careful in selecting his
messengers and asked Captain James Scott,, brother-in-law of Governor John
Hancock of Massachusetts, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Captain Scott delivered the letter, the money and received the Charter
Warrant. Prince Hall acknowledged this receipt and added in this letter to
England, "By the grace of God, I shall endeavor to fulfill all that is
required of me in the Charter and I shall make the Constitution my guide.’
He added, "I hope we can adorn our profession as Masons." This Charter is
in possession of African Lodge of Massachusetts and is kept under lock and
key. Some of us have seen it and treasure it, for it is the only Charter
in existence from England, our source, available today to Masons. A
recognition of this fact was adopted in a report of a unanimous committee
in 1946 of the historic Northern Jurisdiction but it was delayed by
another committee’s action, but it is worth noting"
"It is believed to be the only original Charter issued from the Grand
Lodge of England which is now in the possession of any lodge in the United
States."
Some white Masons say the Blacks were not denied admission to white lodge
and they point to the very few and the presence of other by invitation as
proofs. We believe the contrary for D. Bentley, a contemporary who wrote
in his diary, available to all, "The thrust is they are ashamed of being
on equality with blacks. Even the fraternities of France, given to merit
without distinction of color do not influence Massachusetts Masons to give
an embrace less emphatically or tender affectionate to their Black
Brethren .. It is evident that a preeminence is claimed by whites."
The questions of extending Masonry arose when Absalom Jones of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania appeared in 1791 in Boston. He was an ordained
Episcopal priest and a Mason who was interested in establishing a Masonic
Lodge in Philadelphia. In 1792 Black men come from Providence, Rhode
Island to Boston to inquire about Masonry. They attended to hear the
charge by Prince Hall, who spoke of the presence of these men, "My dear
brethren of Providence, who are at a distance from and cannot attend this
lodge but seldom."
Masons in both places, made in England or the West Indies or elsewhere
came to Boston to see Prince Hall mentioned their cities as places for
lodges. At a subsequent assembly the African Grand Lodge was formed in
1791 by delegation from Philadelphia, Providence and New York in an
assembly which was a Grand Lodge. Prince Hall regarded as Grand Master was
the source and remained in this capacity until his death. African Lodge,
in Philadelphia, and Hiram Lodge, in Providence, came under his aegis in
1797. With growth and expansion the movement went West and South.
Prince Hall died December 4, 1807. His successor was Nero Prince who
sailed to Russia in the year 1808, George Middleton succeeded him,
1809-1810, Peter Lew, Samuel H. Moody and then the well known John T.
Hilton who recommended a Declaration of Independence from the English
Grand Lodge in 1827, which the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts had done in
1772 and assumed power and prerogatives as an Independent Grand Lodge.
Freedoms Journal, November 7, 1828, first black newspaper, praised Prince
Hall as "the Founder of African Lodge of Boston, and for his "work for the
Grand Masonic Lodge." The heritage which Prince Hall left us has authentic
and factual goodness to us as Masons, and we go forward distributed in 44
Grand Lodges, Eastern Star, two Supreme Councils, Golden Circles,
Shriners, Daughters of Isis, Brother and Sisters in the United States, the
West Indies, Canada, Liberia and West Africa, all doing a great work and
spreading a food cause in Masonry. To all these and those who read this,
we say as Prince Hall said in 1797:
"Blessed be God, the Scene is Changed! They now confess that God has no
respect of persons, and therefore receive them as friends and treat them
as brothers. Thus doth Ethiopia stretch forth her hand from slavery to
freedom and equality."
Written by:
Dr. Charles H. Wesley
"Prince Hall: Life and Legacy"
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