Who was Prince Hall?

Prince Hall is recognized as the Father of Black Masonry in the United States. Historically, he made it possible for Negroes to be recognized and enjoy all privileges of free and accepted masonry.

Many rumors of the birth of Prince Hall have arisen. A few records and papers have been found of him in Barbados where it was rumored that he was born in 1748, but no record of birth by church or by state, has been found there, and none in Boston. All 11 countries were searched and churches with baptismal records were examined without finding the name of Prince Hall.

One widely circulated rumor states that "Prince Hall was free born in British West Indies. His father, Thomas Prince Hall, was an Englishman and his mother a free colored woman of French extraction. In 1765 he worked his passage on a ship to Boston, where he worked as a leather worker, a trade learned from his father. During this time he married Sarah Ritchery. Shortly after their marriage, she died at the age of 24. Eight years later he had acquired real estate and was qualified to vote. Prince Hall also pressed John Hancock to be allowed to join the Continental Army and was one of a few blacks who fought at the battle of Bunker Hill. Religiously inclined, he later became a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church with a charge in Cambridge and fought for the abolition of slavery." Some accounts are paraphrased from the generally discredited Grimshaw book of 1903.

Free Masonry among Black men began during the War of Independence, when Prince Hall and fourteen other free black men were initiated into Lodge # 441, Irish Constitution, attached to the 38th Regiment of Foot, British Army Garrisoned at Castle Williams (now Fort Independence) Boston Harbor on March 6, 1775. The Master of the Lodge was Sergeant John Batt. Along with Prince Hall, the other newly made masons were Cyrus Johnson, Bueston Slinger, Prince Rees, John Canton, Peter Freeman, Benjamin Tiler, Duff Ruform, Thomas Santerson, Prince Rayden, Cato Spain, Boston Smith, Peter Best, Forten Howard and Richard Titley.

When the British Army left Boston, this Lodge, # 441, granted Prince Hall and his brethren authority to meet as a lodge, to go in procession on Saints John Day, and as a Lodge to bury their dead; but they could not confer degrees nor perform any other Masonic "work". For nine years these brethren, together with others who had received their degrees elsewhere, assembled and enjoyed their limited privileges as Masons. Finally in March 2, 1784, Prince Hall petitioned the Grand Lodge of England, through a Worshipful Master of a subordinate Lodge in London (William Moody of Brotherly Love Lodge # 55) for a warrant or charter.

The warrant was granted on September 29, 1784 under the name of African Lodge, # 459 on the register of the Grand Lodge of England by authority of then Grand Master, the Duke of Cumberland, delivered in Boston on April 29, 1787 by Captain James Scott, brother-in-law of John Hancock and Master of the Neptune. Prince Hall was the first Master of the lodge which was organized one week later, May 6, 1787.

The warrant to African Lodge # 459 of Boston is the most significant and highly prized document known to the Prince Hall Masonic Fraternity. Through it, Masonic legitimacy among free black men is traced, and on it more than any other factor, rests their case. That charter, which is authenticated and in safekeeping, is believed to be the only original charter issued from the Grand Lodge of England still in the possession of any Lodge in the United States. African Lodge allowed itself to slip into arrears in the late 1790's and was stricken from the rolls after the Union of 1813 although it had attempted correspondence in 1802 and 1806. In 1827, after further unreplied communication, it declared its independence and began to call itself African Grand Lodge # 1. It is interesting to note that when the Massachusetts lodges which were acting as a Provincial Grand Lodge also declared themselves an independent Grand Lodge, and even when the present Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was formed by the amalgamation of the two separate lodges, African Lodge was not invited to take part, even though it held a warrant every bit as valid as the others.

The question 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. Delegations also traveled from Providence, Rhode Island and New York to establish the African Grand Lodge that year. Prince Hall was appointed Grand Master, serving in this capacity until his death in 1807.

Upon his death, Nero Prince became Grand Master. When Nero Prince sailed to Russia in 1808, George Middleton succeeded him. After Middleton, Petrert Lew, Samuel H. Moody and then, John T. Hilton became Grand Master. In 1827, it was Hilton who recommended a Declaration of Independence from the English Grand Lodge.

In 1869 a fire destroyed Massachusetts' Grand Lodge headquarters and a number of its priceless records. The charter in its metal tube was in the Grand Lodge chest. The tube saved the charter from the flames, but the intense heat charred the paper. It was at this time that Grand Master S.T. Kendall crawled into the burning building and in peril of his life, saved the charter from complete destruction. Thus a Grand Master's devotion and heroism further consecrated this parchment to us, and added a further detail to its already interesting history. The original Charter # 459 has long since been made secure between heavy plate glass and is kept in a fire-proof vault in a downtown Boston bank.

In 1946, the Grand Lodge of England again extended recognition to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge but withdrew it the same year. In 1994, the Grand Lodge of England finally accepted a petition for recognition by Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. "England cited several reasons recognition was witheld," Nicholas B. Locker, Grand Master of Prince Hall from 1992-1994, said in an interview in June 1996. "One was 'territorial boundries,' because the Grand Lodge of England had already recognized the white Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, which shared the same jurisdiction with us. "Another factor was that Prince Hall owed back payment of dues to the Grand Lodge. Back 200 years ago, there were no checks, and often dues for England were put in the hands of sailing ship captains. It was several months before the ships arrived in England, and money was lost. So it wasn't possible to say for sure that Prince Hall paid all his dues."

The ties were arranged to be formalized in June 1996. In its 212 years, the Prince Hall Grand Lodge has spawned over 44 other Grand Lodges. The subordinate lodges receive recognition once their grand lodges are recognized.

Today, the Prince Hall fraternity has over 4,500 lodges worldwide, forming 44 independent jurisdictions with a membership of over 300,000 masons whereby any good hearted man who is worthy and well qualified, can seek more light in masonry.

Prince Hall is buried in a cemetery overlooking the Charlestown naval yard in Boston's north end. His grave is situated near a large tree, his wife's grave is directly behind his. The site is marked by a broken column; a monument erected 88 years after his death by Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Massachusetts. Still today, believers in the Deity and travelers from all walks of life can be seen winding their way to that sacred spot to pay homage at the final resting place of the first Grand Master of the "colored" Grand Lodge of Masons. This great Mason, Statesman, and Soldier, having traveled to that undiscovered country from who's bourne no traveler returns; remains as the pillar of wisdom, strength, and beauty among all masons today.

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Prince Hall – Poem 

History

     I am Prince Hall Freemasonry.  I was born one evening on March 6, 1775 in Boston Massachusetts . See to understand me; you must understand the time period I was born in. You see, life for Blacks, it was rough during that time. We had few if any rights that Whites had to respect, slavery and racial discrimination were the law of the land during the time in which I was born. I was originally composed of 15 strong individuals who initially asked, sought and knocked but were turned away from the doors of universal Freemasonry. We persevered and eventually became the first class of Prince Hall Masons. Prince Hall, Cryrus Jonbus, Buestop Slinger, Prince Rees, John Carter, Peter Freeman, Benjamin Tiler, Cuff Bufform, Thomas Sanderson, Prince Taylor, Cato Spears, Boston Smith, Peter Best, Forten Howard, Richard Tilly.

     I am Prince Hall Freemasonry. I am ancient, I am honorable. I am over 225 years old. I am Prince Hall Freemasonry. I’ve helped in the Underground Railroad movement, the abolitionist and civil rights movement. Where there was need for service, a need for help and a need for support, you found me there. I am not a religious organization, but I have always had a special relationship with the Black Church . God has definitely nurtured and guided me throughout my years.

     I am Prince Hall Freemasonry. Many told me that I was illegitimate, that I did not originate from the same source as my Caucasian Brothers. That I had no right to wear the square and compass and that I could not call myself a Freemason. I didn’t let this deter me, and not for one minute did I believe what they said. My birth certificate proves my authenticity. It’s so valuable that it resides in a bank vault in Boston Massachusetts , and is only shown every ten years. It’s the only surviving one of its kind.

     I am Prince Hall Freemasonry. You may find me in different forms, I may appear as a Royal Arch Mason, a Royal and Select Master, a Knight Templar, a Sublime Prince or a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, or a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, but I am still Prince Hall Freemasonry. You may be familiar with my offspring, Sigma Pi Phi, Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, or Phi Beta Sigma. I am Prince Hall Freemasonry. From sharecroppers to Congressmen, I am Prince Hall Freemasonry. I have attracted men of all faiths and backgrounds. I am Bro. Richard Pryor, Bro. Alex Haley, Bro. W.E.B. Dubois, Bro. Booker T. Washington, Bro. Nat King Cole, Bro. Duke Ellington, Bro. Matthew Henson, Bro. Thurgood Marshall, I am Prince Hall Freemasonry. I am Brother to a Sister who is fairest among thousands, altogether lovely. We walk side by side through life assisting and supporting each other. The Order of the Eastern Star, she is my Wife, Mother, Sister, Daughter my past, present and future. I will protect her from harm, and help her when she is in need, I am Prince Hall Freemasonry. I work behind the scenes to make sure things get done. I have never requested or wanted the general public to know all of the accomplishments that I have achieved. I am not recognized by my words, but by my deeds. I am humble. You must be humble to do God’s work, and that’s what I have been doing, God’s work. I make sure that when a Brother’s work is done on earth and he has made that transition to the after-life that I tend to the needs of his widow and orphans. I perform a ceremony that comforts the family in their time of need. I am Prince Hall Freemasonry.

     I have made good men better, and have tried to improve myself in Masonry. I have never sought anyone to join me, however thousands upon thousands of just and upright men have asked me, could they follow me. And I have told them yes, if and only if you are of a mature age, believe in a supreme being and are morally just, for those are the men who I seek.

Now I ask you, are you a Prince Hall Freemason?

Fellow Squares and Stars...Feel free to tag yourself in this one!!!!

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