From the East – October 2022
Greetings Brethren,
I am pleased to present a brief history of Prince Hall Masons. My primary source for this piece comes directly from “princehall.org.” My goal here is not to present a scholarly overview or review but merely to provide a brief introduction derived from a reputable source. PrinceHall.org is a publication of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge in Massachusetts.
According to this source, on March 6, 1775 “Prince Hall and 14 men of color were made masons in Lodge #144 of the Irish Registry attached to the 38th British Foot Infantry at Castle William Island in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts.”
However, due to the “conflict between England and America,” the British Foot Infantry “left Boston, along with its lodge.” Prior to the lodge leaving, however, its worshipful master “gave them a ‘permit’ to meet as a lodge and bury their dead in manner and form” but they were not allowed to “do any ‘masonic work’ or to take on new members.”
It was under this arrangement that “African Lodge was organized on July 3, 1776 with Prince Hall as the worshipful master.” Then on March 2, 1784, African Lodge #1 petitioned the Grand Lodge of England “for a warrant” and on September 29, 1784, they received a charter as African Lodge #459, “the first lodge of Blacks in America.” This lodge grew and in 1791, “Worshipful Master Prince Hall was appointed a Provincial Grand Master” and “out of this grew the first Black Provincial Grand Lodge.”
In 1797, Prince Hall “organized a lodge in Philadelphia and one in Rhode Island. In December 1808, “one year after the death of Prince Hall, lodges in Boston, Philadelphia, and Providence “met in a general assembly of the craft and organized African Grand Lodge,” which is also known as “African Grand Lodge #1.”
In 1847, this Grand Lodge was renamed “Prince Hall Grand Lodge” and it has grown to “some 5,000 lodges and 47 grand lodges.” The Grand Lodge of NJ and the Prince Hall Grand Lodge formally recognize one another.
Prince Hall, the man, was born in the 1730’s but his exact birthday is unknown. He was “enslaved by William Hall, a leather worker.” In the Spring of 1770, Prince Hall was freed and established his own leather shop in Boston. During the Revolutionary War, Prince Hall “used his skills to support the Patriot Army.” Prince Hall died in Boston, MA on December 4, 1807.
Of special interest, on October 8, 2022, there will be a “Unity Reunion with Prince Hall at the Scottish Rite Valley of Central Jersey in Bordentown, starting at 9 AM and “Prince Hall will be doing one of their degrees.”
Fraternally,
WM John Quintana