It can be argued that one of the most important battles of racism was fought in the circles of
Freemasonry. Even though we became a legitimate body of Masons when Prince Hall and the 14
other brethren were raised, we did not receive official recognition from the Grand Lodge of
England until 1994, 219 years after the initiation of these brave men.
To some Masonry is a mystery; to others it is a way of life. As Carl H. Claudy wrote in Foreign
Countries, "Freemasonry begins teaching the profane long before they apply for membership.
Her reputation is her first contact with the unelect; she is secret; she is universal; she has enlisted
the interest and the services of great and good men for hundreds of years." It was this reputation
that attracted a man named Prince Hall to this ancient and honorable fraternity.
Details concerning the early life of Prince Hall are limited due to the lack of credible information.
He is said to have been born between 1735 and 1738. Masonic historians cannot agree on his
place of birth. Some say that he was born in Barbados of the West Indies, while others claim he
may have been born in Africa. It is interesting to note that the picture we generally use of Prince
Hall may not be an accurate depiction. Bro. Charles H. Wesley, Ph.D., wrote "In appearance,
our Prince Hall was unlike the portrait which was near to a white man in appearance." He gave
several accounts of people describing Price Hall as a man with strong African features.
When Hall arrived in Boston, he noticed that there were no provisions made for its Black
citizens. He acquired a job as a leather maker and lived quite well. He became very outspoken
about the conditions of Blacks. He demanded the education of Black children, the abolition of
slavery and the inclusion of Blacks in the government on the same terms as whites. As an
abolitionist, he, together with several others, addressed a petition protesting against the existence
of slavery in the colony to the Massachusetts Legislature.
In the late 1700s, Prince Hall became interested in Freemasonry. He convinced 14 other Blacks
to petition a lodge in Boston. They attempted to petition St. John's Lodge and were turned away.
The 15 men then attempted to petition Military Lodge No. 441, attached to the British Garrison's
38th Regiment of Foot, which belonged to the Grand Lodge of Ireland. The brethren of this
lodge saw no reason to deny their request. On the night of March 6, 1775, 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 and Richard Tilly were initiated into Masonry at Castle William in Boston Harbor.
When Lodge No. 441 left Boston, they left Prince Hall and the others a permit that authorized
them to meet as a Lodge, bury their dead in due form and celebrate St. John's day. Hall later
obtained a charter from England that would entitle the men to all the rights of a Masonic Lodge.
This warrant was issued on September 29, 1784.
The original charter, which is still held by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, is the
most prized possession of Prince Hall Freemasons. Through it, we can prove our long and
illustrious history and legitimacy. It is the only original charter held by any American Masonic
Body.
There have been many doubts of Prince Hall Masonry's legitimacy in our mystic circle. Some
have claimed that the brothers that formed African Lodge No. 459 did not have the right to form
a Grand Lodge. One must ask, were the questions on the legitimacy of Prince Hall Masonry
based on facts, or on racism. Even though the war that was waged on Prince Hall Masonry was
often declared a legal one, the real opposition to Blacks being Freemasons was based on race.
Alvin J. Schmidt maintains that, "In surveying Prince Hall Freemasonry, one discovers first hand
what effect racial prejudice and discrimination has had in American society, even among fraternal
orders." Nevertheless, African-American Masonry would thrive under its founder Prince Hall.
The question of extending Masonry arose when Absalom Jones of Philadelphia, Penn. appeared
in Boston in 1791. He was an ordained Episcopal priest and a Mason who was interested in
establishing a Masonic Lodge in Philadelphia. In 1792, Black men came from Providence,
Rhode Island to Boston to inquire about becoming Masons.
Prince Hall entered “That House Not Made With Hands� on December 4, 1807. He is
buried in Copps Hill burial ground in Boston Massachusetts; his grave is marked by a broken
pillar.
As Joseph Walks, Jr. wrote in Jno. G. Lewis, Jr. End of an Era, "The history of Prince Hall
Freemasonry is in reality the history of the Black experience in America." Black Freemasons
were leaders and key figures in helping runaway slaves through the Underground Railroad.
Where there was a struggle for civil rights, a Prince Hall Mason was usually on the front lines of
the battle.
Considering the trials Prince Hall had to endure to open the doors of Masonry for Blacks, and
our constant struggle to be recognized as a legitimate body. It is amazing that we are over 225
years old. We are the oldest fraternal order of Black men in America; in fact, we are older than
America. We have a heritage that is to be protected and enhanced. Let us not stand still my
brethren; let us add on to the legacy of our order.
Freemasonry. Even though we became a legitimate body of Masons when Prince Hall and the 14
other brethren were raised, we did not receive official recognition from the Grand Lodge of
England until 1994, 219 years after the initiation of these brave men.
To some Masonry is a mystery; to others it is a way of life. As Carl H. Claudy wrote in Foreign
Countries, "Freemasonry begins teaching the profane long before they apply for membership.
Her reputation is her first contact with the unelect; she is secret; she is universal; she has enlisted
the interest and the services of great and good men for hundreds of years." It was this reputation
that attracted a man named Prince Hall to this ancient and honorable fraternity.
Details concerning the early life of Prince Hall are limited due to the lack of credible information.
He is said to have been born between 1735 and 1738. Masonic historians cannot agree on his
place of birth. Some say that he was born in Barbados of the West Indies, while others claim he
may have been born in Africa. It is interesting to note that the picture we generally use of Prince
Hall may not be an accurate depiction. Bro. Charles H. Wesley, Ph.D., wrote "In appearance,
our Prince Hall was unlike the portrait which was near to a white man in appearance." He gave
several accounts of people describing Price Hall as a man with strong African features.
When Hall arrived in Boston, he noticed that there were no provisions made for its Black
citizens. He acquired a job as a leather maker and lived quite well. He became very outspoken
about the conditions of Blacks. He demanded the education of Black children, the abolition of
slavery and the inclusion of Blacks in the government on the same terms as whites. As an
abolitionist, he, together with several others, addressed a petition protesting against the existence
of slavery in the colony to the Massachusetts Legislature.
In the late 1700s, Prince Hall became interested in Freemasonry. He convinced 14 other Blacks
to petition a lodge in Boston. They attempted to petition St. John's Lodge and were turned away.
The 15 men then attempted to petition Military Lodge No. 441, attached to the British Garrison's
38th Regiment of Foot, which belonged to the Grand Lodge of Ireland. The brethren of this
lodge saw no reason to deny their request. On the night of March 6, 1775, 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 and Richard Tilly were initiated into Masonry at Castle William in Boston Harbor.
When Lodge No. 441 left Boston, they left Prince Hall and the others a permit that authorized
them to meet as a Lodge, bury their dead in due form and celebrate St. John's day. Hall later
obtained a charter from England that would entitle the men to all the rights of a Masonic Lodge.
This warrant was issued on September 29, 1784.
The original charter, which is still held by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, is the
most prized possession of Prince Hall Freemasons. Through it, we can prove our long and
illustrious history and legitimacy. It is the only original charter held by any American Masonic
Body.
There have been many doubts of Prince Hall Masonry's legitimacy in our mystic circle. Some
have claimed that the brothers that formed African Lodge No. 459 did not have the right to form
a Grand Lodge. One must ask, were the questions on the legitimacy of Prince Hall Masonry
based on facts, or on racism. Even though the war that was waged on Prince Hall Masonry was
often declared a legal one, the real opposition to Blacks being Freemasons was based on race.
Alvin J. Schmidt maintains that, "In surveying Prince Hall Freemasonry, one discovers first hand
what effect racial prejudice and discrimination has had in American society, even among fraternal
orders." Nevertheless, African-American Masonry would thrive under its founder Prince Hall.
The question of extending Masonry arose when Absalom Jones of Philadelphia, Penn. appeared
in Boston in 1791. He was an ordained Episcopal priest and a Mason who was interested in
establishing a Masonic Lodge in Philadelphia. In 1792, Black men came from Providence,
Rhode Island to Boston to inquire about becoming Masons.
Prince Hall entered “That House Not Made With Hands� on December 4, 1807. He is
buried in Copps Hill burial ground in Boston Massachusetts; his grave is marked by a broken
pillar.
As Joseph Walks, Jr. wrote in Jno. G. Lewis, Jr. End of an Era, "The history of Prince Hall
Freemasonry is in reality the history of the Black experience in America." Black Freemasons
were leaders and key figures in helping runaway slaves through the Underground Railroad.
Where there was a struggle for civil rights, a Prince Hall Mason was usually on the front lines of
the battle.
Considering the trials Prince Hall had to endure to open the doors of Masonry for Blacks, and
our constant struggle to be recognized as a legitimate body. It is amazing that we are over 225
years old. We are the oldest fraternal order of Black men in America; in fact, we are older than
America. We have a heritage that is to be protected and enhanced. Let us not stand still my
brethren; let us add on to the legacy of our order.
