Who, What, When, Where & Why
Who: Prince Hall, To this day no one knows or had factual documentation of Bro. Prince Hall’s birth name. The first documented time we can historically date was 1763 upon a newspaper publication which stated, “Prince Hall, negro servant, William Hall & Sarah, negro servant, Francis Ritchery, Nov. 2, 1763”.
What: Was Bro. Prince Hall a slave? Despite what you may have heard Bro. Hall was not a “slave”. Bro. Hall was the servant of William Hall from 1749 – 1770. On March 5, 1770; Mr. Crispus Attucks, along side Samuel Grey and James Caldwell Freemen, Merchant Seamen and Dockworker of Wampanoag became the first martyrs of the Boston massacre, in Boston, Massachusetts, Crispus Attucks more so then the others. The Attacks gave momentum to the Abolitionist movement in Boston. One month following Crispus Attucks death on April 9, 1770, William Hall, “freed” Bro. Prince Hall. It’s important to recognize the laws that defined the 3 categories of class back then: Free Blacks, Slaves and Servants each of which had separate laws that governed them. Prince Hall was NOT a slave and his Manumission papers were an issuant of proof which stated, “That if stopped by authorities, that Prince Hall, once a servant was now free.
When: note that in 1770, Bro. Prince Hall was not a mason yet. In fact, there were no African lodges in America. He made various attempts to join and petition Masonic lodges in Boston, but was rejected every time. On March 1775, Worshipful Brother John Batt, Sitting Worshipful Master of Lodge No. 441 of the Irish Jurisdiction, namely the Irish Registry, attached to the British Foot Infantry, heard his quandary and accepted his petition for membership. Bro. Prince Hall and 14 other men of color were raised to the sublime degree of master mason on March 6, 1775. This day marked the first time Black Men were made masons in America. One year later March 17, 1776, The British Foot Infantry left Boston and their army followed with it. W.B. Batt gave Bro. Prince Hall and the 14 others Masons a permit to meet as a lodge. On July 3, 1776 African Lodge No. 1 was formed with elected Worshipful Brother Prince Hall as its sitting Master of the lodge.
W. B. Hall Petitioned the Grand Lodge of England for a Charter. On September 29, 1784, The Grand Lodge of England issued a Charter to African Lodge No. 1, making it a regular lodge with all the rights and privileges of any other Masonic lodge in the world with this exception. The Lodge was designated No. 459.
W.B. Hall was such a great leader that the UGLE made him a Provincial Grand Master on January 27, 1791. The position consisted of reporting the condition of lodges in the Boston area.
Where: 8 years later, Most Worshipful Grand Master Hall organized a lodge in Philadelphia March 22, 1779 called, African Lodge No. 459, chartered under Prince Hall. On June 25, 1797 M.W.G.M. Hall organized African Lodge (known now as Hiram Lodge No. 3) in Providence, Rhode Island under the same as Philadelphia
On December 4, 1807, M.W.G.M. Hall was called to the Great Grand Lodge in the heavens. Soon after on June 24, 1808 the African Grand Lodge was formed of the lodges from Philadelphia, Providence and Boston.
There was some issues as to the authenticity of the African Grand Lodge in New York and it was when Bro. John I. Hilton proposed the Grand Lodge an official “ Declaration of Independence” and to place it publicly in the newspaper, so once it was done, it would be official.
So it was done and came to pass on June 18, 1827 a declaration of African Grand Lodge, “free from the government and control of our Mother Grand Lodge of England, or any other lodges. And under the title of African Grand Lodge No. 1, to have and excise the same powers of other Grand Lodges, granting warrants and charters to established lodges amongst the brethren; an act necessary because of Boyer Lodge of New York, who refused to accept the authority of the AGL No. 1”.
Why: One only needs a laymen understanding of slavery, racism and brotherhood to get why M.W.G.M. Prince Hall worked diligently to preserver against all odds to give those the equal opportunity to govern themselves accordingly.
There are two important charges that are available amongst the very little documents preserved authored by Prince Hall.
2. June 24, 1797 in Cambridge, on masonic history and precepts to treat your fellow man and the promotion of education for working opportunities.
-The Freemasonry Squared Team and additional credit due: (This has been a summarized article from R.W. Raymond T. Coleman, Grand Historian, Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in Massachusetts).
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