:: Africa from the plane ::
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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.
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.
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 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 Diety 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 born no traveler returns; remains as the pillar
of wisdom, strength, and beauty among all masons today.
Credits and information
was found and can be
located @
http://www.mindspring.com/~johnsonx/whoisph.htm
Edited and updated
from various resources
including the Boston Globe ©
June 1996 archive
Williams (now Fort Independence) Boston Harbor on March 6, 1775. The Master of the Lodge was Sergeant John Batt. Along
with 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 Diety 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 born no traveler returns; remains as the pillar
of wisdom, strength, and beauty among all masons today.
Credits and information
was found and can be
located @
http://www.mindspring.com/~johnsonx/whoisph.htm
Edited and updated
from various resources
including the Boston Globe ©
June 1996 archive
Lincoln Lodge No. 62
F&AM, P.H.A
F&AM, P.H.A
Prince Hall