Prince Hall , The history Prince Hall, our founder, was one of our great Americans, a worthy Grand Master associated with our first Grand Lodge and its expansion. His name is carried by our masonic organizations in the United States, and by thousands of freemasons who regard themselves as descendants from the Grand Lodge of England, from which he received his authority more than two centuries ago. We in America celebrated in 1976 the two hundredth anniversary of our Declaration of Independence. This is also the two hundred and first (201st) anniversary of the founding of Prince Hall Masonry. It is a monument to Prince Hall’s life, career and leadership. It was a significant event in Freemasonry on March 6, 1775, when Prince Hall and fourteen other men were initiated into Freemasonry through Warrant No. 459, which is still in our possession. John Batt, who was of the 38th Foot Regiment of the British Army, having enlisted in 1759 and learning of the American cause, re-enlisted in its army. The enlistees were Prince Hall, Cyrus Johnston, Bueston Slinger, Prince Rees, John Canton, Peter Freeman, Benjamin Tiler, Duff Ruform, Thomas Santerson, Prince Rayden, Cato Speain, Boston Smith, Peter Best, Forten Horward, and Richard Titley. The writer has this record. A permit was issued for these freemasons to meet as African Lodge No. 1, and they became the first Black freemasons in the United States. Prince Hall enlisted and served as a soldier in the 2nd and 6th Regiments of Massachusetts. In this connection, George W. Williams, historian, wrote in 1884, "that he saw hard service we know by the record of the two regiments he served in, always distinguished for steadiness and valor. Prince Hall was not only a good soldier, he was a statesman." The Revolutionary War being over in 1783, Prince Hall decided to approach England again. On March 2, 1784, he wrote a letter to William Moody, Worshipful Master of Brotherly Love Lodge No. 55 in London, England, stating that African Lodge had been in operation for eight years and they had only "a Permit to walk on St. John’s Day and to bury their dead in manner and form" and he thought it "best to send to the Fountains from whence he received the Light for a Warrant." This warrant or charter was prepared but was not sent. Three years passed yet the payment for it had not been received in London. It seems that Prince Hall had sent it but it had not been delivered. Finally, he was careful in selecting his messengers and asked Captain James Scott, brother-in-law of Governor John Hancock of Massachusetts, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Captain Scott delivered the letter and the money, and received a Charter. Prince Hall acknowledged this receipt and added in this letter to England, "By the grace of God, I shall endeavor to fulfill all that is required of me in the Charter and I shall make the Constitution my guide.' He added, "I hope we can adorn our profession as Masons." This Charter, under lock and key, is in the possession of African Lodge of Massachusetts. Some of us have seen it and treasure it. It is believed to be the only original charter issued from the Grand Lodge of England which is now in the possession of any lodge in the United States. It is worth noting that recognition of this fact was adopted in a unanimous report of a committee of the historic Northern Jurisdiction in 1946 but it was delayed by another committee’s action. Some white freemasons say the Blacks were not denied admission to white lodge and they point to the very few members, and the presence of others by invitation, as proof. We believe otherwise, for a contemporary, D. Bentley, wrote in his diary, "The thrust is they are ashamed of being on equality with blacks. Even the fraternities of France, given to merit without distinction of color do not influence Massachusetts Masons to give an embrace less emphatically or tender affectionate to their Black Brethren .. It is evident that a preeminence is claimed by whites." The questions of extending Freemasonry arose when Absalom Jones of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania appeared in Boston in 1791. He was an ordained Episcopal priest and a freemason who was interested in establishing a masonic lodge in Philadelphia. In 1792 Black men come from Providence, Rhode Island to Boston to inquire about Freemasonry. They attended to hear the charge by Prince Hall who, speaking of the presence of these men, said, "My dear brethren of Providence, who are at a distance from and cannot attend this lodge but seldom." Freemasons in both places, made in England, the West Indies or elsewhere, came to Boston to see Prince Hall and suggested their cities as places for lodges. At a subsequent assembly the African Grand Lodge was formed in 1791 by delegations from Philadelphia, Providence and New York in a Grand Lodge assembly. Prince Hall was elected Grand Master and remained in this office until his death. African Lodge in Philadelphia, and Hiram Lodge in Providence, came under his aegis in 1797. With growth and expansion the movement went west and south. Prince Hall died on December 4, 1807. His successor was Nero Prince who sailed to Russia in the year 1808, George Middleton succeeded him for 1809-1810, then Peter Lew, Samuel H. Moody and the well known John T. Hilton. It was Hilton who recommended adopting a Declaration of Independence from the English Grand Lodge in 1827—as the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts had done in 1772—thereby assuming the power and prerogatives of an independent Grand Lodge. On November 7, 1828 Freedoms Journal, the first Black newspaper, praised Prince Hall as "the Founder of African Lodge of Boston, and for his "work for the Grand Masonic Lodge." The heritage which Prince Hall left us has authentic and factual goodness to us as Masons, and we go forward distributed in 44 Grand Lodges, Easter Star, two Supreme Councils, Golden Circles, Shriners, Daughters of Isis, Brother and Sisters in the United States, the West Indies, Canada, Liberia and West African, all doing a great work and spreading a good cause in Masonry To all these and those who read this, we say as Prince Hall said in 1797: Excerpt From: A Look From Within: A Look at Prince Hall Freemasonry by Reverend Jan L. Beaderstadt, E.P., P.C., P.M. taken from masonic world.com Prince Hall Masonry looks like our Masonry. It would be very hard to distinguish the Prince Hall Grand Lodge from the Grand Lodge of Michigan. Prince Hall Grand Lodge is independent of all other Grand Lodges, and there is no longer a national Grand Lodge. Each Lodge must be chartered by its Grand Lodge, and in Michigan there are forty-nine Lodges with approximately 3,000 members. The most northern Lodge in the state is Andrew W. Dungey No. 52 in Idlewild near Baldwin. There are no Prince Hall Lodges in the Upper Peninsula, although the Michigan Prince Hall jurisdiction covers both peninsulas, according to Grand Master Gardner. Each Lodge confers three degrees. While we did not discuss any Masonic secrets, this writer did learn that their ritual is the "Ecci Orienti," or the three-letter key many Michban Masons carry with them. I had a tour of the Gratiot Avenue Temple, and their Lodge rooms look a lot like ours. On the altar, located in the center of the Lodge room, are the Great Lights of Masonry. One variation is that the Master sits under a canopy supported by two columns in the East. Michigan Masons who complain about our dues wouldn't like the dues structure in Prince Hall Masonry. Dues average around $10--a month. A Brother is declared delinquent at six months. According to Grand Master Gardner, if a Brother is expelled for nonpayment of dues, his sponsor in Masonry isn't expelled along with the delinquent brother, as some report. Prince Hall Masonry insists on a strict dress code: dark suits, black socks, dark shoes, white shirts and dark ties. According to G.M. Gardner, this dress code is strictly enforced. When a man petitions a Prince Hall Lodge, the Lodge appoints an investigating committee, and there must be thirty days between degrees. Stories that it takes one year between degrees and that the entire Lodge is the investigating committee are untrue, according to Gardner. Each candidates does have a catechism to learn, like that formerly required in the Grand Lodge of Michigan. Lodges meet twice a month, once for ritual work and again for regular communication. Lodges meet for regular communication each month but can suspend work during the months of December, July, and August. Refreshments follow the meeting, except at the time of a Master Mason Degree, when there is usually a dinner wah speeches. A third degree is a festive occasbn. White Prince Hall Masons Grand Master Gardner noted that they have a number of white Masons, shattering the idea that Prince Hall is simply black Masons. There have been several white men who have served a Prince Hall Lodge as Worshipful Master, and in the book Black Square and Compass's, the author noted that there was a Prince Hall Lodge in New Jersey where every member but the Secretary was white. Structure of the Grand Lodge There are forty-four Prince Hall Grand Lodges located around the world. Each one is independent, but they recognize each other. The newest Prince Hall Grand Lodge is the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the Caribbean. The Michigan Prince Hall Grand Lodge meets in April for two days, and new offcers are elected. The Grand Master is elected yearly for a one-year term. If the Grand Master decides to run for a fourth term, he must receive two-thirds of the vote of the delegates. The moving grand line begins at Grand Junior Deacon. The non-moving, elected line includes the Grand Treasurer, Grand Secretary, Grand Lecturer, Grand Marshal and three Grand Trustees. Appointed Grand Lodge officers include a Senior Grand Steward, a Junior Grand Steward, two assistant Grand Secretaries, a Grand Chaplain, four assistant Grand Chaplains, a Grand Tyler, an assistant Grand Tiler, three assistant Grand Marshals, a Grand Attorney, five assistant Grand Attorneys, a Grand Pursuivant, a Grand Organist, a Grand Pianist, a Grand Custodian, and a Grand Standard Bearer. Grand Master Gardner said that in the workings of their Grand Lodge, business is completed at regular cabinet meetings of the elected Grand Lodge officers. The Worshipful Masters of the subordinate Blue Lodges are invited and encouraged to attend. Appendant Prince Hall Bodles Once a man becomes a Master Mason, he and his wife are eligible to join the Order of the Eastern Star. He can petition either the York Rite or Scottish Rite, even become a Shriner. All of the bodies resemble and parallel our own Masonic bodies. They have no DeMolay, Rainbow, or Job's Daughters, but their Shrine sponsors youth groups of their own: the Order of Eyes for Boys and the Iserettes for girls. Other "Black" Masonic Grand Lodges Prince Hall Masonry is not the only 'black" Masonic organization, aithough it is the largest of the groups and has respect amongst the black community. Grand Master Gardner and P.G.M. Dawson noted that there were other "clandestine~ Masonic bodies that have broken off from their organization over the years. The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Michigan does not maintain any communication with these groups, nor do they have a list of them. Two such bodies they were familiar with included the Intemational Masons and the Fitzpatrick Grand Lodge. A trip down Gratiot Avenue will reveal a sign proclaiming the Grand Lodge of Enoch, another pseudo-Masonk organization. P.G.M. Dawson noted that they did not rscognize these bodies because none of the Lodges ever obtained a charter from the Grand Lodge of England. In their criteria for Masonic recognition, a Lodge or Grand Lodge must have been originally chartered by the Grand Lodge of England or be able to trace its legality through the mother Grand Lodge. Dawson noted that these other bdges are "clandestine" and not "irregular." Concluslon For this writer, the interview contained many surprises. I had heard much about Prince Hall Masonry, much of it not true. The time spent with their Grand Lodge officers revealed new light on a subject that has long been clouded with darkness. Prince Hall Masonry is like a parallel universe, proclaiming similar landmarks, ritual and organization. And its Brethren are tied to a mystic bond that is highly respected in their communities. Famous Black Freemasons A look at who's who of Prince Hall Masonry reads much like traditional Masonry in the great men that have or currently occupy the role of membership. In the book, Great Black Men of Masonry, by Joseph Mason Andrew Cox, Ph.D, P.G.M. of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New York, are listed 269 black men, of which the vast majority are Prince Hall Masons. The list includes statesmen, actors, musicians, writers, athletes and more.