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| 988 East Long St Columbus, Ohio 43203 |
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Prince Hall
© 2010 St. Mark's Lodge No. 7 Prince Hall Free & Accepted Masons. All Rights Reserved
988 East Long St. | Columbus, OH 43203
Masonic labor is purely a
labor of love. He who seeks
to draw Masonic wages in
gold and silver will be
disappointed. --Benjamin
Franklin
labor of love. He who seeks
to draw Masonic wages in
gold and silver will be
disappointed. --Benjamin
Franklin
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.
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.
