Prince Hall Freemasonry

Prince Hall Freemasonry is a fraternal organization that strives to promote peace, love, and humility amongst its members across the United States and beyond, through making significant contributions to other charity and welfare organizations. Being one of the most ancient and active organizations established by men of color, we take pride in building relationships among the millions of Masonic Lodges throughout the world.

The journey started on March 6, 1775, with Prince Hall, who, along with fourteen other black men, were made masons in Lodge #441 of the Irish Registry, which was attached to the 38th British Foot Infantry at Castle William Island in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. This proved to be significant as it opened more opportunities for men of color to become masons in the United States of America. The conflict between England and the Colonists began a year later. These disputes caused the British Foot Infantry to leave Boston with its Lodge and ultimately leave Prince Hall and his acquaintances without a lodge. Before departing, Worshipful Master Batt issued a “permit” to them to meet as a Lodge and to bury their dead but they could not participate in other masonic activities or take on new members.

Under the permit, African Lodge No. 1 was established on July 3, 1776, where Prince Hall was the Worshipful Master. The Lodge later received permission to organize and walk-in procession on St. John’s Day from Provincial Grand Master John Rowe. Subsequently, African Lodge No. 1 petitioned the Grand Lodge of England on March 2, 1784, for a warrant/charter, for organizing a duly constituted, regular Lodge with all the privileges and rights prescribed.

Consequently, African Lodge No. 459 became the first Lodge of men of color in America as per the charter issued by the Grand Lodge of England on September 29, 1784. Prince Hall was later appointed as a Provincial Grand Master in1791 which led to the first Black Provincial Grand Lodge. In 1797, he established two more lodges in Philadelphia and Rhode Island that operated under the charter of African Lodge No. 459. In December 1808, one year after the death of Prince Hall, African Lodge No. 459 (Boston), African Lodge No. 459 (Philadelphia), and Hiram Lodge No. 3 (Providence) met in a general assembly and established African Grand Lodge (sometimes referred to as African Grand Lodge No. 1). In 1847, the name was changed to Prince Hall Grand Lodge out of respect for their founding father and first Grand Master.

In 1848, Union Lodge No. 2, Rising Sons of St. John Lodge No. 3, and Celestial Lodge No. 4 formed the first Grand Lodge under the banner of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge. From these humble beginnings, there are now over 5000 lodges and 47 grand lodges that can trace lineage to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.