ORIGINS OF PRINCE HALL FREEMASONRY

What Is Freemasonry?

Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternal society. An operative mason is a skilled workman who builds by the construction or repair of stonework or brickwork. Organized operative masonry guilds existed up to the 17th century. Until that time, masons were actively engaged in the construction of buildings, especially gothic cathedrals. These guilds evolved into speculative freemasonry, which was social and philosophical in nature. The roots and evolution of speculative freemasonry can be traced back to several events. Many historians agree one of these is the re-establishment of the speculative science by the English King Athelstan around the year 936 AD. Here a society was formed based on rules for the conduct of its members. A document known as the "Regius" or "Halliwell" Manuscript was written later around 1390 AD. It is generally accepted as a reference for speculative freemasonry which elaborates on more esoteric subjects.

The system of speculative freemasonry, developed from operative masonry, was completed when four Lodges of London assembled in convention in St. Pauls Churchyard June 24, 1717, and organized the first Grand Lodge. At that time the following "Regulation" was adopted: "That the privilege of assembling as Masons, which had hitherto been unlimited, should be vested in certain places; and that every lodge to be hereafter, convened, except the four old lodges at this time existing, should be legally authorized to act by a warrant from the Grand Master for the time being, granted to certain individuals by petition within the consent and approbation of the Grand Lodge in communication; and that without such warrant, no lodge should be hereafter regular or constitution." This regulation, which has been observed by subsequent Grand Lodges, made it necessary that all lodges since authorized among Masons should be able to show the authority for their existence; and it is the purpose of this brief sketch to explain to the brethren of this jurisdiction, the manifest authority for the existence of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge for the State of North Carolina.

In accordance with the regulation above mentioned the Grand Lodge of England granted many warrants for holding lodges in the countries of Europe and upon the American continent. Indeed, all masonic lodges established since that period, directly or indirectly derive their existence from the Grand Lodge of England. Many field or army warrants were granted for the holding of lodges, among which one was held in the army of General Gage in the town of Boston, Massachusetts. In this field or army lodge, in 1775, were initiated, passed, and raised Prince Hall, Cyrus Jondus, Bueston Slinger, Thomas Sanderson, Prince Tayden, Cato Speain, Boston Smith, Peter Best, Fortin Howard, Prince Reed, John Canten, Peter Freeman, Benjamin Tiber, Buff Burfron, and Rich Tilly. These Brethren applied to the Grand Lodge of England March 2, 1784, for a warrant to form a regular lodge in Boston, which was granted September 29, 1784, but which was not received until May 2, 1787.

On the list of lodges in America under the English Constitution 1783 and 1889 as prepared by John Lane, Past Provincial Grand Registrar of Devonshire (England) is the following record: "Boston, 1784, September 29, number 459, African Lodge, number 370 in 1782, erased in 1813."

Who Is Prince Hall?

Prince Hall (born between 1735 & 1738 and died December 7 1807) was an American abolitionist and leader in the free black community in Boston. He founded Prince Hall Freemasonry and lobbied for education rights for African American children. Black Freemasonry began when Prince Hall and fourteen other free black men were initiated by members of Lodge No. 441, Irish Constitution, attached to one of General Gage’s regiments—the 38th Regiment of Foot, British Army garrisoned at Castle Williams Island (now Fort Independence), Boston Harbor on March 6, 1775. The Master of Lodge No. 441 was Sergeant John Batt. Along with Prince Hall, the others were Peter Freeman, Benjamin Tiber, Duff Bufform, Thomas Sanderson, Prince Payden, Cato Speain, Boston Smith, Peter Best, Fortin Howard and Richard Tilley. There is some variance in the spelling of the names, depending on the source. When the British Army left Boston, Lodge No. 441 granted Prince Hall and his brethren authority to meet as a Lodge and to go in procession on St. John’s Day. They were also given authority to bury their dead. However, they could not confer degrees or perform any other Masonic “work.” 
 
African Lodge No. 1 was organized on July 3, 1775, with Prince Hall as Worshipful Master. Official acknowledgment of the legitimacy of African Lodge No. 1 was made almost immediately by John Rowe of Boston, a Provincial Grand Master for North America holding authority from the premier Grand Lodge of Freemasons, the Grand Lodge of England. He, too, issued a permit authorizing African Lodge No. 1 to appear publicly in procession as a Masonic body for the purpose of celebrating the Feast of St. John and to bury its dead.

By the end of the American Revolution, in 1781, American predominately white Lodges had begun declaring independence from the English Grand Lodge. They were not interested in granting a charter to Prince Hall or African Lodge. Although the members of African Lodge No. 1 were free men, black men were automatically assumed by the Masonic colonists to have “obligations” to masters. Thus, predominately white Lodges in America were not interested in reciprocal recognition with African Lodge, nor were they interested in bringing them under their jurisdiction.

On March 2, 1784 and June 30, 1784, African Lodge No. 1 petitioned the Grand Lodge of England for a warrant (or charter) to organize a regular Masonic Lodge, with all the rights and privileges thereunto prescribed. Prince Hall petitioned the Grand Lodge of England through Worshipful Master William Moody of Brotherly Love Lodge No. 55 (London, England) for a warrant or charter. The charter was prepared and issued on September 29, 1784, although it would be three years before African Lodge actually received it. The Grand Lodge of England assigned number 459 to African Lodge No. 1. Captain James Scott delivered the charter on April 29, 1787. Captain James Scott was Master of the Neptune, and also worked with John Hancock, who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. By virtue of the authority of this charter, African Lodge No. 459 was organized one week later and began work as a regular Masonic Body on May 6, 1787. The warrant to African Lodge No. 459 of Boston is the most significant and highly prized document known to the Prince Hall Masonic Fraternity. It is also the only known charter in existence in America issued by the Grand Lodge of England. 

African Lodge #459 grew and prospered to such a degree that Worshipful Master Prince Hall was appointed a Provincial Grand Master, in 1791, and out of this grew the first Black Provincial Grand Lodge. In 1797 he organized a lodge in Philadelphia and one in Rhode Island. These lodges were designated to work under the charter of African Lodge #459.

In December 1808, one year after the death of Prince Hall, African Lodge #459 (Boston), African Lodge #459 (Philadelphia) and Hiram Lodge #3 (Providence) met in a general assembly of the craft and organized African Grand Lodge (sometime referred to as African Grand Lodge #1).

In 1847, out of respect for their founding father and first Grand Master, Prince Hall, they changed their name to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge, the name it carries today. In 1848 Union Lodge #2, Rising Sons of St. John #3 and Celestial Lodge #4 became the first lodges organized under the name Prince Hall Grand Lodge.

From these beginnings, there now are some 5,000 lodges and 47 grand lodges who trace their lineage to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Jurisdiction of Massachusetts.

The tradition started by Bro. Prince Hall over 200 years ago is still carried on today.

Establishment of Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of North Carolina

In 1866, under authority of the Grand Lodge of New York, Past Grand Master Paul Drayton organized King Solomon Lodge #23 (now #1,) at New Bern, North Carolina, and Giblem Lodge #28 (now #2,) at Wilmington, North Carolina. By authority of the same Grand Lodge, Past Grand Master James W. Hood, who had been appointed as supervisor, organized in 1867, Eureka Lodge #30 (now #3,) at Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Widow's Son Lodge #31, (now #4,) at Raleigh, North Carolina. The four lodges last mentioned, on March 1, 1870, met in Giblem Lodge room in the city of Wilmington, and organized the present Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the state of North Carolina with Bro. James W. Hood, Grand Master, and Bro. J. J. Sawyer as Grand Secretary.

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