Prince hall freemasonry is a branch of north american freemasonry for african americans founded by prince hall on september 29, 1784. Jul 23, 2018 if you have only one book in your library about prince hall freemasonry, this is the book you should have. Learn about the unique origins and history of prince hall freemasonry, an africanamerican masonic tradition. The publishers introduction from that edition is omitted for reasons. It was prince hall masonry that opened the doors to freemasonry for african americans, even though it was not an easy task. The most worshipful prince hall grand lodge of alabama f. Free and accepted masons, jurisdiction of massachusetts website. The book not only reveals the history of prince hall masonry but is a comprehensive guide and teaching tool for masonic schoolsoffering a fascinating look into an organization often perceived as taboo to. Jan 02, 2012 prince hall, a native of bridgetown, barbados, west indies, was freeborn on september 12, 1748, the son of thomas prince hall, an englishman, and a free colored woman of french heritage. Prince hall, one of bostons most prominent citizens during the revolutionary period, was the founder of the african lodge of the honorable society of free and accepted masons of boston, the world. A brief history of prince hall freemasonry in massachusetts prince hall.
Everything this brother meaning me has said about the dangers of freemasonry is true. The history of freemasonry encompasses the origins, evolution and defining events of the fraternal organisation known as freemasonry. In 1765, at the age of 17, hall worked for his passage on a ship to boston where he became a leatherworker. List of freemasons from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia jump to. The restoration of amity between the united grand lodge of. Prince hall history and research my freemasonry freemason. Mw prince hall grand lodge of pennsylvania 1993 page 93 chapter 4 entitled the national grand lodge on december 28, 1815 the first african grand lodge of north america at philadelphia, pennsylvania was established. Freemasonry as an organization for black men in america begins with prince hall who was the first black man made a. The history of prince hall and early american freemasons. There were black masons here, mariners and others, who were made masons elsewhere. There were two types of masons in early america, one white and one black. Grimshaw in his book published in 1903, the official history of freemasonry among the colored people of. Things a prince hall order of eastern star should know synonym. He is also author of the national grand lodge and prince hall freemasonry.
Ph knights templar most worshipful prince hall grand. Prince hall was destined to fight to see to it that blacks could exercise this freedom. The death of cnspus attucks spurred prince hall into the leadership of the black community. Prince hall freemasonry is a branch of north american freemasonry for african americans. Prince hall order of the eastern star organizations are fraternal groups to which both men and women may belong. A few manifest typographical errors have been corrected. Join illuminati masonic art masonic symbols freemason lodge prince hall mason famous freemasons history tattoos templer monograms you searched for. Prince hall, a native of bridgetown, barbados, west indies, was freeborn on september 12, 1748, the son of thomas prince hall, an englishman, and a free colored woman of french heritage.
Black freemasonry began when prince hall and fourteen other free black men were initiated into lodge no. Prince hall was born between 1735 and 1738, but there is very little known about his place of birth and parents. History and development of prince hall freemasonry cg. Discuss the origins of prince hall freemasonry, lodge history or share your research projects. Also unlike other masonic bodies which only require a belief in a supreme being regardless of religion, membership in the knights templar is open only to freemasons who profess a belief in the christian religion and who have completed their royal arch and in some jurisdictions their. Prince hall mason prince hall mason, masonic art, freemason. Heute ist sie bekannt als prince hall freemasonry princehallfreimaurerei. Making good men better most worshipful price hall grand. If you have only one book in your library about prince hall freemasonry, this is the book you should have. Feb 03, 2018 mlk and the prince hall masons prince hall think tank. The fraternity, founded upon faithbased principles established in the holy bible, strives to teach a man the duty he owes to god, his. Prince hall and 14 men of color were made masons in lodge no. Some masons believe masonic light is alluded to in the biblical creation account when god said, let there be light gen. History of the prince hall grand lodge of prince hall freemasonry in the district of columbia.
Instead, he covered the entire period of prince hall masonry in ohio, in his book the history of the prince hall grand lodge of the state of ohio 18491960, which he subsequently extended to 1970. When the army was withdrawn these negroes applied to the grand lodge of england for a charter and on the 20th of september, 1784 a charter for a masters lodge was granted although not received until 1787, to. Prince hall lodges historylegitimacyquest for recognition. Eastern star orders are an adoptive group of freemasonry and the prince hall orders historically have had a black membership. The restoration of amity between the united grand lodge of england and the most worshipful prince hall grand lodge of massachusetts. Knowing about my deep alabama roots, i had become very fond of discussing alabama masonic history with dr.
Unlock the secrets of prince hall freemasonry an aura of mystery surrounds the masonic tradition founded by prince hall. Discover the unique items that sarothdesigns creates. The most worshipful prince hall grand lodge, free and accepted masons of pennsylvania, organized 1815. Many masonic scholars view masonry as representing early progressive steps taken towards the perfection of human nature. Alton is in the process of completing a book on the history prince hall freemasonry in the district of columbia 18222012. An overview of prince hall freemasonry 1784 present. Transition theory of masonic history refuted timeline of history should you wish to research freemasonry further, access to our library, located at freemasons hall, 1495 west eighth avenue, vancouver, is available by contacting the. A subtitle would be freemasonry and the vision of prince hall. There are two main branches of prince hall freemasonry. 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. Prince hall masonic journal the official publication of the.
Masonic scholars have written many and varied stories about the life and legacy of our founder and first grand master prince hall, and also the history of the most worshipful. Prince hall and thirteen other negroes were made freemasons in a military lodge in the british army then at boston on march 6, 1775. Its origins can be traced into england, and the organization of the united grand lodge in 1717. It is important to note that at this time, 1770, prince hall was not a mason, in fact there were no black. Masonic history is too nebulous to be explained with absolute certainty, but as stated by masonic. They adhere to a philosophy of service based on faith and biblical teachings, if not religion. The evening, presented by maah, the national park service boston african american national historic site, and the prince hall grand lodge of massachsetts, features two of its leaders joined by the. Meet prince hall, the american abolitionist who founded black. Prince hall, our founder, was one of our great americans, a worthy grand master associated with our first grand lodge and its expansion. The opinions and pages of this site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, or policies of the the most worshipful prince hall grand lodge, free and accepted masons, prince hall affiliated, texas and its jurisdictions, its officers, constituent lodges, and members. The knights templar is the final order joined in the york rite, and the only not to deal with hiramic legend. Freemasonry as an organization for black men in america begins with prince hall who was the first black man made a mason in america, march 6, 1775. The history of prince hall and early american freemasons, or freemasonry in massachusetts during the founding period of our nation will be the theme of my remarks. Masonic history, built up over the course of years a most unusual file of royal arch information neither now nor then normally available for reference, with possibly some idea that, given opportunity, he might one day turn it to account in the printed word.
Prince hall history education class prince hall freemasonry. A black man had died for a freedom he didnt even possess. History of the prince hall grand lodge of prince hall. Organizational history, proceedings, chapters, concordant bodies, journalserial publications. Oct 23, 2015 the evening, presented by maah, the national park service boston african american national historic site, and the prince hall grand lodge of massachsetts, features two of its leaders joined by the. History the origin of freemasonry is shrouded in deep mystery and wild legends. Hall tried to gain new york s enslaved and free blacks a place in. The secret within, the author attempts to dispel the perception that freemasonry is a secret, mysterious group. Those loyal prince hall freemasons tried their best to get the upper hand in the discussion period after the teaching. By the age of eleven, it is believed hall was a slave or servant to boston tanner william hall, but was living as a free literate man by 1770. Freemasonry is a fraternal organization that uses symbols and ritual to teach morality to its members. Between the 16th and 17th century, the fraternal tradition of freemasonry in north america was largely a white organization. The prince hall freemasonry archives encompass administrative records and other materials of the prince hall masons of illinois prince hall affiliationpha, chicago chapters and concordant bodies.
From 1912 to 1917, cory adams was the 17th grand master of this grand lodge and probably the last grand master to make masonic education a high. The master mason degree is the crowning moment of your masonic journey. It is the culmination of all that has been taught and revealed to the candidate in the two preceding degrees. You are now visiting the oldest black organization in america.
This electronic edition of carliles manual of freemasonry is based on a facsimile of an unspecified printing, issued by kessinger publishing in kila, montana. Firstly, the emergence of organised lodges of operative masons during the middle ages, then the admission of lay members as accepted masons a term reflecting the ceremonial acception process that made non stone masons members of. Part of this aura comes from the false perception, held even by many fellow masons, that prince hall freemasonry is different from normal masonry, with special rites and ceremonies and a different set of core beliefs than those held by other freemasons. Prince hall freemasonry is a parallel line of freemasonry, originally started as a masonic lodge for freed african slaves in the colonies during the revolutionary war.
Black freemasonry began when prince hall and fourteen other free black men were initiated by members of lodge no. About freemasonry the most worshipful prince hall grand. The founder, prince hall 173517381807, and black freemasonry origins. Today, thanks to an africanamerican abolitionist, prince hall, many. Mlk and the prince hall masons prince hall think tank. Freemasons guide and compendium, which, in the main, dealt with craft masonry, is an attempt to provide a simple explanation of the origin, rise, and development, and the customs, ritual, and symbolism, of royal arch masonry so far as present knowledge and considerations of masonic propriety permit. Taylor writes that halls father was an englishman, thomas prince hall, a leather worker by trade. Prince hall freemasonry archives chicago public library. However, one of the visiting brothers stood up and told both sides of the isle the following. Exmasons for jesus is a fellowship organization of men and women who have left the masonic lodge and appendant bodies, such as the order of the eastern star, jobs daughters, the order of rainbow for girls and the order of.
A number of valuable works on the history of freemasonry have in fact been published since the appearance of the grand lodges at the beginning of the seventeenth century. He founded prince hall freemasonry and lobbied for education rights for african american children. Following is a brief history of prince hall african american masonry and its infamous founder. The prince hall fraternity has over 4,500 lodges all around the world and has hundreds of thousands of members. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the most worshipful prince hall grand lodge. Equality between men is a key value in masonic teaching, but unfortunately, it. The most worshipful prince hall grand lodge free and accepted masons state of new york is a nonprofit organization which embodies a beautiful system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.