For nine years these brethren, together with others who had received the degrees elsewhere, assembled and enjoyed limited privileges as masons. Finally, in March 1784, Prince Hall petitioned the Grand Lodge of England, through a Worshipful Master of a subordinate lodge in London for a warrant or charter. On September 20, 1784, the warrant was issued. It was not delivered, however, until three years later, owing to the fact that the brother to whom the matter was entrusted failed to call for it. It was delivered, however, on the 29th day of April 1787, by Captain James Scott, a sea-faring man and, incidentally, a brother-in-law of John Hancock, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

On May 6, 1787, by virtue of the authority of this Charter, African Lodge No. 459 was established and began work as a regular masonic body.

In accordance with masonic usage of that time, a General Assembly of Colored Masons met in Masons' Hall, Water Street, Boston, Massachusetts, on June 24, 1791, and formed African Grand Lodge with Prince Hall as its first Grand Master; which office he held until his death in December 1807.

On June 24, 1808, pursuant to a call from Nero Prince, the Deputy Grand Master, representatives of the three then existing lodges met in Boston and changed the name of the Grand Lodge to M. W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F & A M of Massachusetts, in memory of Prince Hall.

There is no indication in the Prince Hall Masonic Year Book as to the author of this traditional story, but from its contents it is evident that the author drew very heavily upon Grimshawl and Davis. It is greatly to be regretted that an official publication should include a biography which is both woefully inaccurate and, in some cases, manifestly untrue. This can only be derogatory of a man whose life required no false vindication.

continue »