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What is a Prince Hall Mason? African Lodge #459 was the first lodge in Negro Freemasonry in North America. Its first Master was Prince Hall—a man whose biography has yet to be written except in condensed form. One of the most important aspects of his life, which is often omitted from histories, is that had he not been a black man, history would have told his story fearlessly and met criticism with truth. Prince Hall was born September 12, 1748 at Bridgetown, Barbados, British West Indies. His father was Thomas Prince Hall, was en Englishman, engaged in business and his mother was a Free Woman of French descent. His parents, tho poor, were known as pious persons of excellent character. Prince Hall heard about a vessel in port bound for America and saw the captain at once and offered to work for his passage. The captain hesitated, but agreed to take him and Prince Hall arrived in Boston in March 1765. On July 3, 1775, General Washington unfurled the national flag over Cambridge for the first time and on that same day Prince Hall organized and dedicated to God, to the memory of the two holy St. Johns African Lodge No. 459, the first lodge of Negro Masons in North America. On March 2, 1784, he addressed the Grand Lodge of England, asking for a Warrant of Constitution for his Lodge. The Warrant was granted by the Grand Lodge of England and in 1787 Captain Scott brought the warrant from England. Prince Hall went to the office of Sir William Might, Grand Secretary of the Modern Masons on Green St and called for the Warrant—which cost him about $27.72! African Lodge No. 459 was formally constituted on May 6, 1787 at The Golden Fleece on Water Street, Boston, Massachusetts. The African Grand Lodge of North America was formed June 24, 1791, in Boston and its first officer included Prince Hall as Grand Master. Several years later the Grand Lodge of England suspended African Lodge of North America due to a lack of communication. It was not until 1974 that the African Grand Lodge of North American was reinstated by England! St. Mary’s Lodge No. 4 was chartered in Ann Arbor Michigan in 1867. Since that time, we have worked in the community and the churches and there are currently about 90 members. I have been the Worshipful Master since 2001 and have raised 15 new brothers since that time. About 12 of those were raised at the lodge on Liberty Street. But we actually meet at the AME Church on John Woods Drive. We are in the process of building a lodge, especially since (no one knows this) St. Mary’s is the richest Blue Lodge in the state of Michigan, but one of the few that does not have its own lodge. I have made this project my own and have vowed to have a new lodge before I leave office. One of our main projects in the community, held at the Ann Arbor Community Center on North Main, is a Recognition Banquet. This is to recognize all the widows who are still with us, and we let them know we are grateful for them and their husband’s contributions in the past. Another thing we do every year is go to Alma, where we visit the Masonic Home. WE have always received a warm welcome, and no hostility. I think it’s one of the most beautiful sights, because we are all Free and Accepted Masons. Another special thing we do at that time, which we don’t call a scholarship, is give money to two high school students a year (from a pair of major and minor high schools). We like to reward students who improve their grades. We also give out Christmas baskets to the needy. In the question and answer session, Gibbs commented on the racism and lack of acceptance of black Masons for many years. Up until 1974, we were not officially accepted. When we were accepted back in the 1700s, the white Grand Lodges that associated with us received a lot of pressure not to associate with us. They were essentially blackballed from official Masonry. So, before they had their apron strings cut, they disassociated with us. After 1974, the English Grand Lodge essentially forced the North American lodges to accept Prince Hall Masonry. Their logic was that we have given Prince Hall a charter just like to others and therefore we are all brothers. If you don’t recognize them, we won’t recognize you. |
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MASONS OF WASHTENAW |
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BONISTEEL MASONIC LIBRARY |
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MASONIC PUBLISHER |
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