The History of Prince Hall Masonry

Who Was Prince Hall:

• Prince Hall (1735–1807) was a free Black man living in Boston, Massachusetts. 
• He was a passionate advocate for civil rights, education, and equality for African Americans. 
• Prince Hall believed that Black men deserved the same opportunities for leadership, personal growth, and brotherhood that Freemasonry offered white men.

How Prince Hall Masonry Started:

• On March 6, 1775, Prince Hall and 14 other free Black men were initiated into Masonry by members of a British Army lodge (Lodge No. 441, under the Grand Lodge of Ireland). 
• After initiation, Hall and the others were limited in what they could do — they weren’t allowed to form a full lodge, but they could meet, march in parades, and bury their dead.

The Move to Independence:

• Realizing they needed full rights, Prince Hall applied for a charter to create an official, recognized lodge. 
• In 1784, they received a charter from the Grand Lodge of England, establishing African Lodge No. 459 — the first Black Masonic lodge in America.