written by W.M. Brother Ricardo Utai
W.M. of James E. Acey Lodge #600
On March 6, 1775, Prince Hall and 14 other men of African descent were raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason in Boston, Massachusetts marking the beginning of Prince Hall Freemasonry. Today, the State of Georgia recognizes Prince Hall Founders Day. Grateful to be present for this amazing day at the Capitol.
History of Prince Hall Masonry
Not much is known about Prince Hall's earlier years, but he is believed to have been freeborn between 1735 and 1738 in-between Africa and Barbados. When Hall was 11 years old he was placed in the service of a man by the name of William Hall. The reason I didn't use the words "made a slave" is because it seems to be a strong indication that Hall was not treated as a slave, but as an indentured servant. His owner, William made Hall his apprentice to his leather tanning business and Hall served roughly 14 years under William.
When Prince Hall was 17 he came to Boston with William Hall and began learning the leather tanning trade. About 7 years later, when Prince Hall was 25, William Hall would grant Prince Hall his freedom. In the midst of receiving his freedom, Prince Hall would get married twice, join a church, and father a son. But the biggest thing he did at that time is become an abolitionist and become an activist for the abolishment of slavery in the colonies.
At the outbreak of the American Revolution, Hall urged the enlistment of both enslaved and freed blacks in the revolutionary army. Hall felt that involvement of black people in the construction of the new nation would be the first step toward complete freedom for all African Americans.
In January 1777, just six months after the promulgation of the Declaration and nearly three years before Adams drafted the state constitution, Hall submitted a petition to the Massachusetts legislature (or General Court, as it is styled) requesting emancipation of black slaves, invoking the resonant phrases and founding truths of the Declaration itself.
Prince Hall's Letter to the Massachusetts Legislature:
"The petition of A Great Number of Blacks detained in a State of Slavery in the Bowels of a free & christian Country Humbly shuwith that your Petitioners Apprehend that They have in Common with all other men a Natural and Inalienable Right to that freedom which the Great - Parent of the Universe hath Bestowed equally on all mankind and which they have Never forfeited by Any Compact or Agreement whatever - but they were Unjustly Dragged by the hand of cruel Power from their Dearest friends and sum of them Even torn from the Embraces of their tender Parents - from A populous Pleasant And plentiful country And in Violation of Laws of Nature and off Nations And in defiance of all the tender feelings of humanity Brough hear Either to Be sold Like Beast of Burthen & Like them Condemned to Slavery for Life."
Prince Hall would be a part of several petitions presented to the Massachusetts Legislature for the betterment of black people such as the petition for the education for black children, the petition against the slave act, and the petition for funding for the "back to Africa movement".
Hall was also a big supporter of blacks fighting in the revolutionary war, believing that the involvement of blacks in the war would lead to freedom for all. Hall continued to work for abolition, equal rights, and economic advancement in the black society until his death.
By the mid-1700s there existed two Grand Lodges in Massachusetts. St. John's Grand Lodge, which was petitioned by the Premier Grand Lodge of England, and St. Andrew's Grand Lodge, which was petitioned by the Ancient Grand Lodge of England. During the American Revolution, from 1768 to 1783, The Provincial Grand Master of St. John's Grand Lodge was John Rowe and the Provincial Grand Master of St. Andrew's Grand Lodge was Joseph Warren. The difference between these two Grand Lodges, besides who chartered them, was that St John's lodge was made up of wealthy individuals and St. Andrew's was primarily what would be considered blue collar workers. Warren, besides serving as Grand Master of St. Andrew's Lodge, was a doctor, he served as the President of the Revolutionary Massachusetts Provincial Congress, and he was commissioned a Major General in the Colonial Army prior to the Battle at Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775.
Grand Master Warren seems to play a pivotal part in the journey that Prince Hall took into Freemasonry because it is believed that Warren met with Hall and agreed to give him a warrant to open a lodge, but Warren was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill before being able to execute that decision. This decision was said to be recorded in the minutes of St. Andrew's Grand Lodge. In the opinion of this presenter, it would seem that the previous statement may be true, because Prince Hall was said to have a mutual relationship with Grand Master Warren, Paul Revere, and John Handcock. All three men were customers of Prince Hall's leather business and all three men were members of St. Andrew's Lodge.
There are also three Prince Halls listed on the muster rolls believed to have fought in the battle of Bunker Hill. Whether one of those Prince Halls is our
Prince Hall has not been determined. The death of Grand Master Warren definitely would've placed a halt to any decisions of providing Hall with a warrant since not everyone in St. Andrew's wouldn't have shared Warren's sentiments of providing a black man with a warrant to start a masonic lodge.
The claims of Grand Master Warren offering Prince Hall a warrant has not been proven. To my knowledge, the proceedings reflecting this decision just haven't been found. Because of the lack of information for this time period we must move on to the most widely accepted history of Prince Hall Freemasonry. Hopefully in time we can become more clear on the exact history.
Accepted History:
Black Freemasonry began when Prince Hall and fourteen other free black men were initiated into Lodge No. 441, Irish Constitution, attached to the 38th Regiment of Foot, British Army Garrisoned at Castle William (now Fort Independence) Boston Harbor on March 6, 1775. The Master of the Lodge was Sergeant John Batt. Along with Prince Hall, the other newly made masons were Cyrus Johnson, Bueston Slinger, Prince Rees, John Canton, Peter Freeman, Benjamin Tiller, Duff Ruform, Thomas Santerson, Prince Rayden, Cato Sprain, Boston Smith, Peter Best, Forten Howard and Richard Titley.
When the British Army left Boston in 1776, this Lodge, No 441, granted Prince Hall and his brethren authority to meet as African Lodge #1 (Under Dispensation), to go in procession on St. John's Day, and as a Lodge to bury their dead; but they could not confer degrees nor perform any other Masonic "work". For nine years these brethren, together with others who had received their degrees elsewhere, assembled and enjoyed their limited privileges as Masons. Thirty-three masons were listed on the rolls of African Lodge #1 on January 14th, 1779.
Finally on March 2, 1784, Prince Hall petitioned the Grand Lodge of England, through a Worshipful Master of a subordinate Lodge in London (William Moody of Brotherly Love Lodge No. 55) 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 deliver 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.
Prince Hall was made Provincial Grand Master of African Lodge No. 459 in 1791. He would go on to petition Lodges in Philadelphia and Rhode Island.
African Lodge began acting as African Grand Lodge around 1797, after many years of correspondence from the Premier Grand lodge of England, with Prince Hall serving in the capacity of Grand Master until his death on December 4, 1807. Under Past Grand Master John T. Hilton African Grand Lodge would declare its independence from the UGLE in 1827.
There have been many arguments made as to the actuality of the history of Prince Hall and African Masonry that descended from him. Arguments such as the argument against the actual date of initiation, passing and raising of Prince Hall and the 14 brothers, as well as arguments addressing the legitimacy of his initiation and raising. Because records weren't adequately kept during that time there's no honest way to prove either side of the argument. The only argument brought forth to date as far as legitimacy and actual date of initiation that holds some fact to it is the address by Brother John Hairston in his book "Landmarks of Our Fathers: The Critical Analysis of the Start and Origin of African Lodge No. 1". In his book he makes some very bold and convincing statements that have yet to be answered. It is not my place to offer a decision on the matter, but I would suggest you read Hairston's book for yourself and come to your own conclusion. It is the stance of most Prince Hall Historians say that no matter the legitimacy of the beginnings of our forefathers into Freemasonry, we became a regular and legitimate fraternal order when Prince Hall was issued a charter by the Premier Grand Lodge of England in 1784. That charter makes us real Freemasons and cements the legality of Prince Hall Grand Lodges across this nation and their Jurisdictions abroad.
About The Writer: W.M. Brother Ricardo Utai Serves as The Worshipful Master of James E. Acey Lodge #600 and is a Devout Historian of The Journey of Prince Hall. He Has Dedicated His Service of Light By Bridging The Gap Between Yesterday & Today
Brother Ricardo Utai started his Journey into Freemasonry in September 2016 in Truth and Union Lodge No. 594 which is under the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia where, currently, Primus James sits as the 19th Most Worshipful Grand Master. Brother was known in Truth and Union Lodge as an avid researcher in the history of Freemasonry and the history of Black Freemasons in this country. Brother Utai has been known to say, "Before we can change our present and our future we have to know and understand our Past." In 2021 Brother Utai would demit from Truth and Union Lodge and become a charter member of James Earl Acey Lodge No. 600 which is also under the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia. Brother Utai would serve as the Lodge's first Senior Deacon (2021 - 2022), second Senior Warden (2023), and he currently sits as the third Worshipful Master (2024 - present). Brother Utai is dedicated to the preservation of the history of Freemasonry, Black Freemasonry, Prince Hall Freemasons, and regular, recognized, and legitimate organizations alike. Our hats go off to...
Worshipful Master Ricardo Utai
James Earl Acey Lodge No. 600
MWPHGLGA
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