A Brief History on Prince Hall

Honoring the Vision of Prince Hall

Prince Hall (c. 1735–1807) was a trailblazer—a free Black man, educator, abolitionist, and community leader—who understood the power of unity, purpose, and moral leadership. In 1775, during a time of deep social and racial divide, Hall and fourteen other free Black men were initiated into a British military Masonic lodge in Boston. When American lodges denied them recognition, Hall secured a charter from the Grand Lodge of England in 1784, establishing African Lodge No. 459—the foundation of what would become Prince Hall Freemasonry.

Prince Hall believed in education, civic engagement, and the importance of uplifting one’s community through brotherhood and service. His vision was not just about forming an organization, but about creating opportunity, dignity, and a path forward for generations of African Americans.