Prince Hall Masonic Lodge No.27 F&AM was Chartered on December 27th, 1881 under the Authority of The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New Jersey. On March 6th, 1775, Prince Hall and 14 men were made Masons in Lodge No.441 of the Irish Registry attached to the 38th British Foot Infantry at Castle William Island in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. It marked the first time that Black men were made Masons in America. About a year later, since the conflict between England and America had commenced, the British Foot Infantry left Boston, along with its Lodge, leaving Prince Hall and his associates without a Lodge. Before the Lodge left, Worshipful Master Batt, gave them a “permit” to meet as a Lodge and bury their dead in manner and form. This permit, however, did not allow them to do any “Masonic work” or to take in any new members. Under it, African Lodge was organized on July 3rd, 1776, with Prince Hall as the Worshipful Master. It wasn’t long before this Lodge received an additional “permit” from Provincial Grand Master John Rowe to walk in procession on St. On March 2nd, 1784, African Lodge No.1 petitioned the Grand Lodge of England, the Premier or Mother Grand Lodge of the world, for a warrant (or charter), to organize a regular Masonic Lodge, with all the rights and privileges thereunto prescribed. The Grand Lodge of England issued a Charter on September 29th, 1784 to African Lodge No.459, the First Lodge of Blacks in America. African Lodge No.459 grew and prospered to such a degree that Worshipful Master Prince Hall was appointed a Provincial Grand Master, in 1791, and out of this grew the first Black Provincial Grand Lodge. In 1797 he organized a Lodge in Philadelphia and one in Rhode Island. These Lodges were designated to work under the Charter of African Lodge No.459 . In December 1808, one year after the death of Prince Hall, African Lodge No.459 (Boston), African Lodge No.459 (Philadelphia) and Hiram Lodge No.3 (Providence) met in a general assembly of the craft and organized African Grand Lodge (sometime referred to as African Grand Lodge No.1). In 1847, out of respect for their founding father and first Grand Master, Prince Hall, they changed their name to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge, the name it carries today. John No.3 and Celestial Lodge No.4 became the first Lodges organized under the name Prince Hall Grand Lodge. From these beginnings, there now are some 5,700 Lodges and 48 Grand Lodges who trace their lineage to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Jurisdiction of Massachusetts, such as The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New Jersey. The tradition started by Bro. Prince Hall over 200 years ago is still carried on today. With Prince Hall Lodge No.27 taking the name of our founding father and first Grand Master, We strive to keep Building the Legacy, Staying Proactive, Connected to our Community, Making good men Better, Establishing bonds of Brotherhood, and Teaching our Brothers by way of Masonic Principles. Always shining our Light with Pride!!! To Be One Ask One.
