03/06/2026
March 6, 1775 is more than just a date on a calendar. It is a moment in history that represents courage, perseverance, and the birth of a legacy that continues to shape men and communities today.
On that day in Boston, Massachusetts, fifteen Black men sought something many others already had access to, the opportunity to become Freemasons. At a time when slavery still existed and racial barriers were deeply rooted in society, these men were denied membership in colonial lodges simply because of the color of their skin. But rejection did not stop their pursuit of light.
Led by Prince Hall, they remained determined to become part of an institution built upon morality, brotherhood, and truth.
On March 6, 1775, Prince Hall and fourteen other men were initiated into Freemasonry by members of a British military lodge attached to the 38th Regiment of Foot stationed in Boston.
Those men were
Prince Hall
Prince Payden
Peter Best
Duff Buforn
John Canton
Peter Freeman
Fortin Howard
Cyrus Jonnbus
Thomas Sanderson
Benjamin Tiler
Bueston Slinger
Cato Speain
Prince Rees
Richard Tilley
Boston Smith
These were not men of privilege or great wealth. They were working men, craftsmen, sailors, and laborers. But they possessed something far more powerful, character, vision, and a belief in the teachings of Freemasonry.
Their initiation did not grant them full rights or recognition at first. They were allowed to meet as Masons but were restricted in many of the functions that other lodges enjoyed. Instead of walking away, Prince Hall continued the work. He petitioned, wrote letters, and sought recognition with patience and determination.
Nearly a decade later, in 1784, the United Grand Lodge of England granted a charter to African Lodge No. 459. That charter became the foundation of what we now know as Prince Hall Freemasonry.
What began with fifteen determined men grew into a worldwide legacy. Prince Hall Masons would go on to build schools, establish churches, support communities, and produce leaders who helped shape the course of American history.
They carried the principles of Freemasonry wherever they went. Brotherly Love. Relief. Truth.
Today, more than two centuries later, the impact of those fifteen men still lives. Every lodge that opens, every brother raised in the Craft, and every act of charity performed in the name of Masonry carries a piece of their vision forward.
March 6, 1775 reminds us that before there were thousands of Prince Hall Masons across the world, there were fifteen men who refused to allow exclusion to extinguish their pursuit of light.
Their courage created a legacy.
Their perseverance built a brotherhood.
And their vision continues to inspire generations of men to walk uprightly and live by the principles of the Craft.
251 years later, the light still shines.
Happy Founders Day to all Prince Hall Masons.
251 Years of Brotherhood.
