His name is carried by our masonic organizations in the United States, and by thousands of freemasons who regard themselves as descendants from the Grand Lodge of England, from which he received his authority more than two centuries ago. We in America celebrated in 1976 the two hundredth anniversary of our Declaration of Independence. This is also the two hundred and first (201st) anniversary of t
he founding of Prince Hall Masonry. It is a monument to Prince Hall’s life, career and leadership. It was a significant event in Freemasonry on March 6, 1775, when Prince Hall and fourteen other men were initiated into Freemasonry through Warrant No. 459, which is still in our possession. John Batt, who was of the 38th Foot Regiment of the British Army, having enlisted in 1759 and learning of the American cause, re-enlisted in its army. The enlistees were Prince Hall, Cyrus Johnston, Bueston Slinger, Prince Rees, John Canton, Peter Freeman, Benjamin Tiler, Duff Ruform, Thomas Santerson, Prince Rayden, Cato Speain, Boston Smith, Peter Best, Forten Horward, and Richard Titley. The writer has this record. A permit was issued for these freemasons to meet as African Lodge No. 1, and they became the first Black freemasons in the United States. Prince Hall enlisted and served as a soldier in the 2nd and 6th Regiments of Massachusetts. In this connection, George W. Williams, historian, wrote in 1884, "that he saw hard service we know by the record of the two regiments he served in, always distinguished for steadiness and valor. Prince Hall was not only a good soldier, he was a statesman." Prince Hall died on December 4, 1807. His successor was Nero Prince who sailed to Russia in the year 1808, George Middleton succeeded him for 1809-1810, then Peter Lew, Samuel H. Moody and the well known John T. It was Hilton who recommended adopting a Declaration of Independence from the English Grand Lodge in 1827—as the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts had done in 1772—thereby assuming the power and prerogatives of an independent Grand Lodge. On November 7, 1828 Freedoms Journal, the first Black newspaper, praised Prince Hall as "the Founder of African Lodge of Boston, and for his "work for the Grand Masonic Lodge." The heritage which Prince Hall left us has authentic and factual goodness to us as Masons, and we go forward distributed in 44 Grand Lodges, Easter Star, two Supreme Councils, Golden Circles, Shriners, Daughters of Isis, Brother and Sisters in the United States, the West Indies, Canada, Liberia and West African, all doing a great work and spreading a good cause in Masonry.
