Prince Hall Freemasonry

From Free Encyclopedia of Thelema

PRINCE HALL ORIGINAL CHARTER

WARRANT OF AFRICAN LODGE NO. 459 Warrant of Constitution, A.G.M. To All and Every: Our Right Worshipful and Loving Brethren: Thomas Howard, Earl of Effington, Lord Howard, etc., Acting Grand Master, under the authority of his royal Highness, Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, etc., Grand Master of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons, send greeting. Know ye that we, at the humble petition of our Right Trusty and well beloved brethren, Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson, and several other brethren residing in Boston, New England, North America, do hereby constitute the said brethren into a regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, under the title or denomination of the African Lodge, to be opened in Boston, aforesaid, and do further, at their said petition and of the great trust and confidence reposed in every of the said above-named brethren, hereby appoint the Prince Hall to be Master; Boston Smith, Senior Warden and Thomas Sanderson, Junior Warden, for the opening of the said Lodge, and for such further time only as shall be thought by the brethren thereof, it being our will that this our appointment of the above said officers, shall in affect any further election said Lodge, but that such election shall be regulated agreeable to such By-Laws of the said Lodge as shall be consistent with the Grand Law of the society contained in the Book of Constitutions: and we hereby will, and require of you the said Prince Hall, to take special care that all and every the said brethren are to have been regularly made Masons, and that they do observe, perform, and keep all the rules and orders contained in the Book of Constitutions; and, further, that you do from time to time cause to be entered, in a book kept for that purpose, an account of your proceedings in the Lodge, together with all such Rules, orders and Regulations as shall be made for the good government of same, that in no wise you omit once in every year to send us, or our Successors, Grand Masters, or Rowland Holt, Esq., our Deputy Grand Master, for the time being, and account of your proceedings, and copies of all such Rules, Orders and Regulations as shall be made aforesaid together with the list of the members of the Lodge, and reasonably be expected toward the Grand Charity. Moreover, we will, and require of you, the said Prince Hall, as soon as conveniently may be, to send an account in writing of what may be done by virtue of these presents. (SEAL) Given at London, under our hand and seal of Masonry, 29th day of September, A.L. 5784, A.D. 1784, by the Grand Master's command R. Holt, Deputy Grand Master. Attest: William White, Grand Secretary.

SOME PRINCE HALL MASONS Robert Sengstacke Abbott, founder/publisher Chicago Defender Richard Allen, founder/first bishop AME Church James Herbert "Euble" Blake, composer/pianist William "Count" Basie, orchestra leader/composer Thomas Bradley, mayor of Los Angeles, California Nathaniel "Nat King" Cole, singer W.E.B. DuBois, educator/author/historian Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington, orchestra leader/composer Medgar Wiley Evers, civil rights leader James Forten, abolitionist/manufacturer Timothy Thomas Fortune, journalist Richard D. Gidron, president, Dick Gidron Cadillac Alex Haley, author William C. Handy, composer Augustus F. Hawkins, U.S. Congressman California Lionel Hampton, orchestra leader/composer Matthew Henson, explorer Benjamin L. Hooks, executive director NAACP Daniel "Chappie" James, general U.S. Air Force John H. Johnson, publisher EBONY and JET Thurgood Marshall, associate justice U.S. Supreme Court Benjamin Mays, educator/former president Atlanta University Ralph H. Metcalfe, Olympic champion Harold G. Moss, former mayor Tacoma, Washington A. Philip Randolph, founder/first president International Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porto-, Charles B. Rangel, U.S. Congressman New York Norman B. Rice, mayor Seattle, Washington Sugar Ray Robinson, mid/light heavy boxing champion Carl B. Stokes, U.S. Congressman Ohio Louis Stokes, U.S. Congressman Ohio Booker T. Washington, educator/founder Tuskegee Institute Egbert Austin "Bert" Williams, actor/comedian Harry A. Williamson, author/Masonic historian Andrew Young, former mayor Atlanta, Georgia Whitney M. Young, former director National Urban League