masonic matters
Belated Happy Birthday to Prince Hall
Freemasonry
by Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer
Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Minnesota
“Happiness is when
what you think, what you say, and what you do, are in harmony.” -
Mahatma Gandhi
“A hundred times
every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depend on the labors of
other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the
same measure as I have received and am still receiving.”
Albert Einstein
“Character is
habitual action.” Aristotle
Something interesting I
learned while I was researching something else:
I came across something about
a man named Avigdor Miller, who lived for 93 years. He was one of the leading
Torah educators in the
United States. He says; “He was particularly
skillful at connecting secular phenomena to the Divine. For example, before
eating an apple he exclaimed; ‘Almighty God, look at this magnificent
apple that You created: The wisdom of its waterproof enclosure, the beauty of
its tantalizing red color, and the temptingly delicious aroma with which it is
perfumed. How can I even begin to thank You!”
“In all affairs it's a
healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long
taken for granted.”
Bertrand Russell
I have
been asked by quite a few Brethren how I’ve been doing with my health. Since it
has been about a year since I last sent out a report on my health it has been
suggested that I should do it again.
My 4th
Quarterly check-up with the Oncologist was about the middle of June ’08, and the
cancer is still in remission. This is the beginning of the second year with it
being in remission, so check-ups now stretch out to every 4 months instead of
every 3 months, I hope to see the check-up stretch out to twice a year and then
yearly after that. While cancer never leaves you in as good a shape as you would
like, or in as good a shape as a person would be in without getting it, I’m in
fine shape. I’m optimistic about the future. I’m actually doing much more
physically than I have in years, and I’m having a ball doing it.
I want
to thank everyone for their good thoughts and prayers on my behalf over these
past couple of years; you have made a difference, I’m convinced of that – and I
want to thank you for that and for your continued interest in my well being; it
is appreciated.
A Belated “Happy Birthday” to
Prince Hall Freemasonry!
A few
years ago I wrote a column for the American Mason magazine called “I Didn’t Know
That!” The Magazine was begun by Brother Andy Boracci. While I never met Brother
Andy face to face we did talk on the phone every once-in-a-while and we emailed
regularly; I liked him; he was an easy man to like. As it happened I spoke on
the phone with Brother Andy while he was in the hospital just before he died: He
was expecting to go home the next day. His death was sudden, untimely, and sad
for many of us in Freemasonry. His magazine, which was a fine magazine, was
published in print and on the web, and unfortunately it stopped when he did.
One of
the items I had in the March 2003 ‘I Didn’t Know That’ column was about Prince
Hall Freemasonry. It seems that there is real interest in Prince Hall
Freemasonry from a lot of people; it’s not limited to Prince Hall Freemasons by
any means.
Back in
2001 Brother Kevin Gem posted something to the Philalethes list server which I
enjoyed quite a bit. His piece was called “I am Prince Hall’s Mason.” I later
published his piece in the
April 7, 2008
issue of Mehr Licht. Sadly at the time I couldn’t remember Brother Kevin’s name,
but when I began to go through my notes for this particular article there his
name was: If you would like to read his essay titled “I am Prince Hall’s Mason”
it can be read in the More Light section.
In his
essay Brother Kevin said the reason he considered himself Prince Hall’s Mason
rather than a Prince Hall Mason is that he [Prince Hall] set a stellar example
for him to model his Masonry after, and is the example he chooses to follow. He
promised himself to conduct himself as Prince Hall did, and to practice
Freemasonry they way he did too. If a man would like to have a roll model in
Freemasonry, Prince Hall is a good one to choose and emulate.
I have
had an interest in Prince Hall Freemasonry ever since I first heard about it
from a Brother in my Lodge, however, through research I soon found out what my
Masonic Brother first told me about it was not as accurate as it could be. Since
then I have learned more about it, and my interest in it is still there. I don’t
think I’m alone in my interest in Prince Hall Freemasonry because every so often
a question will come over the Internet or email about some facet of it. For me
it is still a lot of fun to do the research and to learn more about Prince Hall
Freemasonry and its history.
Unfortunately there is not an abundance of books and the like written about
Prince Hall Freemasonry but with a little searching they can be found. If you
would like to study-up on Prince Hall Freemasonry look for books written by
Brothers David Gray, William H. Upton, and Joseph Walks Jr.; I think they are
the more authoritative of the writings I’ve found, although there are many more
places to find information.
Here is
something you might find interesting about Prince Hall Freemasonry:
African
Lodge #459 was active, and was known to be active by the Grand Lodge of England
(Moderns.) Prince Hall and his Brethren on
March 2, 1784
applied for a warrant from the Grand Lodge of England, which was issued to them
as African Lodge #459 naming Brother Prince Hall as its Master on
September 29, 1784.
Due to circumstances it was not received by Prince Hall and his Brethren until
April 29, 1787
but nevertheless they were issued a warrant to work.
In 1793
the Grand Lodge of England, (Moderns,) renumbered African Lodge #459 to #370.[i]
It was the custom of the Grand Lodge to drop Lodges not heard from, or
those who did not contribute to the Grand Lodge Charity Fund, and then to
renumber the Lodges that remained. Because of this it was not unusual for a
Lodge in good standing to receive a new number. This custom of renumbering
Lodges causes some confusion in Masonic research but nevertheless Brother Coil,
in his Masonic Encyclopedia, says this action on the part of the Grand Lodge
indicates that African Lodge was active, in good standing, and a contributing
Lodge, because it wasn’t dropped by the Grand Lodge of England, it was
renumbered. Brother Coil also says that the Warrant issued for African Lodge
#459 was likely the last Warrant issued by the Moderns to a Lodge in the
United States.
Another
interesting item is that shortly after Prince Hall and the other 14 men who were
made Masons, in Irish Military Lodge #441, on March 6, 1775, the 38th Foot (to
which Lodge #441 was attached) left Boston, but Brother John Batt,[ii]
Master of the Lodge that made these men Masons and raised them, left our 15
Brethren with a permit allowing them to walk on St. John's Day and to bury their
dead in Masonic funerals. Coil’s says that "African Lodge No. 1” was born on
July 3, 1775.
So we
might be able to say that Prince Hall’s African Lodge has had 3 Numbers; the
first one being assigned to our 15 Brethren as a time immemorial Lodge; The
Second one being with the Warrant issued
September 29, 1784,
and the third being that African Lodge was renumbered in 1793 to #370.
It might
be interesting to note that at the time of African Lodge #459 receiving its
warrant from the Moderns the Ancient Grand Lodge was also operating in
England:
The ancient Lodges were known only by Lodge numbers, whereas the Modern Lodges
had names as well as numbers.
Military
Lodges generally only made Masons among the military personnel because when the
regiment was transferred the problem arose; what about the civilian Masons as
members of the Lodge; the Lodge would be moving on, and the charter or warrant
went with the Lodge. However, there were military Lodges that did make Masons
from among the civilian population as Military Lodge #441 under an Irish
Constitution did in the case of Prince Hall and his Brethren. I think that is
why the Lodge left our Brethren with a permit or dispensation to celebrate
St. John’s
Day and to bury their dead when the Lodge and the regiment ‘moved on.’
“Mine honour is my life; both
grow in one; take honour from me and my life is done.” -
Shakespeare
From the Great light of
Masonry = “If your
brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of
you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.”Matthew
18:15
NIV
[i]
Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia says it was #390. This has proven to be incorrect,
no doubt a typographical error. The correct number is #370. The correct
information is found in “Negro Masonry’ by M.W. Brother William H. Upton; page
41 section 20 original print edition by The Temple Publishers. I have a new
larger and easier to read edition, but I still prefer the original print
edition. The renumbered #370 is also verified on page 1660, and twice again in
closely following pages in Volume 6 Mackey’s History of Freemasonry,
Singleton-Hughan 1906 edition.
[ii]
Sergeant and W.B. John Batt served in the British Infantry the 38th
of Foot from 1759 to 1777 when he was discharged at
Staten Island (New York.)
Inside Prince Hall by David Gray
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