United in Brotherhood and Service

Grand Lodge of Tennessee

In the Beginning

African American Freemasonry or Prince Hall Freemasonry is synonymous with its founder and name sake Prince Hall who along with 14 other men of African descent gave birth to a world-renowned organization of Freemasonry which accepts men from various backgrounds as long as they are free born and come well recommended.

Prince Hall himself was born in 1738 either in America or Barbados, Boston Massachusetts or Bridgetown respectively. The documents which would definitively close the discussions around this subject have not been found or are no longer available to those wishing to ascertain the facts.

Be that as it may, what we do know is that a man called Prince Hall and 14 other men who were in Boston sometime in March 1775 petitioned an Irish Registry Lodge No. 441 which was attached to the 38^th British Foot Infantry stationed in Boston at that time.

On March 6^th, 1775 fifteen men of African descent were initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry. African Lodge No. 1 was formally organized on July 3^rd, 1776 with Prince Hall as its Worshipful Master. (excerpted from the writings of RW Raymond T. Coleman, Grand Historian Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts)

The warrant issued by the Worshipful Master John Batt only allowed them to meet as a Lodge, march in procession and bury their dead but unable to do the work associated with Masonic Lodges Prince Hall petitioned the Grand Lodge of England for a charter.

On September 29^th, 1784 a charter was issued to African Lodge No. 1 and was re-styled as African Lodge No. 459.

This seminal moment in Freemasonic history would usher into existence all that we revere as Prince Hall Masonry today.

Building the Legacy

Due to the leadership of Prince Hall and his dedication to the craft that soon after his death on December 4^th, 1807 the brothers who were influenced by him continued their Freemasonic journey by forming Grand Lodges in various jurisdictions, all owing affiliation and lineage by descent to Prince Hall.

Having been initiated into a regular Lodge at its inception Prince Hall and the Brothers of African Lodge No. 459 enjoyed the fruits of Masonic authenticity which have never been in dispute and are bequeathed to all the regular Lodges and Grand Lodges that followed in their Masonic footsteps.

So, despite the objections of some, the facts and relevant documents bear witness to a simple truth that all Prince Hall Masons are regular from 1784 to the present.

As a consequence, on a warm Wednesday morning at 10:00am in 1870 on the 31^st day of August, duly elected officers met in Nashville Tennessee for the expressed purpose of forming a Prince Hall Grand Lodge for the State of Tennessee.

For more information visit the Grand Lodge of Tennessee’s website here.