222 years marking the birth of the African Grand Lodge of North America

222 years marking the birth of the African Grand Lodge of North America

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Today marks 222 years since the foundation of the African Grand Lodge of North America. On 24 June 1791 was founded the Grand Lodge of what we now call Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. The name of "Prince Hall"was given in memory of its Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brother Prince Hall (1735-1807).

Prince Hall was an African American noted as a tireless abolitionist, for his leadership in the free black community in Boston, and as the founder of Prince Hall Freemasonry. Hall tried to gain New England’s enslaved and free blacks a place in Freemasonry, education and the military, which were some of the most crucial spheres of society in his time. Hall is considered the founder of “Black Freemasonry” in the United States, known today as Prince Hall Freemasonry. Hall formed the African Grand Lodge of North America. Prince Hall was unanimously elected its Grand Master and served until his death in 1807.  He lobbied for education rights for black children and was active in the back-to-Africa movement. Many historians regard Prince Hall as one of the prominent African-Americans during the early years of the United States.