About Us

The History of PRINCE HALL

Who is Prince Hall?

Prince Hall was an African American noted as an abolitionist for his leadership in the free black community in Boston, and as the founder of Prince Hall Freemasonry. He lobbied for education rights for black children and was active in the back-to-Africa movement.

How did he become a Mason?

Roughly about 240 years ago, in 1775, Prince Hall Free Masonry among Black men began during the War of Independence, when Prince Hall and fourteen other free black men were initiated into Lodge # 441, Irish Constitution, attached to the 38th Regiment of Foot, British Army Garrisoned at Castle Williams (now Fort Independence) Boston Harbor on March 6, 1775. The Master of the Lodge was Sergeant John Batt. Along with Prince Hall, the other newly made masons were Cyrus Johnson, Bueston Slinger, Prince Rees, John Canton, Peter Freeman, Benjamin Tiler, Duff Ruform, Thomas Santerson, Prince Rayden, Cato Spain, Boston Smith, Peter Best, Forten Howard and Richard Titley.

How did he get his own lodge?

When the British Army left Boston, this Lodge, # 441, granted Prince Hall and his brethren authority to meet as a lodge, to go in procession on Saints John Day, and as a Lodge to bury their dead; but they could not confer degrees nor perform any other Masonic "work". For nine years these brethren, together with others who had received their degrees elsewhere, assembled and enjoyed their limited privileges as Masons. Finally in March 2, 1784, Prince Hall petitioned the Grand Lodge of England, through a Worshipful Master of a subordinate Lodge in London (William Moody of Brotherly Love Lodge # 55) for a warrant or charter. The warrant was granted on September 29, 1784 under the name of African Lodge, # 459 on the register of the Grand Lodge of England by authority of then Grand Master, the Duke of Cumberland, delivered in Boston on April 29, 1787 by Captain James Scott, Master of the Neptune.

Was Prince Hall a Worshipful Master?

Prince Hall was the first Master of the lodge which was organized one week later, May 6, 1787.

Why is the Charter so important?

The warrant to African Lodge # 459 of Boston is the most significant and highly prized document known to the Prince Hall Masonic Fraternity. Through it, Masonic legitimacy among free black men is traced, and on it more than any other factor, rests their case. That charter, which is authenticated and in safekeeping, is believed to be the only original charter issued from the Grand Lodge of England still in the possession of any Lodge in the United States. In 1827, the African Lodge of Freemasons declared itself the African Grand Lodge #1. Prince Hall established the first African American institution in the United States.

Interesting to note...

When the Massachusetts lodges which were acting as a Provincial Grand Lodge also declared themselves an independent Grand Lodge, and even when the present Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was formed by the amalgamation of the two separate lodges, African Lodge was not invited to take part, even though it held a warrant every bit as valid as the others.

Here are few important facts about our lodge

Friendship Lodge #20 is a subordinate lodge of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia
Founded in 1880, the lodge is based in the city of Covington, GA
Provided resources and services to our community for 100+ years
Adopted our home street (Geiger) in 2022
Thousands in scholarships provided to students and teachers
Friendship Lodge 20 Day - In 2011, Covington Mayor Kim Carter proclaimed June 25 as the official day