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  A Brief History about the
Prince Hall Masons



     Freemasonry is the oldest known fraternal organization in existence, forming officially in England.  The roots of Masonry are steeped in solid religious traditions, and uphold many of the beliefs still in existence to his day.  Up until the time of the Revolutionary War, the number of African-Americans Masons was non-existent.  But, that soon would change.

     In 1775, a young Prince Hall was raised as a Master Mason through the Irish Constitution Military Lodge No. 441 in Boston, Massachusetts, at a time when the new settlers in America were still under British rule.  Brother Hall spent several years in obscurity as a Mason, and was continuously rejected and unaccepted by the "White" lodges that had formed in the American colonies.  Eventually, he was granted a Warrant for Charter from the United Grand Lodge of England in 1784, and officially formed the African Lodge #459, and was appointed as Worshipful Master.  In the year of 1813, a merger took place with all of the American Grand Lodges Antients and Moderns, which resulted in the reformation of Prince Hall's lodge into the African Lodge #1.  This also completed a total separation from the United Grand Lodge.  This African-American jurisdiction later became known as Prince Hall Affiliation when newly-formed african-american lodges from Philadelphia, PA and Providence, RI elected to rename the affiliation in the honor and memory of its originator. 

     As many years have followed, Prince Hall Masonry continues to struggle to gain acceptance by the brother A. F. & A. M. chapters in the United States.  Even though their willingness has shifted tremendously within the past twenty years, there are still southern states remaining who officially do not recognize Prince Hall Affiliations.  Today, Prince Hall Masons are the last division of Freemasonry in the United States to possess an official charter; hopefully one day all brothers of Masonry will realize this and recognize our just contribution to the Masonic order.  

   A Brief History on the

ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR

 

 

The Order of the Eastern Star is the oldest fraternal organization where membership is offered to both men and women.  It was established in 1850 by Rob Morris, an official with the Freemasons.  The order is based on teachings of the Bible, but it is open to all people of monotheistic denominations.  Members are aged from 18 years and older.  Men who are Eastern Star members must also be a Master Mason, and can hold no seat in the order other than Patron.  Additionally, women can only become an Eastern Star through a number of specific relative ties to a Master Mason, including mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters. 

 

On December 1, 1874, the first Prince Hall Affiliate Eastern Star chapter was established in Washington, D. C. as the Queen Esther Chapter No. 1.  Soon after, the first General Grand Chapter and Ritual of the Order of the Eastern Star was formed at Indianpolis, IN, and now its headquarters resides in Washington, D. C. as well.