Palmetto Grand Lodge

Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons

Prince Hall

Many have heard of Prince Hall, but few knew of his interiority. Had it been written by the pen of Emerson and published by McGraw it would have been highlighted in our present literary volumes and his biography found on a shelf of every library in this country. Nevertheless, every Mason should be informed of his great zeal. His dreams of freemasonry and if know would work with equal aptitude to reunite his Divided Son's of Light.

Prince Hall was born to Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Hall on September 12, 1748 in Bridgetown, Barbados. However, for a historical perspective no documents of his birth have been found to this date. Noteworthy church documents and slave records dating back to 1746 have also been checked but Prince Hall's record of birth is not absolute. His father was believed to be a leather worker. At a tender age Prince Hall became his apprentice. After working as an apprentice from the age of 12 years old, Hall knew that this was neither the job nor the place for him. When he became 17 years of age, on or about March 17, 1765 he found himself on the seas in route to America. Fortitude and industry would be the devices he would use to improve himself. He also worked all day as he took private lessons in education at night. Hall managed to save enough money by the age of 25, which allowed him to purchase some real estate. He would later become a minister in an African Methodist Episcopal Church. Like Abraham of the Old Testament, Prince Hall to would be blessed to become the father of a new nation under the sun.

 Prince Hall, a serviceman in the army was very much angered by Britain and manipulated them for an agenda that would prepare the way for thousands to follow. The colonial brothers of freemasonry allowed racism to bar blacks from their fraternity. This would end in 1775, when Prince Hall at the age of 27 under the conductance of General Gage, stationed at Boston, Massachusetts would be initiated into the Craft. He along with 14 others, were initiated on the 6th day of March 1775, under the warrant issued by the Grand Lodge of Ireland. These men were raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason.

Working under a dispensation Prince Hall and his other brothers’ goal was to obtain their own charter. He petitioned Joseph Warren who invited his petition favorably, but Warren fell at Bunker Hill before action was taken. He and his fellow brethren then petitioned Provincial Grand Master of Modem.