Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

[Charters granted by the "Massachusetts Grand Lodge," after its independence, from March 8, 1777, to December 8, 1792.]

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

Lodge in State of New York, on petition of John Copp & others, Sept. 6, 1782.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

[Copy of the Charter of the African Lodge.]

Effingham, A.G.M. To all and every our Right Worshipful and loving Brethren, we, Thomas Howard, &c., &c., &c., Earl of Effingham, Lord HowThe seal of the ard, Acting Grand Master under the authority of His Royal Masons, London. Highness Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, &c., &c., &c., Grand Master of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons, sends Greeting :—

Grand Lodge of

Know ye, that we, at the humble petition of our right trusty and well beloved brethren, Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson, and several other brethren residing in Boston, New England, in North America, do hereby constitute the said brethren into a regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, under the title or denomination of the African Lodge, to be opened in Boston, aforesaid; and do further, at their said petition, hereby appoint the said Prince Hall to be Master, Boston Smith, Senior Warden, and Thomas Sanderson, Junior Warden, for opening the said Lodge, and for such further time only as shall be thought proper by the brethren thereof, it being our will that this our appointment of the above officers shall in no wise affect any future election of officers of the Lodge, but that such election shall be regulated agreeably to such By-Laws of the said Lodge as shall be consistent with the general laws of the society, contained in the Book of Constitutions; and we hereby will and require you, the said Prince Hall, to take special care that all and every the said brethren are, or have been, regularly made Masons, and that they do observe, perform, and keep all the rules and orders contained in the Book of Constitutions; and further, that you do, from time to time, cause to be entered in a book kept for that purpose an account of your proceedings in the Lodge, together with all such rules, orders, and regulations as shall be made for the good government of the same; that in no wise you omit once in every year to send to us, our successors, Grand Masters, or to Rowland Holt, Esq., our Deputy Grand Master, for the time being, an account in writing of your said proceedings, and copies of all such rules, orders, and regulations as shall be made as aforesaid, together with a list of the members of the Lodge, and such a sum of money as may suit the circumstances of the Lodge and reasonably be expected towards the Grand Charity. Moreover, we hereby will and require you, the said Prince Hall, as soon as conveniently may be, to send an account in writing of what may be done by virtue of these presents.

Given at London, under our hand and seal of Masonry, this 29th day of September, A.L. 5784, A.D. 1784.

[blocks in formation]

The "Massachusetts Centinal," printed at Boston, in its issue of May 2, 1787, has the following document: —

"AFRICAN LODGE, BOSTON, May 2, 1787. "By Captain Scott,* from London, came the Charter, &c., which his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, and the Grand Lodge, have been graciously pleased to grant to the African Lodge, in Boston. As the brethren have a desire to acknowledge all favors shown them, they, in this public manner, return particular thanks to a certain member of the Fraternity who offered the so generous reward in this paper, some time since, for the Charter, supposed to be lost; and to assure him, though they doubt of his friendship, that he has made them many good friends."

(Signed)

"PRINCE HALL."

Extract from an Address of John V. De Grasse, before the "Prince Hall Grand Lodge," June 30, 1858: "Although, brethren, our Charter was granted in London, September 17, 1784, we did not receive it until April 29, 1787, through the neglect and almost culpable carelessness of Brother Gregory, who did not take it from the Office of the Grand Secretary where it had remained over two years." "On the 29th of April, the Charter and a beautiful bound book of the Constitutions were delivered to Prince Hall."

[Declaration of Independence published in a newspaper at Boston, June, 1827.]

AFRICAN LODGE, No. 459.

Greeting:

Be it known to all whom it may concern, That we, the Master, Wardens, and Members of the African Lodge, No. 459, City of Boston (Mass.), U. S. of America, hold in our possession a certain unlimited Charter, granted Sept. 29, A.L. 5784, A.D. 1784, by Thomas Howard, Earl of Effingham, Acting Grand Master, under the authority of his Royal Highness Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, &c., &c., &c., Grand Master of the most ancient and honorable society of Free and Accepted Masons. Be it further known, that the Charter alluded to bears the seal of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge at London, England, and was presented to our much esteemed and worthy brethren and predecessors, Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson,

* A previous issue of the same paper, of April 28, 1787, says, "Yesterday the ship Neptune, Captain Scott, arrived in forty days from London."

and several others, agreeably to a humble petition of theirs, sent in form to the above Grand Lodge. Be it remembered, that, according to correct information as regards this instrument and the manner in which it was given, it appears to have been confined exclusively to the Africans, and to certain conditions. Whether these conditions have been complied with by our ancestors, we are unable to say; but we can add that, in consequence of the decease of the above-named Brother, the institution was for years unable to proceed, for the want of one to conduct its affairs agreeably to what is required in every regular and well-educated Lodge of Masons. It is now, however, with great pleasure we state that the present age has arrived to that degree of proficiency in the art, that we can at any time select from among us many whose capacity to govern enables them to preside with as much good order, dignity, and propriety, as any other Lodge within our knowledge. This fact can be proved by gentlemen of respectability, whose knowledge of Masonry would not be questioned by any one well acquainted with the art. Since the rise of the Lodge to this degree of proficiency, we concluded it was best and proper to make it known to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge from whence we derive our Charter, by sending written documents and monies, to fulfil the agreements of our ancestors, giving information of the low state to which it had fallen, its cause, &c., with its rise and progress; and also soliciting further favors, whereby we might be placed on a different and better standing than we had heretofore. And notwithstanding this has long since been done, and more than sufficient time has elapsed for returns, yet we have never received a single line or reply from that Hon. Society. In consequence of that neglect, we have been at a stand what cause to pursue. Our remote situation prevents us from making any verbal communication whatever. Taking all these things into consideration, we have come to the conclusion that with what knowledge we possess of Masonry, and as people of color by ourselves, we are, and ought by rights, to be free and independent of other Lodges. We do, therefore, with this belief, publicly declare ourselves free and independent of any Lodge from this day, and that we will not be tributary, or be governed by any Lodge than that of our own. We agree solemnly to abide by all proper rules and regulations which govern the like Fraternity discountenancing all imposition to injure the Order, and to use all fair and honorable means to promote its prosperity, resting in full hope that this will enable us to transmit it in its purity to our posterity for their enjoyment. Done at the Lodge, this, the 18th June, A.L. 5727, A.D. 1827.

In full testimony of what has been written, we here affix our names :

JOHN T. HILTON, R. W.M.
THOMAS DALTON, Sen. Ward.
LEWIS YORK, Jun. Ward.
J. H. PURRON, Secretary.

[Letter from John Hervey, Grand Secretary of the United Grand Lodge of England.] FREEMASONS' HALL, LONDON, W. C., 11th November, 1868.

DEAR SIR AND R.W. BROTHER, -I am in receipt of your favor of the 20th ult., making enquiries respecting. a Warrant granted in 1784, to a certain

"Prince Hall." I have caused a most diligent search to be made in our books here, and the only reference I can find is in the Calendar for 1785, when a Lodge appears to have been working under the English Constitution, at Boston, under the No., 459, and called the " African Lodge." It afterwards became 370, and, I presume, had ceased working, as at the Union, in 1813, it was removed from the list.

To reply to your questions categorically:

1st. I can find no record in 1775, of any Dispensation; but as the G. L. books were not then kept, as they are now, with accuracy, such may, nevertheless, have existed.

2d. It was struck off the list in 1813, but I can find no trace of any return having been made, and consequently imagine it must have ceased working long before, although retained on the list.

3d. I should say most decidedly, that the said "Prince Hall" was never appointed D.G.M., or had power to grant Warrants for the establishment of Lodges in your country. Henry Price, of Boston, was P.G.M. for America from (1775 to 1804), after which year his name disappears from the lists.

It is quite clear that the Lodge referred to is not working under the English Constitutions, and that the parties holding the Warrant can have no right to it, and are not a regular Lodge, unless empowered to meet under your Constitutions.

I am, dear Sir and Brother, yours, truly and fraternally,

CHARLES W. MOORE, Esq.,

JOHN HERVEY,

Grand Secretary.

Deputy Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.

[Extract from the Report of James Herring, Grand Secretary, to the Grand Lodge of New York, June 2, 1846.]

The undersigned, having requested the R.W. Charles W. Moore, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, to endeavor to see the Charter of the so-called African Lodge, of Boston, and, if possible, obtain a copy thereof, begs leave to incorporate the following extract from Br. Moore's letter, dated July 26, 1845:

"I called, agreeably to your request, on Mr. Hilton-who, I believe, is the Master of the African Lodge, in this city-stated to him the object of my visit, and asked permission to see the Charter of his Lodge. He informed me that there was a difficulty between his and Boyer Lodge, of long standing; that they had nothing to do with that Lodge, nor would they have, until the difference referred to was settled. He further stated, that they were entirely independent of the white Lodges; asked no favors of them; and would have nothing to do with them; nor would they admit a white Mason, if he should present himself as a visitor. In the course of his conversation, he distinctly said, that he had been told by them people' (meaning Boyer Lodge) to have no communication with anybody on the subject of their recognition by the Grand Lodge of New York. He also positively and repeatedly refused

« AnteriorContinuar »