Prince Hall Freemasonry
Prince Hall Freemasonry is the oldest and largest (300,000+ initiated members) predominantly African-American fraternity in the United States.Before the American Revolutionary War, Prince Hall and fourteen other free black men petitioned for admission to the white Boston St. John's Lodge.[4]: 74 The Masonic fraternity was attractive to some free blacks such as Prince Hall because freemasonry was founded upon ideals of liberty, equality, and peace.Other African Americans included Cyrus Johnston, Bueston Slinger, Prince Rees, John Canton, Peter Freeman, Benjamin Tiler, Duff Ruform, Thomas Santerson, Prince Rayden, Cato Speain, Boston Smith, Peter Best, Forten Horward, and Richard Titley, all of whom were free by birth.[7] After the United States gained independence, when men wished to become Masons in the new nation the existing members of the Lodge had to vote unanimously to accept the petitioner.[4]: 74 [16] This led to a tradition of separate, predominantly African-American jurisdictions in North America, known collectively as Prince Hall Freemasonry.Widespread racial segregation in North America made it impossible for African Americans to join many predominantly white lodges.In the period after the Civil War, former Confederate general Albert Pike wrote to his brother in 1875, "I am not inclined to mettle in the matter."Recognition" does not mean full integration, but it does mean that members of the two kinds of Masonry can visit each others' Lodges and engage in Masonic discourse freely.In June 1975, senior members met at the New York Sheraton Hotel to commence discussion of the possible formation of an independent Caribbean Grand Lodge.Following many years of discussion, the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the Caribbean and Jurisdiction was finally inaugurated on 24 April 1993.As a Georgia Mason noted, the original local lodge rules written by Prince Hall and his followers in the late 18th century were the first set of regulations drafted by colored men for self-government in the United States, and Masonry ever since has striven to teach its members 'the fundamentals of central government' which is the basis of American life.[29][30] While African-Americans can join any lodge in North America, Prince Hall Masonry remains a vital part of American tradition.
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