On Memorial Day, a poignant tribute took place as dozens of men of color, adorned in tuxedos, jeweled collars, and white aprons, paraded through Copp’s Hill Cemetery in Boston’s North End.
The march culminated at the notable monument dedicated to Prince Hall, a broken black column that stands as a testament to the legacy of the man who founded the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts 250 years ago.
Justin Petty, the current grand master of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge, emphasized Hall’s significant role in using Freemasonry as a means to uplift the Black community.
“He used Freemasonry as a tool or a vehicle to advance people of color and advance the community that he was living in at the time,” Petty stated.
Hall’s foundation of Prince Hall Freemasonry marked the establishment of a vital organization with deep historical roots in Boston, which has expanded globally to 300,000 members and nearly 5,000 lodges.
Born into slavery, Hall gained his freedom and became a successful leather craftsman.
In March 1775, he initiated the branch of Freemasonry after being made a Mason under a British military lodge, a move designed to secure political and financial opportunities for himself and 14 other men of color.
Louis Elisa, a Master Mason within the Prince Hall Masons, noted that many prominent political figures of the era, including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, were Masons.
“Prince Hall thought, ‘Hey, this might be good for Black people to have that type of access and opportunity,’” Elisa remarked.
Despite racial barriers that initially prevented Black men from joining Freemasonry in colonial America, Hall succeeded in being accepted by a visiting Irish military lodge during the Revolutionary War.
Although this lodge departed after the war, they entrusted Hall with a permit to organize as a lodge, although he was not permitted to induct new members at that time.
It wasn’t until September 1784 that the Grand Lodge of England granted him an official charter, which enabled Hall to establish other Black Masonic lodges in states like Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
As the longest-running Black fraternal organization in the United States, Prince Hall Freemasonry has played an essential role in addressing issues impacting the Black community, including support for the Underground Railroad and local initiatives such as community food donations.
Though its contributions have been vast, the organization often remains unrecognized for its historical significance.
Noelle Trent, the president and CEO of the Museum of African American History, underscored the importance of acknowledging the influence of Prince Hall Masons in American history.
“It’s more than the regalia and the seals and the rings and the mystery,” Trent stated.
She highlighted how the members’ impact throughout history deserves recognition, especially today.
While the achievements of renowned Prince Hall Masons like Thurgood Marshall and W.E.B. Du Bois are well-documented, Hall’s own efforts as an abolitionist and community organizer are less celebrated.
During the Revolutionary War, Hall called upon enslaved men to join the Continental Army to fight for their freedoms, potentially playing a role at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
He repeatedly petitioned the Massachusetts Legislature for the abolition of slavery and even drafted a proposal for a plan to return to Africa, a precursor to the Back-to-Africa movement.
In 1798, he and other affluent Black Bostonians established the African Free School to serve as a public school for Black children, filling the void left by the state’s lack of funding.
Due to these contributions, Hall has been acknowledged as a Founding Father of the United States by cities such as Cambridge and Arlington.
Manuel Pires, special deputy to the grand master, compared Hall’s efforts to those of other founding fathers, asserting that their contributions should be recognized as equally significant.
Despite this, Prince Hall Masons, like their white counterparts, are often viewed through a lens of secrecy, a reputation current members are eager to transform.
Freemasonry, at its core, is about improving oneself and creating a better community, as Petty described it.
Recognizing the need for renewal, younger Masons aspire to expand membership and reframe the organization’s public image.
Ralik John, a 31-year-old Mason from Jamaica Plain, expressed his desire to attract more youth to keep the legacy alive.
“We have to continue to work and show up so people can see it’s not a bunch of old guys with robes,” John said, referencing the need for modernizing the organization’s outreach efforts.
In 2024, John initiated the Tailored Initiative to Express Dedication charity, which assists high-achieving seniors at the Albert Holland School of Technology in acquiring tuxedos for their prom.
The project aims to support local youth while also encouraging younger members to engage with the community and continue the work initiated by Hall.
Petty believes such initiatives help dispel the myths surrounding Freemasonry.
In the previous year, the organization awarded $40,000 in scholarships and plans for a similar effort this summer.
During the pandemic, the Prince Hall temple in Dorchester served as a vaccination and testing site, as well as a food distribution hub for the community.
Petty emphasized that the charity work is more profound than just the ornate regalia.
“We’re part of the community — we’re brothers, sisters, mothers, daughters, fathers, uncles, grandfathers. That’s who we are,” he said.
The historical legacy of Prince Hall Freemasonry, built on the foundations of racial discrimination, has evolved to embrace unity among all Freemasons.
Hall’s 1797 proclamation called for friendship and solidarity across racial lines, stating, “Give the right hand of affection and fellowship to whom it justly belongs; let their colour and complexion be what it will… for they are your brethren.”
In the present day, those divisions have largely been bridged.
Every Memorial Day, the Prince Hall Masons make their way to the Prince Hall Cemetery in Arlington, where Walter Wedlock, a white Freemason, finds common purpose.
Wedlock remarked, “The message is all the same.”
Petty captured the essence of their continued commitment: “It doesn’t matter what the color of your skin is. We have an obligation to take care of each other.”
During the ceremony held at Copp’s Hill Cemetery, Petty reflected on that significant March night 250 years ago when Hall paved the way for future generations of Masonic brothers.
From the seeds Hall sowed, an enduring organization emerged, providing community and structure for men of color during times of adversity.
“Prince Hall Freemasonry stands as a powerful symbol of what perseverance, unity, and faith in Masonic principles can achieve,” Petty asserted, emphasizing its inspirational role for Masons everywhere.
image source from：https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2025-06-11/in-1775-bostons-prince-hall-broke-freemasonrys-racial-barrier-his-global-movement-marches-on
