I’ve noticed over the years that a lot of UGLE Masons aren’t very familiar with Prince Hall Freemasonry. Some even think it’s a separate group formed around race or politics, but that’s really not the story.

The truth is, Prince Hall Masonry has deep roots with the Grand Lodge of England. In fact, the original charter for African Lodge No. 459 came directly from UGLE in 1784. It wasn’t about separation, it was about exclusion. They weren’t allowed into existing lodges in the U.S., so they went to the source. And UGLE said yes.

I put together this paper to help shed some light on that history. It’s called “Am I Not Also Your Brother?” and it’s written for Masons like us who care about where our Craft comes from and who we call brothers.

Would love for you to read it and share thoughts. Document is also attached.

Am I Not Also Your Brother?

-        By William Gilchrist (Sir Stamford Raffles Lodge #7444 E.C.)

Introduction

Prince Hall Freemasonry, often regarded as the historically African-American branch of Masonry in North America, shares far more in common with mainstream Masonic tradition than is often realized. Its very origins are directly intertwined with the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) – the original Grand Lodge of the world. Prince Hall Masonry did not emerge in opposition to established Freemasonry; it was created out of necessity when African Americans were systematically denied access to colonial American lodges. This paper seeks to highlight that Prince Hall Masonry is not a product of separation by choice, but of exclusion by circumstance. Recognizing its lineage and shared principles with UGLE offers an opportunity to strengthen fraternal bonds and correct misunderstandings within the Craft.

Roots in Regular Freemasonry

In the 1770s, Prince Hall and fourteen other free Black men living in Boston sought to join St. John’s Lodge, a colonial American lodge. Their petition was rejected solely on account of race. Undeterred, they were initiated on March 6, 1775, by a British military lodge attached to the 38th Regiment of Foot, under the Irish Registry. This initiation made them Masons, but only provisionally. The military lodge granted them limited authority to meet for funerals and processions but not to initiate new members. Understanding the need for a fully chartered lodge, Hall petitioned the Grand Lodge of England. On September 29, 1784, the Grand Lodge granted a charter to African Lodge No. 459. This was not symbolic; it was a regular charter, the same as granted to any lodge under English authority. The warrant was signed by the Grand Master, the Duke of Cumberland, establishing African Lodge as a fully regular Masonic lodge.

A Lodge Formed by Necessity, Not Division

The establishment of African Lodge No. 459 was a direct response to the racial exclusion of the time. Prince Hall and his brethren did not seek to create a separate path. They attempted to join existing colonial lodges and were denied. The formation of their own lodge, therefore, was not rebellion. It was survival. As early as the 1790s, some white Masons openly acknowledged this injustice. Brother John Eliot observed that Black Masons were denied recognition even though they were 'not more skilled in geometry than their black brethren.' Prince Hall's lodge continued to function under the authority of its English charter while white lodges in the U.S. began forming their own Grand Lodges, largely ignoring or refusing recognition to African Lodge.

Legitimacy of Origin

The 1784 charter from the Grand Lodge of England is the cornerstone of Prince Hall Masonry's legitimacy. This document placed African Lodge No. 459 on equal footing with other English-chartered lodges. By the customs of the time, this made the lodge regular and its members legitimate Masons. Even Albert Pike, a notable and often controversial figure in American Masonry, admitted the legitimacy of African Lodge, stating it had 'a perfect right to establish other lodges and make itself a Mother Lodge.' Through this charter, Prince Hall Masonry expanded across the country, practicing the same rituals and holding the same values as other Masonic bodies. The foundation was not different. The conditions in which it operated were.

Shared Practices, Shared Values

Prince Hall lodges use the same degrees, the same working tools, the same allegories. They adhere to the landmarks of Freemasonry and maintain the same obligations. A Master Mason raised in a Prince Hall lodge is taught the same tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth as one raised in a UGLE lodge. Despite this, Prince Hall Masons were not recognized for most of American history. This was not due to irregularity but to institutional prejudice. Over time, that wall has begun to fall. Starting in 1989, Grand Lodges across the U.S. began extending mutual recognition to Prince Hall Grand Lodges. Today, nearly all U.S. jurisdictions have established formal recognition.

Recognition from the UGLE

In 1994, the United Grand Lodge of England took an important step. It officially recognized the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, affirming that it practices regular Masonry and shares the same Masonic landmarks. This recognition extends to any Prince Hall Grand Lodge in amity with a recognized U.S. Grand Lodge. In doing so, UGLE affirmed what had always been true: Prince Hall Masons are Masons.

Conclusion

The question raised by Prince Hall nearly 250 years ago still resonates: 'Am I not also your brother?' The answer, affirmed by the Grand Lodge of England and by an increasing number of jurisdictions worldwide, must be yes. Prince Hall Masonry did not form out of rivalry. It formed because men who were worthy and well-qualified were excluded by custom, not by Masonic principle. Their response was to seek legitimacy through the proper channels, and they received it from the highest Masonic authority of the time. It is time that more Masons, particularly those under UGLE, understand this history. Not to assign blame, but to recognize that our brothers in Prince Hall lodges are not distant relatives in the Craft. They are, in every sense, our equals. Their story is our story. Their legitimacy is shared. And their brotherhood is offered. May we always answer it in kind.

Sources

1. “A Brief History of Prince Hall Freemasonry.” Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://scottishritenmj.org/blog/prince-hall-freemasonry.

2. “Prince Hall Masons.” Searchable Museum (Smithsonian Institution). Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.searchablemuseum.com/prince-hall-masons.

3. United Grand Lodge of England. “Foreign Grand Lodges.” Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.ugle.org.uk/about-us/foreign-grand-lodges.

4. Williams, John B. “Recognition of Prince Hall Grand Lodges in America.” The Phylaxis Society. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.thephylaxis.org/williams/recognition.php.

5. “Prince Hall Freemasonry: A Resource Guide.” Library of Congress. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://guides.loc.gov/prince-hall-freemasonry.

6. “A Brief History of Prince Hall Freemasonry in Massachusetts.” Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://princehall.org/prince-hall-freemasonry/.

7. “The African-American Connection.” Museum of Freemasonry (London). Accessed April 3, 2025. https://museumfreemasonry.org.uk/blog/african-american-connection.

8. “Prince Hall Freemasonry – Origins and Legacy.” 1723Constitutions.com. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.1723constitutions.com/north-america/prince-hall-freemasonry/.

9. “The Secret History of Prince Hall Freemasonry.” American Heritage. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.americanheritage.com/secret-history-prince-hall-freemasonry.

10. “Prince Hall Freemasonry.” Wikipedia. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Hall_Freemasonry.