Past Masters of Felix Lodge No 3.

1846 <><> 1996

Richard H. Phisk
1847-50

Annanias Herbert
1851-52

Charles Hunt
1853-54

William Tunnia
1855

Charles C.C. Johnson
1856

George S. White 1857-58

William A.Thomas
1859

Andrew B. Tinney
1860

William A. Brown
1861

Isaac Clark
1862

George W. Brooks
1863

Albert Brooks
1864

William H. Myers
1865-66

Charles Hunt
1867

John E. Lemons
1868

T.W. Perry Ryder
1869

William Edinburg
1870

William F. Lee
1871

Charles W. Proctor
1872-73

John F.N. Wilkinson
1874

John B. Washington
1875

John H. Hawkins
1876-77

Clifton Addison
1878

J. W. Bennett

1879

William H. Severson
1880

Samuel
H. West 1881

William Thompson
1882

Sydney A. Sumbey
1883-84

John L. Hickman
1885

John H. Brooks
1886

Louis H. Wayne
1887-90

George R. Burrell
1891-92

Richard H. Beverly
1893-95

George S. Newman
1896 -97

John Lewis
1898

Frank Hall
1899

Paul R. Stewart
1900

Alfred Moten
1901

William H. Underwood
1902

John C. Payne
1903

Owen E. McNeil
1904

Algernon L. Cornish
1905

Arnold Greene
1906

George S. Newman
1907

Algernon L. Cornish
1908

Eugene R. James
1909

Charles H. Wright
1910

George W. Felton
1911

William E. Entzminger
1912

Cornelius A. King
1913

Richard H. Blunt
1914-15

Nelson Harvey
1916

Albeit Hawkins
1917

Lemuel Henson
1918

L.F. Morton
1919

Wayman Whiting
1920-21

John H. Dorsey
1922

Isreal Freeman
1923

James T.C. Diggs
1924

William A. Becker
1925

Frederick 0. Carlton
1926-27

Ellsworth F. Diggs
1928

Robert B. Sayles
1929

Charles W. Blakey
1930

Frank W. Martin
1931

James E. Thomas
1932

Isaac Waters
1933

Wainwright Jenkins
1934

James P. Dunniston
1935

James E. Twine
1936

James C. Ridley
1937

Thomas E. Cox
1938

Hebert M. Pugsley
1939-40

Birdell C. Whitfield
1941

James C. Twine
1942

Julian F. Browne
1943

Saunders E. Fuell
1944

J. Bailey Jones
1945

Charlie Scott
1946

David P. Crosby
1947

James C. Newton
1948

Willie Scott
1949

Reginald Casey
1950

Charles F. Brooks
1951

Alonzo Tyler
1952

Frank Gordon
1953

Charles H. Taylor
1954

Vernon H. Ricks, Sr.
1955

James M. Moore
1956

Eddie M. Edwards
1957

Robert H. Campbell
1958

Burkley Newton
1959

Augustus Finley, Jr.
1960

Leroy W. Crummer
1961

Robert L. Coley
1962

James E. Cotton
1963

James E. Taybron
1964

Woodrow W. King
1965

Richard C. Watts
1966

Matthew Bumphus
1967

Armstead A. Lovelace
1968

Ozell Moses
1969

Arthur C. Lilly
1970

James E.C. Scott
1971

Calvin W. Thomas
1972

Charles W. Sharpe, Sr.
1973

William L. Davis
1974

Freddie L. Johnson
1975

Edward C. Booker
1976

Elbert M. Norton, Jr.
1977

Ulysses Barnes
1978

Keneth P. Reeder
1979

Albert W. Montgomery
1980

William R. Monroe
1981

Alexander M. Cotton
1982

George T. Smith
1983

William D. Thompson
1984

Ronald C. Williams, Sr. .
1985

Joseph D. Reese
1986

Edmond Morgan
1987

Byrd W. Walker
1988

Charles W. Sharpe, Jr.
1989

Ramon L. Baylor
1990

CIyde E. Howard, Jr.
1991

John A. Whitlow
1992

Robert A.0. Foster
1993

Charles E. Young, Sr.
1994

Ralph J. Chittams, Sr
1995

James E. Clark
1996

THE PRINCE OF BLACK FREEMASONRY

By PM Charles W. Sharpe

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Presented at the 13th Annual Masonic Education Seminar

Felix Lodge No. 3, F&AM, PHA,

Allen Chapel AME Church, Washington, D. C.

June 25, 1994

American patriot, biblical student, abolitionist, educator and craftsman, Prince Hall was founder and first Grand Master of black Freemasonry. He was the first of a long line of revered black political and social organizers to have a lasting impact on American society and its history".

Prince Hall was born September 14, 1735, and lived until December 4, 1807. Surprisingly, other supporting documentation or evidence of proof about the personal life of this remarkable man is sketchy. Even Past Grand Master William H. Grimshaw's account of Hall's parentage, place of birth and other personal history has now been discounted as being more imaginary than factual.

It is probable that Prince Hall was reared somewhere within the British Empire and migrated to America. His reference to "home" in a letter to the Countess of Huntington and his friendship with other British nobility would suggest he has strong roots among the English upperclass. Yet some Masonic historians disagree, insisting he was a slave as evidenced by a manumission paper filed for a "Prince Hall" by slave owner William Hall on April 9, 1770, one month after the first shot of the American Revolution killed Michael Johnson whom we now known as Crispus Attucks.

Fortunately, The Masonic credentials of Prince Hall and the regularity of the black Masonic Lodges which affiliated themselves by his name are beyond dispute. On March 6, 1775, over a year before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Prince Hall and 14 other free black men were made Master Masons in Army Lodge No.441 by Worshipful Master John Batt working under the authority and the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Ireland. When the British Regiments left Boston on March 17, 1776, a Dispensation was issued by Batt authorizing Prince Hall and his brethren to meet as a Lodge under restrictions. Under this permit, African Lodge No. 1 was formed July 3, 1776.

Official acknowledgement of the legitimacy of African Lodge No.1 was almost immediately made by John Rowe of Boston, a caucasian and provincial Grand Master for North America holding authority from the premier Grand Lodge of Freemasons, the Grand Lodge of England. He, too, issued a permit authorizing African Lodge No. 1 to appear publicly in procession as a Masonic body for the purpose of celebrating the Feast of Saints John and to bury its dead.

For nine years these brethren, with other free black men who had received their degrees in Europe, assembled together and enjoyed their limited privileges as Masons, distressed that Prince Hall's attempts to formally associate African Lodge with Caucasian (Provincial) Grand Lodges were frustrated by bigotry and racism. It was an ironic period in American history when colonists embraced the doctrine of independence, liberty, and equality to justify the revolt against English rule while promoting and condoning the economic and social exploitation of blacks debased by slavery.

Finally, in March, 1784, Prince Hall petitioned the Grand Lodge of England through Worshipful Master William Moody of Brotherly Love Lodge No. 55 (London, England) for a Warrant of Constitution. The Charter was prepared and issued on September 29, 1784, although it would be three years before African Lodge actually received it.

A letter was sent by Moddy to Hall on March 10, 1787, stating the Charter was delivered to James Scott, Captain of the ship, Neptune, and brother-in-law of John Hancock. Hancock was a signer and President of the Continental Congress. The Charter, signed by Deputy Grand Master Roland Holt and Witnessed by Grand Secretary William White, reconstituted African Lodge No. 1 as African Lodge No 459 and thus began the parallel lines of Negro and Caucasian Freemasonry which exists in America to this day.

Before 1815, exclusive territorial jurisdiction was not an active and recognized doctrine of English Masonic Custom. The African Lodge of Boston exercised its right to establish other Lodges, making itself a Mother Lodge, its Master Prince having the authority to issue warrants on the same basis as Masters of Lodges in Europe!

African Lodges were constituted in Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and New York. On June 24, 1791, the African Grand Lodge of North America was organized in Boston with Prince Hall as Grand Master. This was one year before the organization of the United Grand Lodge of Massachusetts (Caucasian). In 1827, 45 years after the (caucasian) Grand Lodge of Massachusetts had done so, African Lodge of Boston declared itself independent of the Grand Lodge of England.

The original charter of African Lodge of Boston is in the possession of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and is the only known original 18th Century Charter in existence issued to any American Lodge by the Grand Lodge of England. It proudly represents the indisputable legitimacy and regularity of Prince Hall Grand Lodges and their subordinate and affiliated bodies.

In 1869 a fire destroyed Massachussets' Grand Lodge headquarters and a number of its priceless records. The Charter, in its metal tube, was in a Grand Lodge chest. The tube saved the Charter from the flames but the intense heat charred the paper. It was at this time that Grand Master S.T. Kendall crawled into the burning building and, in peril of his life, saved the Charter from complete destruction. Thus a Grand Master's devotion and heroism further consecrated this parchment to us, and added a further detail to its history.

During 1847, in memory of Prince Hall, the descendent Grand Lodges of African Grand Lodge changed their names to Prince Hall Grand Lodge. Today, throughout the world, there are 44 Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodges, some 5000 subordinate Lodges and more than 300,000 Prince Hall Masons.

Proclamation of the Grand Master

Whereas, Felix Lodge No. 3 was duly constituted by the Hiram Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania on the 4th Day of April, 1846 Anno Domino, 5846 Anno Luces; and

Whereas, Felix Lodge No. 3 is the second oldest Lodge in the Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia; and

Whereas, five members of Felix Lodge No. 3 joined with brothers rom Social Lodge No. 7 and Universal Lodge No. 10 to establish the Union Grand Lodge, now the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Gand Lodge of the District of Columbia; and

Whereas, eight members of Felix Lodge No. 3 have been duly elected and installed as Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia; and

Whereas, many of our worthy and well-beloved brothers of Felix Lodge No. 3 have served and continue to serve in the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia;

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the year 1996, Anno Domino, 5996 Anno Luces, be proclaimed the Sesquicentennial of Felix Lodge No. 3, and as Most Worshipful Grand Master, I strongly urge all members of this Grand Lodge, elected and appointed, to honor the observance and to lend their unstinting support to the anniversary programs of the Lodge.

Done at my hand this 13th Day of December 1995, Anno Luces 5995

_________________________ Emory M. Levant, Grand Master __________________________ Attest: William Burnett, Grand Secretary

News

Felix Lodge No. 3, F&AM, PHA

5015 Glassmanor Drive Oxon Hill, MD 20745

CONTACT: Chuck Sharpe 301\772-8113

Felix Lodge Observing its 150th Anniversary Throughout 1996

Felix Lodge No. 3, the second oldest Prince Hall Masonic Lodge in the Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia, is observing the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of its founding. The Lodge, chartered on April 4,1846, by the Hiram Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, officially celebrated its 150th Anniversary on April 26-28, 1996. The observance will last through this year.

Felix got its name from R.W.l Felix Dorsey, a deputy Grand Master of the Hiram Grand Lodge. Dorsey was instrumental in helping to get Masonry underway in the District of Columbia for blacks. Following his groundwork, the Lodge was constituted by Daniel Smith and William H. Bruce, both members of Universal Lodge No. 10 of Alexandria, Va, who were deputized by the Pennsylvania Grand Lodge to perform that duty.

The initial officers, appointed by the Grand Master of the Hiram Grand Lodge, were Augustus B. Costin, Worshipful Master; John Massia, Senior Warden; and John H. Williams, Junior Warden. Other charter members included John T. Costin, Richard H. Phisk, Annanias Herbert, John C. Thomas, Leonidais Scott, Benjamin Newton, Abraham Powell, William Briscoe and Issac Fleetwood.

The first meetings were held in the loft of a stable owned by Benjamin B. French, a white Mason who granted his permission to Bro. Fleetwood, his coachman, for the meetings. Bro. French later became Grand Master of his Jurisdiction.

Subsequent meeting places included Brother Scott's carpenter shop on 5th Street, SE; Jackson Hall, on E Street between 13th and 14th Streets, N.W; the site of the present District Building; the Union Building on 7th Street near D Street, NW; and at 5th and Virginia Avenue, S.E. At that time the Lodge had some 47 members known as the Faithful Few. Monthly dues was 50 cents, and rent on the Virginia Avenue site was $6.00 per month. The Lodge moved to the present Masonic Temple at 10th and U Streets, N.W. in 1922.

From the beginning, Felix was one of the premier Lodges in this Jurisdiction and has produced 10 Grand Masters. Its members were among the most prominent citizens of the city. George W. Brooks, who served as Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1878, was the first black doctor licensed to practice medicine in the District of Columbia. Felix conducted the first black Masonic funeral in the city in 1849 at the Israel A. M. E. Church, where many of its members worshiped. Felix members also participated in ceremonies marking the opening of Union Station on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1907.

Being black Masons in those early days were not easy. In fact, many of our first Brothers were intimidated and on at least three recorded occasions members were arrested for holding Masonic meetings. In one instance four members were fined $6.60. In other instances the fines were remitted. On another occasion the Auxiliary Guard raided a meeting in the Union Building and all but one member was arrested. That member escaped by hiding in a box being used as an Altar.

The Sesquicentennial Committee outlined a comprehensive plan for the observance of the Lodge's anniversary. The program is scheduled to last throughout 1996, but was highlighted by activities which took place on the weekend of April 26-28, 1996. That weekend featured a Sesquicentennial Banquet at Martin's Crosswinds, Greenbelt, MD, on Friday, April 26, with Grand Master Lionell Spruill, Jurisdiction of Virginia, as the guest speaker. A Sesquicentennial Ball held on Saturday, April 27, and a Sesquicentennial Anniversary and Divine Service held at the Metropolitan AME Church on Sunday, April 28.

The banquet was the benchmark of the three-day observance with invitations going to Masonic guests across the nation. Invited guests also included major political, business, and civil leader including the Congressional Black Caucus, and members of the private sector.

The weekend also featured a special forum on The Future of Prince Hall Masonry: Where Do we Go From Here! The forum was conducted under the auspices of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia. It was opened to the public and attracted attendees from lodges in this and four other jurisdictions.

The Forum covered such subjects as recognition between Prince Hall and other Grand Lodges, relations with non-Prince Hall or clandestine Masons, reaching out to the youth of the community in order to strengthen membership rolls in the future, reviewing relationships with churches and ministers, approaches to combating general anti-Masonic feelings, etc.

A major thrust of the 150th birthday observance will be the compilation of an up-to-date history. The Committee has begun to collect items from members, widows, and other friends that tell the Felix Story. Toward that end the Committee has adopted a broad spectrum of ideas to raise funds including the formation of a Sesquicentennial Club. Felix members and honorary members were asked to join the Club by making a contribution of $150.00, a dollar for each year of the Lodge's existence. Club members received a certificate and a medallion especially designed and struck for this observance. The Committee continues to offer an array of other items such as mugs, caps, tee shirts, jackets, etc. for sale.

Committee members say that the anniversary observance compliments the long and treasured tradition of Felix excellence in this jurisdiction. The Lodge, Committee members add, is seeking the support of Masons across the nation as it approaches a major landmark in the annals of Prince Hall Freemasonry.

Sesquicentennial Committee members include PM Edmond Morgan, chairman, Awards and Citations; PM Robert L. Coley, advisor to the Committee and chairman, the Budget Committee; PM Clyde Howard, chairman, Corporate Sponsorship, PM Keneth Reeder, chairman, Fund Raising; PM Byrd W. Walker, Jr., chairman, Jurisdictional Relations; PM Alexander M. Cotton, chairman, the Program Committee; and Bro. Alvin Mickens, chairman of the Time and Place Committee. Bro. James Wallace serves as the Committee's official recorder, and PM Charles W. Sharpe, Sr. serves as the general chairman.

Bulletin Sent by UGLE

1. Annex A states the Board's view of Regularity and recognition.

2. Annex B is a short history of Prince Hall Masonry.

Comments of Prince Hall Masonry

3. By the standard of today, the formation of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was irregular. In the 18th Century, however, three Grand Lodges in North America were formed by not three but two Lodges, and the Grand Lodge of New Jersey was formed simply by a Grand convention of Masons. By standards then prevailing the formation of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts could have been seen as merely eccentric, and of acceptable regularity.

4. Notwithstanding the unusual transformation of its original Lodge into a Grand Lodge, the philosophy and practice of Prince Hall Masonry today are of exemplary regularity. Recognition of or other relation with Prince Hall Grand Lodges.

5. Some Grand Lodges in North America have recognized Prince Hall Grand Lodges, and others allow inter-visitation between their Brethren and Brethren of Prince Hall Grand Lodges in their territory. Both sorts are dealing with what the Board sees as irregularly-formed bodies. Grand Lodge's initial reaction was to stop the Brethren of the English Constitution visiting Lodges in the affected jurisdictions.

6. In 1988 the Board was unable to support an application from the Grand Master of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, seeking recognition for his Grand Lodge [and in ultimate effect on behalf of some 300,000 Prince Hall Masons in jurisdictions descended from his].

7. The Board has been reconsidering the application for over three years, and it believes that the proper course is no to ignore the unusual formation of the African Grand Lodge and to recommend instead the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts should be deemed to be and accepted as regular, and recognized. This is not intended to a general precedent, but the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, which was the African Grand Lodge's forerunner, may also merit special consideration.

8. If the problem of regularity were to be solved in this way, the State Grand Lodge of Massachusetts would have no objection to the United Grand Lodge of England recognizing the Prince Hall Grand, both Massachusetts Grand Lodges have sovereign jurisdiction over the Brethren and Lodges of their Constitution in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Recognition of other Prince Hall Grand Lodges descended from African Lodge might follow similar lines.

9. The Board recommends that the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts be recognized.

10. An appropriate resolution will be moved, and appears at Item of the paper of business.

11. The administrations of the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland have been kept informed of the Board's deliberations. They agree in principle that the Price Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts should be recognized and are aware of what might follow.

Introduction

1. The regularity and recognition of Grand Lodges are separate but allied subjects. Unless a Grand Lodge is regular, it cannot be recognized. Unless a Grand Lodge is recognized, its Brethren cannot [or should not] be met as Freemasons by Brethren of regular and recognized Grand Lodges.

Basic Principles

2. The "Basic Principles for Grand Lodge Recognition" were adopted by Grand Lodge in 1929. This was a codification, and not a statement of new principles. It summarized the test which the United Grand Lodge of England had applied and would apply in recognizing regular Grand Lodges throughout the World. Eight principles are set out in the Book of Constitutions, and restated in Grand Lodge's leaflet "Freemasonry's External Relations." To be eligible for the recognition, a Grand Lodge must:

a. be regular in its origin [see paragraph 3 below]
b. be truly independent and self-governing [see paragraph 4 below]
c. adhere to landmarks' [a landmark is an essential charateristic of Regular Freemasonry], viz:

[i] its Brethren must believe in a Supreme Being [the GAOTU];
[ii] Obligations must be taken on or in full view of the VLS;

[iii] it must display the three Great Lights of Freemasonry when it or its Lodges are open;
[iv] discussion of religion and politics in its Lodges must be prohibited, and;
[v] its membership must be male, and it must have nothing to do with mixed or women's Lodges.

Regularity of Origin

3. The original Grand Lodges [England, Ireland and Scotland] were formed by private Lodges which had formed themselves - Time Immemorial Loges, in English parlance. In the 18th Century, three State Grand Lodges in the United States of America were formed by two Lodges, and one was form by a Grand Convention of Masons. Subsequent Grand Lodges follow the modern rule in paragraph 4.

4. A Grand Lodge must have been established by:

a. a recognized Grand Lodge, or b. three [nowadays] or more regularly constituted private Lodges, ie. , Lodges formed in accordance with the rules and customs of the regular Grand Lodge.

Independence

5. A Grand Lodge must have undisputed authority over Craft [or basic] Freemasonry within its jurisdiction, and not be subject in any way to or share power with any other Masonic body.

6. This principle is expressed overseas as exclusive territorial jurisdiction, but has recently been qualified as being "subject to exceptions." This qualification means that the principle is not violated if Grand Lodges agree to share territory while retaining authority over Brethren under their jurisdiction [eg, our recognition of four Grand Lodges in Colombia; the acceptance of the Grand Lodges of New Zealand and South Africa [etc.] of Lodges under the UGLE [etc.] in their territory, and the fact that Lodges under the Grand Lode of the Sate of Washington work in the territory of the Grand Lodge of Alaska]. Agreement by on Grand Lodge to share its territory with another does imply licence for other Grand Lodges to insert Lodges into the territory of the first Grand Lodge.

7. England's view, of jurisdiction over the Brethren in its constitution regardless of where their Lodges meet, has the merit of simplicity, and is compatible with the territorial view described above. In practice, England does not ignore territorial sovereignty when it considers recognition.

Recognition

8. Recognition is a series of bi-lateral relationships between Grand Lodges. If a Grand Lodge seeks recognition for England, and in due course is recognized, the mutual recognition between it and England cannot bind a third Grand Lodge.

9. England's recent policy on recognition has been described as needing to be convinced that should be granted, rather than noting a an absence of reasons with should not.

Relations with Brethren of other Grand Lodges

10 Visitors and visiting R. 125 of the Book of Constitutions requires Masters of our Lodges to ensure that visitors are from Grand Lodges recognized by the UGLE. This requirement is the subject of an annually repeated article in "Information for the Guidance of Members of the Craft" [1991 Edition, p.6]. The corollary is the annual notice on "Attendance at Lodges overseas" [Ib. P.5], which should be printed one a year in every Lodge's summons and which includes advice to withdraw for accidental contact with Brethren from unrecognized Grand Lodges. [Note: This is to avoid potentially difficult and unharmonious situations, and is not an attempt to impose any particular view of Grand Lodges overseas.]

1. On 29 September 1784 a warrant was granted by the premier Grand Lodge of England to 15 men in Boston, Massachusetts [including Bro. Hall, whose first name was Prince] forming them into African Lodge No. 459 on the English Register.

2. African Lodge contributed to the Charity Fund until 1797 and was in correspondence with the Grand Secretary until the early 19th Century. Grand Lodge's letter books for this period are, however incomplete and it is not impossible that correspondence on both sides may have seemed to have been ignored. After 1802, largely due to effect on transportation to and communications with North America of the Napoleonic War, contact was lost.

3. In 1797 African Lodge, contrary to the terms of its Warrant and the English Book of Constitutions by which it was bound, gave authority to two groups of men to meet as Lodges: African Lodge No. 459B to meet in Philadelphia and Hiram Lodge [without a number] to meet at Providence Rhode Island. Authority may have been given to others after 1808.

4. As the amalgamation of the two Registers after the Union of the two Grand Lodges in England in 1813, African Lodge [and many others at home and abroad] was omitted from the register, there having been no contact for many years. African Lodge was however, not formally erased.

5. What is now the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was formed in 1815.

6. In 1827, having been refused acknowledgment by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, African Lodge declared itself to be an independent Grand Lodge, the African Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. African Lodge was then [or later] disbanded.

7. In the 1830's and 1840's the new Grand Lodge and other Lodges which it had formed made various unsuccessful attempts to form a National African Grand Lodge. The style "Prince Hall Grand Lodge" became current in the 1840's, Prince Hall Grand Lodges were formed and survive in most of the United States of America. Some Lodges work overseas, especially in the West Indies.

8. All Prince Hall Grand Lodges are descended from what is now the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.

RESOLUTION FOR GRAND LODGE

The Grand Registrar to move that, notwithstanding its unusual formation, the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts should now be accepted as regular and recognized.

THE BOSTON GLOBE
TUESDAY, JUNE 11
'This is a historic event. It is a positive step toward racial harmony. Times are changing." Edgar E. McLean, Prince Hall Grand Master

In March 1775, Prince Hall, a native of Barbados working in Boston as a leather dresser, was turned down for membership in a Masonic lodge run by fellow Colonialists.

A maverick, Hall joined the Masonic lodge of an Irish regiment posted at the fort on Castle Island. But when war came, he decided it was time to found his own lodge, the first for black Masons in America.

Over the years, the Prince Hall Lodge has spun off 45 grand lodges and 5,000 subordinate lodges. Today, some 350,000 blacks worldwide are the Masonic descendants of Boston's Prince Hall.

But while black masonry flourished, it was not given full recognition by the Grand Lodge in England - an apparent vestige of racism, according to members. Until now .

Tomorrow in London, an 18-mernber delegation from the Rorchester-based Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts will receive formal recognition from the Grand Lodge of England.

"This is a historic event," Edgar R. McLean, Prince Hall's 61st Grand Master, said in an interview last night before leaving for England. "It is a positive step toward racial harmony. Times are changing."

The Grand Lodge of England had chartered the Prince Hall Lodge in 1784, but withheld recognition - meaning that it could operate as a Masonic lodge but its members could not fraternize with those of white lodges.

ln 1994, the Grand Lodge of England finally accepted a petition for recognition by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. They arranged to formalize their ties this week.

"This is long overdue," said member James Waller. "Recognition gives us legitimacy," said John Bynoe, a 12-year member. "The door is now open for the 44 other Prince Hall Grand Lodges to apply for recognition."

Masonic lodges are organized into grand and subordinate lodges. In its 212 years, the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts has spawned 44 other grand lodges all over the world. These grand lodges may now apply for recognition.

The subordinate lodges receive recognition once their grand lodges are recognized. With recognition, black and white lodges now plan to attend meetings and social events together. And they can cooperate in charitable programs ranging from sponsorship of youth athletic leagues to alcohol counseling to ministering to the needy.

'We can truly be a brotherhood," one member said.

Prince Hall Lodge members said they prefer not to dwell on the forces that withheld recognition for nearly two centuries.

"England cited several reasons recognition had been withheld," Nicholas B. Locker, Grand Master of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge, 1992-1994, said in an interview last week. "One was territorial boundaries," because the Grand Lodge of England had already recognized the white Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, which shared the same Jurisdiction with us.

"Another factor was that Prince Hall owed back payment of dues to the Grand Lodge. Back 200 years ago, there were no checks, and often dues for England were put in the hands of sailing ship captains. It was several months before the ships arrived in England, and money was lost. So, it wasn't possible to say for sure that Prince Hall paid his dues."

Hall scaled barriers wherever he encountered them. He pressed John Hancock to be allowed to join the Continental Army and was one of a few blacks who fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He later became a Methodist minister in Cambridge and fought for the abolition of slavery.

Hall's legacy is honored among the lodge's members today, from one of its youngest, David R. Phillips, 47, a third-generation Mason, to its oldest, Joseph T. Isles, 97.

Last year, the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts recognized the Prince Hall Grand Lodge. The Grand Lodge had first extended recognition to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge in 1946, but withdrew it that same year.

Locker recalled his surprise when learning that the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts would receive recognition. "All I expected at the time was to open the door for some future generations," he said. "I realized that I was only talking for our lodge but that I had the fate of over 300,000 Prince Hall Masons in the palm of my hand.

There were quite a few demands that were made but we worked them out."

• Who is a Prince Hall Mason
• Prince Hall "Our Founder"
• Gregory Hunt - The Internet Connection
• Joe Abron - California
• Candido Caraballo - New York
• Tyronne Jackson - Illinois
• Mark Jordan - Alabama
• Dewayne Scott - Alabama
• James Young II - Michigan
• Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Indiana
• Brothers and Sisters in Light, Ms. Valley State
• Landmark Recogntion - St. Louis, Mo.

THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON

April 12, 1996

Greetings to all those gathered to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Felix Lodge 3, F. & A.M.

Our nation's strength always has depended on the unselfish acts of generosity and community action of our citizens. Over the years, the members of your organization have devoted themselves to caring for the needs of others. You are making your own contribution to the spirit of service that is such an integral part of the American character.

The members of your Lodge can take great pride in their dedication over the past 150 years. I commend you for your hard work on behalf of the people of your community. You are helping to create a brighter future for all of us.

Best wishes for a memorable event.
\s\

Bill Clinton

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