Prince Hall Original Charter
Know all men by these
presents:
Thus were we greeted by the Grand
Lodge of England, on the 20th day of September A.L. 5784, A.D.
1784; the following said Greeting and warranted 459, granted by
the Grand Lodge of England on petition of Prince Hall, Boston
Smith, Thomas Sanderson, and several other Masons, of Boston,
constituting them into a regular Lodge for Free and Accepted
Masons.
To all and ever our Right
Worshipful and loving Brethren, we, Thomas Hall, Earl of
Effingham, Lord Howard, etc., etc., etc.; acting Grand Master
under the authority of His Royal Highness, Henry Frederice, Duke
of Cumberland, etc., etc., etc., Grand Master of the Most Ancient
and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons, send Greetings:
Know ye, that we, at the humble
petition of our right trust 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 Brethrren into 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 petition hereby appoint the
said Prince Hall to be Master, Boston Smith, Senior Warden, and
Thomas Sanderson, Junior Warden, for the opening of 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 by such by-laws of said Lodge as
shall be consistent with the general laws of the Society,
contained in the Book of Constitution and we hereby will require
you, the said Prince Hall, to take especial care that all and
everyone of 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
the purpose, an account of your proceedings in the Lodge,
together with such rules, orders, and regulations as shall be
made for the good government of the same; that in no wise you
will omit once in every year to send to us, or our successors,
Grand Master, or to to Roland 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 sum of money as may suit the
circumstances of the Lodge, and reasonably be expected toward 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 the hand and seal of Masonry, this 20th day
of September A.L. 5784 A.D. 1784.
By the Grand Master's Command
Witness:Wm. White, G.S.
R. Holt, D.G.M
This is the text of the original charter
Issued to Prince Hall, Etc.,
on September 20, 1874
By Thomas Hall, Earl of Effingham,
Acting Grand Master, The Grand Lodge of England
Charter is Posted Below:
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