What Is Prince Hall Affiliation?
A reference for the meaning of “Prince Hall Affiliated” and “Prince Hall Affiliation,” and for the history of Prince Hall Freemasonry in the United States of America.
Understanding the Term
“Prince Hall Affiliated” is more than a name. It describes lineage, regularity, and a formal relationship among the Grand Lodges that carry the legacy of Prince Hall.
Prince Hall Affiliation
noun | also Prince Hall Affiliated (adjective)- The status of a Masonic Grand Lodge, lodge, or member that traces its lineage to African Lodge No. 459 of Boston, chartered in 1784, and that belongs to the family of Prince Hall Grand Lodges recognized as regular by one another.
- Membership in, or connection to, the body of Prince Hall Grand Lodges represented in the Conference of Grand Masters of Prince Hall Masons, which serves as the common forum on questions of regularity among them.
- Applied to appendant and concordant bodies (for example, Order of the Eastern Star, PHA), the designation indicating that the body works under, and requires membership in, a Prince Hall Affiliated Grand Lodge.
Affiliation and Origin
Two terms are often confused. Both refer to Prince Hall’s legacy, but they describe different relationships.
PHA Prince Hall Affiliated
Grand Lodges that trace their lineage to African Lodge No. 459 and are part of the recognized family of Prince Hall Grand Lodges.
- Represented in the Conference of Grand Masters of Prince Hall Masons
- Generally one Prince Hall Grand Lodge per state or jurisdiction
- Widely recognized by mainstream Grand Lodges in the United States and by the United Grand Lodge of England
PHO Prince Hall Origin
A term used for organizations that also claim descent from African Lodge No. 459 but are not part of the Prince Hall Affiliated family.
- Not affiliated with the Conference of Grand Masters of Prince Hall Masons
- Many operate under a separate national grand lodge structure
- Not generally recognized as regular by PHA or mainstream Grand Lodges
Anyone seeking membership or verifying a lodge should confirm that the lodge holds a charter from its state’s Prince Hall Affiliated Grand Lodge.
Prince Hall Freemasonry in America
Prince Hall was a free Black leader, abolitionist, and community advocate in Boston. The lodge he founded became the root of every Prince Hall Grand Lodge in the United States today.
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1775
Initiation
On March 6, Prince Hall and fourteen other free Black men are initiated by Lodge No. 441, a military lodge under the Grand Lodge of Ireland attached to a British regiment near Boston.
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1776
African Lodge Organized
On July 3, African Lodge is organized under a limited permit, with Prince Hall as Worshipful Master.
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1784
The Charter
On September 29, the Premier Grand Lodge of England issues a charter for African Lodge, later numbered African Lodge No. 459.
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1791
Provincial Grand Master
Prince Hall is named Provincial Grand Master, giving him authority to establish new lodges.
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1797
Expansion
Lodges are organized in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Providence, Rhode Island.
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1807
Passing of Prince Hall
Prince Hall dies on December 4 and is buried at Copp’s Hill Burying Ground in Boston.
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1808
African Grand Lodge
The lodges of Boston, Philadelphia, and Providence join together to form the African Grand Lodge.
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1827
Independence
African Grand Lodge declares its independence and continues as a self governing Grand Lodge.
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1847
The Name Prince Hall
African Grand Lodge takes the name Prince Hall Grand Lodge in honor of its founding Grand Master. Prince Hall Grand Lodges spread across the nation in the decades that follow.
From Separation to Amity
For much of American history, Prince Hall and mainstream Grand Lodges worked separately. Beginning in the late twentieth century, formal recognition began to change that.
First Modern Recognition
Connecticut becomes the first regular Grand Lodge in the modern era to grant full recognition to a Prince Hall Grand Lodge.
The United Grand Lodge of England
The United Grand Lodge of England recognizes the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.
Widespread Amity
The large majority of mainstream U.S. Grand Lodges now recognize their Prince Hall Affiliated counterparts, allowing fellowship and visitation between them.
Glossary
Words you will see throughout this site and in discussions of Prince Hall Affiliation.
- Grand Lodge
- The governing body of Freemasonry within a state or jurisdiction, which charters and oversees its local lodges.
- Jurisdiction
- The territory, usually a state, over which a Grand Lodge holds Masonic authority.
- Lineage
- The documented chain of charters connecting a lodge or Grand Lodge to its source of authority.
- Regularity
- Whether a Grand Lodge is lawfully formed and follows the established landmarks and practices of Freemasonry.
- Recognition
- A formal act by which one Grand Lodge acknowledges another as regular and legitimate.
- Amity
- The friendly relationship between Grand Lodges that recognize one another, often allowing members to visit.
- Charter (Warrant)
- The document granting a lodge the authority to meet and confer Masonic degrees.
- Clandestine
- A term for a lodge or Grand Lodge operating without legitimate authority or recognition.
Affiliated Bodies
Beyond the Grand Lodges, a family of appendant and concordant bodies also carries the Prince Hall Affiliated designation.
What You Will Find Here
These resources are being researched and prepared now. Each will be published as it is completed and verified.
PHA Grand Lodge Directory
A state by state list of Prince Hall Affiliated Grand Lodges, with links to their official sites.
Sources and Documents
Primary records, charters, and scholarly references behind the history presented here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers on membership, verifying a lodge, recognition, and what PHA means in practice.