March 25, 1993
There have been many papers written on a very elusive person, one that has been idolized as a founder of the fraternity that bears his name; one that has been revered as a patriot, by those that have read of his voluntary service in the continental army during the war of independence or the revolutionary war; one that is patterned after by civil rights activists that have read of his fight against the injustices against African Americans in the years centered around 1775. A great man to emulate, but where is the real Prince Hall?
As a petitioner for the symbolic degrees of Freemasonry, I had occasion to talk to a fellow worker about joining his Lodge. My request was immediately accepted by my fellow worker, and he stated that he would get the ball rolling. In the meantime, he borrowed a small sum of money from me. Much needed money, and failed to pay it back. Having heard of the close cohesiveness of Masons, it seemed like I was being taken for a sucker, but I allowed my zeal for joining this great organization overrule my good sense. In the interim period, I had occasion to talk to another buddy about my joining Freemasonry, and that was when my eyes were opened as to the difference between Prince Hall Masonry, and the Non-Prince Hall Masonic Lodge that I was about to join. I immediately joined Trinity Lodge #33 here in Little Rock where my second buddy, Melvin Hawkins, was a member.
That is how close it was for me. But, what about the other men that joined these bogus groups, as we call them? What about the ones that have made names for themselves as great men in their several fields? We would be remiss if we stated that all Non-Prince Hall Masons were not "up to stuff!" We would be remiss if we thought that we, the Prince Hall Masons of the world, found all of our members "up to stuff!" So, Prince Hall Masonry is not found in what ever Lodge you may or may not belong to.
As stated before, there have been many books and papers written on the subject of Prince Hall and Prince Hall Masonry. Which ones are to be believed? All of the writers profess to have "authentic" version of the life of our founder. Many times, our White Brothers cause world-wide publications of the clandestiness of our order, and offer "proof" of their statements. Many times, our own Prince Hall Masonic Historians offer proof as to the "real" Prince Hall and therefore, Prince Hall Masonry. Some put him being born in Barbados, others have him born in Africa: Still others have him born in England. great and often, violent arguments ensue because of differences of opinions concerning Prince Hall, his birthplace, his parentage, his legitimacy in the Masonic Order. Where is the real Prince Hall?
Recently, the Phylaxis Publication had an article from a black member of the Austrian Grand Lodge, offering his discourse on Prince Hall Masons with a big question of why the uproar. Another publication, the Prince Hall Masonic Quiz Book, written by Joseph A. Walkes, Jr., in a forward by Jerry Marsengill, president of the Philalathes Society, the example by which the Phylaxis Society is formed, stated that, in essence, there is only one other group of Masons, other than White Masons, that know so little about Prince Hall, is Prince Hall Masons. That is a very rash and a very strong statement, and immediately, my blood began to boil, and I wanted to meet this man that could and did make such a statement. I did, in Louisiana, at the 15th session of the Phylaxis. After talking with him, and listening to him, I had to revise my thinking of this man. I had previously stated, in a workshop, that there is no white alive that could truly write about Prince Hall Masonry. My revised thinking still run along those lines, with a revision: some white men have objective thinking, with a lack of discriminating influences, and can write about Prince Hall, Prince Hall Masons, and Prince Hall Masonry, if they do it from an analytical viewpoint of today's knowledge and deep thoughts. While there are some facts found in the statistical papers of Grand Lodge Records, there is a great gulf when one is looking for Prince Hall Masonry, and consequently, Prince Hall, the man. Where is he, then?
As I travel across these United States, there is a great cry going up from Prince Hall Masons and their affiliated bodies. Members that were once satisfied with the status quo, are now disgruntled by the actions of some of its members and leaders, disgruntled with the lack of educational classes, and are consequently, leaving this order in droves each year. There is just one Jurisdiction in the Prince Hall Masonic Family that can boast of the same amount, or more members than it had say, ten (10) years ago, and that is Alabama. What with all of the educational opportunities we have today: what with all the technological expertise we may possess, we still see lack of interest, a lack of attendance, lack of petitioners, lack of members, period. Prince Hall, where is he, especially when we need him?
Questions abound about the legitimacy of Prince Hall Masons. Questions abound about the question of hob-nobbing with Non-Prince Hall Masons by Jurisdictions, while some of our astute Prince Hall Masons hob-nob or try to, with Non-Prince Hall Masons, but of a lighter hue. Somewhere, in the misdt of all the questions are some answers, but no answers will be forthcoming until men of goodwill sit down at a conference table and talk about their differences. Who among us is capable of speaking for all of Prince Hall Masons? No one. Who will speak for Prince Hall then, and where is he?
For an answer of where Prince Hall is, one must seek parallels in the mists of what is not in history, those things that can't be proven or disproved. Research, if nothing else, has proven that the real Prince Hall, the man, cannot be found fully in history books or records for that matter, and history becomes his-story for the time being. It should be nothing for us to fall out about when history is viewed as the human, error-filled thing that it is. What is fact today is disproved tomorrow. So, we cannot defend on that which is written about the man. Whether he was born in Barbados, African or England, or in Chicago, Illinois, that is immaterial if it divides individuals or Jurisdictions. We must look further for answers as to where Prince Hall is.
Whether he was born slave or free, is immaterial, since two hundred years have gone by, and we are still here, and even though we are losing members in droves, we will not die. Whether he was born in 1735 or 1748, is immaterial if we weren't there to say otherwise, and really, cannot go by the existing records. Every black family in Southern America knows about midwives and lack of recording births. Even in 1989 we find many black people that have no birth certificates or any type of birth records. A good case in point is how each year of the census, thousands of black folks, and other racially identifiable people are left off the census taking. Another area of contention is which Jurisdiction was started first, and it shouldn't be, if we remember to use the customs and traditions of the times. Massachusetts was the first place to have Prince Hall Masonry, and assumed the powers of a Mother Lodge. A mother gives birth to children, and all Prince Hall Masons trace their Masonic Heritage back to African Lodge #459 and no other. No child can supercede his mother. Case closed on that.
Prince Hall is not found anywhere, but in the hearts of those that adhere to his influence, his foundations, the ideals, the philosophy, and customs and traditions found in the individual Lodge and/or Masonic Jurisdiction. No amount of historic writing will make you a Mason unless there is a foundation to build on, and if we truly answer the question of where we were made a Mason with any other answer than in our heart, we are not yet Masons. If we, as Prince Hall Masons, can not identify with the struggles of Black Masons and Black People in general, we are not yet Prince Hall Masons. In the South, where Southerners are the experts, there is an intricate connection between the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge and the Black Church, and it is here where you will find the real Prince Hall, and consequently, Prince Hall Masonry, at least in the South.
In Arkansas, we may find Worshipful Masters that cannot spell protocol, but will be enriched with common courtesy. You may find Masons with homemade Masonic Aprons, some with cross-eyed all seeing eyes, with the aprons undersized or oversized, but will understand that the apron is "a badge of a Mason" and will not spoil you, but you can spoil it. Prince Hall Masonry is not found in the aprons and baubles we are so fond of. A fondness that keeps regalia houses above board at our conventions, but leave books untouched. In Arkansas, we have those men of urban flair that look down on those of rural flavor, but which one is the true Mason? Could not he be found in both areas? Prince Hall is still found in the heart.
Dividing forces are all around us, and we see division coming in all flavors coming in all flavors, but if we could agree that, "back to basics" meant to return to our first love, then we could become reunited in brotherly love, relief and truth. That which is dividing us is ignorance, and my brethren, ignorance does not care where it lives, high or low, rich or poor, black or white. If we are to come together, a conference table must be the place where minds and reason would be the watch word of the day: a place where men of good will and futuristic thoughts can join hands and hearts to forge ahead with new vigor fro Prince Hall Masonry and consequently, all of Freemasonry.
Each component of the Prince Hall Masonic Family has a job to do, and like the building of King Solomon's Temple, every one has a level to work on for everyone cannot work at the same level, hence, the three degrees. Everyone does not seek or comprehend any other degrees other than the symbolic degrees, and hence, the Masonic Ladder. We are taught in the Entered Apprentice degree that the common gavel is to knock off the rough edges or superfluities of our lies, which is another word for weakness. If this is so, this weakness is within, unseen until the building starts to collapse, which is what we have today.
However goes Prince Hall Masonry, goes Freemasonry in general, for we are linked together, Black and White Masons, whether we like it or not, and the destiny of all Freemasonry is in our collective hands, not separation because of segregation or superior attitudes. Yet, we are not talking of absorption, but as the two parallel lines, but if two or more jurisdictions want to join forces in any manner, at least they should be given the opportunity to see if it will succeed or fail. The same goes with Non-Prince Hall Masons of a darker persuasion. Prince Hall is not to be sought after in courts.
Prince Hall Masonry is to be found in the volumes of the sacred law, where it has been all the time, a return to our first love, if you will. That first love is rooted in the fact that our early Masonic leaders were also church leaders, ministers, laymen, Masons all. The true Prince Hall is to be found in the pulpits and the pews of our churches, the home of our first love. The true history of Prince Hall Masons today, is found in the history of the Black Experience, and consequently, the church was at the very center of activity. When we get out of the business of selling Freemasonry and concentrate of Non-Masonic things too often, we become non-competitive. We are in the business of Freemasonry and no other. It, and the religious principles founded upon the faith and hope of those gone on, have sustained us, and it is to that end we must return.
Prince Hall did not practice a different form of Freemasonry, my brethren, but Prince Hall Masonry evolved into a separate and distinct form of Freemasonry, one that is unique, yet no less Masonic than any other Masonry. It is unique because when expounded upon, one cannot help but touch upon all the experiences of a people trying to "overcome." It is unique because it readily identify with downtrodden people everywhere. It relates to the children of Israel in Egypt, the home of mysteries, as 72 souls went down there because of famine in Israel, but came out a nation of over two million. We can relate to Islam, because of the trials and tribulations that Hagar and Ishmael faced in the wilderness, to be saved by the wall of Zem Zem.
Prince Hall Masons can relate to the Irish and German Immigrants that faced harsh discrimination in the building of this country in the old west, the ghettoes in the north and east. We can relate to the Chinese Coolies that built the West Coast, then to be denied equal rights. We can identify with the Native Americans, killed and deprived of their lands because of "progress." We can identify with the Arabs as they seek a place in the sun, a sun that seems to bypass them on all fronts. We can identify with the Israelis as they seek to fulfill Biblical prophecy without Biblical Love and receive the same from the Arabs.
We can relate to the Northern Black Man, as he sought to rise above the Harlem of New York, the South Side of Chicago, the Black Bottoms of the many cities where blacks were huddled together in common misery. In the midst of all of that, a downtrodden organization survived, this thing called Prince Hall Masonry. It survived because of committed and dedicated men that gave of themselves when all other help was non-existent. The AME and AME Zion Churches in the north, the same and the Black Baptist Churches in the South, all came together for the good of a people, and because these churches and the Lodges around the country, we stand today as proud Prince Hall Masons.
Each Jurisdiction has its own set of customs and traditions, and they outweigh any law except the landmarks agreed upon by that Jurisdiction. They are unique as well as time-honored, and what you find in one Jurisdiction may or may not be done in yours, but it is Prince Hall Masonry in one form or another. Whether one Lodge may believe in the same version of the landmarks is open for discussion, yet each Lodge must believe in its Grand Lodge, its Grand Master, as the authority in that Jurisdiction, and let God and the Craft, be the Judge. We set great store in ritualism, but isn't good character a bit more than the proper words and signs? Isn't the application of fulfilling your obligation much more important than being able to recite it? Think about it!
Then, when all have been considered, Prince Hall can be found, for he is distinctively connected by the honored tenants of our society with each and every member of the Masonic Fraternity that seeks to know the Lord. He lives in the firm handshake, or grip as we know it, if the firmness of the grip matches the sincerity of the heart. He lives as all Master Masons live, between the canopy of heaven and the center of the earth, from north to south, from east to west, being refreshed by the prevailing winds that cool a Master Mason's brow.
If he is not in your heart, my brethren, he will never be found. If he is not in your thoughts and actions, he will remain lost to you.
There have been many papers written on a very elusive person, one that has been idolized as a founder of the fraternity that bears his name; one that has been revered as a patriot, by those that have read of his voluntary service in the continental army during the war of independence or the revolutionary war; one that is patterned after by civil rights activists that have read of his fight against the injustices against African Americans in the years centered around 1775. A great man to emulate, but where is the real Prince Hall?
As a petitioner for the symbolic degrees of Freemasonry, I had occasion to talk to a fellow worker about joining his Lodge. My request was immediately accepted by my fellow worker, and he stated that he would get the ball rolling. In the meantime, he borrowed a small sum of money from me. Much needed money, and failed to pay it back. Having heard of the close cohesiveness of Masons, it seemed like I was being taken for a sucker, but I allowed my zeal for joining this great organization overrule my good sense. In the interim period, I had occasion to talk to another buddy about my joining Freemasonry, and that was when my eyes were opened as to the difference between Prince Hall Masonry, and the Non-Prince Hall Masonic Lodge that I was about to join. I immediately joined Trinity Lodge #33 here in Little Rock where my second buddy, Melvin Hawkins, was a member.
That is how close it was for me. But, what about the other men that joined these bogus groups, as we call them? What about the ones that have made names for themselves as great men in their several fields? We would be remiss if we stated that all Non-Prince Hall Masons were not "up to stuff!" We would be remiss if we thought that we, the Prince Hall Masons of the world, found all of our members "up to stuff!" So, Prince Hall Masonry is not found in what ever Lodge you may or may not belong to.
As stated before, there have been many books and papers written on the subject of Prince Hall and Prince Hall Masonry. Which ones are to be believed? All of the writers profess to have "authentic" version of the life of our founder. Many times, our White Brothers cause world-wide publications of the clandestiness of our order, and offer "proof" of their statements. Many times, our own Prince Hall Masonic Historians offer proof as to the "real" Prince Hall and therefore, Prince Hall Masonry. Some put him being born in Barbados, others have him born in Africa: Still others have him born in England. great and often, violent arguments ensue because of differences of opinions concerning Prince Hall, his birthplace, his parentage, his legitimacy in the Masonic Order. Where is the real Prince Hall?
Recently, the Phylaxis Publication had an article from a black member of the Austrian Grand Lodge, offering his discourse on Prince Hall Masons with a big question of why the uproar. Another publication, the Prince Hall Masonic Quiz Book, written by Joseph A. Walkes, Jr., in a forward by Jerry Marsengill, president of the Philalathes Society, the example by which the Phylaxis Society is formed, stated that, in essence, there is only one other group of Masons, other than White Masons, that know so little about Prince Hall, is Prince Hall Masons. That is a very rash and a very strong statement, and immediately, my blood began to boil, and I wanted to meet this man that could and did make such a statement. I did, in Louisiana, at the 15th session of the Phylaxis. After talking with him, and listening to him, I had to revise my thinking of this man. I had previously stated, in a workshop, that there is no white alive that could truly write about Prince Hall Masonry. My revised thinking still run along those lines, with a revision: some white men have objective thinking, with a lack of discriminating influences, and can write about Prince Hall, Prince Hall Masons, and Prince Hall Masonry, if they do it from an analytical viewpoint of today's knowledge and deep thoughts. While there are some facts found in the statistical papers of Grand Lodge Records, there is a great gulf when one is looking for Prince Hall Masonry, and consequently, Prince Hall, the man. Where is he, then?
As I travel across these United States, there is a great cry going up from Prince Hall Masons and their affiliated bodies. Members that were once satisfied with the status quo, are now disgruntled by the actions of some of its members and leaders, disgruntled with the lack of educational classes, and are consequently, leaving this order in droves each year. There is just one Jurisdiction in the Prince Hall Masonic Family that can boast of the same amount, or more members than it had say, ten (10) years ago, and that is Alabama. What with all of the educational opportunities we have today: what with all the technological expertise we may possess, we still see lack of interest, a lack of attendance, lack of petitioners, lack of members, period. Prince Hall, where is he, especially when we need him?
Questions abound about the legitimacy of Prince Hall Masons. Questions abound about the question of hob-nobbing with Non-Prince Hall Masons by Jurisdictions, while some of our astute Prince Hall Masons hob-nob or try to, with Non-Prince Hall Masons, but of a lighter hue. Somewhere, in the misdt of all the questions are some answers, but no answers will be forthcoming until men of goodwill sit down at a conference table and talk about their differences. Who among us is capable of speaking for all of Prince Hall Masons? No one. Who will speak for Prince Hall then, and where is he?
For an answer of where Prince Hall is, one must seek parallels in the mists of what is not in history, those things that can't be proven or disproved. Research, if nothing else, has proven that the real Prince Hall, the man, cannot be found fully in history books or records for that matter, and history becomes his-story for the time being. It should be nothing for us to fall out about when history is viewed as the human, error-filled thing that it is. What is fact today is disproved tomorrow. So, we cannot defend on that which is written about the man. Whether he was born in Barbados, African or England, or in Chicago, Illinois, that is immaterial if it divides individuals or Jurisdictions. We must look further for answers as to where Prince Hall is.
Whether he was born slave or free, is immaterial, since two hundred years have gone by, and we are still here, and even though we are losing members in droves, we will not die. Whether he was born in 1735 or 1748, is immaterial if we weren't there to say otherwise, and really, cannot go by the existing records. Every black family in Southern America knows about midwives and lack of recording births. Even in 1989 we find many black people that have no birth certificates or any type of birth records. A good case in point is how each year of the census, thousands of black folks, and other racially identifiable people are left off the census taking. Another area of contention is which Jurisdiction was started first, and it shouldn't be, if we remember to use the customs and traditions of the times. Massachusetts was the first place to have Prince Hall Masonry, and assumed the powers of a Mother Lodge. A mother gives birth to children, and all Prince Hall Masons trace their Masonic Heritage back to African Lodge #459 and no other. No child can supercede his mother. Case closed on that.
Prince Hall is not found anywhere, but in the hearts of those that adhere to his influence, his foundations, the ideals, the philosophy, and customs and traditions found in the individual Lodge and/or Masonic Jurisdiction. No amount of historic writing will make you a Mason unless there is a foundation to build on, and if we truly answer the question of where we were made a Mason with any other answer than in our heart, we are not yet Masons. If we, as Prince Hall Masons, can not identify with the struggles of Black Masons and Black People in general, we are not yet Prince Hall Masons. In the South, where Southerners are the experts, there is an intricate connection between the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge and the Black Church, and it is here where you will find the real Prince Hall, and consequently, Prince Hall Masonry, at least in the South.
In Arkansas, we may find Worshipful Masters that cannot spell protocol, but will be enriched with common courtesy. You may find Masons with homemade Masonic Aprons, some with cross-eyed all seeing eyes, with the aprons undersized or oversized, but will understand that the apron is "a badge of a Mason" and will not spoil you, but you can spoil it. Prince Hall Masonry is not found in the aprons and baubles we are so fond of. A fondness that keeps regalia houses above board at our conventions, but leave books untouched. In Arkansas, we have those men of urban flair that look down on those of rural flavor, but which one is the true Mason? Could not he be found in both areas? Prince Hall is still found in the heart.
Dividing forces are all around us, and we see division coming in all flavors coming in all flavors, but if we could agree that, "back to basics" meant to return to our first love, then we could become reunited in brotherly love, relief and truth. That which is dividing us is ignorance, and my brethren, ignorance does not care where it lives, high or low, rich or poor, black or white. If we are to come together, a conference table must be the place where minds and reason would be the watch word of the day: a place where men of good will and futuristic thoughts can join hands and hearts to forge ahead with new vigor fro Prince Hall Masonry and consequently, all of Freemasonry.
Each component of the Prince Hall Masonic Family has a job to do, and like the building of King Solomon's Temple, every one has a level to work on for everyone cannot work at the same level, hence, the three degrees. Everyone does not seek or comprehend any other degrees other than the symbolic degrees, and hence, the Masonic Ladder. We are taught in the Entered Apprentice degree that the common gavel is to knock off the rough edges or superfluities of our lies, which is another word for weakness. If this is so, this weakness is within, unseen until the building starts to collapse, which is what we have today.
However goes Prince Hall Masonry, goes Freemasonry in general, for we are linked together, Black and White Masons, whether we like it or not, and the destiny of all Freemasonry is in our collective hands, not separation because of segregation or superior attitudes. Yet, we are not talking of absorption, but as the two parallel lines, but if two or more jurisdictions want to join forces in any manner, at least they should be given the opportunity to see if it will succeed or fail. The same goes with Non-Prince Hall Masons of a darker persuasion. Prince Hall is not to be sought after in courts.
Prince Hall Masonry is to be found in the volumes of the sacred law, where it has been all the time, a return to our first love, if you will. That first love is rooted in the fact that our early Masonic leaders were also church leaders, ministers, laymen, Masons all. The true Prince Hall is to be found in the pulpits and the pews of our churches, the home of our first love. The true history of Prince Hall Masons today, is found in the history of the Black Experience, and consequently, the church was at the very center of activity. When we get out of the business of selling Freemasonry and concentrate of Non-Masonic things too often, we become non-competitive. We are in the business of Freemasonry and no other. It, and the religious principles founded upon the faith and hope of those gone on, have sustained us, and it is to that end we must return.
Prince Hall did not practice a different form of Freemasonry, my brethren, but Prince Hall Masonry evolved into a separate and distinct form of Freemasonry, one that is unique, yet no less Masonic than any other Masonry. It is unique because when expounded upon, one cannot help but touch upon all the experiences of a people trying to "overcome." It is unique because it readily identify with downtrodden people everywhere. It relates to the children of Israel in Egypt, the home of mysteries, as 72 souls went down there because of famine in Israel, but came out a nation of over two million. We can relate to Islam, because of the trials and tribulations that Hagar and Ishmael faced in the wilderness, to be saved by the wall of Zem Zem.
Prince Hall Masons can relate to the Irish and German Immigrants that faced harsh discrimination in the building of this country in the old west, the ghettoes in the north and east. We can relate to the Chinese Coolies that built the West Coast, then to be denied equal rights. We can identify with the Native Americans, killed and deprived of their lands because of "progress." We can identify with the Arabs as they seek a place in the sun, a sun that seems to bypass them on all fronts. We can identify with the Israelis as they seek to fulfill Biblical prophecy without Biblical Love and receive the same from the Arabs.
We can relate to the Northern Black Man, as he sought to rise above the Harlem of New York, the South Side of Chicago, the Black Bottoms of the many cities where blacks were huddled together in common misery. In the midst of all of that, a downtrodden organization survived, this thing called Prince Hall Masonry. It survived because of committed and dedicated men that gave of themselves when all other help was non-existent. The AME and AME Zion Churches in the north, the same and the Black Baptist Churches in the South, all came together for the good of a people, and because these churches and the Lodges around the country, we stand today as proud Prince Hall Masons.
Each Jurisdiction has its own set of customs and traditions, and they outweigh any law except the landmarks agreed upon by that Jurisdiction. They are unique as well as time-honored, and what you find in one Jurisdiction may or may not be done in yours, but it is Prince Hall Masonry in one form or another. Whether one Lodge may believe in the same version of the landmarks is open for discussion, yet each Lodge must believe in its Grand Lodge, its Grand Master, as the authority in that Jurisdiction, and let God and the Craft, be the Judge. We set great store in ritualism, but isn't good character a bit more than the proper words and signs? Isn't the application of fulfilling your obligation much more important than being able to recite it? Think about it!
Then, when all have been considered, Prince Hall can be found, for he is distinctively connected by the honored tenants of our society with each and every member of the Masonic Fraternity that seeks to know the Lord. He lives in the firm handshake, or grip as we know it, if the firmness of the grip matches the sincerity of the heart. He lives as all Master Masons live, between the canopy of heaven and the center of the earth, from north to south, from east to west, being refreshed by the prevailing winds that cool a Master Mason's brow.
If he is not in your heart, my brethren, he will never be found. If he is not in your thoughts and actions, he will remain lost to you.